초록 ▼

The invention of this application relates to the production and transportation of hydrocarbons which are initially or normally in the gaseous state. Specifically, the invention provides processes and an apparatus for drying or removing water vapor and condensable hydrocarbons and other condensable c

The invention of this application relates to the production and transportation of hydrocarbons which are initially or normally in the gaseous state. Specifically, the invention provides processes and an apparatus for drying or removing water vapor and condensable hydrocarbons and other condensable components from the natural gas stream.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of treating natural gas in a closed energy cycle process to recover condensable components in said stream comprising cooling a high pressure gas stream to a temperature in the range of about 25°-60°F. by passing said high pressure gas stream through a cold environment provided by an expande

A method of treating natural gas in a closed energy cycle process to recover condensable components in said stream comprising cooling a high pressure gas stream to a temperature in the range of about 25°-60°F. by passing said high pressure gas stream through a cold environment provided by an expanded gas in an expanded gas separator; separating condensed components from said high pressure gas stream; introducing said cooled high pressure gas stream into a vortex chambEr tangentially, expanding said gas at high velocity, and separating said gas stream into a hot gas stream and a cold gas stream; passing said cold gas stream into said cold environment as part of said expanded gas in said expanded gas separator to provide said cold environment which cools said high pressure gas stream and to recover therefrom condensable components in said cold environment as liquid product; passing said hot gas stream through a cooler where it is indirectly cooled by said cold product from said expanded gas separator and introducing said cooled hot gas stream into said expanded gas separator as another part of said expanded gas to separate and recover condensable components as said cold liquid product; adjusting the temperature and pressure of the expanded gas and passing said expanded gas to a gas product receiver from said expanded gas separator; and adjusting the temperature and pressure of the cold liquid product and passing said liquid product to a liquid product receiver from said expanded gas separator.