LNG production using dual independent expander refrigeration cycles
AssigneeABB Lummus Global, Inc. - Randall Division
InventorJorge H. Foglietta
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Abstract
A process for producing a liquified natural gas stream that includes cooling at least a portion of a pressurized natural gas feed stream by heat exchange contact with first and second expanded refrigerants that are used in independent refrigeration cycles. The first expanded refrigerant is selected from methane, ethane and treated and pressurized natural gas. The second expanded refrigerant is nitrogen.
Claims20
A process for producing a liquefied natural gas stream from an inlet gas feed stream, the process comprising the steps of:
- cooling at least a portion of the inlet gas feed stream by heat exchange contact with first and second expanded refrigerants, wherein at least one of the first and second expanded refrigerants is circulated in a gas phase refrigeration cycle, whereby a liquefied natural gas stream is produced.
A process for producing a liquified natural gas stream from a inlet gas feed stream, the process comprising the steps of:
- cooling at least a portion of the inlet gas feed stream by heat exchange contact with a first refrigeration cycle operated independently of a nitrogen refrigeration cycle;
- the first refrigeration cycle comprising the steps of:
- expanding a refrigerant stream to form a cold refrigerant vapor stream;
- cooling at least a portion of the inlet feed gas stream by heat exchange contact with the cold refrigerant vapor stream;
- compressing the cold refrigerant vapor stream to form a compressed refrigerant vapor stream;
- and
- cooling at least a portion of the compressed refrigerant vapor stream by heat exchange contact with the cold refrigerant vapor stream;
- and
- the nitrogen refrigeration cycle comprising the steps of:
- expanding a nitrogen stream to a cold nitrogen vapor stream;
- cooling at least a portion of the inlet feed gas stream by heat exchange contact with the cold nitrogen vapor stream;
- compressing the cold nitrogen vapor stream to form a compressed nitrogen vapor stream;
- and
- cooling at least a portion of the compressed nitrogen vapor stream by heat exchange contact with the cold nitrogen vapor stream;
- whereby a liquified natural gas stream is produced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.