EP0058106B1 - Process and installation for the liquefaction of a gas - Google Patents

Process and installation for the liquefaction of a gas Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0058106B1
EP0058106B1 EP82400099A EP82400099A EP0058106B1 EP 0058106 B1 EP0058106 B1 EP 0058106B1 EP 82400099 A EP82400099 A EP 82400099A EP 82400099 A EP82400099 A EP 82400099A EP 0058106 B1 EP0058106 B1 EP 0058106B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
compartments
cycle fluid
exchanger
low pressure
compartment
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP82400099A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0058106A3 (en
EP0058106A2 (en
Inventor
Pierre Gauthier
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Original Assignee
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Application filed by LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude filed Critical LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Priority to AT82400099T priority Critical patent/ATE9113T1/en
Publication of EP0058106A2 publication Critical patent/EP0058106A2/en
Publication of EP0058106A3 publication Critical patent/EP0058106A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0058106B1 publication Critical patent/EP0058106B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D9/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
    • F28D9/0062—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by spaced plates with inserted elements
    • F28D9/0068—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by spaced plates with inserted elements with means for changing flow direction of one heat exchange medium, e.g. using deflecting zones
    • 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
    • F25J1/0055—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 originating from an incorporated cascade
    • 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
    • F25J1/0212—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 single flow MCR 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
    • F25J1/0243—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
    • 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
    • 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
    • F25J1/0269—Arrangement of liquefaction units or equipments fulfilling the same process step, e.g. multiple "trains" concept
    • F25J1/0271—Inter-connecting multiple cold equipments within or downstream of the cold box
    • F25J1/0272—Multiple identical heat exchangers in parallel
    • 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
    • F25J5/00—Arrangements of cold exchangers or cold accumulators in separation or liquefaction plants
    • F25J5/002—Arrangements of cold exchangers or cold accumulators in separation or liquefaction plants for continuously recuperating cold, i.e. in a so-called recuperative heat exchanger
    • 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
    • F25J2220/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for the removal of impurities
    • F25J2220/60—Separating impurities from natural gas, e.g. mercury, cyclic hydrocarbons
    • F25J2220/62—Separating low boiling components, e.g. He, H2, N2, Air
    • 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
    • F25J2220/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for the removal of impurities
    • F25J2220/60—Separating impurities from natural gas, e.g. mercury, cyclic hydrocarbons
    • F25J2220/64—Separating heavy hydrocarbons, e.g. NGL, LPG, C4+ hydrocarbons or heavy condensates in general
    • 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
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/32—Details on header or distribution passages of heat exchangers, e.g. of reboiler-condenser or plate heat exchangers
    • 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
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/50—Arrangement of multiple equipments fulfilling the same process step in parallel
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
    • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
    • F28D2021/0033—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for cryogenic applications
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S62/00—Refrigeration
    • Y10S62/902—Apparatus
    • Y10S62/903—Heat exchange structure

