Processes for separating CO.sub.2 from a gas mixture containing one or more of hydrogen, nitrogen, argon, CO, and methane or a combination thereof is described. The processes involve, for example, cooling and partial condensation of the gas mixture, preferably by a single loop refrigeration system with a mixed refrigerant, phase separation of the partially condensed stream, and distillation of the CO.sub.2-rich liquid stream. At least a portion of the liquid CO.sub.2 produced from the processes during the off-peak electricity demand hours can be stored and then heated, vaporized, further heated, and expanded for power generation during the peak electricity demand hours, helping balance the supply and demand of electricity of the electricity grid.

A system and method for removing nitrogen and producing a high pressure methane product stream and an NGL product stream from natural gas feed streams where at least 90%, and preferably at least 95%, of the ethane in the feed stream is recovered in the NGL product stream. The system and method of the invention are particularly suitable for use with feed streams in excess of 5 MMSCFD and up to 300 MMSCFD and containing around 5% to 80% nitrogen. The system and method preferably combine use of strategic heat exchange between various process streams with a high pressure rectifier tower and the ability to divert all or a portion of a nitrogen rejection unit feed stream to optionally bypass a nitrogen fractionation column to reduce capital costs and operating expenses.

A system and method for removing nitrogen and producing a high pressure methane product stream and an NGL product stream from natural gas feed streams where at least 90%, and preferably at least 95%, of the ethane in the feed stream is recovered in the NGL product stream. The system and method of the invention are particularly suitable for use with feed streams in excess of 5 MMSCFD and up to 300 MMSCFD and containing around 5% to 80% nitrogen. The system and method preferably combine use of strategic heat exchange between various process streams with a high pressure rectifier tower and the ability to divert all or a portion of a nitrogen rejection unit feed stream to optionally bypass a nitrogen fractionation column to reduce capital costs and operating expenses.

A process for producing one or more olefins is proposed in which a reaction input containing one or more paraffins is formed and in which a portion of the paraffin(s) present in the reaction input is converted by oxidative dehydrogenation into the olefin(s) to obtain a process gas, wherein the process gas contains at least the olefin(s), the unconverted paraffin(s), oxygen and carbon monoxide and wherein at least a portion of the process gas is subjected to a low temperature separation in which at an operating pressure level one or more gas fractions enriched in oxygen and carbon monoxide compared to the process gas are formed. It is provided that in the low temperature separation in the formation and/or for the conduction of the or at least one of the gas fractions one or more containers and/or one or more conduits having a burst pressure of at least ten times the operating pressure level are used and that the container or at least one of the containers via the or at least one of the conduits is connected to one or more heat exchangers, wherein a total length of the or of the at least one conduit between the or the at least one container and the heat exchanger(s) is not more than fifty times the internal diameter of said conduit. A corresponding plant (100) likewise forms part of the subject matter of the invention.

The present invention relates to a process and device for condensing a first fluid rich in carbon dioxide using a second fluid.

A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to improve the recovery of C.sub.2 (or C.sub.3) and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The preferred method of separating a hydrocarbon gas stream generally includes producing at least a substantially condensed first stream and a cooled second stream, expanding both streams to lower pressure, and supplying the streams to a fractionation tower. In the process and apparatus disclosed, the tower overhead vapor is directed to an absorbing means and a heat and mass transfer means inside a processing assembly. A portion of the outlet vapor from the processing assembly is compressed to higher pressure, cooled and substantially condensed in a heat exchange means inside the processing assembly, then expanded to lower pressure and supplied to the heat and mass transfer means to provide cooling. Condensed liquid from the absorbing means is fed to the tower.

A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to improve the recovery of C.sub.2 (or C.sub.3) and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The preferred method of separating a hydrocarbon gas stream generally includes producing at least a substantially condensed first stream and a cooled second stream, expanding both streams to lower pressure, and supplying the streams to a fractionation tower. In the process and apparatus disclosed, the tower overhead vapor is directed to an absorbing means and a heat and mass transfer means inside a processing assembly. The outlet vapor from the processing assembly is compressed to higher pressure and cooled, then a portion is substantially condensed in a heat exchange means inside the processing assembly, expanded to lower pressure, and supplied to the heat and mass transfer means to provide cooling. Condensed liquid from the absorbing means is fed to the tower.

A method and apparatus for argon recovery in which an impure argon stream is separated from air within a cryogenic air separation unit having an argon rejection column and a reflux type argon condenser disposed internally within the lower pressure column. An impure argon stream is subsequently recovered from the argon rejection column and purified within an integrated adsorbent based argon refining and purification subsystem to produce product grade argon. The waste stream from the adsorbent based argon refining and purification subsystem is recycled back to the argon rejection column so as to improve the argon recovery.

A method and apparatus for argon recovery in which an impure argon stream is separated from air within a cryogenic air separation unit having an argon rejection column and a reflux type argon condenser disposed internally within the lower pressure column. An impure argon stream is subsequently recovered from the argon rejection column and purified within an integrated adsorbent based argon refining and purification subsystem to produce product grade argon. The waste stream from the adsorbent based argon refining and purification subsystem is recycled back to the argon rejection column so as to improve the argon recovery.

A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to improve the recovery of C.sub.2 (or C.sub.3) and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The preferred method of separating a hydrocarbon gas stream generally includes producing at least a substantially condensed first stream and a cooled second stream, expanding both streams to lower pressure, and supplying the streams to a fractionation tower. In the process and apparatus disclosed, the tower overhead vapor is directed to an absorbing means and a heat and mass transfer means inside a processing assembly. A portion of the outlet vapor from the processing assembly is compressed to higher pressure, cooled and substantially condensed in a heat exchange means inside the processing assembly, then expanded to lower pressure and supplied, to the heat and mass transfer means to provide cooling. Condensed liquid from the absorbing means is fed to the tower.