DISTILLATION PROCESS FOR A MULTI-COMPONENT FEED STREAM

摘要

A process is disclosed to remove a high-volatility component, such as nitrogen, from a feed stream rich in methane to produce a product substantially free of the high-volatility component. The feed stream is expanded (53) and fed to a phase separator (55) which produces a vapor stream (22) and a liquid stream (19). The vapor stream is enriched in the volatile component. The liquid stream, which is lean in the volatile component and rich in methane, is pumped (56) to a higher pressure and heated to produce a pressurized liquefied product stream having a pressure sufficient for the product stream to be at or below its bubble point and having a temperature above about -112 DEG C (-170 DEG F).