Method and apparatus for cooling and separating a hydrocarbon stream

摘要

A method and apparatus for cooling and separating a hydrocarbon stream such as natural gas. The method comprises at least the steps of: (a) providing a hydrocarbon stream (10); (b) cooling the hydrocarbon stream (10) to provide a partially liquefied hydrocarbon stream (20); (c) passing at least a fraction of the partially liquefied hydrocarbon stream (20) into a distillation column (12) through a first inlet (17); (d) providing a lower feed stream (30); (e) providing a refrigerant circuit (4) comprising at least a refrigerant stream (40); (f) heating the lower feed stream (30) against the refrigerant stream (40) to provide a heated lower feed stream (50) and a cooled refrigerant stream (60); (g) passing the heated lower feed stream (50) into the distillation column (12) through a second inlet (18) lower than the first inlet (17); and (h) separating the partially liquefied hydrocarbon stream (20) in the distillation column (12) to provide at least a first overhead gaseous stream (70) and a first bottom liquid stream (80).