초록 ▼

In the fractionation of a gaseous mixture, of hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide, comprising a cold methane wash to obtain a gaseous stream of hydrogen and a liquid stream of carbon monoxide and methane, the improvement wherein of the gaseous mixture prior to the methane wash is subjected to a c

In the fractionation of a gaseous mixture, of hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide, comprising a cold methane wash to obtain a gaseous stream of hydrogen and a liquid stream of carbon monoxide and methane, the improvement wherein of the gaseous mixture prior to the methane wash is subjected to a continuous partial condensation at a temperature higher than the cold methane wash, thereby obtaining a gaseous phase fraction and a condensed liquid phase fraction; the gaseous phase fraction is conducted to the methane wash, and the condensed liquid phase fraction is conducted to a stripping column which produces a bottoms product stream of methane and an overhead product stream of hydrogen and carbon monozide. The continuous partial condensation can be conducted either in a single stage or in multiple stages.

대표청구항 ▼

In a process for the fractionation of a gaseous mixture comprised of hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide, comprising a methane wash conducted in a methane wash column at a relatively low temperature, the improvement comprising subjecting the gaseous mixture which contains at least 25% by volume o

In a process for the fractionation of a gaseous mixture comprised of hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide, comprising a methane wash conducted in a methane wash column at a relatively low temperature, the improvement comprising subjecting the gaseous mixture which contains at least 25% by volume of methane, prior to the methane wash, to a partial condensation at a temperature higher than the relatively low temperature of the methane wash, thereby obtaining a gaseous phase fraction and a condensed liquid phase fraction, additionally cooling the gaseous phase fraction, conducting the additionally cooled gaseous phase fraction to the methane wash, conducting the condensed liquid phase fraction to a stripping column which produces a bottoms product stream comprising methane and an overhead product stream comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane, and recovering methane from the bottoms of the methane wash column in a rectifying column distinct from the stripping column.