A process for purifying a natural gas feed gas stream including methane and hydrocarbons, including step a): cooling the feed gas stream; step b): introducing the cooled stream into a first phase separator vessel in order to produce a liquid stream and a gas stream; step c): separating the gas stream resulting from step b) in a membrane unit from which a methane-enriched permeate stream and one partially condensed residue stream enriched in hydrocarbons exit; step d): introducing the residue stream resulting from step c) into a second phase separator vessel to produce a liquid stream and a gas stream; step e): introducing at least one portion of the liquid stream resulting from step d) into a JT expansion means; step f): heating at least one portion of the expanded by introduction into the heat exchanger used in step a) counter-current to the feed stream.

A method for recovering hydrocarbons with two multistage columns includes receiving a carbon dioxide recycle stream. The carbon dioxide recycle stream is separated in a first multistage column to produce a purified carbon dioxide recycle stream and a light hydrocarbon stream. The light hydrocarbon stream is separated in a second multistage column to produce a liquefied petroleum stream and a natural gas liquids stream. The first multistage column and the second multistage column are the only two multistage columns used in the method.

Gas processing plants and methods are contemplated in CO.sub.2 is effectively removed to very low levels from a feed gas to an NRU unit by adding a physical solvent unit that uses waste nitrogen produced by the NRU as stripping gas to produce an ultra-lean solvent, which is then used to treat the feed gas to the NRU unit. Most preferably, the physical solvent unit includes a flash unit and stripper column to produce the ultra-lean solvent.

The present invention discloses a process for the dissociation of natural gas hydrates comprises injecting additives or hydrate dissociation promoters into the system at the hydrate dissociation temperatures ranging from 283-293 K in conjunction with or without first depressurizing the system to pressures (50%-75%) below the hydrate equilibrium pressure and such leading to the recovery of methane or natural gases.

The invention relates to a method for the treatment of natural gas containing carbon dioxide, methane and paraffins. The method comprising: a step of extracting the paraffins from the natural gas in a paraffin-removal column, and a step of separating the carbon dioxide and the methane in a distillation column. The operation of the two columns being provided by means of the thermal coupling of said two columns using a thermal coupling heat exchanger.

A method for manufacturing biomass based fuel configured to reduce chemical and/or mechanical effects of flue gas on heat transfer surfaces is described. The method comprises providing biomass and steam into a reactor; maintaining said biomass and said steam simultaneously in the reactor, in a pressure of at least 10 bar(a) and at a temperature from 180 C. to 250 C. for at least 2 minutes; and decreasing the pressure in the reactor and/or conveying biomass out of the reactor such that the pressure of the environment of the biomass decreases below 5 bar(a), to produce steam-exploded biomass. The method further comprises adding some combustion additive to the biomass and/or the steam-exploded biomass.

A gas conditioning system is described herein. The system includes a slug catcher configured to separate a hydrocarbon feed stream into a liquid stream and a gas stream, and a first hydrate inhibitor injection unit configured to lower a hydrate formation temperature of the gas stream using a first hydrate inhibitor. The system includes a pressure reduction unit, a first separation unit configured to remove a first liquid stream including the first hydrate inhibitor from the gas stream, a mercury removal unit, and an acid gas removal unit. The system also includes a second hydrate inhibitor injection unit configured to further lower the hydrate formation temperature of the gas stream using a second hydrate inhibitor, a cooling unit, a second separation unit configured to remove a second liquid stream including the second hydrate inhibitor from the gas stream, and a dehydration unit configured to produce a final treated gas stream.

The invention provides a method for generating a solid wood-based material and a hemicellulose-derived material from a wood raw material. The method includes treating the wood raw material under aqueous conditions at elevated temperature and pressure to generate a hemicellulose-containing fluid component and a solid component; separating the fluid component from the solid component; processing at least a part of the solid component into a solid wood-based material; and processing the liquid component into a hemicellulose-derived material. The invention also provides for a wood-derived fuel with a low ash content.

Disclosed is a process for regenerating a hybrid solvent used to remove contaminants from a fluid stream and to provide an improved yield of purified fluid. Said process comprises at least one purification unit (12) and at least one regeneration unit (40) wherein condensed water (72) from the regeneration unit is combined with the regenerated lean hybrid solvent (55) prior to reuse in the purification unit and none of the condensed water is recycled into the regeneration unit.

Multiple risers are provided to perform different steps in a biogas water wash process. The risers may include absorption risers, flashing risers, and stripping risers. In each riser, the inlets to provide fluids to the riser and outlets to remove fluids from the risers are provided at one end of the riser. Each riser may then be located substantially below grade such that the end with the inlets and outlets is accessible at or just above the ground level. The risers within each step of the water wash process may be connected in series, parallel, or a combination thereof. The risers may also be constructed of a polyethylene material to reduce cost and weight of the water wash system.