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the technique of liquefying a gas, such as natural gas, using a refrigerating mixture cycle fluid, with at least one main cycle fluid under a pressure known as low refrigerant pressure, in heat exchange against current on the one hand with a circulating fluid to circulate, on the other hand with at least one circulating main cycle fluid, under a pressure called high pressure, with addition to said main cycle fluid under a low pressure and at an intermediate temperature heating at least one secondary cycle fluid obtained by bypassing a portion in the liquid state of said refrigerant mixture at a pressure greater than its low pressure, which is expanded to a low pressure before said addition.
  • a gas such as natural gas
  • the object of the invention is to provide a liquefaction technique which has both the advantages of a single line exchanger for all the temperature gradient up to the liquefaction of the gas to be treated, and of a process implementing minus a bypass and reintroduction of a secondary cycle fluid.
  • the invention relates to a heat exchanger of the aforementioned type, characterized in that said second plurality of compartments is equipped with intermediate intake means opening laterally to the exchanger, along the same intermediate zone the length of the exchanger located at a heat exchange distance from the inlet and outlet means of said second plurality of compartments, these intermediate intake means comprising, for each of these compartments, in a manner known per se, means dispenser distributed over the entire width of the compartment.
  • an installation for liquefying a gas comprises a closed circuit 1 for a cycle fluid formed of a refrigerant mixture, or cycle mixture, incorporating hydrocarbons from Ci to C 4 , and where appropriate nitrogen, with essentially a two-stage cycle compressor 2 2 and 3, a pipe 7 for a main cycle fluid under low pressure, or low pressure pipe (refrigerant), leading to the stage 3 of compressor 2, a pipe for a main cycle fluid under high pressure 5, or high pipe pressure (circulating), an expansion valve 6, a bypass duct 8 for a secondary cycle fluid derivative, in the liquid state and under medium pressure, at the base of a medium pressure separator 9 interposed between the two stages of compression 3 and 4, and a bypass duct 10 for a secondary cycle fluid withdrawn, in the liquid state and under high pressure, at the base of a high pressure separator 11 placed at the outlet of the high pressure stage 4 , these secondary fluid bypass ducts of cycle 8 and 10 each having a first section under pressure (circulating)
  • the main cycle fluid in the low pressure conduit 7 causes the cooling until liquefaction of a gas to be liquefied flowing in a conduit 18 and, also, the cooling of the main cycle fluid under high pressure in the conduit 5, as well as the sub-cooling of the secondary cycle fluid in the cycle liquid state in the first sections under medium pressure 12 and under high pressure 13.
  • Each heat exchange module 21 forms, in the example described, a stack in a transverse direction (T,) of ten flat compartments of rectangular shape in a second transverse direction, or width (T 2), and a longitudinal direction ( L), designated by the numbers 22 to 31, all comprising at the longitudinal ends in (or in the vicinity of) their upper or hot end bars 90 of the hot windows, each opening into one of the four boxes 32 to 35, namely a inlet box for the secondary cycle fluid in the liquid state and at medium pressure 32, an inlet box for the main cycle fluid under high pressure 33, a natural gas inlet box 34, an outlet box for the main cycle fluid under low pressure 35.
  • the compartments 22 to 31 also have in (or in the vicinity of) their lower or cold end bars 91 low or cold windows, each opening into three boxes 36, 37 and 38, savo ir an outlet box for liquefied natural gas 36, an outlet box for the main cycle fluid under high pressure 37 and a double inlet box for the main cycle fluid under low pressure 38.
  • the compartment 22 opens by a hot window 22a (hatched area) in the inlet box of the secondary cycle fluid in the liquid state and under medium pressure 32, the compartments 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31 opening out through hot windows 23a, 25a, 27a, 29a, 31a in the low pressure main cycle fluid outlet box 35, compartments 24 and 28 opening through hot windows 24a and 28a in the high pressure main cycle fluid inlet box 33, and compartments 26 and 30 opening out through hot windows at 26a and 30a into the natural gas inlet box 34.
  • a hot window 22a hatchched area
  • the compartments 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31 opening out through hot windows 23a, 25a, 27a, 29a, 31a in the low pressure main cycle fluid outlet box 35
  • compartments 24 and 28 opening through hot windows 24a and 28a in the high pressure main cycle fluid inlet box 33
  • compartments 26 and 30 opening out through hot windows at 26a and 30a into the natural gas inlet box 34.
  • the compartments 22, 26 and 30 are each partitioned by two transverse bars 40,41,42 and 43,44,45 located at two different longitudinal or temperature levels (the bar 40 being at a higher level than the bars 41 and 42, while the bars 43, 44 and 45 are all at the same level), with care, between these levels, d an intermediate zone, called the addition zone 46, thus defining, in the compartments 22, 26, 30 and in extension of one another, a section of high (or hot) compartment respectively 50, 51, 52, the section of compartment 50 being shorter than the sections of compartments 51 and 52, a section of low (or cold) compartment 53,54,55 respectively, all of equal length, and a section of intermediate compartment respectively 56, 57, 58.
  • the section of hot compartment 50 opens downwards through a side window 50b into a cycle fluid outlet box in the liquid state under medium pressure 60, while the sections of hot compartments 51 and 52 open downwards and through side windows 51 b and 52 b in a natural gas outlet manifold 61 placed just below the outlet box 60.
  • the sections of bottom compartments 53, 54 and 55 open at 53a, 54a, 55a upwards in a natural gas inlet box 62.
  • the sections of intermediate compartments 56, 57, 58 communicate by double side windows 56a, 56b, 57a, 57b, 58a, 58b, both upwards and downwards, with a separating box 63 connected, by the pipe 16 incorporating the valve 14, to the secondary cycle fluid outlet box 60, and these intermediate sections 56, 57, 58 have walls 66 and 67, adjacent to the low pressure compartments 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31, which are provided with a plurality of perforations 68 regularly distributed over the entire width between a high level Ni and a low level N z of less vertical extension than the height of the clearance, or adjoining zone 45.
  • the low pressure compartments 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31 open at 23b, 25b, 27b, 29b and 31b in the low pressure inlet box 38 the compartments 24 and 28 opening out at 24b and 28b into the high pressure outlet box 37, on the other hand the sections of the compartments 53, 54 and 55 open at 53b, 54b, 55b into the natural gas outlet box 36.
  • the conduit for the main cycle fluid under low pressure 7 incorporates a plurality (equal to five times the number of modules 21) of heat exchange passages formed by the compartments such as 23,25,27,29 and 31, from the supply from the cold inlet box 38 to the evacuation by the hot outlet box 35;
  • the conduit for the high pressure cycle fluid 5 incorporates a plurality (equal to twice the number of modules 21) of heat exchange passages formed by the compartments such as 24 and 28, from the supply by the box hot inlet 33 to the cold outlet box 37
  • the liquefied gas conduit 18 incorporates, on the one hand, the sections of tall or hot compartments such as the two sections of compartments 51 and 52 and, on the other hand apart, the sections of low or cold compartments such as 53, 54 and 55 between the inlet box 34 and the outlet box 36.
  • a phase separator 70 with extraction, in 71, of the liquid fraction formed of unwanted heavy condensates, while the gaseous fraction 72 is reintro
  • modules such as 21, are supplied at the location of their compartment section 50 by the secondary cycle fluid under medium pressure 8 by means of the inlet box 32, while other modules such as 21 ′, identical in construction to that of the modules 21 (on the right in FIG. 1) are supplied in the same way, with the exception of the section of high or hot compartment 50 ′ (homologous to the section of high or hot compartment 50 of the modules 21 ) which is supplied by the window 22'a and the collector 32 'by the secondary cycle fluid in the liquid state and under high pressure 10, the two medium pressure 8 and high pressure 10 cycle fluids then being each expanded, l 'One by the valve 14, the other by the valve 15, at the same pressure, equal to the low cycle pressure, before being introduced into the common separator box 63.
  • the expansion of the high pressure fluid at the location of the valve 6 generally has the effect of creating a two-phase mixture, and that the reinjection of the low pressure main cycle fluid at the cold end 91 of the exchanger 20 must be carried out by a separator 80, a conduit for a liquid fraction 81 and a conduit for a vapor fraction 82 leading to the double inlet box 38 via means known per se for recombining the liquid and vapor phases.
  • the intermediate addition zone 46 comprising the sections of the compartments 56, 57, 58 for receiving the expanded secondary cycle fluid (8 and 10) has, on either side of the transverse row - along the width (T z ) - of orifices 68, flow waves 101-102 associated respectively with liquid areas 103 and vapor 104, each comprising essentially two distributing waves 105 and 106, 105 'and 106', the waves 106 and 106 ′ opening respectively through the windows 56a, 56b (57a, 57b, 58a, 58b) at the top and bottom points of the separator box 63.
  • the heat exchanger 110 here comprises a plurality of compartments for a main cycle fluid under high pressure 111 extending right through and without interruption from a hot end 112 to a cold end 113 of the exchanger 110, and a plurality of compartments for a liquefied gas 114 extending from the hot end 112 to the cold end 113, with, in an intermediate zone 115, extraction at 116, separation of the heavy ones at 117 and reintroduction of the vapor fraction at 118.
  • the compartments for the main cycle fluid under low pressure 120 extend only over a limited portion (L,) of the length (L) of the exchanger 110 in the extension of the sections of compartments also serving to transport the primary cycle fluid 119.
  • the secondary cycle fluid 121 is also reintroduced into an addition zone coincident with the heavy extraction zone 115, in the same way as described with reference to FIG. 1, but, here, since there is no compartment section for the sub-cooling of the secondary cycle fluid (121), the gas to be liquefied is reintroduced only in the downstream compartment sections 114a extending the compartment sections upstream 114b, located on the other side of the addition-extraction zone 115.
  • the addition of the secondary cycle fluid 121 takes place directly in the compartments for the main cycle fluid under low pressure 120, for example, as described in FIG. 5, via one or more tubes 122 with distributed perforations 123, extending over the entire width T of the exchanger, preferably, for each compartment, a steam tube in the high position 122 ′ and a tube liquid in the low position 122 "being connected respectively by inlet boxes 124 and 125 to the top and bottom points of a separator 126 or, as described in FIGS.
  • a liquefaction installation comprises a battery of exchangers 140, 140 ', 140 "mounted in parallel and comprising a plurality of longitudinal compartments 141, 141', 141" for a cycle fluid under high pressure 142, a plurality of longitudinal compartments 143, 143 ', 143 "for a low pressure cycle fluid 144, with individual reinjection at the cold end of each exchanger 140, 140', 140" via an expansion valve 145,145 ', 145 ", a separator 146,146', 146” .
  • Two secondary cycle fluids 147 and 148 are also available here, taken in the liquid state at the bottom of the separators 149 and 150, at the outlet of the medium pressure compression stage 151 and the high pressure stage 152.
  • the fluids of secondary cycles 147 and 148 are sub-cooled in an auxiliary exchanger 153 and, from there, expanded in 154 and 155 at low pressure and separated in a separator 160 into two partial liquid streams 156 and 157, the partial stream 156 being directed as refrigerant in the auxiliary exchanger 153, while the partial stream 157 is separated into as many subdivided streams 158, 158 ', 158 "as there are exchangers 140, 140', 140", ..
  • the gas to be liquefied arrives via a line 159 and is divided into as many partial currents as it there are exchangers 140,140 ', 140 ", ...

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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)
  • Production Of Liquid Hydrocarbon Mixture For Refining Petroleum (AREA)

Abstract

Method and apparatus for liquefying a gas such as natural gas, utilizing at least one cycle fluid comprising a refrigerating mixture, with at least one first principal cycle fluid under a low pressure in countercurrent heat exchange with the gas which is to be liquefied and with at least one second principal cycle fluid under a high pressure. At least one secondary cycle fluid is obtained by withdrawing a portion in liquid phase from the refrigerating mixture at the high pressure and is expanded to the low pressure and is then added to the first principal cycle fluid. The heat exchange takes place in at least one heat exchanger comprising a stack of plates which form uninterrupted longitudinal compartments forming passages for the first principal cycle fluid under a low pressure, these compartments extending from the cold end of the exchanger, and a plurality of longitudinal compartments forming passages for at least one of the second principal cycle fluid and the fluid to be liquefied, these latter compartments extending to the cold end of the exchanger. The addition of the secondary fluid to the first principal fluid takes place in a distributed manner into each low pressure compartment in at least one transverse volume extending along the thickness of the exchanger, this volume being located at heat exchange distance from the inlets and outlets of the compartments forming passages for the first principal fluid under low pressure.

Description

La présente invention concerne la technique de liquéfaction d'un gaz, telle gaz naturel, mettant en oeuvre un fluide de cycle à mélange réfrigérant, avec au moins un fluide de cycle principal sous une pression dite basse pression frigorigène, en échange thermique à contre-courant d'une part avec un fluide à liquéfier calorigène, d'autre part avec au moins un fluide de cycle principal calorigène, sous une pression dite haute pression, avec adjonction à undit fluide de cycle principal sous une basse pression et à une température intermédiaire de réchauffement d'au moins un fluide de cycle secondaire obtenu par dérivation d'une partie à l'état liquide dudit mélange réfrigérant à une pression supérieure à sa basse pression, qui est détendu à une basse pression avant ladite adjonction.The present invention relates to the technique of liquefying a gas, such as natural gas, using a refrigerating mixture cycle fluid, with at least one main cycle fluid under a pressure known as low refrigerant pressure, in heat exchange against current on the one hand with a circulating fluid to circulate, on the other hand with at least one circulating main cycle fluid, under a pressure called high pressure, with addition to said main cycle fluid under a low pressure and at an intermediate temperature heating at least one secondary cycle fluid obtained by bypassing a portion in the liquid state of said refrigerant mixture at a pressure greater than its low pressure, which is expanded to a low pressure before said addition.

