Claims
- 1. An absorption method for recovery of C2+ components from a pressurized liquid mixture containing C1 and C2+, comprising:
(a) vaporizing at least part of the pressurized liquid mixture by heating the pressurized liquid mixture in a heat transfer means, said heat transfer means cooling an absorption medium; and (b) treating the vaporized stream in an absorption zone with the absorption medium to produce a first stream enriched in C1 and a second stream enriched in C2+ components.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressurized liquid mixture is pressurized liquid natural gas (PLNG).
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressurized liquid mixture has an initial pressure above about 1,724 kPa (250 psia) and an initial temperature between about −80° C. (−112° F.) and −112° C. (−170° F.).
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the absorption medium is lean oil.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the absorption medium is pre-saturated with methane prior to treatment step (b).
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the heat exchange relationship uses a heat-transfer medium being in heat exchange relationship with the liquid mixture in a first heat exchanger and the heat transfer medium being in heat exchange relationship with the absorption stream in a second heat exchanger.
- 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the heat exchange relationship uses at least one heat exchanger in which the liquid mixture is in indirect contact with the absorption medium.
- 8. The method of claim 1 further comprises, before passing the pressurized liquid mixture in heat exchange relationship with a heat-transfer stream, heating the liquid mixture by heat exchange relationship with at least one of air, fresh water, and sea water.
- 9. The method of claim 1 further comprises, after passing the pressurized liquid mixture in heat exchange relationship with a heat-transfer stream, further heating the liquid mixture by heat exchange relationship with at least one of air, fresh water, and sea water.
- 10. A method for separating C2+ components from a pressurized liquid mixture comprising C1 and C2+, the method comprising:
(a) heating the pressurized liquid mixture to at least partially vaporize the liquid mixture, thereby producing a vapor stream; (b) contacting the vapor stream with an absorbent medium that preferentially absorbs C2+ components from the vapor stream; (c) recovering a C1-rich stream substantially depleted of C2+; (d) separating the extracted C2+ components from the absorption medium containing the same; (e) cooling at least part of the absorption medium by heat exchange relationship against the pressurized liquid mixture, thereby providing heat for at least partially vaporizing the liquid mixture; and (f) recycling the cooled absorption medium to absorb additional amounts of C2+ components.
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/302,123, filed Jun. 29, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60302123 |
Jun 2001 |
US |