Integration of LNG regasification with refinery and power generation
AssigneeFluor Technologies Corporation
InventorJohn Mak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Contemplated plants thermally integrate operation of a refinery component, and most preferably of a hydrocarbon splitter with LNG regasification to provide refrigeration duty and with a power cycle to provide the reboiler duty of the component. It should be noted that such configurations advantageously allow operation of the splitter at a reduced temperature and at reduced pressure, thereby increasing separation efficiency, while the power output is boosted using air intake chilling. Most notably, such process advantages are achieved by satisfying the heating duty of LNG regasification.
Claims21
A plant, comprising:
- a hydrocarbon source configured to provide a processed hydrocarbon feed enriched in C2 and/or C3 hydrocarbons;
- a C2 or C3 hydrocarbon splitter having a reboiler and an overhead condenser fluidly coupled to the hydrocarbon source and configured to receive the processed hydrocarbon feed;
- a first closed heat exchange circuit comprising a first heat exchange fluid and thermally coupled to a liquefied natural gas stream and the hydrocarbon splitter such that the first heat exchange fluid receives refrigeration content from the liquefied natural gas stream and provides refrigeration content to the overhead condenser;
- and
- a second closed heat exchange circuit comprising a second heat exchange fluid and thermally coupled to a heat source, the hydrocarbon splitter, and the liquefied natural gas stream such that heat from the heat source is provided to the second heat exchange fluid and transferred from the second heat exchange fluid to the reboiler and the liquefied natural gas stream.
A method of operating a C2 or C3 hydrocarbon splitter, comprising
- feeding a processed hydrocarbon feed enriched in C2 and/or C3 hydrocarbons as a feed gas to the C2 or C3 hydrocarbon splitter;
- providing refrigeration duty to an overhead condenser of the C2 or C3 hydrocarbon splitter from a first heat exchange fluid in a first closed heat exchange circuit that is cooled via heat exchange with a liquefied natural gas;
- and
- providing reboiler duty of the C2 or C3 hydrocarbon splitter using a second heat exchange fluid in a second closed heat exchange circuit that is heated via heat exchange with a heat source and cooled via heat exchange with the liquefied natural gas.
A method of operating a plant comprising a power generating section and a liquefied natural gas regasification section, comprising:
- using refrigeration content in the liquefied natural gas to provide overhead condensation duty of a column using a first heat exchange fluid in a first closed heat exchange circuit that transfers refrigeration from the liquefied natural gas to an overhead exchanger;
- and
- using heat from the power generating section to provide reboiling duty of the column using a second heat exchange fluid in a second closed heat exchange circuit that transfers heat from the power generating section to a reboiler of the column;
- and
- using the first and second heat exchange fluids to regasify the liquefied natural gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.