Dans des mises en oeuvre connues de cette technique, on a toujours utilisé des échangeurs du type bobiné, placés en ligne, permettant les extractions et adjonctions de fluide à l'extrémité froide de chaque échangeur. Cependant, la redistribution des fluides sous basse pression nécessite des dispositions relativement complexes et en tout cas très coûteuses. Au contraire, les échangeurs du type à plaques brasées sur barres-entretoises formant des compartiments plats, de forme générale rectangulaire, empilés selon une direction transversale dite d'épaisseur d'échangeur, et ayant une autre dimension transversale, ou largeur d'échangeur, et une dimension longitudinale, ou longueur d'échangeur, avec une première pluralité de compartiments pour un fluide à refroidir, adjacents individuellement à au moins une seconde pluralité de compartiments pour un fluide de cycle basse pression, chaque compartiment de la seconde pluralité ayant des moyens d'entrée et de sortie, sont de réalisation peu coûteuse, mais également ici on est amené à prévoir plusieurs échangeurs en ligne, pour la réintroduction du ou des fluides secondaires. C'est la raison pour laquelle, lorsqu'on a décidé, pour limiter les frais, de ne mettre en oeuvre qu'un échangeur unique assurant seul la liquéfaction du gaz traité, on a été amené à choisir un procédé simplifié sans formation de fluide de cycle secondaire nécessitant des réintroductions, mais la mise en oeuvre d'un tel procédé est assez onéreuse, car son énergie spécifique est élevée.In known implementations of this technique, exchangers of the coiled type have always been used, placed in line, allowing the extraction and addition of fluid at the cold end of each exchanger. However, the redistribution of fluids under low pressure requires relatively complex arrangements and in any case very expensive. On the contrary, exchangers of the type with brazed plates on spacer bars forming flat compartments, of generally rectangular shape, stacked in a transverse direction called thickness of exchanger, and having another transverse dimension, or width of exchanger, and a longitudinal dimension, or exchanger length, with a first plurality of compartments for a fluid to be cooled, individually adjacent to at least a second plurality of compartments for a low pressure cycle fluid, each compartment of the second plurality having means inlet and outlet, are inexpensive to make, but also here we have to provide several exchangers in line, for the reintroduction of the secondary fluid (s). This is the reason why, when it was decided, in order to limit the costs, to use only a single exchanger ensuring alone the liquefaction of the treated gas, we were led to choose a simplified process without formation of fluid. secondary cycle requiring reintroductions, but the implementation of such a process is quite expensive, because its specific energy is high.

On a également proposé (FR-A No 2456924) d'utiliser un fluide de cycle secondaire entièrement indépendant (en général du propane dans le cas de la liquéfaction du gaz naturel), mais il faut alors disposer d'un second groupe compresseur, ce qui est très coûteux.It has also been proposed (FR-A No 2456924) to use a completely independent secondary cycle fluid (generally propane in the case of liquefaction of natural gas), but it is then necessary to have a second compressor unit, this which is very expensive.

L'invention a pour but de fournir une technique de liquéfaction qui présente à la fois les avantages d'un échangeur de ligne unique pourtout le gradient de température jusqu'à la liquéfaction du gaz à traiter, et d'un procédé mettant en oeuvre au moins une dérivation et réintroduction d'un fluide de cycle secondaire.The object of the invention is to provide a liquefaction technique which has both the advantages of a single line exchanger for all the temperature gradient up to the liquefaction of the gas to be treated, and of a process implementing minus a bypass and reintroduction of a secondary cycle fluid.

A cet effet, l'invention a pour objet un échangeur de chaleur du type précité, caractérisé en ce que ladite seconde pluralité de compartiments est équipée de moyens d'admission intermédiaires débouchant latéralement à l'échangeur, le long d'une même zone intermédiaire de la longueur d'échangeur située à distance d'échange thermique des moyens d'entrée et de sortie de ladite seconde pluralité de compartiments, ces moyens d'admission intermédiaires comportant, pour chacun de ces compartiments, de façon connue en soi, des moyens de distribution répartie sur toute la largeur du compartiment.To this end, the invention relates to a heat exchanger of the aforementioned type, characterized in that said second plurality of compartments is equipped with intermediate intake means opening laterally to the exchanger, along the same intermediate zone the length of the exchanger located at a heat exchange distance from the inlet and outlet means of said second plurality of compartments, these intermediate intake means comprising, for each of these compartments, in a manner known per se, means dispenser distributed over the entire width of the compartment.

L'invention a également pour objet un procédé de liquéfaction d'un gaz, telle gaz naturel, mettant en oeuvre au moins un fluide de cycle à mélange réfrigérant, avec au moins un fluide de cycle principal sous une pression dite basse pression frigorigène, en échange thermique à contre-courant d'une part avec un fluide à liquéfier calorigène, d'autre part avec au moins un fluide de cycle principal calorigène sous une pression dite haute pression, avec adjonction audit fluide de cycle principal, sous la basse pression et à une température intermédiaire de réchauffement, d'au moins un fluide de cycle secondaire obtenu par dérivation d'une partie à l'état liquide dudit mélange réfrigérant à une pression supérieure à sa basse pression, qui est détendu à ladite basse pression avant ladite adjonction, caractérisé en ce que l'on effectue les échanges thermiques, dans un échangeur de chaleur tel que défini ci-dessus, de la façon suivante:

  • - on fait circuler ledit gaz à liquéfier et/ou ledit fluide du cycle principal sous haute pression dans ladite première pluralité de compartiments;
  • - on fait circuler ledit fluide de cycle principal sous basse pression dans la seconde pluralité de compartiments, et
  • - on envoie ledit fluide de cycle secondaire dans lesdits moyens d'admission intermédiaires.
The subject of the invention is also a process for liquefying a gas, such as natural gas, using at least one cycle fluid with a refrigerant mixture, with at least one main cycle fluid under a pressure known as low refrigerant pressure, in countercurrent heat exchange on the one hand with a circulating liquefying fluid, on the other hand with at least one circulating main cycle fluid under a pressure known as high pressure, with addition to said main cycle fluid, under low pressure and at an intermediate heating temperature, at least one secondary cycle fluid obtained by bypassing a portion in the liquid state of said refrigerant mixture at a pressure higher than its low pressure, which is expanded to said low pressure before said addition , characterized in that the heat exchanges are carried out, in a heat exchanger as defined above, as follows:
  • - Circulating said gas to be liquefied and / or said main cycle fluid under high pressure in said first plurality of compartments;
  • said main cycle fluid is circulated under low pressure in the second plurality of compartments, and
  • - Sending said secondary cycle fluid in said intermediate intake means.

Les caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention apparaîtront au cours de la description qui suit dans laquelle:

  • la fig. 1 est une vue en perspective d'un échangeur selon l'invention;
  • les fig. 2 et 3 sont des vues en coupe selon II-II et III-III des fig. 1 et 2;
  • les fig. 4 et 5 d'une part et les fig. 6 et 7 d'autre part sont des vues en coupe transversale de deux variantes de réalisation;
  • les fig. 8 et 9 sont des vues schématiques d'une installation selon l'invention mettant en oeuvre une batterie d'échangeurs.
The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the following description in which:
  • fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exchanger according to the invention;
  • fig. 2 and 3 are sectional views along II-II and III-III of FIGS. 1 and 2;
  • fig. 4 and 5 on the one hand and figs. 6 and 7 on the other hand are cross-sectional views of two alternative embodiments;
  • fig. 8 and 9 are schematic views of an installation according to the invention using a battery of exchangers.

