Method of liquefying and treating a natural gas
US5893274A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 1997 |
| Grant date | Apr 13, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 23, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25J2270/66
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method is provided to liquefy and treat natural gas containing components having low boiling points, the method includes: liquefying natural gas in a main heat exchanger; cooling the liquefied gas in an external heat exchanger; allowing the cooled liquefied gas to expand dynamically; introducing the expanded fluid in the upper part of a fractionation column; allowing the liquid of the expanded fluid to flow downwards thorough contacting section; withdrawing a liquid recycle stream which is passed through the heat exchanger to obtain a heated two-phase fluid; introducing the two-phase fluid in fractionation column, and allowing the vapour to flow through the contacting section; collecting the liquid of the two-phase fluid in the lower part of the fractionation column; and withdrawing therefrom a liquid product stream having a reduced content of components having low boiling points; and withdrawing from the fractionation column a gaseous stream which is enriched in components having low boiling points.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.