Integrated process for NGL (natural gas liquids recovery) and LNG (liquefaction of natural gas)

US9803917B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Linde Engineering North America, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Stephan Burmberger · Schwanau, DE
• Danielle R. GOLDBECK · Tulsa, US
• Christoph HERTEL · Wolfratshausen, DE
• Aleisha MARTY · Broken Arrow, US
• Heinz Bauer · Solingen, DE
• Ronald D. Key · Broken Arrow, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 30, 2013
• Grant date: Oct 31, 2017
• Expiry date: Oct 23, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F25J2290/40
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to an integrated process and apparatus for liquefaction of natural gas and recovery of natural gas liquids. In particular, the improved process and apparatus reduces the energy consumption of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) unit by using a portion of the already cooled overhead vapor from a fractionation column from an NGL (natural gas liquefaction) unit to, depending upon composition, provide, for example, reflux for fractionation in the NGL unit and/or a cold feed for the LNG unit, or by cooling, within the NGL unit, a residue gas originating from a fractionation column of the NGL unit and using the resultant cooled residue gas to, depending upon composition, provide, for example, reflux/feed for fractionation in the NGL and/or a cold feed for the LNG unit, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the LNG unit and rendering the process more energy-efficient.