En se référant aux fig. 1, 2 et 3, une installation de liquéfaction d'un gaz (par exemple du gaz naturel) comprend un circuit fermé 1 pour un fluide de cycle formé d'un mélange réfrigérant, ou mélange de cycle, incorporant des hydrocarbures de Ci à C4, et le cas échéant de l'azote, avec essentiellement un compresseur de cycle 2 à deux étages 3 et 4, un conduit 7 pour un fluide de cycle principal sous basse pression, ou conduit basse pression (frigorigène), aboutissant à l'étage 3 du compresseur 2, un conduit pour un fluide de cycle principal sous haute pression 5, ou conduit haute pression (calorigène), une vanne de détente 6, un conduit de dérivation 8 pour un fluide de cycle secondaire dérivé, à l'état liquide et sous moyenne pression, à la base d'un séparateur moyenne pression 9 intercalé entre les deux étages de compression 3 et 4, et un conduit de dérivation 10 pour un fluide de cycle secondaire prélevé, à l'état liquide et sous haute pression, à la base d'un séparateur haute pression 11 placé à la sortie de l'étage haute pression 4, ces conduits de dérivation de fluide secondaire de cycle 8 et 10 ayant chacun une première section sous pression (calorigène) 12 et 13, respectivement sous moyenne pression et sous haute pression, et, au-delà de deux vannes de détente 14 et 15, une seconde section sous basse pression 16, aboutissant directement dans le conduit 7 pour le fluide principal de cycle sous basse pression.Referring to fig. 1, 2 and 3, an installation for liquefying a gas (for example natural gas) comprises a closed circuit 1 for a cycle fluid formed of a refrigerant mixture, or cycle mixture, incorporating hydrocarbons from Ci to C 4 , and where appropriate nitrogen, with essentially a two-stage cycle compressor 2 2 and 3, a pipe 7 for a main cycle fluid under low pressure, or low pressure pipe (refrigerant), leading to the stage 3 of compressor 2, a pipe for a main cycle fluid under high pressure 5, or high pipe pressure (circulating), an expansion valve 6, a bypass duct 8 for a secondary cycle fluid derivative, in the liquid state and under medium pressure, at the base of a medium pressure separator 9 interposed between the two stages of compression 3 and 4, and a bypass duct 10 for a secondary cycle fluid withdrawn, in the liquid state and under high pressure, at the base of a high pressure separator 11 placed at the outlet of the high pressure stage 4 , these secondary fluid bypass ducts of cycle 8 and 10 each having a first section under pressure (circulating) 12 and 13, respectively under medium pressure and under high pressure, and, beyond two expansion valves 14 and 15, a second section under low pressure 16, leading directly into the conduit 7 for the main cycle fluid under low pressure.

Dans l'exemple décrit, lefluide de cycle principal dans le conduit basse pression 7 provoque le refroidissement jusqu'à liquéfaction d'un gaz à liquéfier circulant dans un conduit 18 et, également, le refroidissement du fluide de cycle principal sous haute pression dans le conduit 5, ainsi que le sous-refroidissement du fluide de cycle secondaire à l'état liquide de cycle dans les premières sections sous moyenne pression 12 et sous haute pression 13.In the example described, the main cycle fluid in the low pressure conduit 7 causes the cooling until liquefaction of a gas to be liquefied flowing in a conduit 18 and, also, the cooling of the main cycle fluid under high pressure in the conduit 5, as well as the sub-cooling of the secondary cycle fluid in the cycle liquid state in the first sections under medium pressure 12 and under high pressure 13.

Comme on le voit, l'ensemble de ces opérations de refroidissement, ou plus généralement de transfert thermique, s'effectue dans un même échangeur de chaleur 20, du type à plaques brasées et constitué d'une pluralité de modules, dont l'un est représenté en détail en 21 à la fig. 1, qui sont disposés côte à côte. Chaque module d'échange thermique 21 forme, dans l'exemple décrit, un empilage selon une direction transversale (T, ) de dix compartiments plats de forme rectangulaire selon une deuxième direction transversale, ou largeur (T 2), et une direction longitudinale (L), désignés par les chiffres 22 à 31, tous comprenant aux extrémités longitudinales dans (ou au voisinage de) leurs barres d'extrémité supérieures ou chaudes 90 des fenêtres chaudes, chacune débouchant dans une des quatre boîtes 32 à 35, à savoir une boîte d'entrée du fluide de cycle secondaire à l'état liquide et sous moyenne pression 32, une boîte d'entrée du fluide de cycle principal sous haute pression 33, une boîte d'entrée du gaz naturel 34, une boîte de sortie du fluide de cycle principal sous basse pression 35. Les compartiments 22 à 31 présentent également dans (ou au voisinage de) leurs barres d'extrémité inférieures ou froides 91 des fenêtres basses ou froides, chacune débouchant dans trois boîtes 36, 37 et 38, à savoir une boîte de sortie du gaz naturel liquéfié 36, une boîte de sortie du fluide de cycle principal sous haute pression 37 et une boîte double d'entrée du fluide de cycle principal sous basse pression 38.As can be seen, all of these cooling operations, or more generally of heat transfer, are carried out in the same heat exchanger 20, of the brazed plate type and consisting of a plurality of modules, one of which is shown in detail at 21 in FIG. 1, which are arranged side by side. Each heat exchange module 21 forms, in the example described, a stack in a transverse direction (T,) of ten flat compartments of rectangular shape in a second transverse direction, or width (T 2), and a longitudinal direction ( L), designated by the numbers 22 to 31, all comprising at the longitudinal ends in (or in the vicinity of) their upper or hot end bars 90 of the hot windows, each opening into one of the four boxes 32 to 35, namely a inlet box for the secondary cycle fluid in the liquid state and at medium pressure 32, an inlet box for the main cycle fluid under high pressure 33, a natural gas inlet box 34, an outlet box for the main cycle fluid under low pressure 35. The compartments 22 to 31 also have in (or in the vicinity of) their lower or cold end bars 91 low or cold windows, each opening into three boxes 36, 37 and 38, savo ir an outlet box for liquefied natural gas 36, an outlet box for the main cycle fluid under high pressure 37 and a double inlet box for the main cycle fluid under low pressure 38.

Ainsi, pour le module 21, et en partant de la gauche vers la droite de la figure, vers le haut (ou du côté de l'extrémité chaude 90), le compartiment 22 s'ouvre par une fenêtre chaude 22a (zone hachurée) dans la boîte d'entrée du fluide de cycle secondaire à l'état liquide et sous moyenne pression 32, les compartiments 23, 25, 27, 29 et 31 débouchant par des fenêtres chaudes 23a, 25a, 27a, 29a, 31 a dans la boîte de sortie du fluide de cycle principal sous basse pression 35, les compartiments 24 et 28 s'ouvrant par des fenêtres chaudes 24a et 28a dans la boîte d'entrée de fluide de cycle principal sous haute pression 33, et les compartiments 26 et 30 débouchant par des fenêtres chaudes en 26a et 30a dans la boîte d'entrée de gaz naturel 34.Thus, for the module 21, and starting from the left to the right of the figure, upwards (or on the side of the hot end 90), the compartment 22 opens by a hot window 22a (hatched area) in the inlet box of the secondary cycle fluid in the liquid state and under medium pressure 32, the compartments 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31 opening out through hot windows 23a, 25a, 27a, 29a, 31a in the low pressure main cycle fluid outlet box 35, compartments 24 and 28 opening through hot windows 24a and 28a in the high pressure main cycle fluid inlet box 33, and compartments 26 and 30 opening out through hot windows at 26a and 30a into the natural gas inlet box 34.

A une certaine distance de l'extrémité chaude 90 de l'échangeur et également à distance de l'extrémité froide 91, les compartiments 22, 26 et 30 sont cloisonnés chacun par deux barres transversales 40,41,42 et 43,44,45 situées à deux niveaux différents longitudinaux ou de température (la barre 40 étant à un niveau plus haut que les barres 41 et 42, tandis que les barres 43, 44 et 45 sont toutes au même niveau), avec ménagement, entre ces niveaux, d'une zone intermédiaire, dite zone d'adjonction 46, définissant ainsi, dans les compartiments 22, 26, 30 et en prolongement l'une de l'autre, un tronçon de compartiment haut (ou chaud) respectivement 50, 51, 52, le tronçon de compartiment 50 étant moins long que les tronçons de compartiments 51 et 52, un tronçon de compartiment bas (ou froid) respectivement 53,54,55, tous d'égale longueur, et un tronçon de compartiment intermédiaire respectivement 56, 57,58.At a certain distance from the hot end 90 of the exchanger and also at a distance from the cold end 91, the compartments 22, 26 and 30 are each partitioned by two transverse bars 40,41,42 and 43,44,45 located at two different longitudinal or temperature levels (the bar 40 being at a higher level than the bars 41 and 42, while the bars 43, 44 and 45 are all at the same level), with care, between these levels, d an intermediate zone, called the addition zone 46, thus defining, in the compartments 22, 26, 30 and in extension of one another, a section of high (or hot) compartment respectively 50, 51, 52, the section of compartment 50 being shorter than the sections of compartments 51 and 52, a section of low (or cold) compartment 53,54,55 respectively, all of equal length, and a section of intermediate compartment respectively 56, 57, 58.

