Process for recovering condensible components from a gas stream

Claim 2

In a continuous cyclic process for recovering desired condensible components from a main gas stream utilizing a plurality of stationary adsorbent beds wherein during each cycle one of the adsorbent beds adsorbs condensible components from the gas stream producing a residue gas stream, another of the beds is simultaneously cooled and yet another of the beds is simultaneously heated and stripped, the improvement comprising: passing the main gas stream during a first part of each cycle through a first bed so that condensible components are adsorbed therefrom, said first part of each cycle being equal to the time required for the residue gas stream from the first bed to reach a condensible component content of a predetermined level; simultaneously cooling a second bed with a cooling gas stream confined within a closed circuit so that the pressure level of the cooling gas stream is reduced and the second bed is prevented from becoming preloaded with condensible components during the cooling thereof; passing the main gas stream during the remainder of each cycle serially through the first and second beds so that additional condensible components are adsorbed on the first bed, pressure is restored to the cooling gas stream and condensible components contained in the residue gas stream from the first bed are adsorbed on the second bed; heating and stripping condensible components from a third bed during each cycle with a regeneration gas stream; and condensing and recovering the stripped condensible components from the regeneration gas stream.

Claim 3

The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said first, second and third beds is comprised of a plurality of stationary adsorption beds.

Claim 4

The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said regeneration gas stream is continuously circulated in a closed circuit.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein the main gas stream is natural gas and the desired condensible components are water and heavy hydrocarbon components contained therein.

Claim 6

A pRocess for recovering desired condensible components from a main gas stream which comprises the steps of: passing the main gas stream through a stationary adsorbent bed so that said condensible components are adsorbed therefrom and so that a main residue gas stream is produced having a condensible component content below a predetermined level; conducting the main residue gas stream to a point of use or distribution; cooling another stationary adsorbent bed with a cooling gas stream confined within a closed circuit so that the pressure level of the cooling gas stream is reduced and the bed is cooled without becoming preloaded with condensible components during the cooling thereof; changing the flow pattern of the main residue gas stream when the condensible component content thereof reaches a predetermined level whereby it passes through the cooled bed prior to being conducted to the point of use or distribution so that pressure is restored to the cooling gas stream, the cooled bed is preloaded with condensible components and the main residue gas stream continues to have a condensible component content below said predetermined level; simultaneously heating and stripping yet another stationary adsorbent bed to remove condensible components therefrom; and continuously cycling the main gas, cooling gas and regeneration gas streams so that the bed just adsorbing condensible components is heated and stripped with the regeneration gas stream, the bed just cooled and preloaded adsorbs condensible components from the main gas stream, and the bed just heated and stripped is cooled with the cooling gas stream and preloaded with condensible components from the main residue gas stream.

Claim 7

A pRocess for recovering desired condensible components from a main gas stream which comprises the steps of: passing the main gas stream through a stationary adsorbent bed so that said condensible components are adsorbed therefrom and so that a main residue gas stream is produced having a condensible component content below a predetermined level; conducting the main residue gas stream to a point of use or distribution; cooling another stationary adsorbent bed with a cooling gas stream confined within a closed circuit so that the pressure level of the cooling gas stream is reduced and the bed is cooled without becoming preloaded with condensible components during the cooling thereof; changing the flow pattern of the main residue gas stream when the condensible component content thereof reaches a predetermined level whereby it passes through the cooled bed prior to being conducted to the point of use or distribution so that pressure is restored to the cooling gas stream, the cooled bed is preloaded with condensible components and the main residue gas stream continues to have a condensible component content below said predetermined level; simultaneously heating and stripping yet another stationary adsorbent bed to remove condensible components therefrom; and continuously cycling the main gas, cooling gas and regeneration gas streams so that the bed just adsorbing condensible components is heated and stripped with the regeneration gas stream, the bed just cooled and preloaded adsorbs condensible components from the main gas stream, and the bed just heated and stripped is cooled with the cooling gas stream and preloaded with condensible components from the main residue gas stream.

Claim 8

The process as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said stationary adsorbent beds comprises a plurality of stationary adsorbent beds.

Claim 9

The process as set forth in claim 5 wherein said regeneration gas stream is continuously circulated in a closed circuit.

Claim 10

The process as set forth in claim 5 wherein the main gas stream is natural gas and the desired condensible components are water and heavy hydrocarbon components contained therein.

Claim 11

A process for recovering desired condensible components from a main gas stream which comprises the steps of: passing the main gas stream through a stationary adsorbent bed so that the condensible components are adsorbed therefrom and so that a main residue gas stream is produced having a condensible component content below a predetermined level; conducting the main residue gas stream to a point of use or distribution; cooling another stationary adsorbent bed with a cooling gas stream confined within a closed circuit so that the bed is cooled without becoming preloaded with condensible components during the cooling thereof; passing a portion of the main residue gas stream through the cooled bed when the condensible component content of the main residue gas stream reaches said predetermined level so that the cooled bed is preloaded with condensible components and the portion of the main residue gas stream passed therethrough has a condensible component content below said predetermined level; combining the portion of the main residue gas stream from the cooled bed with the remaining portion of the main residue gas stream thereby producing a combined main residue gas stream having a condensible component content below said predetermined level; simultaneously heating and stripping yet another stationary adsorbent bed to remove condensible components therefrom; and continuously cycling the main gas, cooling gas and regeneration gas streams so that the bed adsorbing condensible components is heated and stripped with the regeneration gas stream, the bed just cooled and preloaded is adsorbing condensible components from the main gas stream, and the bed just heated and stripped is cooled with the cooling gas stream and preloaded with condensible components from the main residue gas stream.

Claim 12

A process for recovering desired condensible components from a main gas stream which comprises the steps of: passing the main gas stream through a stationary adsorbent bed so that the condensible components are adsorbed therefrom and so that a main residue gas stream is produced having a condensible component content below a predetermined level; conducting the main residue gas stream to a point of use or distribution; cooling another stationary adsorbent bed with a cooling gas stream confined within a closed circuit so that the bed is cooled without becoming preloaded with condensible components during the cooling thereof; passing a portion of the main residue gas stream through the cooled bed when the condensible component content of the main residue gas stream reaches said predetermined level so that the cooled bed is preloaded with condensible components and the portion of the main residue gas stream passed therethrough has a condensible component content below said predetermined level; combining the portion of the main residue gas stream from the cooled bed with the remaining portion of the main residue gas stream thereby producing a combined main residue gas stream having a condensible component content below said predetermined level; simultaneously heating and stripping yet another stationary adsorbent bed to remove condensible components therefrom; and continuously cycling the main gas, cooling gas and regeneration gas streams so that the bed adsorbing condensible components is heated and stripped with the regeneration gas stream, the bed just cooled and preloaded is adsorbing condensible components from the main gas stream, and the bed just heated and stripped is cooled with the cooling gas stream and preloaded with condensible components from the main residue gas stream.

Claim 13

The Process as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said stationary adsorbent beds is comprised of a plurality of stationary adsorption beds.

Claim 14

The process as set forth in claim 9 wherein said regeneration gas stream is continuously circulated in a closed circuit.