EP1741971A2 - Methode et appareil pour le traitement de GNL - Google Patents

Methode et appareil pour le traitement de GNL Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1741971A2
EP1741971A2 EP06114693A EP06114693A EP1741971A2 EP 1741971 A2 EP1741971 A2 EP 1741971A2 EP 06114693 A EP06114693 A EP 06114693A EP 06114693 A EP06114693 A EP 06114693A EP 1741971 A2 EP1741971 A2 EP 1741971A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
stream
vessel
lng
supplied
inert fluid
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP06114693A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1741971A3 (fr
Inventor
Christy Efeilomo Aikhorin
Gerrit Konijn
Eveline Iris Otten
Marc Alexander Rieder
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.)
Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV
Original Assignee
Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV
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.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV filed Critical Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV
Priority to EP06114693A priority Critical patent/EP1741971A3/fr
Publication of EP1741971A2 publication Critical patent/EP1741971A2/fr
Publication of EP1741971A3 publication Critical patent/EP1741971A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C7/00Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass
    • F17C7/02Discharging liquefied gases
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2221/00Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/03Mixtures
    • F17C2221/032Hydrocarbons
    • F17C2221/033Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/01Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2223/0146Two-phase
    • F17C2223/0153Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
    • F17C2223/0161Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/01Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2223/0146Two-phase
    • F17C2223/0153Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
    • F17C2223/0169Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL subcooled
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/03Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2223/035High pressure (>10 bar)
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2225/00Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2225/01Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2225/0107Single phase
    • F17C2225/0123Single phase gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2225/00Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2225/03Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2225/035High pressure, i.e. between 10 and 80 bars
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2225/00Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2225/03Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2225/036Very high pressure, i.e. above 80 bars
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/03Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/0302Heat exchange with the fluid by heating
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/03Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/0367Localisation of heat exchange
    • F17C2227/0388Localisation of heat exchange separate
    • F17C2227/0393Localisation of heat exchange separate using a vaporiser
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2260/00Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
    • F17C2260/05Improving chemical properties
    • F17C2260/056Improving fluid characteristics
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2265/00Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
    • F17C2265/03Treating the boil-off
    • F17C2265/032Treating the boil-off by recovery
    • F17C2265/033Treating the boil-off by recovery with cooling
    • F17C2265/034Treating the boil-off by recovery with cooling with condensing the gas phase
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2265/00Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
    • F17C2265/03Treating the boil-off
    • F17C2265/032Treating the boil-off by recovery
    • F17C2265/037Treating the boil-off by recovery with pressurising
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2265/00Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
    • F17C2265/05Regasification

