Abstract:
A gas liquefaction process, especially for producing LNG, maintains product flow rate and temperature by controlling the refrigeration so that variation to reduce any difference between actual and required product temperatures is initiated before variation of the product flow rate to reduce any difference between actual and required flow rates. In preferred embodiments, the flow rate of one of a first refrigerant used to liquefy natural gas and a second refrigerant used to subcool the liquefied gas is controlled by a difference between actual and predetermined liquefied product flow rate and the flow rates of the other refrigerant and of the product are controlled by respective process temperature differences between actual and predetermined values.
Abstract:
A gas (1) is liquefied by cooling successively through at least two temperature ranges by vaporization of respective refrigerants (117, 213 & 315) with the vaporizing refrigerant providing the coldest temperature range further vaporizing (317) at temperatures above the highest temperature of that range. The partially vaporized refrigerant (316) that provided the coldest temperature range preferably is further vaporized (317) against a compressed return vapor (328) in a recirculating refrigeration system.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus of removing heavy hydrocarbons from a natural gas feed stream, the method comprising using first and second hydrocarbon removal systems in series such that the first system processes the natural gas feed stream to produce a heavy hydrocarbon depleted natural gas stream and the second system processes at least a portion of the heavy hydrocarbon depleted natural gas stream from the first system to produce a natural gas stream lean in heavy hydrocarbons, wherein one of said systems is a adsorption system that comprises one or more beds of adsorbent for adsorbing and thereby removing heavy hydrocarbons from a heavy hydrocarbon containing natural gas, and the other of said systems is a gas-liquid separation system for separating a heavy hydrocarbon containing natural gas into a heavy hydrocarbon depleted natural gas vapor and a heavy hydrocarbon enriched liquid.
Abstract:
A gas liquefaction process, especially for producing LNG, maintains product flow rate (116) and temperature (114) by controlling the refrigeration so that variation to reduce any difference between actual and required product temperatures is initiated before variation of the product flow rate to reduce any difference between actual and required flow rates. In preferred embodiments, the flow rate of one of a first refrigerant used to liquefy natural gas and a second refrigerant used to subcool the liquefied gas is controlled (132, 138) by a difference between actual and predetermined liquefied product flow rate and the flow rates of the other refrigerant and of the product are controlled (132, 138, 120) by respective process temperature differences between actual and predetermined values.
Abstract:
The denitrogenation of an expanded crude LNG stream (104) is conducted in a nitrogen rejection column (150) reboiled by partial vaporization of only a portion (112) of nitrogen bottoms liquid in a thermosyphon reboiler (106) that cools the crude LNG stream before or after expansion (102). The thermosyphon reboiler can be located external of or within the sump of the column.
Abstract:
Natural gas (NG) is liquefied in a hybrid liquefaction cycle (1, 2 & 3) in which the gas feed is precooled (10) using vaporizing liquefied refrigerant gas; liquefied (20) using vaporizing mixed refrigerant comprising ethylene and at least one other refrigerant selected from hydrocarbons and halocarbons; and subcooled (30) using a work expanded pressurized gaseous refrigerant stream. Preferably, the liquefied refrigerant gas used for precooling is propane, the mixed refrigerant does not contain ethane or nitrogen and the pressurized gaseous refrigerant is nitrogen.
Abstract:
Method for the rejection of nitrogen from condensed natural gas which comprises (a) introducing the condensed natural gas into a distillation column at a first location therein, withdrawing a nitrogen-enriched overhead vapor stream from the distillation column, and withdrawing a purified liquefied natural gas stream from the bottom of the column; (b) introducing a cold reflux stream into the distillation column at a second location above the first locatino, wherein the refrigeration to provide the cold reflux stream is obtained by compressing and work expanding a refrigerant stream comprising nitrogen; and (c) either (1) cooling the purified liquefied natural gas stream or cooling the condensed natural gas stream or (2) cooling both the purified liquefied natural gas stream and the condensed natural gas stream, wherein refrigeration for (1) or (2) is obtained by compressing and work expanding the refrigerant stream comprising nitrogen. The refrigerant stream may comprise all or a portion of the nitrogen-rich vapor stream from the distillation column.
Abstract:
A feed gas is liquefied using a closed loop refrigeration system in which a cooled compressed gaseous refrigerant stream (150) is expanded (136) to provide a first expanded gaseous refrigerant stream (154) that is substantially vapor and is used to cool and substantially liquefy a feed gas stream (100) through indirect heat exchange (110). The substantially liquefied feed gas stream (102) preferably is subcooled through indirect heat exchange (112) against a second expanded gaseous refrigerant stream (172) that preferably also is substantially vapor and can be provided by a cooled compressed gaseous refrigerant stream (170) or by a portion of the first expanded gaseous refrigerant stream (152). Cooling duty for the compressed gaseous refrigerant stream (146) is provided by a portion (160) of the first expanded gaseous refrigerant stream (152), gaseous refrigerant (156) partially warmed by said heat exchange (110) against feed gas, and/or second expanded gaseous refrigerant stream (174) warmed by said subcooling (112).
Abstract:
Contaminant is removed from a refrigerant stream of a reverse Brayton cycle refrigerant system (110-150) by introducing a liquefied portion (164) of the refrigerant stream into a contaminant removal column (162) as a reflux stream, removing a contaminant-enriched stream (167) from the bottom of the contaminant removal column, removing a refrigerant-enriched vapor stream (164) from the top of the contaminant removal column, and introducing said vapor stream back into the reverse Brayton cycle refrigerant system. Reboil duty (270) for the column can be provided by fluid (163) being cooled and/or liquefied by the system or vapor traffic can provided to the column by a portion (563) of the refrigerant stream or said fluid (163). The invention has particular application to natural gas liquefaction.
Abstract:
A gas (1) is liquefied by cooling successively through at least two temperature ranges by vaporization of respective refrigerants (117, 213 & 315) with the vaporizing refrigerant providing the coldest temperature range further vaporizing (317) at temperatures above the highest temperature of that range. The partially vaporized refrigerant (316) that provided the coldest temperature range preferably is further vaporized (317) against a compressed return vapor (328) in a recirculating refrigeration system.