HYDROCARBON RECOVERY PROCESS UTILIZING ENHANCED REFLUX STREAMS

摘要

A process and apparatus for the recovery of ethane and heavier components from a hydrocarbon feed gas stream. Feed gas stream is cooled (14, 56) and separated (22) into a first vapor stream (24) and a first liquid stream (36'). Vapor stream is divided into a first (26) and a second (28') gas streams. First gas stream is expanded (70) and sent (30) to a fractionation tower (50). Second gas stream is supplied to an absorber tower (32). At least a part of the first liquid stream is cooled (38) and sent (48) to the absorber. Absorber column produces a lean vapor stream (34) and a second liquid stream (42). Lean vapor stream is cooled (38) and sent to the fractionation tower. Second liquid stream is subcooled (38) and supplied to the fractionation tower. Temperatures and pressures of the streams and columns are maintained to recover a major portion of ethane and heavier hydrocarbon components as bottom product (54), and produce at the fractionation tower overhead, a residue gas stream (52).