LOW PRESSURE DEETHANIZATION PROCESS AND SYSTEM

摘要

A system and process for separating ethane and propane from a feed stream comprising dehydrated liquefied petroleum gas is disclosed. A distillation column operates at a lower pressure and temperature than conventional distillation columns. High purity liquid propane exits the bottom of the distillation column and is flashed through a cooling control valve becoming a two-phase stream with the vapor entering a heat pump compressor. The high or increased temperature compressed propane stream exiting the heat pump compressor is directed into the distillation column to drive the separation of the ethane and propane, allowing the elimination of a reboiler from the system and process.

主权项

1. A system having a low operating pressure for separating ethane and propane from a feed stream, the system comprising:
a distillation column having an upper end and a lower end and configured to receive the feed stream and release ethane from the upper end and propane from the lower end; a heat pump exchanger configured to condense the ethane and vaporize the propane released from the distillation column; a reflux control device configured to distribute ethane back to the distillation column from the heat pump exchanger; a cooling control device configured to control an amount of propane entering the heat pump exchanger; and a compressor assembly configured to compress propane vapor exiting the heat pump exchanger; wherein the flowpath from the compressor assembly to the distillation column is configured to flow the compressed propane vapor exiting the compressor assembly into the distillation column to supply heat.