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US005502971A
United States Patent [19] [11] Patent Number: 5,502,971
McCarthy et al. [45] Date of Patent: Apr. 2, 1996
[54] LOW PRESSURE RECOVERY OF OLEFINS 4,451,274 5/1984 Obrien ........................................ 62/20
FROM REFINERY OFFGASES 4,540,422 9/1985 Hampton ... ... 585/867
4,695,672 9/1987 Bunting ..... ... 585/867
[75] Inventors: Frank D. McCarthy, Wayne; Stephen -
; |?, tail.
5 3 CI al. ...... ---

#n 4,883,515 11/1989 Mehra et al. ......... ... 62/20

g 3 * * ** * * 4,900,347 2/1990 McCue, Jr. et al. .. ... 62/24
[73] Assignee: ABB Lummus Crest Inc., Bloomfield, 5,220,097 6/1993 Lam et al. .............................. 585/809
N.J. Primary ExaminerRonald C. Capossela
Attorney, Agent, or FirmChilton, Alix & Van Kirk
21] Appl. No.: 370,005
[21] App [57] ABSTRACT
[22] Filed: Jan. 9, 1995
A low pressure cryogenic- process is- disclosed
-- -
for recovering
[51] Int. Cl." ~~~~ F25J 3/00 C2 and heavier hydrocarbons and particularly olefins from a
[52] U.S. Cl. .................................... 62/20; 62/40; 585/867 refinery offgas containing hydrogen, methane, nitrogen
[58] Field of Search ........................... 62/20, 40; 585/867 oxide in addition to the C2 and heavier hydrocarbons. The
conventional high pressures are eliminated and the tempera
[56] References Cited tures are maintained higher than the temperature at which
nitrated gums can form while still maintaining high olefin
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS recovery. The feed is deethanized or depropanized to remove
2,321,666 6/1943 Felbeck .................................. 62/175.5 the Ca and heavier hydrocarbons at a temperature above the
2,887,850 5/1959 Adams ........................................ 62/17 nitrated gum formation temperature. The overhead is then
2,956,410 10/1960 Palazzo et al. ............................. 62/13 demethanized in a column using an enriching zone above the
3,520,143 7/1970 Becker ........................................ 62/28 rectifying zone with a feed of C, or heavier paraffins
3,633,371 1/1972 Davison ...................................... 62/17 between these two zones.
4,157,905 6/1979 Hengstebeck ............................... 62/34
4,270,940 6/1981 Rowles et al. . ...... 62/28
4,428,759 1/1984 Ryan et al. ................................. 62/20 6 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet

CI AND LIGHTER
OFFGAS TO FUEL
MECHANICAL
DEETHANIZER REFRIGERATION
OR DEPROPANIZER

MECHANICAL
REFR1CERATION

|8
REFINERY
OFFGAS FROM
BATTERY LIMIT
STRIPPING
REFINERY GAS ZONE
CH!LLING
BY MECHANICAL
REFRIGERATION AND
PROCESS RECUPERATION

CONTAMINANT
REMOVAL

BOTTOMS TO
DOWNSTREAM
PROCESSING
U.S. Patent Apr. 2, 1996 5,502,971

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