AU701955B2 - Method for cooling and/or liquefying a medium - Google Patents

Method for cooling and/or liquefying a medium Download PDF

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Publication number
AU701955B2
AU701955B2 AU58151/96A AU5815196A AU701955B2 AU 701955 B2 AU701955 B2 AU 701955B2 AU 58151/96 A AU58151/96 A AU 58151/96A AU 5815196 A AU5815196 A AU 5815196A AU 701955 B2 AU701955 B2 AU 701955B2
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Australia
Prior art keywords
refrigerating cycle
medium
cycle
brine
supplied
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Ceased
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AU58151/96A
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AU5815196A (en
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Hans Schmidt
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Linde GmbH
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Linde GmbH
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Publication of AU5815196A publication Critical patent/AU5815196A/en
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/0228—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream
    • F25J3/0257—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream separation of nitrogen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0022—Hydrocarbons, e.g. natural gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
    • F25J1/0047—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/0052—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0211—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/0214—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle as a dual level refrigeration cascade with at least one MCR cycle
    • F25J1/0215—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle as a dual level refrigeration cascade with at least one MCR cycle with one SCR cycle
    • F25J1/0216—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle as a dual level refrigeration cascade with at least one MCR cycle with one SCR cycle using a C3 pre-cooling cycle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0228—Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes
    • F25J1/0235—Heat exchange integration
    • F25J1/0236—Heat exchange integration providing refrigeration for different processes treating not the same feed stream
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0257—Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J1/0262—Details of the cold heat exchange system
    • F25J1/0264—Arrangement of heat exchanger cores in parallel with different functions, e.g. different cooling streams
    • F25J1/0265—Arrangement of heat exchanger cores in parallel with different functions, e.g. different cooling streams comprising cores associated exclusively with the cooling of a refrigerant stream, e.g. for auto-refrigeration or economizer
    • F25J1/0268—Arrangement of heat exchanger cores in parallel with different functions, e.g. different cooling streams comprising cores associated exclusively with the cooling of a refrigerant stream, e.g. for auto-refrigeration or economizer using a dedicated refrigeration means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0279—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc.
    • F25J1/0281—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc. characterised by the type of prime driver, e.g. hot gas expander
    • F25J1/0283—Gas turbine as the prime mechanical driver
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0279—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc.
    • F25J1/0289—Use of different types of prime drivers of at least two refrigerant compressors in a cascade refrigeration system
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0279—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc.
    • F25J1/0291—Refrigerant compression by combined gas compression and liquid pumping
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0279—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc.
    • F25J1/0292—Refrigerant compression by cold or cryogenic suction of the refrigerant gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0279—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc.
    • F25J1/0296—Removal of the heat of compression, e.g. within an inter- or afterstage-cooler against an ambient heat sink
    • F25J1/0297—Removal of the heat of compression, e.g. within an inter- or afterstage-cooler against an ambient heat sink using an externally chilled fluid, e.g. chilled water
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/0204—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the feed stream
    • F25J3/0209—Natural gas or substitute natural gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/0228—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream
    • F25J3/0233—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream separation of CnHm with 1 carbon atom or more
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/02—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification in a single pressure main column system
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/70—Refluxing the column with a condensed part of the feed stream, i.e. fractionator top is stripped or self-rectified
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2230/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams
    • F25J2230/04—Compressor cooling arrangement, e.g. inter- or after-stage cooling or condensate removal
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2235/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams
    • F25J2235/60—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams the fluid being (a mixture of) hydrocarbons
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2240/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for expanding of process streams
    • F25J2240/80—Hot exhaust gas turbine combustion engine
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/14—External refrigeration with work-producing gas expansion loop
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/66—Closed external refrigeration cycle with multi component refrigerant [MCR], e.g. mixture of hydrocarbons

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)

