CRYO-PLUS™ Linde Engineering developed its CRYO-PLUS™ process to recover ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane and heavier components with less energy than traditional hydrocarbon liquid processes.

Working with a number of refineries in a bid to solve their excess fuel gas problems, we have developed and subsequently patented an innovative CRYO-PLUS™ process. This process provides unparalleled ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane and heavier hydrocarbon liquid recovery efficiency. It is ideal for processing low-pressure refinery off-gas streams.

The resulting incremental recovery of the olefins such as ethylene, propylene and butene using CRYO-PLUS™ means that more feedstock is available for alkylation and polymerisation. CRYO-PLUS™ also results in an overall increase in the production of high-octane, low sulphur gasoline.

Building on the proven successes of CRYO-PLUS™ in refinery applications, we discovered that CRYO-PLUS™ also offers a tremendous advantage in natural gas processing, enabling a wider range of operations with a greater level of product recovery. CRYO-PLUS™ provides this flexibility over a wide range of feed gas pressures and feed gas compositions. These advantages demonstrate great value in shale gas processing, where wide variations in pressure and composition are to be expected.

To date, over twenty CRYO-PLUS™ recovery systems have been installed globally. The economic pay-out schedule of CRYO-PLUS™ has been as low as one year. More than fifteen of these systems were designed for recovery of propylene, propane and heavier hydrocarbons. CRYO-PLUS C2=™ has been deployed for the recovery of ethylene, ethane, C2’s and C3+ hydrocarbons in both refineries and natural gas plants.