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US 2013/0199238 A1Published application
Liquefied natural gas plant with ethylene independent heavies recovery system
AssigneeConocoPhillips Company
InventorsJon M. MOCK, Megan V. EVANS, Attilio J. PRADERIO
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to a process and apparatus for liquefying natural gas. In another aspect, the invention concerns a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility employing an ethylene independent heavies recovery system.
Claims13
A method for liquefaction of natural gas comprising:
- a) cooling a portion of a natural gas feed stream to produce a cooled natural gas feed stream;
- b) combining the cooled natural gas feed stream with a compressed reflux stream to form a combined natural gas stream;
- c) separating the combined natural gas stream into a first lights stream and a first heavies stream;
- d) expanding the first lights stream to form an expanded first lights stream;
- e) introducing at least a portion of the first heavies stream and at least a portion of the expanded first lights stream into a heavies removal column to form a heavies-depleted stream and a heavies-rich stream;
- f) separating at least a portion of the heavies-rich stream into a reflux stream and a heavier stream;
- and
- g) compressing the reflux stream into a compressed reflux stream.
5 more elements
A method for liquefaction of natural gas comprising:
- a) cooling a portion of a natural gas feed stream via indirect heat exchange with a first refrigerant to form a cooled natural gas feed stream;
- b) separating the cooled natural gas feed stream into a first lights stream and a first heavies stream;
- c) expanding the first lights stream to form an expanded first lights stream;
- d) separating the expanded first lights stream into a second lights stream and a second heavies stream;
- e) introducing at least a portion of the first heavies stream, at least a portion of the second lights stream, and at least a portion of the second heavies stream into a heavies removal column to form a heavies-depleted stream and a heavies-rich stream;
- f) cooling at least a portion of the heavies depleted stream via indirect heat exchange with a second refrigerant;
- g) separating at least a portion of the heavies-rich stream into a reflux stream and a heavier stream;
- and
- h) compressing the reflux stream into a compressed reflux stream.
6 more elements
An apparatus for liquefaction of natural gas comprising:
- a) a first heat exchanger in a first refrigeration cycle for cooling a portion of the natural gas stream via indirect heat exchanger with a first refrigerant;
- b) a first separator for separating the first cooled natural gas stream into a first lights stream and a first heavies stream;
- c) a first expander for expanding the first lights stream into an expanded first lights stream;
- d) a heavies removal column positioned downstream of the first heat exchanger, wherein the heavies removal column separates the expanded first lights stream, the first heavies stream and a second cooled liquid stream into a first heavies-depleted stream and a first heavies-rich stream;
- e) a separation vessel for separating the first heated liquid stream into a second heavies-depleted stream and a second heavies-rich stream;
- f) a second compressor for compressing the second heavies-depleted stream into a compressed second heavies-depleted stream;
- and
- g) a second heat exchanger in the first refrigeration cycle for cooling a combined stream via indirect heat exchange with the compressed second heavies-depleted stream.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.