Description

P:\OPER\DIH58151-96.RES 16/12198 1 Description Method for Cooling and/or Liquefying a Medium The invention is directed to a method for cooling and/or liquefying a medium, in particular natural gas, where the cooling and/or liquefaction of the medium is accomplished by indirect heat exchange with the refrigerant or the refrigerant mixture of at least one refrigerating cycle, and where the refrigerating cycle has at least one compressor which is driven by at least one gas turbine which is supplied with combustion air in addition to a fuel.
ooeoo In conventional low-temperature processes, such as the liquefaction of natural gas, the crude gas is usually supplied to the low temperature process at ambient temperature and is only then cooled and liquefied in the so-called "cold" phase of the process. The refrigeration required S: for the cooling or liquefaction of the crude gas is provided by a usually closed refrigerating cycle. The compression of the circulating refrigerant can for instance be carried out by gas 15 turbine drives. The air required here for combustion is sucked in at ambient temperature.
In EP-PS 0 143 267 a liquefaction process for natural gas is described in which the natural gas to be liquefied is cooled and liquefied by using two closed cycles in which multiooo•• component refrigerants are circulated. From US-PS 5 139 548, a liquefaction process for natural gas is known where the precooling of the natural gas to be liquefied is achieved by means of a propane refrigerating cycle and the liquefaction and subcooling of the precooled natural gas is achieved by means of a refrigerant mixture cycle. For such a liquefaction process the refrigerating energy required for the liquefaction is thus provided by means of a refrigerating cycle cascade.
It is the object of the present invention to specify a method which reduces the energy consumption of a cooling and/or liquefaction process which is coupled with a refrigerating cycle process.
According to the present invention, this is accomplished in that at least one separate auxiliary refrigerating cycle is provided, which, by indirect heat exchange, serves to precool the P:\OPER\DH\58151-96.RES 16/12/98 1A combustion air supplied to the gas turbine and the precooling of the medium/media to be cooled and/or liquefied.
Alternatively, at least one separate auxiliary refrigerating cycle and at least one separate brine cycle can be provided, where the auxiliary refrigerating cycle serves the cooling of the brine of the brine cycle, where the auxiliary refrigerating cycle or the brine cycle, by indirect heat exchange, serve to precool the combustion air supplied to the gas turbine and the auxiliary refrigerating cycle or the brine cycle, by indirect heat exchange, serve to precool the medium/media to be cooled and/or liquefied.
The invention as well as further embodiments thereof are described in greater detail with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
Fig. 1 shows a liquefaction process for natural gas, as it is used for instance in LNG- Baseload systems. Fig. 2 shows a N 2
/C
1 -separation process, as it is used for instance in 15 the separation of nitrogen from natural gas.
In the process mentioned in accordance with Fig. 1 the natural gas stream supplied via line 1, in a carbon dioxide wash A, is initially freed of any carbon dioxide it may still contain.
When leaving the carbon dioxide wash A the natural gas W096/35914 PCT/EP96/01909 2 stream still has a temperature of 313 K. Subsequently, the natural gas stream freed of carbon dioxide is supplied via line 2 to a heat exchanger B. In this heat'exchanger it is cooled by 30'K in a counterflow to the refrigerant of a separate auxiliary refrigerating cycle which shall be discussed in more detail below. The cooled natural gas stream is then supplied to a separator C where the water resulting in the separator is then supplied back to wash A via line 4 shown as a broken line. The natural gas stream withdrawn from the head of separator C is then supplied via line 3 to a dehumidifier D. Here the natural gas stream is dehumidified, preferably by way of adsorption. Subsequently, the precooled natural gas stream is supplied via line 5 to a heat exchanger E, where it is cooled and liquefied further against the process refrigerating cycle which shall also be discussed in more detail below. The liquefied natural gas is withdrawn from heat exchanger E via line 6 and supplied for its further utilisation to, for instance, temporary storage in a LNG tank. As the temporary storage in the LNG tank may be at atmospheric pressure, for instance, the liquefied natural gas is initially expanded through a valve F to the pressure existing in the LNG tank and subsequently supplied to the LNG tank via line 7. The process refrigerating cycle required for further cooling and liquefying the natural gas contains a refrigerant which is a mixture of hydrocarbons or nitrogen and hydrocarbons. In the present case, the refrigerant mixture is compressed in two stages After the first compression in compressor H, the refrigerant mixture is