Method and apparatus for reliquefying natural gas
US10030815B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 2013 |
| Grant date | Jul 24, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 17, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25J2270/02
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Natural gas boiling off from LNG storage tanks located on board a sea-going vessel, is compressed in a plural stage compressor. At least part of the flow of compressed natural gas is sent to a liquefier operating on a Brayton cycle in order to be reliquefied. The temperature of the compressed natural gas from the final stage is reduced to below 0° C. by passage through a heat exchanger. The first compression stage is operated as a cold compressor and the resulting cold compressed natural gas is employed in the heat exchanger to effect the necessary cooling of the flow from the compression stage. Downstream of its passage through the heat exchanger the cold compressed natural gas flows through the remaining stages of the compressor. If desired, a part of the compressed natural gas may be supplied to the engines of the sea-going vessel as a fuel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.