Liquefaction apparatus, methods, and systems

An at-shore water-based apparatus for the liquefaction of natural gas, the at-shore water-based apparatus configured to be moored at an at-shore location and configured to communicate electronically with a controller, the apparatus comprising:

• a hull configured to be operable when moored to the at-shore location, the hull defining a bow, a stern, a port side, a starboard side, a centerline axis extending from the bow to the stern, and a mid-ship axis extending between the starboard side to the port side at a middle of the hull, and wherein the hull comprises a plurality of support structures extending through an upper deck of the hull;
• an air-cooled electrically-driven refrigeration system (“AER System”) comprising one or more interconnected modules operatively configured to (i) receive electricity and feed gas from an external source, the external source being separate from the at-shore water-based apparatus, (ii) perform a refrigeration process for converting the feed gas into a liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) with the received electricity using a plurality of electrically-driven compressors and a cryogenic heat exchanger operatively configured on the water-based apparatus, (iii) discharge substantially all thermal energy from the refrigeration process to ambient air with air coolers on the water-based apparatus, and (iv) output the LNG, wherein the AER System comprises a first refrigeration train and a second refrigeration train where a substantial portion of the first refrigeration train is aft of the mid-ship axis and a substantial portion of the second refrigeration train is forward of the mid-ship axis such that a weight of the first refrigeration train is balanced against a weight of the second refrigeration train about the mid-ship axis and wherein the AER System comprises a support frame engageable with the plurality of support structures of the hull such that the weight of the modules of the AER System are supported by the plurality of support structures;
• a plurality of LNG storage tanks that are on a lower deck of the hull wherein each of the LNG storage tanks has a storage volume and is spaced apart in a single row along the centerline axis of the hull such that the storage volume of each tank is approximately centered on the centerline axis, the plurality of LNG storage tanks operatively configured to input the LNG from the AER System, and operatively configured to output the LNG to an LNG transport vessel that is separate from the water-based apparatus;
• and
• a plurality of sensors operatively configured to output first data associated with the water-based apparatus and second data associated with the external source, the first data and the second data adapted to support coordinated functions between the water-based apparatus and the external source;
• and
• means for receiving electronic communications from the controller for controlling the coordinated functions and means for transmitting to the controller.