Importance

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Abstract

In a process for the rectification of a raw gaseous mixture under superatmospheric pressure and containing at least three components, e.g. natural gas wherein the gaseous mixture is fractionated in a first rectifying column into a head product largely freed of at least one higher-boiling component and into a bottoms product largely freed of at least one lower-boiling component, the improvement which comprises compressing the liquid bottoms product of the first rectifying column; passing resultant compressed bottoms product in indirect heat exchange relationship with the gaseous mixture to at least partially vaporize said bottoms product; engine-expanding resultant vaporized compressed bottoms product to form a liquid which is then passed as reflux into a second rectifying column; and fractionating resultant expanded bottoms product in said second rectifying column to form a top product containing lower-boiling components and into a sump product containing higher-boiling components.

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First Claim