Abstract:
A system and method for removal of a contaminant comprising removing a liquefied portion of a refrigerant stream comprising nitrogen from a reverse Brayton cycle refrigerant system, introducing the liquefied refrigerant stream into a contaminant removal column as a reflux stream removing a contaminant stream from the bottom of the contaminant removal column, removing a vapor stream enriched in nitrogen from the top of the contaminant removal column, and introducing the vapor stream enriched in nitrogen back into the reverse Brayton cycle refrigerant system.
Abstract:
A process is provided for denitrogenation of a crude LNG stream. A crude LNG stream comprising between about 1% and 10% nitrogen, and the remainder methane and heavier hydrocarbons, is expanded in a means for expansion, and cooled. Resultant crude LNG stream is introduced into nitrogen rejection column, wherein nitrogen content of LNG is reduced. A nitrogen-enriched vapor stream is withdrawn from top of the column, and a nitrogen-diminished liquid stream is withdrawn from bottom of the column. The nitrogen-diminished bottoms LNG stream is pumped to higher pressure and then divided into two streams. The second stream is reduced in pressure and then passed through reboiler heat exchanger, thus cooling the crude LNG stream. Partially vaporized second stream is reinjected into column at a level above the level of withdrawal of nitrogen-diminished bottoms LNG stream and below the level of introduction of crude LNG feed stream to provide column boilup.
Abstract:
Method for gas liquefaction comprising cooling a feed gas by a first refrigeration system in a first heat exchange zone and withdrawing a substantially liquefied stream therefrom, further cooling the substantially liquefied stream by indirect heat exchange with one or more work-expanded refrigerant streams in a second heat exchange zone, and withdrawing therefrom a further cooled, substantially liquefied stream. At least one of the one or more work-expanded refrigerant streams is provided by compressing one or more refrigerant gases to provide a compressed refrigerant stream, cooling all or a portion of the compressed refrigerant stream in a third heat exchange zone to provide a cooled, compressed refrigerant stream, and work expanding the cooled, compressed refrigerant stream to provide one of the one or more work-expanded refrigerant streams. The flow rate of a work-expanded refrigerant stream in the second heat exchange zone typically is less than the total flow rate of one or more work-expanded refrigerant streams in the third heat exchange zone.
Abstract:
The separation of methane from an admixture (110) with ethane and higher hydrocarbons, especially natural gas, using a scrub column (114), in which the admixture is separated into a methane-rich overhead (116) that is partially condensed (122) to provide reflux to the column (114) and liquid methane-depleted bottoms liquid (126), is improved by providing additional reflux (136) derived from an ethane enriched stream (130) from fractionation (128) of the bottoms liquid. Preferably, absorber liquid (140) from the fractionation (128) also is introduced into the scrub column. The vapor fraction (120) remaining after partial condensation can be liquefied (122) to provide LNG product (124).
Abstract:
A process for producing a nitrogen-enriched vapor product from a supply of a nitrogen-rich liquid uses a purifying device and a distillation column having a distillation zone. The process includes the steps of: feeding at least a portion of the supply of the nitrogen-rich liquid to the distillation zone at a first location; feeding a stream of a gas containing nitrogen and at least one contaminant to the purifying device, wherein the gas is cooled by a cryogenic liquid whereby at least a portion of the at least one contaminant condenses, solidifies, or dissolves; eventually feeding at least a portion of the cool gas from the purifying device to the distillation zone at a second location below the first location; withdrawing a stream of the nitrogen-enriched vapor product from the distillation zone; and withdrawing a stream of an oxygen-enriched liquid from the distillation zone.
Abstract:
A method for liquefaction using a closed loop refrigeration system, the method comprising the steps of (a) compressing a gaseous refrigerant stream in at least one compressor; (b) cooling the compressed gaseous refrigerant stream in a first heat exchanger; (c) expanding at least a first portion of the cooled, compressed gaseous refrigerant stream from the first heat exchanger in a first expander to provide a first expanded gaseous refrigerant stream; and (d) cooling and substantially liquefying a feed gas stream to form a substantially liquefied feed gas stream in a second heat exchanger through indirect heat exchange against at least a first portion of the first expanded gaseous refrigerant stream from the first expander, wherein the first expanded gaseous refrigerant stream exiting the first expander is substantially vapor.
Abstract:
Processes are provided for the denitrogenation of a crude LNG stream. A crude LNG stream is expanded and then cooled in a thermosyphon reboiler. The resultant crude LNG stream is introduced into a nitrogen rejection column, wherein the nitrogen content of the LNG is reduced as the liquid flows down the column. A nitrogen-enriched vapor stream is withdrawn from the top of the column, and a first, and optionally a second, nitrogen-diminished liquid stream is withdrawn from the bottom of the column. The first stream may be recovered as a LNG product, and the second stream is passed through the thermosyphon reboiler, cooling the crude LNG stream, while partially vaporizing the second stream. The vaporized second stream is reinjected into the column at a level above the level of withdrawal of the second nitrogen-diminished bottoms LNG stream to provide column boilup. Alternatively, the thermosyphon reboiler is placed within the column.
Abstract:
A process to convert heat into power is set forth wherein, to make the cycle more suitable to low grade heat, the working fluid remains substantially in the liquid state after being heat exchanged against the heat source and a dense fluid expander is used in place of a conventional vapor expander to subsequently work expand the liquid working fluid.
Abstract:
A process for producing a nitrogen-enriched vapor product from a supply of a nitrogen-rich liquid uses a purifying device and a distillation column having a distillation zone. The process includes the steps of: feeding at least a portion of the supply of the nitrogen-rich liquid to the distillation zone at a first location; feeding a stream of a gas containing nitrogen and at least one contaminant to the purifying device, wherein the gas is cooled by a cryogenic liquid whereby at least a portion of the at least one contaminant condenses, solidifies, or dissolves; eventually feeding at least a portion of the cool gas from the purifying device to the distillation zone at a second location below the first location; withdrawing a stream of the nitrogen-enriched vapor product from the distillation zone; and withdrawing a stream of an oxygen-enriched liquid from the distillation zone.
Abstract:
Process for the liquefaction of natural gas and the recovery of components heavier than methane wherein natural gas is cooled and separated in a first distillation column into an overhead vapor enriched in methane and a bottoms stream enriched in components heavier than methane, wherein the first distillation column utilizes a liquefied methane-containing reflux stream. This reflux stream may be provided by a condensed portion of the overhead vapor or a portion of totally condensed overhead vapor that is subsequently warmed. The bottoms stream may be separated in one or more additional distillation columns to provide one or more product streams, any of which are partially or totally withdrawn as recovered hydrocarbons. A stream of unrecovered liquid hydrocarbons may be combined with either the condensed portion of the overhead vapor or a portion of totally condensed overhead vapor that is subsequently warmed.