The invention relates to a process for separating a component mixture (K) comprising hydrogen, methane, hydrocarbons having two carbon atoms and hydrocarbons having three or more carbon atoms, wherein in a deethanization at least a portion of the component mixture (K) is subjected to a first partial condensation by cooling from a first temperature level to a second temperature level at a first pressure level to obtain a first gas fraction (G1) and a first liquid fraction (C1), at least a portion of the first gas fraction (G1) is subjected to a second partial condensation by cooling from the second temperature level to a third temperature level at the first pressure level to obtain a second gas fraction (G4) and a second liquid fraction (C2), and at least a portion of the first liquid fraction (C1) and at least a portion of the second liquid fraction (C2) are subjected to a rectification to obtain a third gas fraction (G3) and a third liquid fraction (C3+). The first liquid fraction (C1) or its part subjected to the rectification and the second liquid fraction (C2) or its part subjected to the rectification are expanded to a second pressure level and the rectification is carried out at the second pressure level, the first pressure level being 25 to 35 bar and the second pressure level being 14 to 17 bar. An overhead gas formed during the rectification is cooled to −25 to −35° C. and partially condensed, wherein a condensed portion of the overhead gas is used partially or completely as a reflux in the rectification and an uncondensed portion of the overhead gas is provided partially or completely as the third gas fraction (G3). The present invention likewise provides a corresponding plant (100, 200).

The invention relates to a method (100, 200) of obtaining one or more olefins, in which, using an oxidative coupling of methane (10), a gas mixture comprising hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide and higher-boiling hydrocarbons than methane is formed and is subjected to a low-temperature separation (1-5), characterized in that the low-temperature separation (1-5) is conducted using a rectification column (2) having a first separation region (21), a second separation region (22) arranged above the first separation region (21), and a condenser-evaporator (23), wherein the gas mixture is cooled, fed at least partly as first separation feed into the first separation region (21) and subjected to a first rectification in the first separation region (21) to form a first tops gas and a first bottoms liquid, wherein, using a first proportion of the first tops gas in the condenser-evaporator (23), a condensate which is recycled to the first separation region and, using a second proportion of the tops gas, a second separation feed which is fed into the second separation region (22) are formed, and wherein the second separation feed is subjected to a second rectification in the second separation region to form a second tops gas and a second bottoms liquid.

A process for separating a component mixture comprising essentially hydrocarbons having two or two or more carbon atoms, methane and hydrogen using a distillation apparatus (10) is proposed. Fluid (a, c, e, g, i) from the component mixture is cooled stepwise to a first pressure level, with separation of first condensates (b, d, f, h, j) out of the fluid (a, c, e, g, i) in each case. Fluid (k) from the component mixture that remains in gaseous form thereafter is expanded to a second pressure level in an expander, giving a second condensate (I). Fluid from the first condensates (b, d, f, h, j) is expanded from the first pressure level to the second pressure level and fed together with the fluid from the second condensates into the distillation apparatus (10) which is being operated at the second pressure level. The present invention likewise provides a corresponding separation apparatus.

A method for vaporizing liquid propane to be supplied as a raw material to a naphtha cracking ractor. The method comprises: decompressing liquid propane to lower a vaporization point and vaporize at least a portion of the liquid propane; utilizing vaporization heat, generated during vaporization of the portion of liquid propane, as a refrigerant; compressing the vaporized propane gas to increase pressure of the propane gas and produce compressed propane gas; and preheating the compressed propane gas. By using this method, it is possible to reduce pressure of liquid propane to a significantly lower pressure than the related art method so that all the vaporization latent heat or vaporization heat included in liquid propane may be utilized as a refrigerant, while also reducing heat energy consumed in a preheat process before it is supplied to the naphtha cracking reactor.

In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for the oxidative coupling of methane to generate hydrocarbon compounds containing at least two carbon atoms (C.sub.2+ compounds). The method can include mixing a first gas stream comprising methane with a second gas stream comprising oxygen to form a third gas stream comprising methane and oxygen and performing an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction using the third gas stream to produce a product stream comprising one or more C.sub.2+ compounds.

A process for removing a foulant from a gas stream is disclosed. The gas stream, containing a foulant, is cooled across a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, producing a solid foulant entrained in cryogenic liquid as a foulant slurry, and a foulant-depleted gas stream. The foulant-depleted gas stream is passed through a cryogenic turbine and a first separation vessel, producing a light gas stream and further solid foulant. The solid foulants are recovered by a combination of pressurization, melting, and distillation to produce a liquid foulant product. Heat is recovered from the various streams in the various heat exchangers and the melter.

This specification relates to operating industrial facilities, for example, crude oil refining facilities or other industrial facilities that include operating plants that process natural gas or recover natural gas liquids.

A natural gas liquid recovery system includes a cold box and a refrigeration system. The refrigeration system includes a primary refrigerant loop in fluid communication with the cold box. The primary refrigerant loop includes a primary refrigerant including a first mixture of hydrocarbons. The refrigeration system includes a secondary refrigerant loop. The secondary refrigerant loop includes a secondary refrigerant including i-butane. The refrigeration system includes a first subcooler configured to transfer heat between the primary refrigerant of the primary refrigerant loop and the secondary refrigerant of the secondary refrigerant loop. The refrigeration system includes a second subcooler downstream of the first subcooler. The second subcooler is configured to transfer heat between the primary refrigerant and a vapor phase of the primary refrigerant. The cold box is configured to receive the primary refrigerant from the second subcooler.

A process and an apparatus are disclosed for the recovery of components from a hydrocarbon gas stream containing significant quantities of components more volatile than methane (hydrogen, nitrogen, etc.). The gas stream is partially condensed, then the remaining vapor is expanded to lower pressure and supplied to a fractionation tower at a mid-column feed position. The condensed liquid is cooled and divided into two portions. The first portion is expanded to tower pressure, heated by cooling the liquid, and supplied to the tower at a lower column feed position. The second portion is expanded to tower pressure and supplied to the tower at an upper mid-column feed position. A distillation vapor stream is withdrawn from the fractionation tower below the mid-column feed position and is heated, compressed to higher pressure, and cooled to substantial condensation before it is expanded and supplied to the tower as its top feed.

To provide a process for separating hydrocarbons capable of recovering ethane or propane, including improved cold heat recovery enabling a reduction in compressor power. A process for separating hydrocarbons, in which a residual gas enriched with methane or ethane and a heavy fraction enriched with a lower volatile hydrocarbon are separated, includes: a) partially condensing the feed gas by cooling using the residual gas and another refrigerant as a refrigerant, followed by vapor-liquid separation; b) depressurizing and supplying the liquid obtained from step (a) to the distillation column; c) expanding a part or all of the gas obtained from step (a) by an expander to cause partial condensation, followed by vapor-liquid separation; d) feeding the liquid obtained from step (c) to the distillation column after using it as the further refrigerant in step (a); e) feeding a part or all of the gas obtained from step (c) to the distillation column; and f) obtaining the residual gas from the top of the distillation column and the heavy fraction from the bottom of the distillation column.