Natural gas liquefaction processes with feed gas refrigerant cooling loops
US9140490B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 2008 |
| Grant date | Sep 22, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 6, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25J2270/08
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The described invention relates to processes and systems for treating a gas stream, particularly one rich in methane for forming liquefied natural gas (LNG), the process including: (a) providing a gas stream; (b) providing a refrigerant; (c) compressing the refrigerant to provide a compressed refrigerant; (d) cooling the compressed refrigerant by indirect heat exchange with a cooling fluid; (e) expanding the refrigerant of (d) to cool the refrigerant, thereby producing an expanded, cooled refrigerant; (f) passing the expanded, cooled refrigerant to a first heat exchange area; (g) compressing the gas stream of (a) to a pressure of from greater than or equal to 1,000 psia to less than or equal to 4,500 psia; (h) cooling the compressed gas stream by indirect heat exchange with an external cooling fluid; and heat exchanging the compressed gas stream with the expanded, cooled refrigerant stream.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.