Le tronçon de compartiment chaud 50 débouche vers le bas par une fenêtre latérale 50b dans une boîte de sortie de fluide de cycle à l'état liquide sous moyenne pression 60, tandis que les tronçons de compartiments chauds 51 et 52 débouchent vers le bas et par des fenêtres latérales 51 b et 52b dans un collecteur de sortie de gaz naturel 61 disposé juste en dessous de la boîte de sortie 60.The section of hot compartment 50 opens downwards through a side window 50b into a cycle fluid outlet box in the liquid state under medium pressure 60, while the sections of hot compartments 51 and 52 open downwards and through side windows 51 b and 52 b in a natural gas outlet manifold 61 placed just below the outlet box 60.

Les tronçons de compartiments bas 53, 54 et 55 débouchent en 53a, 54a, 55a vers le haut dans une boîte d'entrée de gaz naturel 62.The sections of bottom compartments 53, 54 and 55 open at 53a, 54a, 55a upwards in a natural gas inlet box 62.

Les tronçons de compartiments intermédiaires 56, 57, 58 communiquent par des fenêtres latérales doubles 56a, 56b, 57a, 57b, 58a, 58b, à la fois vers le haut et vers le bas, avec une boîte séparatrice 63 raccordée, par la canalisation 16 incorporant la vanne 14, à la boîte de sortie du fluide de cycle secondaire 60, et ces tronçons intermédiaires 56, 57, 58 ont des parois 66 et 67, adjacentes aux compartiments basse pression 23, 25, 27, 29 et 31, qui sont pourvues d'une pluralité de perforations 68 régulièrement réparties sur toute la largeur entre un niveau haut Ni et un niveau bas Nz de moindre extension verticale que la hauteur du dégagement, ou zone d'adjonction 45.The sections of intermediate compartments 56, 57, 58 communicate by double side windows 56a, 56b, 57a, 57b, 58a, 58b, both upwards and downwards, with a separating box 63 connected, by the pipe 16 incorporating the valve 14, to the secondary cycle fluid outlet box 60, and these intermediate sections 56, 57, 58 have walls 66 and 67, adjacent to the low pressure compartments 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31, which are provided with a plurality of perforations 68 regularly distributed over the entire width between a high level Ni and a low level N z of less vertical extension than the height of the clearance, or adjoining zone 45.

Vers le bas, c'est-à-dire vers l'extrémité froide 91, d'une part les compartiments basse pression 23, 25, 27, 29 et 31 s'ouvrent en 23b, 25b, 27b, 29b et 31 b dans la boîte d'entrée basse pression 38, les compartiments 24 et 28 débouchant en 24b et 28b dans la boîte de sortie haute pression 37, d'autre part les tronçons des compartiments 53, 54 et 55 débouchent en 53b, 54b, 55b dans la boîte de sortie de gaz naturel 36.Towards the bottom, i.e. towards the cold end 91, on the one hand the low pressure compartments 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31 open at 23b, 25b, 27b, 29b and 31b in the low pressure inlet box 38, the compartments 24 and 28 opening out at 24b and 28b into the high pressure outlet box 37, on the other hand the sections of the compartments 53, 54 and 55 open at 53b, 54b, 55b into the natural gas outlet box 36.

Ainsi, le conduit pour le fluide de cycle principal sous basse pression 7 incorpore une pluralité (égale à cinq fois le nombre de modules 21) de passages d'échange thermique formés par les compartiments tels que 23,25,27,29 et 31, depuis l'alimentation à partir de la boîte d'entrée froide 38 jusqu'à l'évacuation par la boîte de sortie chaude 35; le conduit pour le fluide de cycle sous haute pression 5 incorpore une pluralité (égale à deux fois le nombre de modules 21) de passages d'échange thermique formés par les compartiments tels que 24 et 28, depuis l'alimentation par la boîte d'entrée chaude 33 jusqu'à la boîte de sortie froide 37, et le conduit de gaz à liquéfier 18 incorpore, d'une part, les tronçons de compartiments hauts ou chauds tels que les deux tronçons de compartiments 51 et 52 et, d'autre part, les tronçons de compartiments bas ou froids tels que 53, 54 et 55 entre la boîte d'entrée 34 et la boîte de sortie 36. Avantageusement, entre les boîtes de sortie 61 et d'entrée 62 est aménagé un séparateur de phases 70 avec extraction, en 71, de la fraction liquide formée de condensats lourds indésirables, tandis que la fraction gazeuse 72 est réintroduite en 62.Thus, the conduit for the main cycle fluid under low pressure 7 incorporates a plurality (equal to five times the number of modules 21) of heat exchange passages formed by the compartments such as 23,25,27,29 and 31, from the supply from the cold inlet box 38 to the evacuation by the hot outlet box 35; the conduit for the high pressure cycle fluid 5 incorporates a plurality (equal to twice the number of modules 21) of heat exchange passages formed by the compartments such as 24 and 28, from the supply by the box hot inlet 33 to the cold outlet box 37, and the liquefied gas conduit 18 incorporates, on the one hand, the sections of tall or hot compartments such as the two sections of compartments 51 and 52 and, on the other hand apart, the sections of low or cold compartments such as 53, 54 and 55 between the inlet box 34 and the outlet box 36. Advantageously, between the outlet boxes 61 and inlet 62 is arranged a phase separator 70 with extraction, in 71, of the liquid fraction formed of unwanted heavy condensates, while the gaseous fraction 72 is reintroduced in 62.

Certains modules, tels que 21, sont alimentés à l'endroit de leur tronçon de compartiment 50 par le fluide de cycle secondaire sous moyenne pression 8 au moyen de la boîte d'entrée 32, tandis que d'autres modules tels que 21', de construction identique à celle des modules 21 (à droite sur la fig. 1) sont alimentés de la même façon, à l'exception du tronçon de compartiment haut ou chaud 50' (homologue au tronçon de compartiment haut ou chaud 50 des modules 21) qui est alimenté par la fenêtre 22'a et le collecteur 32' par le fluide de cycle secondaire à l'état liquide et sous haute pression 10, les deux fluides de cycle moyenne pression 8 et haute pression 10 étant ensuite chacun détendus, l'un par la vanne 14, l'autre par la vanne 15, à la même pression, égale à la basse pression de cycle, avant d'être introduits dans la boîte séparatrice commune 63.Certain modules, such as 21, are supplied at the location of their compartment section 50 by the secondary cycle fluid under medium pressure 8 by means of the inlet box 32, while other modules such as 21 ′, identical in construction to that of the modules 21 (on the right in FIG. 1) are supplied in the same way, with the exception of the section of high or hot compartment 50 ′ (homologous to the section of high or hot compartment 50 of the modules 21 ) which is supplied by the window 22'a and the collector 32 'by the secondary cycle fluid in the liquid state and under high pressure 10, the two medium pressure 8 and high pressure 10 cycle fluids then being each expanded, l 'One by the valve 14, the other by the valve 15, at the same pressure, equal to the low cycle pressure, before being introduced into the common separator box 63.

On note également que la détente du fluide à haute pression à l'endroit de la vanne 6 a généralement pour effet de créer un mélange diphasique, et que la réinjection du fluide de cycle principal basse pression à l'extrémité froide 91 de l'échangeur 20 doit s'effectuer par un séparateur 80, un conduit pour une fraction liquide 81 et un conduit pour une fraction vapeur 82 aboutissant à la boîte d'entrée double 38 via des moyens connus en soi de recombinaison des phases liquide et vapeur.It is also noted that the expansion of the high pressure fluid at the location of the valve 6 generally has the effect of creating a two-phase mixture, and that the reinjection of the low pressure main cycle fluid at the cold end 91 of the exchanger 20 must be carried out by a separator 80, a conduit for a liquid fraction 81 and a conduit for a vapor fraction 82 leading to the double inlet box 38 via means known per se for recombining the liquid and vapor phases.

