The present invention relates to a process (100) for separatory processing of a starting mixture containing predominantly hydrogen, methane and hydrocarbons having two or two or more carbon atoms, wherein at least a portion of the starting mixture is cooled to form one or more condensates using one or more heat exchangers (101, 103, 105, 107) and at least a portion of the condensate(s) is subjected to a rectification to form a gaseous methane-rich fraction. It is provided that the gaseous methane-rich fraction is used to form a first fluid stream which is at least partly compressed, in an unchanged composition with respect to the gaseous methane-rich fraction, to a liquefaction pressure level of 35 to 45 bar, and at least partly liquefied by cooling, and in that the first fluid stream, or a second fluid stream formed using the first fluid stream, is expanded to a delivery pressure and heated in the or at least one of the heat exchanger(s) (101, 103, 105, 107). A corresponding plant likewise forms part of the subject matter of the invention.

This method comprises a separation of a feed stream (16) into a first fraction (41A) and a second fraction (41B). It comprises injecting the first cooled feed fraction (42) into a first separating flask (22) to produce a light head stream (44).

The method comprises expanding a turbine feed fraction (48) resulting from the light head stream (44) in a first turbine (26) up to a first pressure and injecting the first expanded fraction (54) into a distillation column (30).

The method comprises expanding the second fraction of the feed stream (41B) in a second turbine (40) up to a second pressure substantially equal to the first pressure.

The second expanded fraction (91A) from the second dynamic expansion turbine (40) is used to form a cooled reflux stream (91B) injected into the column (30).

One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein includes a method for separating hydrogen from an olefin hydrocarbon rich compressed effluent vapor stream, employing a single heat exchanger, multiple gas-liquid separators, multiple expander/compressor sets, and a rectifier attached to a liquid product drum.

This method comprises a separation of a feed stream (16) into a first fraction (41A) and a second fraction (41B). It comprises injecting the first cooled feed fraction (42) into a first separating flask (22) to produce a light head stream (44). The method comprises expanding a turbine feed fraction (48) resulting from the light head stream (44) in a first turbine (26) up to a first pressure and injecting the first expanded fraction (54) into a distillation column (30). The method comprises expanding the second fraction of the feed stream (41B) in a second turbine (40) up to a second pressure substantially equal to the first pressure. The second expanded fraction (91A) from the second dynamic expansion turbine (40) is used to form a cooled reflux stream (91B) injected into the column (30).

A helium-containing stream is recovered from a natural gas feed using a membrane followed by multiple distillation steps. Refrigeration is provided by expanding a bottoms liquid with a higher nitrogen content than the feed, achieving a lower temperature in the process. The helium-enriched vapor is then purified and the helium-containing waste stream is recycled to maximize recovery and reduce the number of compressors needed. The helium-depleted natural gas stream can be returned at pressure for utilization or transportation.

A crude helium stream is recovered from a natural gas feed by distillation. Refrigeration from expanding a portion of the bottoms liquid is used to partially condense the helium-enriched overhead vapor and generate a crude helium vapor and a helium-containing liquid stream that is recycled to the distillation column to maximize helium recovery. The helium-depleted natural gas stream can be returned at pressure for utilization or transportation.

A boosting system which boosts a target gas to a pressure which is equal to or greater than a target pressure higher than a critical pressure includes a compression portion which compresses the target gas to an intermediate pressure which is equal to or greater than the critical pressure and is less than the target pressure to generate an intermediate supercritical fluid, a cooling portion which cools the intermediate supercritical fluid generated by the compression portion to a temperature near to a critical temperature to generate an intermediate supercritical pressure liquid, a pump portion which boosts the intermediate supercritical pressure liquid generated by the cooling portion to a pressure which is equal to or greater than the target pressure, and a cooling temperature adjusting portion which adjusts a temperature of the intermediate supercritical pressure liquid generated by the cooling portion in an upstream side of a pump.

The present invention provides strategies to integrate adsorption and liquefaction techniques to separate hydrocarbon feed mixtures into purified light and heavy components, respectively. Initially, the hydrocarbon stream is separated into a light and heavy stream. The light stream can be integrated into a natural gas product. The heavy stream is partially liquefied. A first gas liquid separation of the partially liquefied heavy stream at an elevated pressure separates the liquid heavy stream from a methane-containing gas. The rejected methane component, which generally will include some rejected C2 and C3+ material, can be recycled to be combined with the feed mixture for re-processing. A further aspect of the strategy is then to practice at least one additional gas-liquid separation of the separated liquid heavy stream at a lower pressure effective to help further resolve the liquid heavy stream from C2-containing gas. The rejected C2 component, which generally will include some rejected C1 and C3+ material, can then be recycled back into the feed mixture for reprocessing or used as all or a portion of a light hydrocarbon product.

Methods and apparatus for the production of ultra high purity carbon monoxide having a carbon dioxide content of 0.1 ppm or less is disclosed. Carbon dioxide is removed from a product stream using a reversing heat exchanger to freeze the carbon dioxide out of the product stream, This provides the ultra high purity carbon monoxide product which meets the requirements of the electronic industry applications.

Process for the synthesis of ammonia from a make-up gas containing hydrogen and nitrogen, said process comprising: generation of a synthesis gas (8) containing hydrogen and nitrogen in a molar ratio lower than 3, inside a front-end section (2); a first cryogenic purification, designed to remove nitrogen and raise said molar ratio; conversion of the synthesis gas into ammonia (13) inside a high-pressure synthesis loop (6), with extraction from said loop of a purge stream (14) containing hydrogen and inert gases; wherein at least a portion of said purge stream (14) undergoes a further purification in order to recover at least part of the hydrogen contained therein, obtaining at least one stream (15, 15a, 16, 18) containing recovered hydrogen which is recycled to the process.