PROCESS FOR RECOVERING HEAT FROM A HYDROCARBON SEPARATION

摘要

A process for recovering heat from the separation of hydrocarbons. The overhead vapor stream from a fractionation column is passed to a two stage heat pump compressor. The first stage of compression is used to reboil the fractionation column. The second stage is compressed and cooled passed to a separation zone. The liquid in the separation zone may be passed back to the fractionation column as secondary reflux, and/or recovered as liquid product. Heat may also be removed from the second stage. A suction drum on the first stage may be used to protect the heat pump compressor from any droplets in the overhead stream.

主权项

1. A process for separating hydrocarbons and recovering heat from a stream, the process comprising:
separating a feed stream comprising hydrocarbons in a first separation zone into an overhead stream and a bottoms stream, the overhead steam being a vapor stream and the bottom stream being a liquid stream; passing at least a portion of the overhead stream to a compression zone, the compression zone configured to produce a first output stream and a second output stream; transferring heat from at least a portion of the first output stream of the compression zone to the first separation zone; removing heat from the second output stream of the compression zone; and, passing the second output stream of the compression zone to a second separation zone, wherein the second separation zone has a pressure higher than a pressure of the overhead stream.