supplied via line 8 to an air cooler J, where it is cooled against ambient air and is subsequently supplied to the second compression stage After the refrigerant mixture has been withdrawn from its second compression stage H' via line 9, it is again supplied to the air cooler J mentioned above and subsequently via line 10 supplied to a heat exchanger K, where it is cooled against the cooling medium of a brine cycle, which shall also be discussed in more detail below. The precooled refrigerant mixture is subsequently supplied via line 11 to heat exchanger E, cooled under high pressure and, depending on the particular embodiment of the process, will be expanded through valves L and/or L' and heated against the natural gas stream in line 5 which is to be cooled and liquefied, and against the high-pressure refrigerant stream in line 11. Subsequently, the refrigerant stream is again supplied to the first compression stage H via line 12. The S two-stage compression is driven by a gas turbine G to which combustion air is W096/35914 PCTiEP96/01909 3 supplied via line 13. Before its supply to the gas turbine, the combustion air supplied via line 13 is cooled against a part stream of the already mentioned brine cycle in heat exchanger The requisite amount of combustible gas is supplied via line 15, whilst line 16 is the exhaust pipe. The brine cycle mentioned above, whose cooling medium can, for instance, be a mixture of ethylene glycol and water, can be selected for safety considerations. The cooling medium of this brine cycle is supplied via line 20 to a pump M in order to increase the pressure and subsequently via line 21 to a heat exchanger N.
Here the brine is cooled in counterflow to a part stream of the previously mentioned auxiliary refrigerating cycle which, as previously mentioned, serves to precool the natural gas stream. The brine is withdrawn from heat exchanger N via line 22 and via line 23 is partly supplied to heat exchanger K and partly to heat exchanger The portion of the brine withdrawn from heat exchanger K via line 20 is admixed to the remainder of the brine withdrawn from heat exchanger K' via line 24.
The previously mentioned auxiliary refrigerating cycle contains as refrigerant a pure substance which is liquefiable at ambient temperature, such as propane, or a mixture which is liquefiable at ambient temperature. The refrigerant is supplied to a compressor O via line 30, subsequently supplied to an air cooler P via line 31 and then to a receiver Q. From this receiver liquid refrigerant is withdrawn via line 33 and after passage through a pump R is supplied via line 34 to a branch point. A portion of the refrigerant is cooled and expanded through a valve S and is supplied via line 35 to the previously mentioned heat exchanger N. In this heat exchanger the refrigerant is heated against the brine cycle medium to be cooled. The heated refrigerant of the auxiliary refrigerating cycle is subsequently withdrawn via line 36 and again admixed to line 30. From the previously mentioned branch point a portion of the refrigerant is supplied via line 37 to an expansion valve T, is expanded and supplied to heat exchanger B via line 38. The refrigerant heated in heat exchanger B is subsequently again supplied to line 30 via line 39.
Fig. 2, as previously mentioned, shows a N2/C1+ -separation process, such as is used to separate nitrogen from natural gas. In this process the nitrogencontaining natural gas stream, from which any other undesirable components, as for instance carbon dioxide, have already been removed, is supplied via line 1 to a heat W096/35914 PCT/EP96/01909 4 exchanger A where it is cooled in counterfiow to the medium of a brine cycle, which shall be discussed in more detail below. Subsequently, the natural gas stream is supplied via line 2 to a further heat exchanger B, where it is cooled further and is partially or completely liquefied against the process refrigerating cycle, which shall also be discussed in more detail below. The natural gas which has been partially or completely liquefied is withdrawn from heat exchanger B via line 3 and through expansion valve C and via line 4 is supplied to the top of separation column D. In separation column D the separation into a nitrogen-rich and a C 1 -rich fraction is achieved. The nitrogen-rich fraction is withdrawn via line 5 from the top of separation column D, in heat exchanger B is heated against the natural gas stream to be cooled and is subsequently expelled from the process via line 6. The heating of separation column D is provided by column heating E. The
C
1 +-rich fraction is withdrawn from the sump of separation column D via line 7, is pumped in pump F to the desired pressure and subsequently via line 8 is supplied to heat exchanger B. In this heat exchanger the C 1 +-rich fraction is heated and evaporated and subsequently expelled from the system via line 9.