Ainsi, on peut résumer maintenant les différents circuits:

  • - le conduit pour un fluide de cycle principal sous haute pression 5 comprend, dans l'échangeur 20, une paire de boîtes d'extrémité 33, 37, de part et d'autre d'une pluralité de compartiments longitudinaux tels 24 et 28 s'étendant pratiquement de part en part sur toute la hauteur de l'échangeur 20;
  • - le conduit pour un fluide de cycle principal sous basse pression 7 comprend, dans l'échangeur 20, une paire de boîtes d'extrémité 35, 38, de part et d'autre d'une pluralité de compartiments longitudinaux tels 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 ;
  • - le conduit de fluide de cycle secondaire sous moyenne pression 8 comprend, dans les modules 21, une partie amont sous ladite moyenne pression comprenant une boîte d'entrée haute ou chaude 32, une pluralité de tronçons de compartiments amont 50, une boîte de sortie intermédiaire 60, une vanne de détente 14 et une partie aval basse pression incorporant le conduit 16 et la boîte séparatrice intermédiaire 63 et une pluralité (identique à la somme des tronçons de compartiments amont 50 et 51, 52) de tronçons de compartiments intermédiaires 56, 57, 58, et les orifices de réinjection 68;
  • - le conduit de fluide de cycle secondaire sous haute pression 10 comprend, dans les modules 21', une partie amont sous ladite haute pression comprenant une boîte d'entrée haute ou chaude 32', une pluralité de tronçon de compartiments amont 50', une boîte de sortie intermédiarie 60', une vanne de détente 15 et une partie aval basse pression incorporant le conduit 16 et la boîte séparatrice intermédiaire 63, et une pluralité (identique à celle des tronçons de compartiments amont 50' et des tronçons correspondant aux tronçons 51 et 52 des modules 21 ) de tronçons de compartiments intermédiaires 56', et les orifices de réinjection 68, et
  • - le circuit de gaz naturel 18 comprend, dans l'échangeur 20, une boîte d'entrée haute ou chaude 34, une pluralité de tronçons de compartiments amont tels que 51 et 52, une boîte de sortie intermédiaire 61, le séparateur 70, une boîte d'entrée intermédiaire 62, et une pluralité (égale à la somme de la pluralité de tronçons de compartiments amont 50 pour le fluide de cycle secondaire sous moyenne pression 8 (ou 50' sous haute pression 10 dans les modules 21') et de la pluralité de tronçons de compartiments amont 51, 52 pour le gaz naturel à liquéfier 18) de tronçons de compartiments aval tels 53, 54, 55, et la boîte de sortie basse ou froide 36.
So, we can now summarize the different circuits:
  • - the duct for a main cycle fluid under high pressure 5 comprises, in the exchanger 20, a pair of end boxes 33, 37, on either side of a plurality of longitudinal compartments such as 24 and 28 s 'extending practically right through the entire height of the exchanger 20;
  • the conduit for a main cycle fluid under low pressure 7 comprises, in the exchanger 20, a pair of end boxes 35, 38, on either side of a plurality of longitudinal compartments such as 23, 25, 27, 29, 31;
  • - the medium pressure secondary cycle fluid conduit 8 comprises, in the modules 21, an upstream part under said medium pressure comprising a high or hot inlet box 32, a plurality of sections of upstream compartments 50, an outlet box intermediate 60, an expansion valve 14 and a low pressure downstream part incorporating the conduit 16 and the intermediate separating box 63 and a plurality (identical to the sum of the sections of upstream compartments 50 and 51, 52) of sections of intermediate compartments 56, 57, 58, and the reinjection orifices 68;
  • the high pressure secondary cycle fluid conduit 10 comprises, in the modules 21 ′, an upstream part under said high pressure comprising a high or hot inlet box 32 ′, a plurality of sections of upstream compartments 50 ′, a intermediate outlet box 60 ′, an expansion valve 15 and a low pressure downstream part incorporating the conduit 16 and the intermediate separating box 63, and a plurality (identical to that of the sections of upstream compartments 50 ′ and of the sections corresponding to the sections 51 and 52 of the modules 21) of sections of intermediate compartments 56 ′, and the reinjection orifices 68, and
  • the natural gas circuit 18 comprises, in the exchanger 20, a high or hot inlet box 34, a plurality of sections of upstream compartments such as 51 and 52, an intermediate outlet box 61, the separator 70, a intermediate inlet box 62, and a plurality (equal to the sum of the plurality of sections of upstream compartments 50 for the secondary cycle fluid under medium pressure 8 (or 50 'under high pressure 10 in the modules 21') and of the plurality of sections of upstream compartments 51, 52 for the natural gas to be liquefied 18) of sections of downstream compartments such as 53, 54, 55, and the low or cold outlet box 36.

En se référant plus particulièrement aux fig. 2 et 3, on voit que la zone intermédiaire d'adjonction 46 comprenant les tronçons des compartiments 56, 57, 58 de réception du fluide de cycle secondaire détendu (8 et 10) présente, de part et d'autre de la rangée transversale - selon la largeur (Tz) - d'orifices 68, des ondes d'écoulement 101-102 associées respectivement à des zones liquide 103 et vapeur 104, comprenant chacune essentiellement deux ondes distributrices 105 et 106, 105' et 106', les ondes 106 et 106' débouchant respectivement par les fenêtres 56a, 56b (57a, 57b, 58a, 58b) en des points haut et bas de la boîte séparatrice 63.With particular reference to Figs. 2 and 3, it can be seen that the intermediate addition zone 46 comprising the sections of the compartments 56, 57, 58 for receiving the expanded secondary cycle fluid (8 and 10) has, on either side of the transverse row - along the width (T z ) - of orifices 68, flow waves 101-102 associated respectively with liquid areas 103 and vapor 104, each comprising essentially two distributing waves 105 and 106, 105 'and 106', the waves 106 and 106 ′ opening respectively through the windows 56a, 56b (57a, 57b, 58a, 58b) at the top and bottom points of the separator box 63.

Selon la variante de réalisation représentée à la fig. 4, l'échangeur de chaleur 110 comprend ici une pluralité de compartiments pour un fluide de cycle principal sous haute pression 111 s'étendant de part en part et sans interruption d'une extrémité chaude 112 à une extrémité froide 113 de l'échangeur 110, et une pluralité de compartiments pour un gaz à liquéfier 114 s'étendant de l'extrémité chaude 112 à l'extrémité froide 113, avec, dans une zone intermédiaire 115, extraction en 116, séparation des lourds en 117 et réintroduction de la fraction vapeur en 118. Ici, on dispose d'un cycle frigorigène primaire indépendant 119, et les compartiments pour le fluide de cycle principal sous basse pression 120 ne s'étendent que sur une partie restreinte (L, ) de la longueur (L) de l'échangeur 110 dans le prolongement des tronçons de compartiments servant à véhiculer également le fluide de cycle primaire 119. Le fluide de cycle secondaire 121 est également réintroduit dans une zone d'adjonction confondue avec la zone d'extraction des lourds 115, de la même façon que décrite en référence à la fig. 1, mais, ici, puisqu'il n'existe pas de tronçon de compartiment pour le sous-refroidissement du fluide de cycle secondaire (121 ), le gaz à liquéfier est réintroduit seulement dans les tronçons de compartiment aval 114a prolongeant les tronçons de compartiment amont 114b, situés de l'autre côté de la zone d'adjonction-extraction 115.According to the variant embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the heat exchanger 110 here comprises a plurality of compartments for a main cycle fluid under high pressure 111 extending right through and without interruption from a hot end 112 to a cold end 113 of the exchanger 110, and a plurality of compartments for a liquefied gas 114 extending from the hot end 112 to the cold end 113, with, in an intermediate zone 115, extraction at 116, separation of the heavy ones at 117 and reintroduction of the vapor fraction at 118. Here, there is an independent primary refrigerant cycle 119, and the compartments for the main cycle fluid under low pressure 120 extend only over a limited portion (L,) of the length (L) of the exchanger 110 in the extension of the sections of compartments also serving to transport the primary cycle fluid 119. The secondary cycle fluid 121 is also reintroduced into an addition zone coincident with the heavy extraction zone 115, in the same way as described with reference to FIG. 1, but, here, since there is no compartment section for the sub-cooling of the secondary cycle fluid (121), the gas to be liquefied is reintroduced only in the downstream compartment sections 114a extending the compartment sections upstream 114b, located on the other side of the addition-extraction zone 115.

