Ethylene from NGL feedstocks: Low pressure C/sub 2/ splitter

This study shows that for the plant described, the low pressure C/sub 2/ splitter scheme, using an open ethylene refrigeration cycle, has the advantages of $8.4 million lower capital cost and $1.2 million lower annual operating cost, compared with the high-pressure conventional C/sub 2/ splitter scheme. Since capital and energy costs are both significantly lower for the LP scheme, there is no possibility for payout of a conventional HP system.