Abstract:
A method for the liquefaction of an industrial gas by integration of a methanol plant and an air separation unit (ASU) is provided. The method can include the steps of: (a) providing a pressurized natural gas stream (24, 27), a pressurized purge gas stream (48) originating from a methanol plant, and a pressurized air gas stream (132) comprising an air gas originating from the ASU; (b) expanding three different pressurized gases to produce three cooled streams (32, 62, 142), wherein the three different pressurized gases are the pressurized natural gas stream, the pressurized purge gas stream, and the pressurized air gas stream; and (c) liquefying the industrial gas (44) in a liquefaction unit against the three cooled streams to produce a liquefied industrial gas stream (46). The industrial gas to be liquefied is selected from the group consisting of a first portion of the pressurized natural gas stream, a nitrogen gas stream, hydrogen and combinations thereof.
Abstract:
Method of liquefying hydrogen at elevated pressure comprising precooling (17) the hydrogen by indirect heat exchange with evaporating liquefied natural gas; cooling in at least two heat exchangers (20, 21, 23) arranged in series the gaseous hydrogen stream, wherein the heat is transferred to a refrigerant stream (25), to obtain a cooled gaseous hydrogen stream and a warm refrigerant stream; expanding (27) the cooled gaseous hydrogen stream to a low pressure; liquefying the expanded fluid hydrogen stream by indirect heat exchange (30) with evaporating liquefied refrigerant; withdrawing the liquefied hydrogen stream as product stream (19) ; returning the gaseous refrigerant stream (25) via the at least two heat exchangers (23, 21, 20) to obtain warm refrigerant; compressing (33) the warm refrigerant and removing the heat of compression (37) by indirect heat exchange with evaporating liquefied natural gas to obtain an after-cooled compressed refrigerant stream at high pressure; cooling the after-cooled compressed refrigerant stream (35) by passing the stream through the at least two heat exchangers (20, 21, 23), and expanding (39) the cooled refrigerant stream to a pressure at which the refrigerant is liquefied; and withdrawing from the compressed refrigerant stream upstream (35) of each heat exchanger (20, 21, 23) a side stream (40, 41, 42), expanding (45, 46, 47) the side stream to the refrigerant pressure, and adding the expanded side stream (48, 49, 50) to the gaseous refrigerant stream before passing the combined stream through the cold side of the respective heat exchanger (20, 21, 23).
Abstract:
A method for the liquefaction of an industrial gas (26, 44) by integration of a methanol plant and an air separation unit (ASU) is provided. The method can include the steps of: (a) providing a pressurized natural gas stream (24, 27), a pressurized purge gas stream (47, 48) composed predominately of hydrogen and originating from a methanol plant, and a pressurized air gas stream (112) comprising an air gas from the ASU; (b) expanding three different pressurized gases to produce three cooled streams (32, 61/62, 122), wherein the three different pressurized gases consist of the pressurized natural gas stream, the pressurized purge gas stream, and the pressurized air gas stream; and (c) liquefying the industrial gas in a liquefaction unit against the three cooled streams to produce a liquefied industrial gas stream (46), wherein the industrial gas to be liquefied is selected from the group consisting of a first portion of the pressurized natural gas stream (26, 44), a nitrogen gas stream, hydrogen and combinations thereof.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for liquefying hydrogen. To reduce the specific energy consumption, the following process steps are used: a) the precooling of the hydrogen stream by indirect heat exchange against a pressurized LNG stream to a temperature of between 140 and 130 K, b) the precooling of the hydrogen stream by indirect heat exchange against a coolant to a temperature of between 85 and 75 K, c) where the precooling of the coolant takes place against a pressurized LNG stream, and d) the cooling and at least partial liquefaction of the precooled hydrogen stream takes place by indirect heat exchange against another hydrogen stream channeled through a closed cooling circuit, e) where the precooling of the condensed hydrogen stream, which is channeled through a closed cooling circuit, takes place against a pressurized LNG stream.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for compressing a gas mixture comprising neon, in a closed-loop cycle. The method comprises: providing a flow of the gas mixture and providing a compression device having at least one gas seal (33) and providing a gas seal flow to the at least one gas seal. The gas mixture is then compressed in the compression device, thereby forming a compressed gas mixture. A composition of the gas mixture is measured in at least one location. The method further comprises comparing the measured composition of the gas mixture with respect to a predetermined value or range, and determining if there is a deviation from the predetermined value or range. When a deviation from the predetermined value is determined at least one operating parameter of the process cycle is adjusted to optimise the parameter for the change in composition; and/or the composition of the gas mixture in the cycle is adjusted, so that the measured composition of the gas mixture no longer deviates from the predetermined value or range.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a refrigerant composition. According to the invention it is envisioned that the composition comprises comprising an inert gas selected from nitrogen, argon, neon and a mixture thereof, and a mixture of at least two C 1 -C 5 hydrocarbons. The present invention further relates to the use of the refrigerant composition in a method for liquefying a gaseous substance, particularly hydrogen or helium.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for liquefying hydrogen, the method comprises the steps of: cooling a feed gas stream comprising hydrogen with a pressure of at least 15 bar(a) to a temperature below the critical temperature of hydrogen in a first cooling step yielding a liquid product stream. According to the invention, the feed gas stream is cooled by a closed first cooling cycle with a high pressure first refrigerant stream comprising hydrogen, wherein the high pressure first refrigerant stream is separated into at least two partial streams, a first partial stream is expanded to low pressure, thereby producing cold to cool the precooled feed gas below the critical pressure of hydrogen, and compressed to a medium pressure, and wherein a second partial stream is expanded at least close to the medium pressure and guided into the medium pressure first partial stream.