Oxidative Coupling of Methane Implementations for Olefin Production

摘要

The present disclosure provides oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) systems for small scale and world scale production of olefins. An OCM system may comprise an OCM subsystem that generates a product stream comprising C2+ compounds and non-C2+ impurities from methane and an oxidizing agent. At least one separations subsystem downstream of, and fluidically coupled to, the OCM subsystem can be used to separate the non-C2+ impurities from the C2+ compounds. A methanation subsystem downstream and fluidically coupled to the OCM subsystem can be used to react H2 with CO and/or CO2 in the non-C2+ impurities to generate methane, which can be recycled to the OCM subsystem. The OCM system can be integrated in a non-OCM system, such as a natural gas liquids system or an existing ethylene cracker.

主权项

1. An oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) system, comprising:
(a) an OCM subsystem that (i) takes as input a feed stream comprising methane (CH4) and a feed stream comprising an oxidizing agent, and (ii) generates from said methane and said oxidizing agent a product stream comprising C2+ compounds and non-C2+ impurities; and (b) at least one separations subsystem downstream of, and fluidically coupled to, said OCM subsystem, wherein said separations subsystem comprises a first heat exchanger, a de-methanizer unit downstream of said first heat exchanger, and a second heat exchanger downstream of said de-methanizer unit, wherein
(1) said first heat exchanger cools said product stream,(2) said de-methanizer unit accepts said product stream from said first heat exchanger and generates an overhead stream comprising methane and at least a portion of said non-C2+ impurities, and a bottoms stream comprising at least a portion of said C2+ compounds, and(3) at least a portion of said overhead stream is cooled in said second heat exchanger and is subsequently directed to said first heat exchanger to cool said product stream.