US 12,222,158 B2
Methods and configuration for retrofitting NGL plant for high ethane recovery
John Mak, Santa Ana, CA (US); Sabrina Devone, Richmond, TX (US); James Shih, Houston, TX (US); and Curt Graham, Mission Viejo, CA (US)
Assigned to FLUOR TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, Irving, TX (US)
Filed by FLUOR TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, Irving, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/348,557.
Application 18/348,557 is a division of application No. 16/325,696, granted, now 11,725,879, previously published as PCT/US2017/050636, filed on Sep. 8, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/489,234, filed on Apr. 24, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/385,748, filed on Sep. 9, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0349633 A1, Nov. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. F25J 3/00 (2006.01); C10G 5/04 (2006.01); C10G 5/06 (2006.01); F25J 3/02 (2006.01)
CPC F25J 3/0238 (2013.01) [C10G 5/04 (2013.01); C10G 5/06 (2013.01); F25J 3/0209 (2013.01); F25J 3/0233 (2013.01); C10G 2300/1025 (2013.01); C10G 2300/4056 (2013.01); F25J 2200/02 (2013.01); F25J 2200/30 (2013.01); F25J 2200/76 (2013.01); F25J 2205/04 (2013.01); F25J 2205/60 (2013.01); F25J 2215/62 (2013.01); F25J 2290/80 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
passing an overhead vapor stream from a demethanizer to an absorber;
contacting, within the absorber, the overhead vapor stream with a cold lean residue gas to produce a liquid portion and a vapor portion within the absorber;
passing the liquid portion back to the demethanizer as a reflux; and
passing between about 10% and about 30% of the vapor portion to a reflux exchanger as a first portion of the vapor portion;
cooling, within the reflux exchanger, at least the first portion of the vapor portion to produce a compressed cooled residue gas, wherein the compressed cooled residue gas is used to form the cold lean residue gas;
passing between about 70% and about 90% of the vapor portion to a subcool exchanger as a second portion of the vapor portion.