By cryogenic processes such high quality products can be economically recovered. Similarly the dehydrogenation of butane within MTBE plants or propane within propane de-hydrogenation plants results in a mixture of hydrogen and condensable hydrocarbons.
The hydrogen is removed from the alkane-olefin mixture by means of cryogenic separation through a combination of plate-fin heat exchangers, phase separators and expansion turbines.
Plate-fin heat exchangers and phase separators are installed in a common shell with insulation against heat input (coldbox). The coldbox is usually completely prefabricated at the Linde workshops and delivered to site as one single piece.
Separation of hydrogen from a bulk quantity of heavy components requires particular adjustments that should be regarded for the heat exchanger design. It has turned out to be of advantage for the design requirements of this cryogenic concept that Linde offers process design, equipment design and equipment manufacturing in one hand.