Standalone high-pressure heavies removal unit for LNG processing

A method for reducing solid deposition during liquefaction in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, the method comprising:

• forming a partially condensed feed gas by partially condensing a chilled feed gas into a vapor phase and a liquid phase;
• receiving the partially condensed feed gas at a heavies removal column, the heavies removal column including an upper section and a lower section, the partially condensed feed gas received at the upper section;
• extracting freezing components from the partially condensed feed gas disposed in the heavies removal column using a reflux stream received by the upper section of the heavies removal column;
• removing the freezing components from the heavies removal column as a condensate;
• forming a first portion and a second portion of a clean feed gas that is output by the heavies removal column, the clean feed gas being free of the freezing components for downstream liquefaction;
• compressing the first portion of the clean feed gas;
• separating an overhead vapor from a stabilizer into a liquid stream and a vapor stream in a stabilizer reflux drum;
• forming a partially condensed liquid stream from the liquid stream, using a heavies removal column reflux condenser;
• and
• producing the reflux stream using the second portion of the clean feed gas and the partially condensed liquid stream in a reflux cooler.

A system for reducing solid deposition during liquefaction in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, the system comprising:

• a heavies removal column configured to receive a partially condensed feed gas, the heavies removal column being a standalone heavies removal unit and including an upper section and a lower section, the partially condensed feed gas configured to be received at the upper section;
• a top bed of the upper section of the heavies removal column configured to receive a reflux stream, the reflux stream configured to extract freezing components from the partially condensed feed gas for removal as a condensate from the heavies removal column, the heavies removal column configured to output a clean vapor free of freezing components for downstream liquefaction;
• a feed gas exchanger configured to receive a dry feed gas and a first portion of the clean vapor from the heavies removal column, the feed gas exchanger chilling the dry feed gas with the clean vapor to form a chilled feed gas;
• a stabilizer reflux drum configured to separate an overhead vapor from a stabilizer into a liquid stream and a vapor stream;
• a heavies removal column reflux condenser configured to form a partially condensed liquid stream from the liquid stream;
• and
• a reflux cooler configured to receive a second portion of the clean vapor from the heavies removal column and the partially condensed liquid stream, the reflux cooler producing the reflux stream using the second portion of the clean vapor and the partially condensed liquid stream.