Patent · US Expired

Process for liquefaction of a pressurized hydrocarbon-rich fraction

US5588307A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
4References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 9, 1995
Grant dateDec 31, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 9, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S62/912
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A pressurized hydrocarbon-rich fraction is cooled and liquefied by heat exchange with the process flows to be heated. Thereafter, the fraction is expanded in an expansion valve and introduced into a storage tank. The flash gas/boil-off gas removed from the storage tank, which optionally forms one of the process flows to be heated, is compressed in one or more stages. The throughput of the flash gas/boil-off gas compressor is kept constant at full load via the position of the expansion valve or expansion turbine controlled by means of a FIC controller. The pressure following expansion valve or expansion turbine is kept substantially constant.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.