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of treating a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream.
  • LNG liquefied natural gas
  • natural gas can be stored and transported over long distances more readily as a liquid than in gaseous form, because it occupies a smaller volume and does not need to be stored at high pressures.
  • the nitrogen is usually injected into the regasified LNG. To this end the nitrogen needs to be compressed to similar or higher pressure than the regasified LNG.
  • a problem of the known methods of treating an LNG stream as described above is that it is highly energy consuming.
  • LNG liquefied natural gas
  • a further advantage of the present invention is that the occurrence of cavitation in downstream pumps is prevented or at least minimized.
  • the liquefied natural gas stream supplied in step (a) may be any LNG stream, and will usually be obtained from an LNG storage tank.
  • the LNG comprises compounds selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, propane, butanes and pentanes, or a combination thereof. Also other hydrocarbons may be present.
  • the LNG stream is low in aromatic hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbons such as H 2 O, N 2 , CO 2 , H 2 S and other sulphur compounds, and the like, as these compounds have usually been removed at least partially before liquefying the natural gas stream, which is then stored or transported in liquid form.
  • the inert fluid may be any suitable vaporous or liquid fluid for selectively adjusting the energy content of the LNG.
  • air or substantially pure N 2 may be used.
  • the energy content can be adjusted using the inert fluid, this is not further discussed here.
  • the inert fluid may be supplied to the vessel separately from the LNG stream (preferably at the top of the vessel), but both streams may also first be combined and subsequently be supplied as a single stream to the vessel (again, preferably at the top of the vessel).
  • the vessel in which the inert fluid and LNG are contacted may be any suitable vessel, as long as it contains a contacting zone, i.e. a section in which the inert fluid and LNG are contacted.
  • the contacting zone comprises a packing to further enhance the contact.
  • step (a) the stream comprising LNG is supplied to the vessel at a pressure of from 4 to 13 bar, preferably from 6 to 11 bar, more preferably from 7 to 10 bar.
  • the stream supplied in step (b) comprises at least 75 vol% N 2 , preferably at least 80 vol% N 2 , more preferably at least 90 vol% N 2 .
  • the amount of N 2 supplied in step (b) is selected such that the LNG stream removed in step (d) comprises at most 5 vol% N 2 .
  • the method further comprises the steps of:
  • a boil off vapour stream is supplied to the vessel, the boil off vapour stream originating from a source of LNG.
  • the boil off vapour stream is supplied to the vessel at a pressure of from 4 to 13 bar, preferably from 6 to 11 bar, more preferably from 7 to 10 bar.
  • the inert fluid may be supplied to the vessel separately from the boil off vapour stream, but both streams may also first be combined and subsequently be supplied as a single stream to the vessel.
  • the inert fluid is combined with the boil off vapour stream having a pressure of 4 to 13 bar before being supplied to the vessel.
  • the inert fluid stream preferably also has a pressure of from 4 to 13 bar.
  • An important advantage of adding the inert fluid to the boil off vapour stream is that hereby the formation of bubbles ('cavitation') in the LNG stream removed in step (d) is substantially prevented. These bubbles might occur if the inert fluid would e.g. be added to the second stream being fed below the contacting zone, as is suggested e.g. in earlier filed but non-prepublished application WO 2005/061951 A1 .
  • the presence of bubbles in the LNG stream removed in step (d) may be harmful for downstream pumps.
  • the LNG stream supplied in step (a) is a subcooled LNG stream.
  • a part of the cold in the subcooled LNG stream is used to recondense the boil off vapour stream and the inert fluid.
  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for treating a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream, the apparatus at least comprising a vessel, the vessel comprising:
  • Figure 1 schematically shows a process scheme (and apparatus generally indicated with reference number 100) not in accordance with the present invention (as it does not show all the features of the main claims), but incorporated for illustration purposes only.
  • a stream 10 containing liquefied natural gas (LNG) is pumped (using e.g. an in-tank pump 13) from an LNG source such as a storage tank 1 to the first inlet 4 of a vessel 2 having a contacting zone 3 such as a packing.
  • LNG liquefied natural gas
  • the stream 10 is a subcooled LNG stream and has a pressure of between 4 to 13 bar, preferably about 8 bar, while the pressure of the LNG in the storage tank 1 is about atmospheric.
  • a stream 20 being substantially comprised of N 2 is supplied to the vessel 2 at an inlet 6 of the vessel 2.
  • a stream 30 is removed at outlet 7 from the vessel 2.
  • the stream 30 preferably contains at most 5 vol% N 2 .
  • the stream 30 is further processed by pressurizing in a high-pressure pump 8 thereby obtaining a stream 40 having a pressure in the range of about 8 to 110 bar. Then, the stream 40 is vaporised in a vaporiser 9 thereby obtaining a gaseous natural gas stream 50 having a selected energy content, which may be sent to the grid (not shown).
  • the amount of N 2 supplied to the vessel 2 will depend on the desired energy content for the natural gas to be obtained in stream 50.
  • FIG 2 shows an exemplary process scheme of an embodiment of the method according to the present invention, which process scheme can be used in an LNG import terminal. The elements already discussed in Figure 1 will not be discussed here again.
  • stream 10 is supplied as two separate streams to the vessel 2, i.e. first stream 80 and second stream 90; the first stream 80 is fed above the contacting zone 3 at first inlet 4 and the second stream 90 is fed below the contacting zone 3 at second inlet 5.
  • stream 10 may be supplied to the vessel 2 as more than two separate streams.
  • a boil off vapour stream 60 coming from the LNG storage tank 1 is fed to the vessel 2 at third inlet 11.
  • the third inlet 11 is preferably at the top of the vessel 2, above the contacting zone 3.
  • stream 60 Before feeding the stream 60 to the vessel 2, it is pressurized by compressing the stream 60 (usually being at atmospheric pressure) in compressor 12 thereby obtaining compressed boil off vapour stream 65.
  • stream 20 and stream 65 By combining stream 20 and stream 65, combined stream 70 is obtained.
  • the stream 70 usually has a pressure in the range of 4 to 13 bar, preferably about 8 bar.
  • streams 65 and 20 may be added as separate streams (and as a result at separate inlets) to the vessel 2, preferably at the top of the vessel 2. However, it is preferred to combine streams 65 and 20 before supplying it as combined stream 70 to the vessel 2 at third inlet 11 (being preferably at the top of the vessel 2).
  • stream 120 is fed as a kickback stream from the high-pressure pump 8 to the vessel 2.
  • Table I gives an overview of the composition and conditions of a stream at various parts in an example process of Fig. 2.
  • the energy content (i.e. heating value) of stream 10 has been selectively adjusted (i.e. decreased) from 1170 to a value of 1116 Btu/scf in stream 30.
  • the temperature and pressure of the streams 80 and 90 differ slightly, as the pipe for stream 90 is longer. As a result stream 90 experiences more cold leak and more pressure drop than stream 80.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
EP06114693A 2005-06-01 2006-05-30 Methode et appareil pour le traitement de GNL Withdrawn EP1741971A3 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06114693A EP1741971A3 (fr) 2005-06-01 2006-05-30 Methode et appareil pour le traitement de GNL

