Nitrogen separation column systems

Abstract

A system for separating nitrogen from hydrocarbon streams comprising a distillation column, a first heat exchange system, and a second heat exchange system. The distillation column has an inlet configured to receive a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising nitrogen and at least 50 mol % hydrocarbons. The first heat exchange system is coupled to a top end of the distillation column and comprises one or more heat exchangers configured to cool the vapor to separate nitrogen from the vapor while simultaneously achieving mass transfer to produce a first product. The second heat exchange system is coupled to a bottom end of the distillation column and comprises one or more heat exchangers configured to heat the liquid to separate liquefied natural gas from the liquid while simultaneously achieving mass transfer to produce a second product.

1 . A system for separating nitrogen from hydrocarbon streams, the system comprising:
 a distillation column comprising:
 an inlet configured to receive a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising nitrogen and at least 50 mol % hydrocarbons; and 
 a plurality of trays or packed beds located above and/or below the inlet and configured to separate the hydrocarbon feed stream into vapor and liquid; 
   a first heat exchange system coupled to a top end of the distillation column, wherein the first heat exchange system comprises one or more heat exchangers configured to cool the vapor to separate nitrogen from the vapor while simultaneously achieving mass transfer in the first heat exchange system to produce a first product; and   a second heat exchange system coupled to a bottom end of the distillation column, wherein the second heat exchange system comprises one or more heat exchangers configured to heat the liquid to separate liquefied natural gas from the liquid while simultaneously achieving mass transfer in the second heat exchange system to produce a second product.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchange system receives a cooling medium and the one or more heat exchangers of the first heat exchange system are configured to cool the vapor utilizing heat transfer from the cooling medium. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first heat exchange system receives a second cooling medium, wherein a first heat exchanger of the one or more heat exchangers utilizes heat transfer from the first cooling medium to cool the vapor, and wherein a second heat exchanger of the one or more heat exchangers utilizes heat transfer from the second cooling medium to cool the vapor. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the cooling medium is at least one of the hydrocarbon feed stream, mixed refrigerant, methane, natural gas, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second heat exchange system receives a heating medium and the one or more heat exchangers of the second heat exchange system are configured to heat the liquid utilizing heat transfer from the heating medium. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the second heat exchange system receives a second heating medium, wherein a first heat exchanger of the one or more heat exchangers utilizes heat transfer from the first heating medium to heat the liquid, and wherein a second heat exchanger of the one or more heat exchangers utilizes heat transfer from the second heating medium to heat the liquid. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the heating medium is at least one of the hydrocarbon feed stream, mixed refrigerant, methane, natural gas, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first product comprises about 90 mol % to about 99.99999 mol % nitrogen. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon feed stream enters a separation section within the distillation column. 
     
     
         10 . A system for separating nitrogen from hydrocarbon streams, the system comprising:
 a distillation column comprising:
 an inlet configured to receive a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising nitrogen and at least 50 mol % hydrocarbons; and 
 a plurality of trays or packed beds located below the inlet and configured to separate the hydrocarbon feed stream into vapor and liquid; and 
   a heat exchange system coupled to a bottom end of the distillation column, wherein the heat exchange system comprises one or more heat exchangers configured to heat the liquid to separate liquefied natural gas from the liquid while simultaneously achieving mass transfer in the heat exchange system to produce a product.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the heat exchange system receives a heating medium and the one or more heat exchangers of the heat exchange system are configured to heat the liquid utilizing heat transfer from the heating medium. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the heat exchange system receives a second heating medium, wherein a first heat exchanger of the one or more heat exchangers utilizes heat transfer from the first heating medium to heat the liquid, and wherein a second heat exchanger of the one or more heat exchangers utilizes heat transfer from the second heating medium to heat the liquid. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the heating medium is at least one of the hydrocarbon feed stream, mixed refrigerant, methane, natural gas, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the product comprises about 0.1 mol % to about 50 mol % nitrogen. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the hydrocarbon feed stream enters a separation section within the distillation column. 
     
     
         16 . A system for separating nitrogen from hydrocarbon streams, the system comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 an inlet configured to receive a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising nitrogen and at least 50 mol % hydrocarbons; and 
 a separation section, wherein the inlet is configured to direct the hydrocarbon feed stream into the separation section, wherein the separation section is configured to separate the hydrocarbon feed stream into vapor and liquid; 
   a first heat exchange system located at a top of the housing, wherein the first heat exchange system comprises one or more heat exchangers configured to cool the vapor to separate nitrogen from the vapor while simultaneously achieving mass transfer in the first heat exchange system to produce a first product; and   a second heat exchange system located at a bottom of the housing, wherein the second heat exchange system comprises one or more heat exchangers configured to heat the liquid to separate liquefied natural gas from the liquid while simultaneously achieving mass transfer in the second heat exchange system to produce a second product.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first heat exchange system receives a cooling medium and the one or more heat exchangers of the first heat exchange system are configured to cool the vapor utilizing heat transfer from the cooling medium. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the second heat exchange system receives a heating medium and the one or more heat exchangers of the second heat exchange system are configured to heat the liquid utilizing heat transfer from the heating medium. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the heating medium is at least one of the hydrocarbon feed stream, mixed refrigerant, methane, natural gas, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first product comprises about 90 mol % to about 99.99999 mol % nitrogen.