METHOD TO REMOVE HEAVY HYDROCARBONS Russian patent published in 2017 - IPC C10L3/10 B01D53/47 

FIELD: oil and gas industry.

SUBSTANCE: method for removing heavy hydrocarbons from natural gas stream comprises: directing natural gas feed stream containing water and hydrocarbons C₅ , to adsorbent bed of the short-cycle heating unit (SHU) so as to adsorb at least a portion of water and hydrocarbons C₅ from said natural gas feed stream to produce a first final gas stream having a reduced water and hydrocarbon level C₅ in comparison with said feed stream, regeneration of said adsorbent bed by heating to remove adsorbed water and hydrocarbons C₅ and creating a second gas stream having an increased water and hydrocarbon content C₅ in comparison with said feed stream; cooling said second gas stream to create liquid water and liquid C₅ hydrocarbons and separating said liquids from said second gas stream to create a third gas stream; the direction of said third natural gas stream to the adsorbent bed of the heatless short-cycle adsorption unit (HSAU) so as to adsorb hydrocarbons C₅ from said third gas stream, and an outlet of the second final high pressure gas stream having hydrocarbon content of C₅ less than in said third gas stream. Said SAU unit adsorbs at least at 65°C and at least 500 psia pressure; and regenerating said adsorbent layer in said SAU unit by reducing pressure and creating contaminated low pressure gas stream comprising hydrocarbons C₅₊. A method for removing heavy hydrocarbons from natural gas stream containing methane and heavy hydrocarbons is also disclosed.

EFFECT: removal of contaminants from gases by combining adsorption and condensation.

21 cl, 5 dwg, 7 ex, 7 tbl