The refrigeration required for the cooling and liquefaction of the natural gas stream is provided by the process refrigerating cycle X. This cycle differs from the process refrigerating cycle illustrated in Fig. 1 only in as far as it has a third compression stage U in addition to the first two compression stages H and This third compression stage U is driven by expansion of the refrigerant mixture in the expansion turbine V. As already illustrated in Fig. 1, the refrigerant mixture is supplied to an air cooler J after each compression stage. Immediately following this, the refrigerant mixture is each time passed through a heat exchanger K, in which the refrigerant mixture is cooled against a part stream of a brine cycle. This brine cycle as well as the auxiliary refrigerating cycle shall now be discussed in more detail. The refrigerant mixture of the auxiliary refrigerating cycle, preferably a pure substance which is liquefiable at ambient temperature, for instance propane, or a mixture which is liquefiable at ambient temperature, is supplied to a compressor L via line 10. After compression the refrigerant mixture is supplied via line 11 to an air cooler M and subsequently to a receiver N.
From this receiver the liquid refrigerant mixture is withdrawn via line 13 and divided into two part streams. A first refrigerant mixture part stream is cooled and expanded W096/35914 PCT/EP96/01909 through valve O and is heated and evaporated in heat exchanger P against the brine cycle medium to be cooled. Subsequently this refrigerant mixture part stream is supplied back to compressor L via lines 15 and 10. The second refrigerant mixture part stream is supplied via line 16 to an expansion valve Q. After expansion through expansion valve Q, this refrigerant mixture part stream is supplied via line 17 to heat exchanger R, where it is heated and evaporated against the brine cycle medium to be cooled. From this heat exchanger R the refrigerant mixture is subsequently supplied to compressor L via lines 18 and 10. The brine cycle medium is supplied via line 20 to a pump S in where it is pumped to the desired pressure and supplied to the previously mentioned heat exchanger R. In this heat exchanger the brine is cooled against the refrigerant mixture of the auxiliary refrigerating cycle which is to be heated,, and the brine is subsequently supplied to a branch point via line 21. At this branch point a part stream of the brine is supplied via line 22 to the also already mentioned heat exchanger P and in this heat exchanger is cooled against the refrigerant mixture of the auxiliary refrigerating cycle which is to be heated. Subsequently the brine cycle medium is again supplied to pump S via lines 23 and 20. The second part stream of the brine is withdrawn from the branch point via line 24. A part stream thereof is supplied via line 25 to the also already mentioned heat exchanger A and it is heated and evaporated against the nitrogen-containing natural gas stream which is to be cooled. The heated and evaporated brine is then subsequently again supplied to pump S via lines 26, 31, 32 and 20. A further part stream of the brine cycle medium is supplied to the also already mentioned heat exchanger K via lines 24 and 27. In this heat exchanger the brine is heated and subsequently admixed via line 28 to the brine in lines 31 and 32. A further part stream of the brine is supplied via line 29 to heat exchanger In heat exchanger K' the combustion air supplied to gas turbine E is cooled. The brine cooled in heat exchanger K' is subsequently, via line 30, admixed to the brine in lines 26 and 31.
Through the precooling of the combustion air supplied to the gas turbine as well as through the precooling of the medium to be cooled and/or liquefied, and/or the process refrigerating cycle, in the examples of Fig. 1 and 2 for natural gas, a marked reduction of the specific liquefying or refrigerating capacity is achieved. Especially in iANlarge capacity systems, as for instance in LNG-Baseload systems, the overall efficiency W096/35914 PCT/EP96/01909 6 determines the size of the individual liquefaction lines and therefore the investment costs for such a system. By the method in accordance with this invention, in LNG-Baseload- Systems, a marked increase in the line size is achieved, and in other types of large capacity systems, a marked reduction of the specific energy consumption.
The auxiliary refrigerating cycle or the brine cycle which serves the precooling of the combustion air as well as the precooling of the medium/a to be cooled and/or liquefied can naturally also be utilised for other precooling or cooling processes.
Such precooling or cooling processes are for instance the precooling of crude gas prior to entering absorbers, cooling of head products of the amine wash for the removal of carbon dioxide, subcooling of the refrigerant or refrigerant mixture, precooling of the high-pressure process refrigerating cycle etc.
The application of the method in accordance with the invention is naturally not limited to the two processes shown in Fig. 1 and 2. Its application is also particularly advantageous in liquefaction processes which utilise multi-stage propane refrigerating cycles or in processes which utilise C 2
/C
3 -refrigerating cycles or pure substance refrigerating cycles.