Dans un tel cas, l'adjonction du fluide de cycle secondaire 121 s'effectue directement dans les compartiments pour le fluide de cycle principal sous basse pression 120, par exemple, comme décrit à la fig. 5, par l'intermédiaire d'un ou de plusieurs tubes 122 à perforations réparties 123, s'étendant sous toute la largeur T de l'échangeur, de préférence, pour chaque compartiment, un tube vapeur en position haute 122'et un tube liquide en position basse 122" étant raccordés respectivement par des boîtes d'entrée 124 et 125 aux points haut et bas d'un séparateur 126 ou, comme décrit aux fig. 6 et 7, par des tronçons de compartiments étroits de réinjection 130 ménagés dans une partie de l'épaisseur (T, ) des compartiments 131 pour le fluide de cycleprincipal sous basse pression 120, alimentés par une boîte d'entrée basse 133 pour une fraction liquide 134 de ce fluide de cycle secondaire et une boîte d'entrée haute 135 pour une fraction vapeur 136 de ce fluide de cycle secondaire, la séparation s'effectuant dans un séparateur de phase 137 alimenté via une vanne de détente 138 par un collecteur 139 pour le fluide de cycle secondaire sous pression, l'adjonction dans les compartiments 120 s'effectuant par des rangées de perforations 140.In such a case, the addition of the secondary cycle fluid 121 takes place directly in the compartments for the main cycle fluid under low pressure 120, for example, as described in FIG. 5, via one or more tubes 122 with distributed perforations 123, extending over the entire width T of the exchanger, preferably, for each compartment, a steam tube in the high position 122 ′ and a tube liquid in the low position 122 "being connected respectively by inlet boxes 124 and 125 to the top and bottom points of a separator 126 or, as described in FIGS. 6 and 7, by sections of narrow reinjection compartments 130 formed in part of the thickness (T,) of the compartments 131 for the main cycle fluid under low pressure 120, supplied by a low inlet box 133 for a liquid fraction 134 of this secondary cycle fluid and a high inlet box 135 for a vapor fraction 136 of this secondary cycle fluid, the separation taking place in a phase separator 137 supplied via an expansion valve 138 by a manifold 139 for the secondary cycle fluid under pressure, the addition in the compartments 120 effe ctuant by rows of perforations 140.

Selon la variante de réalisation représentée à la fig. 8, une installation de liquéfaction comporte une batterie d'échangeurs 140,140', 140" montés en parallèle et comportant une pluralité de compartiments longitudinaux 141, 141', 141" pour un fluide de cycle sous haute pression 142, une pluralité de compartiments longitudinaux 143,143', 143" pour un fluide de cycle sous basse pression 144, avec réinjection individuelle à l'extrémité froide de chaque échangeur 140, 140', 140" via une vanne de détente 145,145', 145", un séparateur 146,146', 146". On dispose également ici de deux fluides de cycle secondaire 147 et 148 prélevés à l'état liquide au bas des séparateurs 149 et 150, à la sortie de l'étage de compression moyenne pression 151 et de l'étage haute pression 152. Les fluides de cycle secondaires 147 et 148 sont sous-refroidis dans un échangeur auxiliaire 153 et, de là, détendus en 154 et 155 à la basse pression et séparés dans un séparateur 160 en deux courants partiels liquides 156 et 157, le courant partiel 156 étant dirigé à titre de fluide frigorigène dans l'échangeur auxiliaire 153, tandis que le courant partiel 157 est séparé en autant de courants subdivisés 158, 158', 158" qu'il y a d'échangeurs 140, 140', 140", ... et adjoint, dans les zones intermédiaires desdits échangeurs, individuellement à chacun des fluides de cycle principaux sous basse pression 143, 143', 143". Le gaz à liquéfier arrive par une conduite 159 et est divisé en autant de courants partiels qu'il y a d'échangeurs 140,140', 140", ...According to the variant embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a liquefaction installation comprises a battery of exchangers 140, 140 ', 140 "mounted in parallel and comprising a plurality of longitudinal compartments 141, 141', 141" for a cycle fluid under high pressure 142, a plurality of longitudinal compartments 143, 143 ', 143 "for a low pressure cycle fluid 144, with individual reinjection at the cold end of each exchanger 140, 140', 140" via an expansion valve 145,145 ', 145 ", a separator 146,146', 146" . Two secondary cycle fluids 147 and 148 are also available here, taken in the liquid state at the bottom of the separators 149 and 150, at the outlet of the medium pressure compression stage 151 and the high pressure stage 152. The fluids of secondary cycles 147 and 148 are sub-cooled in an auxiliary exchanger 153 and, from there, expanded in 154 and 155 at low pressure and separated in a separator 160 into two partial liquid streams 156 and 157, the partial stream 156 being directed as refrigerant in the auxiliary exchanger 153, while the partial stream 157 is separated into as many subdivided streams 158, 158 ', 158 "as there are exchangers 140, 140', 140", .. and added, in the intermediate zones of said exchangers, individually to each of the main cycle fluids under low pressure 143, 143 ′, 143 ". The gas to be liquefied arrives via a line 159 and is divided into as many partial currents as it there are exchangers 140,140 ', 140 ", ...

Selon la fig. 9, on dispose d'une batterie de plusieurs échangeurs, par exempte trois, 161,162, 163, dont l'un (161), est destiné au refroidissement du gaz à liquéfier 164 et dont les deux autres (162 et 163) servent au refroidissement du fluide de cycle principal sous haute pression 165 subdivisé à cet effet en deux courants 165' et 165", et cela au moyen de trois courants de fluide de cycle principaux basse pression 166,166', 166" issus. de deux courants de fluide de cycle sous haute pression 165' et 165" détendus en 167,168 dans un séparateur 169 à partir duquel sont dérivés trois courants partiels liquides 170,170' et 170" et trois courants partiels gazeux 171, 171', 171", les courants 170 et 171,170' et 171' et 170" et 171 " étant recombinés à l'extrémité froide des échangeurs 161,162,163 pour former les trois fluides de cycle principaux sous basse pression 166, 166', 166"... Des liquides de cycle secondaires 172 et 173 sous moyenne et haute pression, occupant des tronçons de compartiments amont 174 et 175 de l'échangeur 166, sont soutirés de l'échangeur 161 en 176 et 177, détendus en 178,179 à la basse pression et conduits dans un séparateur commun 180 à partir duquel sont soutirés trois courants liquides 181, 181', 181" et trois courants vapeurs 182,182', 182", recombinés deux à deux pour être adjoints respectivement aux trois fluides de cycle principaux 166,166', 166".According to fig. 9, there is a battery of several exchangers, for example three, 161, 162, 163, one of which (161) is intended for cooling the gas to be liquefied 164 and the other two of which (162 and 163) are used for cooling of the main cycle fluid under high pressure 165 subdivided for this purpose into two streams 165 'and 165 ", and this by means of three streams of main low pressure fluid 166,166', 166" from. of two streams of cycle fluid under high pressure 165 ′ and 165 "expanded in 167,168 in a separator 169 from which are derived three partial liquid streams 170,170 'and 170" and three partial gas streams 171, 171', 171 ", the streams 170 and 171, 170 'and 171' and 170 "and 171" being combined at the cold end of the exchangers 161, 162, 163 to form the three main cycle fluids under low pressure 166, 166 ', 166 "... Secondary cycle liquids 172 and 173 under medium and high pressure, occupying sections of upstream compartments 174 and 175 of the exchanger 166, are withdrawn from the exchanger 161 at 176 and 177, expanded in 178,179 at low pressure and ducted in a common separator 180 from which three liquid streams 181, 181 ', 181 "are drawn off and three vapor streams 182,182', 182", combined in pairs to be added respectively to the three main cycle fluids 166,166 ', 166 ".

