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US 6,691,531 B1Granted
Driver and compressor system for natural gas liquefaction
AssigneeConocoPhillips Company
InventorsBobby D. Martinez, Shrikant R. Thakkar, Paul R. Hahn, Ned P. Baudat, Wesley R. Qualls
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Natural gas liquefaction system having an optimum configuration of mechanical drivers and compressors. A heat recovery system can be employed with the liquefaction system to enhance thermal efficiency. A unique start-up system can also be employed.
Claims82
A process for liquefying natural gas, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) using a first gas turbine to drive a first compressor, thereby compressing a first refrigerant of a first refrigerant cycle;
- (b) using a second gas turbine to drive a second compressor, thereby compressing the first refrigerant of the first refrigerant cycle;
- (c) using a first steam turbine to drive a third compressor, thereby compressing a second refrigerant of a second refrigerant cycle;
- and
- (d) using a second steam turbine to drive a fourth compressor, thereby compressing the second refrigerant of the second refrigerant cycle.
2 more elements
A process for liquefying natural gas, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) using a first gas turbine to drive a first compressor and a second compressor, thereby compressing a first and a second refrigerant in the first and second compressors respectively;
- (b) using a second gas turbine to drive a third compressor and a fourth compressor, thereby compressing the first and second refrigerants in the third and fourth compressors respectively;
- (c) recovering waste heat from at least one of the first and second gas turbines;
- (d) using at least a portion of the recovered waste heat to help power a first steam turbine;
- and
- (e) compressing a third refrigerant in a fifth compressor driven by the first steam turbine.
3 more elements
A process for liquefying natural gas, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) compressing a first refrigerant in a first compressor driven by a first gas turbine;
- (b) recovering waste heat from the first gas turbine;
- (c) using at least a portion of the waste heat recovered from the first gas turbine to help power a first steam turbine;
- (d) compressing a second refrigerant in a second compressor driven by the first steam turbine, said second refrigerant comprising in major portion methane;
- (e) compressing a third refrigerant in a third compressor driven by a second gas turbine;
- (f) recovering waste heat from the second gas turbine;
- and
- (g) using at least a portion of the waste heat recovered from second gas turbine to help power the first steam turbine.
5 more elements
A process for liquefying natural gas, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) compressing a first refrigerant in a first compressor driven by a first gas turbine;
- (b) recovering waste heat from the first gas turbine;
- (c) using at least a portion of the waste heat recovered from the first gas turbine to help power a first steam turbine;
- (d) compressing a second refrigerant in a second compressor driven by the first steam turbine, said second refrigerant comprising in major portion methane;
- (e) cooling the natural gas with the first refrigerant in a first chiller;
- (f) downstream of the first chiller, cooling the natural gas with the second refrigerant in an economizer;
- (g) compressing a third refrigerant in a third compressor driven by a second gas turbine;
- (h) recovering waste heat from the second gas turbine;
- and
- (i) using at least a portion of the waste heat recovered from second gas turbine to help power the first steam turbine.
7 more elements
A process for liquefying natural gas, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) compressing a first refrigerant in a first compressor driven by a first gas turbine;
- (b) recovering waste heat from the first gas turbine;
- (c) using at least a portion of the waste heat recovered from the first gas turbine to help power a first steam turbine;
- (d) compressing a second refrigerant in a second compressor driven by the first steam turbine, said second refrigerant comprising in major portion methane;
- (e) using at least a portion of the waste heat recovered from the first gas turbine to help power a second steam turbine;
- and
- (f) compressing at least a portion of the second refrigerant in a sixth compressor driven by the second steam turbine.
4 more elements
A process for liquefying natural gas, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) compressing a first refrigerant in a first compressor driven by a first turbine, said first refrigerant comprising in major portion a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propane, propylene, and combinations thereof;
- (b) compressing a second refrigerant in a second compressor driven by the first turbine, said second refrigerant comprising in major portion a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of ethane, ethylene, and combinations thereof;
- (c) using the first refrigerant in a first chiller to cool the natural gas;
- (d) using the second refrigerant in a second chiller to cool the natural gas;
- and
- (e) using a portion of the natural gas as a third refrigerant in an economizer to cool the natural gas.
3 more elements
A process for liquefying natural gas, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) compressing a first refrigerant in a first compressor driven by a first turbine, said first refrigerant comprising in major portion a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propane, propylene, and combinations thereof;
- (b) compressing a second refrigerant in a second compressor driven by the first turbine, said second refrigerant comprising in major portion a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of ethane, ethylene, and combinations thereof;
- (c) using the first refrigerant in a first chiller to cool the natural gas;
- (d) using the second refrigerant in a second chiller to cool the natural gas;
- (e) compressing at least a portion of the first refrigerant in a third compressor driven by a second turbine;
- and
- (f) compressing at least a portion of the second refrigerant in a fourth compressor driven by the second turbine.
4 more elements
A process for liquefying natural gas, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) using a portion of the natural gas as a first refrigerant to cool the natural gas;
- (b) compressing at least a portion of the first refrigerant with a first group of compressors driven by a first steam turbine;
- and
- (c) compressing at least a portion of the first refrigerant with a second group of compressors driven by a second steam turbine.
1 more element
A method of starting up a LNG plant, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating high pressure steam in a steam generator;
- (b) using a first portion of the high pressure steam to power a first starter steam turbine that is drivingly coupled to a first gas turbine;
- (c) using a second portion of the high pressure steam to power a second starter steam turbine that is drivingly coupled to a second gas turbine;
- (d) using a third portion of the high pressure steam to power a first main steam turbine that is drivingly coupled to a first group of compressors;
- and
- (e) using a fourth portion of the high pressure steam to power a second main steam turbine that is drivingly coupled to a first group of compressors.
3 more elements
An apparatus for liquefying natural gas, said apparatus employing multiple refrigerants in multiple refrigeration cycles for cooling the natural gas in multiple stages, said apparatus comprising:
- a first compressor for compressing a first refrigerant of a first refrigeration cycle;
- a second compressor for compressing a second refrigerant of a second refrigeration cycle;
- a first gas turbine for driving the first and second compressors;
- a third compressor for compressing the first refrigerant of the first refrigeration cycle;
- a fourth compressor for compressing the second refrigerant of the second refrigeration cycle;
- a second gas turbine for driving the third and fourth compressors;
- a fifth compressor for compressing a third refrigerant of a third refrigeration cycle;
- a first steam turbine for driving the fifth compressor;
- and
- a heat recovery system for recovering waste heat from at least one of the first and second gas turbines and employing the recovered waste heat to help power the first steam turbine.
7 more elements
An apparatus for liquefying natural gas, said apparatus employing a first refrigerant in a first refrigeration cycle to help cool the natural gas, said apparatus comprising:
- a first steam turbine;
- a first group of compressors driven by the first steam turbine and operable to compress at least a portion of the first refrigerant;
- a second steam turbine;
- and
- a second group of compressors driven by the second steam turbine and operable to compress at least a portion of the first refrigerant.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.