Abstract:
A method of liquefying a hydrocarbon stream such as natural gas from a feed stream, the method at least comprising the steps of: (a) providing a feed stream (10); (b) dividing the feed stream (10) of step (a) to provide at least a first feed stream (20) comprising at least 90 mass % of the initial feed stream (10), and a second feed stream (30); (c) liquefying the first feed stream (20) of step (b) at a pressure between 20-100 bar to provide a first liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream (40); (d) cooling the second feed stream (30) of step (b) to provide a cooled feed stream (50); (e) combining the first LNG stream (40) of step (c) with the cooled feed stream (50) of step (d) to provide a combined LNG stream (60); (f) reducing the pressure of the combined LNG stream (60) of step (e); and (g) passing the combined LNG stream (60) of step (f) through a flash vessel (12) to provide a product LNG stream (70) and a gaseous stream (80).
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for liquefying a hydrocarbon stream such as natural gas from a feed stream. The method comprises at least the steps of: first cooling the feed stream (10) against a first cooling refrigerant being cycled in a first cooling refrigerant circuit (100), wherein the first cooling refrigerant comprises >90 mol % propane, second cooling the cooled gas stream (20) to obtain a liquefied stream (60) against a first mixed refrigerant being cycled in a first mixed refrigerant circuit (200), wherein said second cooling is in two or more heat exchangers (42, 44), at least two of which are operating at different pressures and sub-cooling the liquefied stream (60) against a second mixed refrigerant or against a nitrogen refrigerant being cycled in a sub-cooling refrigerant circuit (300), thereby obtaining a sub-cooled hydrocarbon stream (70).
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for cooling two or more liquefied hydrocarbon streams. First (30) and second (30a) liquefied hydrocarbon streams are provided and combined thereby providing a combined liquefied hydrocarbon stream (40). The combined liquefied hydrocarbon stream (40) is further cooled against a refrigerant thereby providing a further cooled liquefied hydrocarbon stream (50) such as liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for cooling a hydrocarbon stream such as natural gas. An initial hydrocarbon stream is passed through a first separator to provide an initial overhead stream and a mixed hydrocarbon feed stream. The initial overhead stream is cooled to provide a cooled hydrocarbon stream such as LNG, and at least a C1 overhead stream and one or more C2, C3 and C4 overhead streams are separated from the mixed hydrocarbon feed stream. At least a fraction of at least one of the group comprising: the C2 overhead stream, the C3 overhead stream and the C4 overhead stream is cooled with the C1 overhead stream to provide a cooled stream, which is further cooled against at least a fraction of the cooled, preferably liquefied, hydrocarbon stream to provide an at least partly liquefied cooled stream.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for cooling and separating a hydrocarbon stream such as natural gas. The method comprises providing a hydrocarbon stream, cooling the hydrocarbon stream (10) to provide a partially liquefied hydrocarbon stream, passing at least a fraction of the partially liquefied hydrocarbon stream into a distillation column through a first inlet, providing a lower feed stream, providing a refrigerant circuit comprising at least a refrigerant stream, heating the lower feed stream against the refrigerant stream to provide a heated lower feed stream and a cooled refrigerant stream, passing the heated lower feed stream into the distillation column through a second inlet lower than the first inlet, and separating the partially liquefied hydrocarbon stream in the distillation column to provide at least a first overhead gaseous stream and a first bottom liquid stream.
Abstract:
A method of cooling a hydrocarbon stream such as natural gas from a feed stream (10), the method at least comprising the steps of: (a) passing the feed stream (10) and a first refrigerant stream (20) through a cooling stage (100) including one or more heat exchangers (12a, 12b) to provide a cooled hydrocarbon stream (30); and (b) circulating the first refrigerant stream (20) around a first refrigerant circuit (110) which includes one or more compressors (14), one or more coolers (16, 18) after the compressor (s), and a refrigerant accumulator (22) after the cooler (s); wherein there are no further coolers between the refrigerant accumulator (22) and the heat exchanger or the first of more than one heat exchanger (12a, 12b).
Abstract:
Method of liquefying a hydrocarbon stream such as natural gas from a feed stream (10), the method at least comprising the steps of: (a) circulating a first refrigerant stream (70) in a first refrigerant circuit (110); (b) cooling the first refrigerant stream (70) in one or more heat exchangers (14) of a first cooling stage (100) to provide a cooled first refrigerant stream (20); (c) passing at least part of the cooled first refrigerant stream (20) through one or more expanders to provide one or more expanded cooled first refrigerant streams (30); (d) passing the or at least one of the expanded cooled first refrigerant streams (30) and the feed stream (10) through the first one or more heat exchangers (14) to provide a cooled hydrocarbon stream (40); (e) passing the cooled hydrocarbon stream (40) through a second cooling stage (200) against a second refrigerant stream (50) to provide a liquefied hydrocarbon stream (60); wherein at least one expander is an expansion turbine (12) whose work energy created in step (c) is used in the first refrigerant circuit (110).
Abstract:
A method of liquefying natural gas from a feed stream (10) comprising at least the steps of: passing the feed stream (10) against a mixed refrigerant being cycled through a heat exchanger (12), to provide an at least partly liquefied hydrocarbon stream (20) having a temperature below −100° C.; outflowing the mixed refrigerant as a liquid and vapour outflow refrigerant stream (80) and passing it through a first separator (18) to provide a vapour refrigerant stream (90) and a liquid refrigerant stream (110); recycling without substantial heat exchange the liquid refrigerant stream (110) into the heat exchanger (12); compressing and cooling the vapour refrigerant stream (90) to provide a cooled compressed stream (100) having a temperature below 0° C. and recycling it into the heat exchanger (12).
Abstract:
Method and apparatus producing a LNG stream, wherein before liquefaction heavier hydrocarbon components are removed from a NG stream to be liquefied, the method at least comprising the steps of: providing a vaporous feed stream (1) of natural gas; feeding the feed stream (1) into a distillation column (10); drawing a bottom stream (17) and an overhead stream (16) from the distillation column (10); and liquefying at least a part of the overhead stream (16) thereby obtaining a LNG stream; wherein the step of feeding the feed stream (1) into the distillation column (10) comprises the sub steps of: splitting the feed stream (1) into first (3a) and second (3b) substreams; feeding the first substream (3a) into the distillation column (10) via a first feed point (7a), at a pressure not lower than the feed stream pressure minus a pressure drop brought about by the said splitting of the feed stream (1); cooling the second substream (3b); and feeding the cooled second substream (7) into the distillation column (10) at a second feed point (7b) overhead of the first feed point (7a).
Abstract:
A mixed refrigerant stream (10) comprising a first mixed refrigerant is passed through one or more heat exchangers (12) to provide a cooled mixed refrigerant stream (20). At least a fraction of a cooling stream (30) comprising a second mixed refrigerant is expanded (14) to provide one or more expanded cooling streams (40a), at least one of which may be passed through one or more of the heat exchangers (12), to cool the mixed refrigerant stream (10) thereby providing the cooled mixed refrigerant stream (20) which is used to cool (22) a hydrocarbon stream (70). The temperature (T1) and the flow (F1) of at least part of the cooled mixed refrigerant stream (20) is monitored, and the flow (F2) of the cooling stream (30) is controlled using the flow F1 and the temperature T1.