US 11,717,784 B1
Natural gas adsorptive separation system and method
Pedro T. Santos, Houston, TX (US); and Xuepei Yuan, Humble, TX (US)
Assigned to Solid State Separation Holdings, LLC
Filed by Solid State Separation Holdings, LLC, Dallas, TX (US)
Filed on Nov. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/521,245.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/112,054, filed on Nov. 10, 2020.
Int. Cl. B01D 53/04 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 53/0446 (2013.01) [B01D 53/0423 (2013.01); B01D 53/0438 (2013.01); B01D 2253/102 (2013.01); B01D 2257/7025 (2013.01); B01D 2259/402 (2013.01); B01D 2259/455 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A natural gas separation system, comprising:
a plurality of adsorbent towers coupled to a set of switches, the set of switches directing a natural gas inlet flow through one of:
a first adsorbent tower of the plurality of adsorbent towers, when the set of switches are in a first position; or
a second adsorbent tower of the plurality of adsorbent towers, when the set of switches are in a second position;
the first position further coupling the second adsorbent tower to a closed-loop circuit, comprising a fluid differential pressure pump and a heater, wherein gaseous fluid circulates through the second adsorbent tower, the vacuum pump and heater in a loop until the inlet of the vacuum pump is within a selected temperature of the output of the heater;
the first position further coupling the second adsorbent tower to a desorption circuit comprising:
the vacuum pump;
a compressor;
a heat exchanger; and
a gas-liquid separator; and
a series of valves that select between the closed-loop circuit and the desorption circuit in the first position;
wherein in the first position:
methane or other unwanted light hydrocarbons exists the first adsorbent tower through an outlet; and
natural gas liquids exit the separator when the desorption circuit is selected.