US Patent:
20040182752, Sep 23, 2004
Inventors:
Rian Reyneke - Katy TX, US
Michael Foral - Aurora IL, US
Christos Papadopoulos - Naperville IL, US
Jeffery Logsdon - Naperville IL, US
Wayne Eng - League City TX, US
Ian Sinclair - Warrington, GB
International Classification:
C10G007/02
C10G007/00
B01D003/00
B01D003/10
US Classification:
208/351000, 208/350000, 203/075000, 203/077000, 203/078000, 203/080000
Abstract:
This invention is an improved distillation sequence for the separation and purification of ethylene from a cracked gas. A hydrocarbon feed enters a C2 distributor column. The top of the C2 distributor column is thermally coupled to an ethylene distributor column, and the bottoms liquid of a C2 distributor column feeds a deethanizer column. The C2 distributor column utilizes a conventional reboiler. The top of the ethylene distributor is thermally coupled with a demethanizer column, and the bottoms liquid of the ethylene distributor feeds a C2 splitter column. The ethylene distributor column utilizes a conventional reboiler. The deethanizer and C2 splitter columns are also thermally coupled and operated at a substantially lower pressure than the C2 distributor column, the ethylene distributor column, and the demethanizer column. Alternatively, a hydrocarbon feed enters a deethanizer column. The top of the deethanizer is thermally coupled to an ethylene distributor column, and the ethylene distributor column utilizes a conventional reboiler. The top of the ethylene distributor column is thermally coupled with a demethanizer column, and the bottoms liquid of the ethylene distributor column feeds a C2 splitter column. The C2 splitter column operates at a pressure substantially lower than the ethylene distributor column, the demethanizer column, and the deethanizer column.