PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A HYDROGEN-RICH GAS STREAM

摘要

A process for economically increasing the hydrogen purity of a hydrogen-rich gas stream from a reaction zone effluent (7) comprising hydrogen and hydrocarbons is disclosed. The multistep process essentially involves subjecting the effluent to a first phase separation (g) at conventional conditions followed by recontacting a cooled portion of the vapor phase with a cooled 10 to 20% portion of the hydrocarbon liquid phase to achieve a second phase separation (25) at a significantly lower temperature than the temperature used in the first separation. The use of a 10 to 20% portion of the hydrocarbon phase recovered in the first phase separation instead of the entire amount results in a significant savings in utilities and capital costs for the refrigeration required to achieve the desired purification.