CRYOGENIC SYSTEM FOR REMOVING ACID GASES FROM A HYDROCARBON GAS STREAM, AND METHOD OF REMOVING ACID GASES

摘要

A SYSTEM FOR REMOVING ACID GASES FROM A RAW GAS STREAM (10, 624) THE SYSTEM INCLUDES A CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION TOWER (10, 640). THE TOWER RECEIVES AND SEPARATES THE RAW GAS STREAM INTO AN OVERHEAD METHANE STREAM (14, 662) AND A BOTTOM LIQUEFIED ACID GAS STREAM (22, 642). REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT (170) DOWNSTREAM OF THE CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION TOWER COOLS THE OVERHEAD METHANE STREAM AND RETURNS A PORTION OF THE OVERHEAD METHANE STREAM TO THE CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION TOWER AS LIQUID REFLUX (18). THE SYSTEM ALSO MAY INCLUDE A FIRST MOLECULAR SIEVE BED UPSTREAM OF THE DISTILLATION TOWER AND A SECOND MOLECULAR SIEVE BED DOWNSTREAM OF THE DISTILLATION TOWER. THE FIRST MOLECULAR SIEVE BED ADSORBS WATER WHILE THE SECOND MOLECULAR SIEVE BED ADSORBS ADDITIONAL ACID GASES FROM THE COOLED OVERHEAD METHANE STREAM. (FIGURE 1)