Claims (20)

1. Heat exchanger of the type comprising plates brazed on connecting bars forming flat compartments in a generally rectangular form stacked according to a transversal direction as exchanger thickness (T, ) and comprising another transversal dimension or exchanger width (T,), and a longitudinal dimension or exchanger length (L), with a first plurality of longitudinal compartments for a fluid to be cooled (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) individually adjacent to at least one second plurality of longitudinal compartments for a cycle fluid low pressure (23, 25, 27, 29, 31; 120), each compartment of the second plurality having entrance means (23b, 25b, 27b, 29b, 31 b) and exit means (23a, 25a, 27a, 29a, 31 a), characterized in that said second plurality of compartments is equipped with intermediate admission means (63; 124, 125; 130, 133, 135) terminating laterally at the exchanger lengthwise of the same intermediate zone (46) of the exchanger length (L) situated at a thermal exchange distance from the entrance means (23b, 25b, 27b, 29b, 31 b) and exit means (23a, 25a, 27a, 29a, 31 a) of the said second plurality of compartments, these intermediate admission means comprising for each of these chambers (23, 25, 27, 29, 31; 120) in the manner known per se, distribution means distributed (68; 123; 140) on the entire width of the compartment (T2) .
2. Heat exchanger according to Claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate admission means comprise, in each compartment of the said second plurality and on the entire width thereof, at least one tube (122) with radial perforations distributed (123) on the entire width (T2) of the said compartment.
3. Heat exchanger according to Claim 2, characterized by two perforated tubes (122' and 122") mounted parallel at a small longitudinal distance.
4. Heat exchanger according to Claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate admission means comprise, for each compartment of the said second plurality, a section of the intermediate compartment (56, 57, 58; 130) extending along its width (T 2), and provided on the entire width (T2) of a middle series of communication orifices (68, 140) with the said second plurality of compartments (23, 25, 27, 29, 31 ; 120).
5. Heat exchanger according to Claim 4, characterized in that the sections of the intermediate compartment (130) are placed in each compartment (120) of the said second plurality of compartments and are of a thickness (according to T, ) remarkably smaller than the thickness of the said compartment (120).
6. Heat exchanger according to Claim 4, characterized in that each section of the intermediate compartment (56, 57, 58) is limited, in a compartment of the exchanger (22, 26, 30), by two separation walls or bars (40, 43, 41, 44, 42, 45), with two other sections upstream and downstream of the compartment (50, 53, 51, 54, 52,55), the series of orifices (68) being positioned in at least one separating wall (66) which limits a compartment (23, 25, 27, 29, 31) of the said second plurality of compartments.
7. Heat exchanger according to Claim 4, characterized in that each compartment section (56, 57, 58; 130) or tube pair (122', 122") is equipped with two supply boxes (63; 124, 125; 133,135) spaced apart longitudinally.
8. Heat exchanger according to Claim 7, characterized in that the two supply boxes (63) of each intermediate section (56, 57, 58) are combined in a phase separating-box (63) extending in the longitudinal sense (L) until it covers two introduction passages (56a, 57a, 58a) in the intermediate section.
9. Heat. exchanger according to Claim 6, characterized in that the supply box (62) of one plurality of sections downstream of the end compartments (54, 55), situated on one side of the separation wall (44, 45), with sections of intermediate compartments (57, 58), is connected to the corresponding exit box (61) of at least the plurality of sections upstream of the corresponding end compartments (51, 52) situated on the other side of the other wall (41, 42) limiting these sections of intermediate compartments (57, 58).
10. Heat exchanger according to Claim 9, characterized in that the other downstream sections of the end compartments not corresponding to these upstream sections are connected with these sections upstream of the compartments (51, 52) by the said supply boxes (62, 61).
11. Process for liquefaction of a gas, such as natural gas, using at least one mixture-refrigering cycle fluid (1), comprising at least one main cycle fluid under a pressure called low pressure of freezing mixture (7; 120; 144; 166) in thermal exchange at counter flow on the one side with a fluid to be liquefied by heat (18; 114; 159; 164), on the other side with at least a heating main cycle fluid under a pressure called high pressure (5; 11; 142; 165), with addition of at least a secondary cycle fluid (8,10; 121; 158; 181,182) to the main cycle fluid under the low pressure (7; 120; 144; 166) and under an intermediate heating temperature which is reached by derivation of one part of the said refrigering mixture in liquid state under a pressure higher than its low pressure, which is relieved (14, 15; 138; 154, 155; 178, 179) to the said low pressure before the said addition, characterized in that one performs these thermal exchanges in a heat exchanger according to one of Claims 1 to 10 in the following manner:
- one renders the gas to be liquefied and/or the said main cycle fluid under high pressure circulating in the said first plurality of compartments (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) ;
- one renders the said main cycle fluid under low pressure circulating in the second plurality of compartments (23, 25, 27, 29, 31), and
- one sends the said secondary cycle fluid into the said intermediate admission means (63; 124, 125; 130, 133, 135).
12. Process for liquefaction according to Claim 11, of the kind where one extracts (61; 116) the gas to be liquefied (18) from the exchanger and one reintroduces (62; 118) at least a part of the said gas to be liquefied into the said exchanger, characterized in that one uses a heat exchanger according to one of Claims 9 or 10 and that one sends the gas to be liquified into a first group (51, 52) of the said upstream sections.
13. Process for liquefaction according to Claim 12, characterized in that one undercools the secondary cycle fluid in the rest of the upstream sections of the compartments (50, 50').
14. Process for liquefaction according to one of Claims 11 to 13, of the kind using several exchangers (140, 140', 140"; 161, 162, 163) parallel and just one compression group (151, 152), with a main cycle fluid under low pressure (144; 166,166', 166"), a main cycle fluid under high pressure (142; 165) and at least a secondary cycle fluid (147, 148; 172, 173), which is undercooled, relieved and separated into a liquid fraction and a vapour fraction, characterized in that one separates the said liquid fraction into some divided fractions (158, 158', 158"; 181, 181', 181 "), which are individually added to the main cycle fluid under low pressure of exchanger (140, 140', 140"; 161, 162, 163).
15. Process for liquefaction according to Claim 14, characterized in that the vapour fraction is added entirely (182) to a main cycle fluid under low pressure circulating in just one exchanger (161).
16. Process for liquefaction according to Claim 14, characterized in that at least a first exchanger (161) is used for cooling the gas to be liquefied (164), under exclusion of the main cycle fluid under high pressure, and at least another exchanger (162, 163) is used for cooling the main cycle fluid under high pressure (165), under exclusion of the gas to be liquefied, and that the said first exchanger (164) is also used for cooling the said secondary cycle fluid (174, 175).
17. Process for liquefaction according to Claim 17, characterized in that the extraction of gas to be liquefied from the exchanger is performed (in 61 ; 116) at a temperature where the said gas to be liquefied is at a partially condensed state, and that one discharges (71) and eliminates the heavy liquid fraction, whereas only the vapour fraction (72) is reintroduced (in 62; 118).
18. Process for liquefaction according to Claim 11, characterized in that the fluid (157) added to the main cycle fluid under low pressure (143) is in one-phase form.
19. Process for liquefaction according to Claim 11, characterized in that the fluid (8, 10) added to the main cycle fluid under low pressure is in two-phase form gas and liquid, preferably with separating phases (63; 126; 134) and recombining (68; 123; 140) the flows of the two-phase fluid in each compartment of the said second plurality.
20. Process for liquefaction according to Claim 11, characterized in that one uses at least two independent main cycle fluids (11, 120, 119) whereby the addition is only performed for one of these two fluids (111,120).
EP82400099A 1981-02-05 1982-01-20 Process and installation for the liquefaction of a gas Expired EP0058106B1 (en)

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FR8102202A FR2499226B1 (en) 1981-02-05 1981-02-05 METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR LIQUEFACTION OF A GAS

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FR2932876B1 (en) * 2008-06-20 2013-09-27 Inst Francais Du Petrole METHOD FOR LIQUEFACTING A NATURAL GAS WITH PRE-COOLING THE REFRIGERANT MIXTURE
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FR2499226B1 (en) 1985-09-27
FR2499226A1 (en) 1982-08-06
EP0058106A3 (en) 1982-12-08
ATE9113T1 (en) 1984-09-15
DE3260587D1 (en) 1984-09-27
JPS57149386A (en) 1982-09-14
US4486210A (en) 1984-12-04
EP0058106A2 (en) 1982-08-18

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