Method and system for cooling a hydrocarbon stream using a gas phase refrigerant
US10788261B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 27, 2018 |
| Grant date | Sep 29, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 20, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25J2270/60
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Described herein are methods and systems for the liquefaction of a natural gas feed stream using a refrigerant comprising methane. The methods and systems use a refrigeration circuit and cycle that employs two or more turbo-expanders to expand two or more streams of gaseous refrigerant down to different pressures to provide cold streams of at least predominantly gaseous refrigerant at different pressures that are used to provide refrigeration for precooling and liquefying the natural gas. The resulting liquefied natural gas stream is then flashed to produce an LNG product and a flash gas, the flash gas being recycled to the natural gas feed stream.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.