Process for separating selected components from multi-component natural gas streams

摘要

A process for separating components of gas mixtures which have different hydrate forming characteristics which uses an aqueous liquid to absorb one the gases preferentially by attaining conditions slightly above the catastrophic point at which gas hydrates form. Specifically, the separation of gas mixtures containing light hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide is accomplished without significantly reducing the pressure of the carbon dioxide or without requiring significant amounts of heat energy for regeneration. A light hydrocarbon gas feed stream (2) is sent to a high pressure absorbing column (10) where it is contacted with an aqueous liquid stream (4). The liquid stream containing stripped carbon dioxide (8) is fed to a high pressure regeneration column (30) to remove the carbon dioxide as an overhead stream (34).