EP1469265B1 - Process for nitrogen liquefaction by recovering the cold derived from liquid methane gasification - Google Patents

Process for nitrogen liquefaction by recovering the cold derived from liquid methane gasification Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1469265B1
EP1469265B1 EP04007031A EP04007031A EP1469265B1 EP 1469265 B1 EP1469265 B1 EP 1469265B1 EP 04007031 A EP04007031 A EP 04007031A EP 04007031 A EP04007031 A EP 04007031A EP 1469265 B1 EP1469265 B1 EP 1469265B1
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EP
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Prior art keywords
cryogenic fluid
nitrogen
coolers
heat exchanger
cooling
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EP04007031A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1469265A1 (en
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Emanuele Bigi
Alessandro Bigi
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SIAD MACCHINE IMPIANTI SpA
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SIAD MACCHINE IMPIANTI SpA
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    • 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
    • F25J1/0203—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 single-component refrigerant [SCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/0204—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 single-component refrigerant [SCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle as a single flow SCR 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
    • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0012—Primary atmospheric gases, e.g. air
    • F25J1/0015—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
    • F25J1/003—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
    • F25J1/005—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 expansion of a gaseous refrigerant stream with extraction of work
    • 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
    • F25J1/006—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the refrigerant fluid used
    • F25J1/007—Primary atmospheric gases, mixtures thereof
    • F25J1/0072—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
    • F25J1/02—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
    • F25J1/0221—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 the cold stored in an external cryogenic component in an open refrigeration loop
    • F25J1/0222—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 the cold stored in an external cryogenic component in an open refrigeration loop in combination with an intermediate heat exchange fluid between the cryogenic component and the fluid to be liquefied
    • 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
    • F25J1/0234—Integration with a cryogenic air separation unit
    • 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.
    • F25J1/0292—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
    • F25J3/04—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 for air
    • F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04048—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of cold gaseous streams, e.g. intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste) streams
    • F25J3/0406—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of cold gaseous streams, e.g. intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste) streams 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
    • 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
    • F25J3/04—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 for air
    • F25J3/04248—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04254—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using the cold stored in external cryogenic fluids
    • 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
    • F25J3/04—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 for air
    • F25J3/04248—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04333—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using quasi-closed loop internal vapor compression refrigeration cycles, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams
    • F25J3/04351—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using quasi-closed loop internal vapor compression refrigeration cycles, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams 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
    • F25J2210/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the feed stream
    • F25J2210/62—Liquefied natural gas [LNG]; Natural gas liquids [NGL]; Liquefied petroleum gas [LPG]
    • 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
    • F25J2230/08—Cold compressor, i.e. suction of the gas at cryogenic temperature and generally without afterstage-cooler
    • 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
    • F25J2230/30—Compression of the 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
    • F25J2230/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams
    • F25J2230/42—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams the fluid being nitrogen

