METHOD FOR ETHANE LIQUEFACTION WITH DEMETHANIZATION

摘要

The process for liquefying a gaseous stream received from a pipeline that is comprised predominantly of ethane and a relatively small amount of other components by using a mixed refrigerant loop incorporating heavy hydrocarbons, as well as a distillation column to remove constituents lighter than ethane.

主权项

1. A method for ethane liquefaction with demethanization, the method comprising the steps of:
providing an ethane feed under pressure, wherein the ethane feed is comprised primarily of ethane, wherein the ethane further comprises methane; cooling the ethane feed to a first temperature to form a pre-cooled ethane feed, wherein the first temperature is sufficiently warm to prevent ice formation; removing water from the pre-cooled ethane feed to form a dry ethane feed; cooling the dry ethane feed in a heat exchanger to form a partially cooled ethane stream; introducing the partially cooled ethane stream into an intermediate location of a distillation column under conditions effective to cause an ethane rich liquid to accumulate near the bottom portion of the distillation column and a methane rich gas to accumulate near the top portion of the distillation column; withdrawing an ethane stream from the bottom portion of the distillation column; and cooling the ethane stream from the bottom portion of the distillation column to produce liquid ethane product by exchanging heat with a mixed refrigerant refrigeration cycle within the heat exchanger.