# US 2025/0052492 A1 · System and apparatus for liquefaction of natural gas > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0052492 A1 - Document ID: US20250052492A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/926,107 - Filed: 2024-10-24 - Published: 2025-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-23 - Assignees: Steelhead Lng (Aslng) Ltd. - Applicants: Steelhead Lng (Aslng) Ltd. - Inventors: Alex Brigden; Angus Remfry; Glen Cunial; Tom Boguslawski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250052492A1 ## CPC - F25J 1/0022: {Hydrocarbons, e.g. natural gas} - B63B 39/03: by transferring liquids - F25J 1/004: {by flash gas recovery (F25J1/0267 takes precedence)} - F25J 1/0244: {Operation; Control and regulation; Instrumentation (F25J1/0279 takes precedence)} - F25J 1/0278: {Unit being stationary, e.g. on floating barge or fixed platform} - F25J 1/0284: {Electrical motor as the prime mechanical driver} - F25J 1/0296: {Removal of the heat of compression, e.g. within an inter- or afterstage-cooler against an ambient heat sink} - F25J 2220/64: Separating heavy hydrocarbons, e.g. NGL, LPG, C4+ hydrocarbons or heavy condensates in general - F25J 2220/66: Separating acid gases, e.g. CO2, SO2, H2S or RSH - F25J 2245/02: Recycle of a stream in general, e.g. a by-pass stream - F25J 2260/30: Integration in an installation using renewable energy - F25J: LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS {OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS} MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT {OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE (cryogenic pumps F04B37/08; gas storage vessels, gas holders F17; filing vessels with, or discharging from vessels, compressed, liquefied or solidified gases F17C; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B)} - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) ## Abstract Described herein are apparatuses and systems related to at-shore liquefaction of natural gas. The systems can include land-based facilities connected to a source of electricity and feed gas, an at-shore water-based apparatus comprising a hull, an air-cooled electrically-driven refrigeration system (“AER System”), and a plurality of liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) storage tanks that are on a lower deck of the hull. The AER System can comprise one or more refrigeration trains, where each refrigeration train of the one or more refrigeration trains can include a portion of electrically-driven compressors and a portion of air coolers that at least or only partially cover the one or more refrigeration trains. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for liquefaction of natural gas, the system comprising: land-based facilities connected to a source of electricity and feed gas; and an at-shore water-based apparatus separate from but connected to the land-based facilities, wherein the source of electricity and feed gas is external to the at-shore water-based apparatus and the water-based apparatus is moored to an at-shore location, the water-based apparatus comprising: a hull configured to be operable when moored to the at-shore location, the hull defining a bow, a stern, and a centerline axis extending from the bow to the stern; 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 the source of electricity and feed gas, (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 operatively configured on the water-based apparatus, and (iv) output the LNG; and a plurality of LNG storage tanks that are on a lower deck of the hull, the plurality of LNG storage tanks operatively configured to receive 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; wherein: the AER System comprises one or more refrigeration trains; each refrigeration train of the one or more refrigeration trains comprises a portion of the electrically-driven compressors and a portion of the air coolers; and the air coolers at least or only partially cover the one or more refrigeration trains. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of LNG storage tanks 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the source of feed gas generates the feed gas by removing unwanted elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the unwanted elements include at least heavy hydrocarbons. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the feed gas is at least partially pre-processed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the AER System outputs a fuel gas to the source of electricity and feed gas. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the source of electricity generates a portion of the electricity received by the AER System and the at-shore location comprises a jetty, a quayside, a shoreline or a position proximate to a shoreline location. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the source of electricity comprises a gas-powered generator operative to generate the portion of the electricity received by the AER System. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more interconnected modules utilize dual-mixed refrigerants. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the source of electricity and feed gas comprise a first source for the electricity and a second source for the feed gas, such that the first source is separate from the second source. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the means for connecting the water-based apparatus to the land-based facilities comprises a transit bridge extendable between the land-based facilities and the water-based apparatus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a first line for transmitting the electricity from the land-based facilities to the water-based apparatus; and a second line for carrying the feed gas from the land-based facilities to the water-based apparatus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the first line comprises one or more conductors transmitting the electricity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein: the means for connecting the water-based apparatus to the land-based facilities comprises a transit bridge extendable between the land-based facilities and the water-based apparatus; and the transit bridge supports at least one of the first line and the second line. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein: the transit bridge is attached to an at-shore anchor; the transit bridge comprises a walkway structure; and the at least one of the first line and the second line that the transit bridge supports is positioned under or adjacent to the walkway structure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the water-based apparatus comprises a containment system operatively configured to direct spills of cryogenic fluid over the other one of a port side or a starboard side of the water-based apparatus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system processes and converts the feed gas into LNG without discharging substantial amounts of contaminants to the environment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the water-based apparatus comprises a closed loop ballast system operable with a ballast fluid to assist in stabilizing the water-based apparatus moored in proximity to the at-shore location without discharging the ballast fluid to water proximate the at-shore location. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a controller operable with the land-based facilities and the at-shore water-based apparatus; and 4 a plurality of sensors comprising sensors of the land-based facilities and sensors of the at-shore water-based apparatus. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the controller operates the AER System and at least a power supply component at the land-based facilities based on data output from the sensors of the at-shore water-based apparatus and the sensors of the land-based facilities. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each tank of the plurality of LNG storage tanks is a membrane tank. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein top surfaces the plurality of LNG storage tanks LNG storage tank are spaced apart from an upper deck of the hull to define a void space and the void space is sized and shaped to be capable of containing an amount of fluid having a weight that is approximately equal to a weight of the AER System. ### Claim 23 An at-shore water-based apparatus for the liquefaction of natural gas, the apparatus configured to be moored to an at-shore location and connected to a land-based source of electricity and feed gas that is external to the at-shore water-based apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a hull configured to be operable when moored to the at-shore location, the hull defining a bow, a stern, and a centerline axis extending from the bow to the stern; 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 operatively configured on the water-based apparatus, and (iv) output the LNG; and a plurality of LNG storage tanks that are on a lower deck of the hull, the plurality of LNG storage tanks operatively configured to receive 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; wherein: the AER System comprises one or more refrigeration trains; each refrigeration train of the one or more refrigeration trains comprises a portion of the electrically-driven compressors and a portion of the air coolers; and the air coolers at least or only partially cover the one or more refrigeration trains.