A novel process configuration for hydrocarbon recovery process with auto-refrigeration system

A new process for recovery of natural gas liquids from a treated feed gas is introduced and analyzed. This process applies demethanizer and deethanizer columns in order to produce pure methane and ethane as main products. The needed refrigeration is supplied by a self-refrigeration system. The results show that the self-refrigeration compression power is 38.57% less than the external propane refrigeration cycle. Ethane and propane plus recoveries are greater than 90% and 95% respectively. Energy and exergy analysis of the process is done and results show that the towers and expansion valves have the highest irreversibility while irreversibility of the heat exchangers are acceptable.