US 11,988,445 B2
Preparing hydrocarbon streams for storage
David Allen Kennedy, New Braunfels, TX (US); Mark Mulherin Salamon, Schertz, TX (US); and Christopher Scott Yount, San Antonio, TX (US)
Assigned to GE Oil & Gas, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by GE Oil & Gas, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Feb. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/178,613.
Application 17/178,613 is a division of application No. 14/974,602, filed on Dec. 18, 2015, granted, now 10,928,128.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/156,664, filed on May 4, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0172676 A1, Jun. 10, 2021
Int. Cl. F25J 3/02 (2006.01); F25J 3/08 (2006.01)
CPC F25J 3/0214 (2013.01) [F25J 3/0219 (2013.01); F25J 3/0233 (2013.01); F25J 3/0238 (2013.01); F25J 3/08 (2013.01); F25J 2200/74 (2013.01); F25J 2205/04 (2013.01); F25J 2215/04 (2013.01); F25J 2215/62 (2013.01); F25J 2240/40 (2013.01); F25J 2245/02 (2013.01); F25J 2245/90 (2013.01); F25J 2270/12 (2013.01); F25J 2270/60 (2013.01)] 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gas processing system, comprising:
a fluid circuit configured to process an incoming feedstock comprising predominantly ethane liquid into liquid ethane, the fluid circuit comprising:
a first expansion valve;
a distilling unit comprising a first vessel, a second vessel, and a third vessel, the distilling unit further comprising a second expansion valve coupled with the first vessel and the second vessel and a first cooler coupled with the first vessel, the second vessel, and the third vessel;
a flash drum; and
a demethanizer unit comprising a demethanizer column, a second cooler coupled with the demethanizer column, a reflux drum coupled with the second cooler and a pump coupled with the reflux drum and the demethanizer column,
wherein the fluid circuit is configured to direct the incoming feedstock through the first expansion valve to the first vessel, to direct liquid from the first vessel through the second expansion valve to the second vessel, to direct vapor from the first vessel and the second vessel through the first cooler to the third vessel, and to direct liquid from the second vessel and the third vessel to the flash drum,
wherein the fluid circuit is configured to direct vapor from the flash drum to the demethanizer column,
wherein the fluid circuit is configured to direct vapor from the demethanizer column to the second cooler, which cools the vapor, to direct the cooled vapor from the second cooler to the reflux drum, to direct liquid from the reflux drum to the pump, and to direct liquid from the pump to the demethanizer column, and
wherein the fluid circuit is configured to reduce pressure of liquid from the demethanizer column from a first pressure to a second pressure, and direct the liquid, at the second pressure, from the demethanizer column directly to the second vessel.