| abstract |
A process for separation of a high pressure gas stream such as light refinery gases in which the gas mixture is expanded, preferably through a turbine, and separated into first vapor and liquid portions. The first vapor portion may be recovered as, for example, methane-rich product gas. The first liquid portion is raised to an intermediate pressure, revaporized, and introduced to a fractionator from which an ethane-containing stream is recovered. The ethane-containing stream is then cooled and separated into a second vapor portion and a second liquid portion which is then expanded and combined with the expanded starting gas mixture to increase the amount of refrigeration that may be recovered from the first liquid stream prior to its fractionation. |