Modular NGL recovery

Honeywell UOP (Des Plaines, Ill.; www.uop.com) has adapted its recycle-split-vapor (RSV) technology for natural-gas liquid (NGL) recovery into a new, modular offering, RSV2, which enables quick retrofitting of existing gas-processing plants with minimal downtime. “The RSV2 technology can increase ethane recovery up to greater than 99%,” explains John Wilkinson, general manager of UOP’s Ortloff Engineers division. “In addition, when operating in full ethane-rejection mode, the technology can increase propane recovery up to greater to than 99%.” The RSV2 technology functions by recycling, cooling and condensing a high-purity product stream, providing a new reflux stream to an extension of the existing column, which enables both higher-purity products, as well as increased capacity through the gas-processing plant, adds Wilkinson. The RSV2 technology owes its recovery effectiveness to its ability to overcome the equilibrium limitations of existing gas-subcooled process (GSP) designs by providing a leaner reflux stream to the column, in both the recovery and rejection modes of operation. Honeywell UOP will install its first RSV2 units for Brazos Midstream (Fort Worth, Tex.; www.brazosmidstream.com), which will see the company…