Claims (4)

1. Method for cooling and/or liquefying a medium, in particular natural gas, where the cooling and/or liquefaction of the medium is acComplished by indirect heat exchange with the refrigerant or the refrigerant mixture of at least one refrigerating cycle, and where the refrigerating cycle has at least one compressor which is driven by at least one gas turbine which is supplied with combustion air in addition to a fuel, characterised in that at least one separate auxiliary refrigerating cycle is provided which, by indirect heat exchange, serves to precool the combustion air supplied to the gas turbine and to precool the medium/media to be cooled and/or liquefied.
2. Method for cooling and/or liquefying a medium, in particular natural gas, where the cooling and/or liquefaction of the medium is accomplished by indirect heat exchange with the refrigerant or the refrigerant mixture of at least one refrigerating cycle, and i: 15 where the refrigerating cycle has at least one compressor which is driven by at least one gas turbine which is supplied with combustion air in addition to a fuel, characterised in that at least one separate auxiliary refrigerating cycle and at least one separate brine cycle are provided, where the auxiliary refrigerating cycle serves to cool the brine of the brine cycle, where the auxiliary refrigerating cycle or the brine cycle by indirect heat exchange serve to precool the combustion air supplied to the gas turbine and where the auxiliary refrigerating cycle or the brine cycle by indirect heat exchange serve to precool the medium/media to be cooled and/or liquefied.
3. Method in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the natural gas to be cooled and/or liquefied and/or the process refrigerating cycle refrigerant or refrigerant mixture represents the medium to be cooled and/or liquefied.
4. Method in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the separate auxiliary refrigerating cycle features as refrigerant pure substances liquefiable at ambient temperature, such a propane, or mixtures. P:\OPER\DH\58151-96.RRS -16/12/98 8 Method for cooling and/or liquefying a medium, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 16th day of December, 1998. LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT By its Patent Attorneys 10 DAVIES COLLISON CAVE a a a a a a. a a a a a a a a a a a a a. a a
AU58151/96A 1995-05-10 1996-05-07 Method for cooling and/or liquefying a medium Ceased AU701955B2 (en)

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DE19517116A DE19517116C1 (en) 1995-05-10 1995-05-10 Process for reducing energy consumption
PCT/EP1996/001909 WO1996035914A1 (en) 1995-05-10 1996-05-07 Energy saving process

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MXPA05003331A (en) 2002-09-30 2005-07-05 Bp Corp North America Inc A reduced carbon dioxide emission system and method for providing power for refrigerant compression and electrical power for a light hydrocarbon gas liquefaction process using cooled air injection to the turbines.
WO2004031669A1 (en) 2002-09-30 2004-04-15 Bp Corporation North America Inc. Reduced carbon dioxide emission system and method for providing power for refrigerant compression and electrical power for a light hydrocarbon gas liquefaction process
EP1471319A1 (en) * 2003-04-25 2004-10-27 Totalfinaelf S.A. Plant and process for liquefying natural gas
CA2681417C (en) 2007-05-03 2016-07-26 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Natural gas liquefaction process
EP2185877B1 (en) 2007-08-24 2021-01-20 ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company Natural gas liquefaction process and system
AU2012382092B2 (en) * 2012-06-06 2017-02-02 Keppel Offshore & Marine Technology Centre Pte Ltd System and process for natural gas liquefaction
NO20140358A1 (en) * 2014-03-18 2015-09-21 Global Lng Services Ltd Coastalnear LNG production

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JPS5898606A (en) * 1981-12-08 1983-06-11 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Power plant with combined gas turbine
EP0143267A2 (en) * 1983-10-25 1985-06-05 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Dual mixed refrigerant natural gas liquefaction
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JPS5898606A (en) * 1981-12-08 1983-06-11 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Power plant with combined gas turbine
EP0143267A2 (en) * 1983-10-25 1985-06-05 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Dual mixed refrigerant natural gas liquefaction
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BR9608099A (en) 1999-02-23

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