Back to results
US 2008/0156036 A1Published application
Plant and Method for Liquefying Natural Gas
OwnerCornelis Buijs, Robert Klein Nagelvoortinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Plant and method for liquefying natural gas. The plant comprises a common pre-cooling heat exchanger train (1), two natural gas liquids extraction units (100, 100′) and two main heat exchangers (200, 200′) to cool the overhead light fraction from its corresponding natural gas liquids extraction unit to liquefaction.
Claims16
A plant for liquefying natural gas comprising:
- a pre-cooling heat exchanger train with one pre-cooling refrigerant circuit for removing heat from the natural gas in the pre-cooling heat exchanger train, and having an inlet for natural gas and an outlet for pre-cooled natural gas;
- a distributor for splitting the pre-cooled natural gas stream into at least first and second natural gas substreams;
- at least two natural gas liquids extraction units each provided with an extraction unit inlet arranged to receive one of the natural gas substreams, and comprising a heavy fraction outlet, and an overhead light fraction outlet;
- and
- at least two main cryogenic systems each comprising a main heat exchanger having a first hot side having one inlet connected to the overhead light fraction outlet of at least one of the natural gas liquids extraction units and an outlet for liquefied natural gas, and each comprising a main refrigerant circuit for removing heat from the natural gas flowing through the first hot side of the corresponding main heat exchanger.
2 more elements
A method of liquefying a natural gas stream, comprising:
- pre-cooling the natural gas stream in a heat exchanger train against a pre-cooling refrigerant being cycled in one pre-cooling refrigerant circuit, thereby obtaining a pre-cooled natural gas stream;
- splitting the pre-cooled natural gas stream into at least first and second natural gas substreams;
- simultaneously separating each of the first and second natural gas substreams in a liquid heavy fraction, and a vaporous overhead light fraction;
- further cooling the vaporous overhead light fractions into full condensation against a main refrigerant in at least two main cryogenic systems, whereby in each main cryogenic system the main refrigerant is cycled in a main refrigerant circuit;
- and
- drawing a liquefied natural gas stream therefrom.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.