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP2005006636 2005-06-01
EP2005053363 2005-07-13
EP06114693A EP1741971A3 (fr) 2005-06-01 2006-05-30 Methode et appareil pour le traitement de GNL

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1741971A2 true EP1741971A2 (fr) 2007-01-10
EP1741971A3 EP1741971A3 (fr) 2011-07-20

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ID=37429309

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06114693A Withdrawn EP1741971A3 (fr) 2005-06-01 2006-05-30 Methode et appareil pour le traitement de GNL

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1741971A3 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR102215060B1 (ko) * 2019-11-15 2021-02-10 (주)발맥스기술 Lng 증발가스의 응축장치 및 제어방법

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3658499A (en) 1970-10-28 1972-04-25 Chicago Bridge & Iron Co Method of diluting liquefied gases
GB1280342A (en) 1968-07-03 1972-07-05 Air Liquide An installation for, and a method of obtaining, a fluid rich in methane at a high pressure
WO2005061951A1 (fr) 2003-12-15 2005-07-07 Bp Corporatoin North America Inc. Systemes et procedes de vaporisation de gaz naturel liquefie

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1603033A (en) * 1968-07-03 1971-03-15 Production of high methan gas

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1280342A (en) 1968-07-03 1972-07-05 Air Liquide An installation for, and a method of obtaining, a fluid rich in methane at a high pressure
US3658499A (en) 1970-10-28 1972-04-25 Chicago Bridge & Iron Co Method of diluting liquefied gases
WO2005061951A1 (fr) 2003-12-15 2005-07-07 Bp Corporatoin North America Inc. Systemes et procedes de vaporisation de gaz naturel liquefie

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR102215060B1 (ko) * 2019-11-15 2021-02-10 (주)발맥스기술 Lng 증발가스의 응축장치 및 제어방법

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1741971A3 (fr) 2011-07-20

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