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a process and apparatus for liquefying a cryogenic fluid comprising the features of the preamble of claims 1 and 4.
  • Such a process, respectively apparatus is known from JP 02 171 580 A and EP 1 055 894 A.
  • methane tankers specialized for this purpose have to be used.
  • these tankers are designed to transport it in liquid form in order to reduce its volume.
  • the methane has to be maintained at cryogenic temperature, the value of which depends on the storage pressure (for example -154°C at 2 bar absolute).
  • methane tankers the methane is contained in suitable tanks under high thermal insulation (using the Dewar flask principle).
  • this methane On reaching land, this methane has to be transported or used in gaseous form, and must therefore be vaporized and heated. To express this concept in other words, it could be said that in order to undergo vaporization and heating, it must transfer its "cold” to another fluid, which hence itself becomes cold during said heat transfer.
  • thermodynamic refrigeration cycles it is known that to cool a gas to a temperature less than the temperature of the environment in which it is present requires considerable energy consumption related to the application of usual thermodynamic refrigeration cycles.
  • this energy consumption is imposed by the need to compress the gas to be liquefied so that it becomes hot, and then to extract from it the heat associated with the temperature increase deriving from this compression more efficiently as it is effected at a higher temperature level.
  • Subsequent expansion of the compressed and cooled gas in a turbine further reduces its temperature to cryogenic values, with resultant liquefaction of the gas.
  • liquid methane transported by methane tankers contains a "negative energy" or cold, which it would be extremely advantageous to recover.
  • one of the usual methods of heating liquid methane is to pass the liquid methane through a heat exchanger through which water circulates in counter-current to heat said methane from a temperature of-150°C to a temperature of +15°C.
  • this gasification method alters the ecosystem as it causes artificial intermittent cooling of the sea.
  • the known art uses the said cold mainly during cooling by suitable heat exchangers.
  • An object of the present invention is to define a process for using the cold deriving from liquid methane gasification which is more advantageous than those currently used. In accordance with the present invention this object is solved by the characterizing features of claims 1 and 4.
  • a liquid methane inlet line 1 leads to a pump 2.
  • the pump 2 (indicatively of centrifugal type) feeds the liquid methane to a heat exchanger 4, which subtracts heat from a line 5 through which nitrogen passes in counter-current.
  • This nitrogen originates from another heat exchanger 6 in which a water line 7 had previously raised its temperature from about -98°C to about -34°C.
  • Said nitrogen is maintained at a relatively high pressure to increase the temperature difference between the methane and nitrogen in order, other conditions being equal, to achieve greater absorption of the cold provided by the liquid methane.
  • the nitrogen cooled in this manner by heat transfer with liquid methane leaves the heat exchanger 4 through a line 8, which branches into two lines 9 and 10 to enable the cold of the nitrogen to be used to cool the nitrogen circulating within specific circuits 18, 20 of the apparatus in which said nitrogen is liquefied.
  • the line 9 conveys the cold withdrawn from the methane to the interstage coolers (heat exchangers) 11, 12, 13 located respectively at the outlet of three stages 16, 15, 14 of a conventional compressor unit for the nitrogen in the circuit 18, which is of closed type.
  • the nitrogen of the closed circuit 18, cooled in this manner has a pressure of about 10 bar and a temperature of about -141°C.
  • the nitrogen cooled in this manner in the closed circuit 18, passes through a heat exchanger 19 to absorb heat from the nitrogen compressed in an open circuit 20.
  • This open circuit 20 comprises an inlet line 21, into which gaseous nitrogen is fed at a pressure of 1.15 bar absolute and a temperature of +15°C.
  • This nitrogen undergoes successive compressions by a compressor unit composed of a first stage 22, a second stage 23, a third stage 24, a fourth stage 25 and a fifth stage 26.
  • the nitrogen of the open circuit 20 undergoes the following cooling sequence: cooling implemented by an intake heat exchanger 27, cooling implemented by a plurality of interstage heat exchangers (28, 29, 30, 31) and further cooling implemented by a final heat exchanger 32 upstream of said heat exchanger 19 located in the final part of said open circuit 20.
  • Said heat exchangers 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 32 subtract heat from the nitrogen of the open circuit 20 by transferring to it the cold present in the nitrogen passing through the line 10, itself cooled by the cold subtracted from the liquid methane in the heat exchanger 4.
  • the nitrogen of the two lines 9 and 10 flows into a common line 33, through which the nitrogen is fed to a compressor 34 which circulates it at a pressure of about 70 bar along the paths already described and in the directions indicated by the arrows.
  • the nitrogen enters the open circuit 20 in the gaseous state through the line 21 and leaves in the liquid state through a line 3, by optimum use of the cold deriving from the vaporization of the liquid methane.
  • liquid nitrogen produced in this manner can itself be used in the usual air fractionation plants to produce liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon, and in addition for all the usual possible uses of liquid nitrogen.
  • the process for recovering cold from liquid methane by liquid nitrogen production cycles in the aforedescribed manner results in substantial energy savings.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
EP04007031A 2003-04-08 2004-03-24 Process for nitrogen liquefaction by recovering the cold derived from liquid methane gasification Expired - Lifetime EP1469265B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SI200430051T SI1469265T1 (sl) 2003-04-08 2004-03-24 Postopek za utekocinjenje duSika z rekuperiranjemmraza iz uplinjenja tekocega metana

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITBG20030027 2003-04-08
IT000027A ITBG20030027A1 (it) 2003-04-08 2003-04-08 Procedimento di recupero delle frigorie derivanti dalla gassificazione del metano liquido.

Publications (2)

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EP1469265A1 EP1469265A1 (en) 2004-10-20
EP1469265B1 true EP1469265B1 (en) 2006-05-31

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EP04007031A Expired - Lifetime EP1469265B1 (en) 2003-04-08 2004-03-24 Process for nitrogen liquefaction by recovering the cold derived from liquid methane gasification

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EP (1) EP1469265B1 (sl)
AT (1) ATE328258T1 (sl)
DE (1) DE602004001004T2 (sl)
ES (1) ES2264059T3 (sl)
IT (1) ITBG20030027A1 (sl)
PT (1) PT1469265E (sl)
SI (1) SI1469265T1 (sl)

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WO2008023000A2 (en) 2006-08-23 2008-02-28 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Method and apparatus for the vaporization of a liquid hydrocarbon stream
DE102007005494A1 (de) * 2007-01-30 2008-07-31 Dge Dr.-Ing. Günther Engineering Gmbh Verfahren und Anlage zur Gewinnung von flüssigem Methan aus methan- und kohlendioxidhaltigen Rohgasen, insbesondere Biogas
WO2009080678A2 (en) 2007-12-21 2009-07-02 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Method of producing a gasified hydrocarbon stream; method of liquefying a gaseous hydrocarbon stream; and a cyclic process wherein cooling and re-warming a nitrogen-based stream, and wherein liquefying and regasifying a hydrocarbon stream
CN103775239B (zh) * 2013-01-17 2017-01-04 摩尔动力(北京)技术股份有限公司 近恒温压冷源热机
GB2512360B (en) * 2013-03-27 2015-08-05 Highview Entpr Ltd Method and apparatus in a cryogenic liquefaction process

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DE2434238A1 (de) * 1974-07-16 1976-01-29 Linde Ag Verfahren zur speicherung und rueckgewinnung von energie
FR2300303A1 (fr) * 1975-02-06 1976-09-03 Air Liquide Cycle fr
JPH02171580A (ja) * 1988-12-23 1990-07-03 Kobe Steel Ltd 空気分離装置
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JP2000337767A (ja) * 1999-05-26 2000-12-08 Air Liquide Japan Ltd 空気分離方法及び空気分離設備

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EP1469265A1 (en) 2004-10-20
ES2264059T3 (es) 2006-12-16
PT1469265E (pt) 2006-09-29
DE602004001004T2 (de) 2006-12-14
DE602004001004D1 (de) 2006-07-06
ITBG20030027A1 (it) 2004-10-09
ATE328258T1 (de) 2006-06-15
SI1469265T1 (sl) 2006-10-31

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