EP2959242B1 - Station d'abaissement de pression d'un gaz et de liquéfaction du gaz - Google Patents

Station d'abaissement de pression d'un gaz et de liquéfaction du gaz Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2959242B1
EP2959242B1 EP14711813.7A EP14711813A EP2959242B1 EP 2959242 B1 EP2959242 B1 EP 2959242B1 EP 14711813 A EP14711813 A EP 14711813A EP 2959242 B1 EP2959242 B1 EP 2959242B1
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Prior art keywords
gas
pressure
cooling system
station
station according
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EP14711813.7A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP2959242A2 (fr
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Guillaume Pages
Frédéric MARCUCCILI
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Cryostar SAS
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Cryostar SAS
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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
    • F25J1/0002—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
    • F25J1/0032—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 the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration"
    • F25J1/0035—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 the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration" by gas expansion 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
    • F25J1/003—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
    • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
    • F25J1/0047—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/0052—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/006—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
    • F25J1/0203—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
    • F25J1/02—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
    • F25J1/0228—Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes
    • F25J1/0232—Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes integration within a pressure letdown station of a high pressure pipeline 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
    • F25J1/0228—Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes
    • F25J1/0235—Heat exchange integration
    • F25J1/0242—Waste heat recovery, e.g. from heat of compression
    • 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
    • F25J1/0279—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc.
    • F25J1/0281—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc. characterised by the type of prime driver, e.g. hot gas expander
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0279—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc.
    • F25J1/0281—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc. characterised by the type of prime driver, e.g. hot gas expander
    • F25J1/0284—Electrical motor as the prime mechanical driver
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0279—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc.
    • F25J1/0285—Combination of different types of drivers mechanically coupled to the same refrigerant compressor, possibly split on multiple compressor casings
    • 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.
    • F25J1/0285—Combination of different types of drivers mechanically coupled to the same refrigerant compressor, possibly split on multiple compressor casings
    • F25J1/0288—Combination of different types of drivers mechanically coupled to the same refrigerant compressor, possibly split on multiple compressor casings using work extraction by mechanical coupling of compression and expansion of the refrigerant, so-called companders
    • 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
    • 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
    • F25J2210/06—Splitting of the feed stream, e.g. for treating or cooling in different ways
    • 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
    • F25J2230/20—Integrated compressor and process expander; Gear box arrangement; Multiple compressors on a common shaft
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2240/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for expanding of process streams
    • F25J2240/90—Hot gas waste turbine of an indirect heated gas for power generation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for liquefying gas, in particular natural gas.
  • the field of the present invention is that of the treatment of gases, in particular natural gases, for the production of liquid natural gas.
  • Liquid natural gas is used in different applications. It is mainly used as a fuel for vehicles, especially transport trucks.
  • the fuel oil generally used for such vehicles can in fact be replaced by pressurized gas or liquid natural gas.
  • pressurized gas cylinders the use of liquefied gas has an advantage in terms of volume and weight since, on the one hand, the liquid natural gas liquefied by cooling occupies much less space. volume than the same quantity of gaseous natural gas and, on the other hand, where the thermal insulation of cryogenic tanks is much less heavy than the casing of gas cylinders.
  • the vehicles therefore have much more autonomy.
  • Liquid natural gas is also a clean energy source, limiting the release of fine particles such as soot, etc.
  • Liquid natural gas can also be used to power small gas-fired power stations or to power small networks in villages.
  • Gas pipelines or pipelines, are pipes intended for the transport of gaseous materials under pressure.
  • the majority of gas pipelines transport natural gas between extraction areas and areas of consumption or export. From field treatment or storage sites, the gas is transported at high pressure (from 16 to over 100 bars) to delivery sites where it must be brought to a much lower pressure to allow its use.
  • the document US-3,608,323 discloses a method and system for liquefying natural gas in which the power of an expansion turbine is used for the operation of a refrigeration unit.
  • the gas passes through pressure lowering stations, in which the gas pressure is reduced by expansion through a valve or turbine.
  • the pressure reduction effected in this way produces energy which, in the case of a valve, is lost.
  • Gas expansion systems are known using natural gas entering the pressure reduction stations as refrigerant in a system that can be described as an open loop (Linde, Solvay or Claude cycles).
  • the natural gas is expanded in a valve and during this expansion a small part of the gas is liquefied.
  • the liquid obtained is collected and the cold low pressure natural gas which leaves the valve is conveyed to the low pressure pipe of the lowering station.
  • These systems have the advantage of being relatively simple but the temperature obtained at the outlet of the valve depending on the composition of the gas and the composition of the natural gas being variable, the gases liquefied with these systems are mainly heavy gases such as gas. butane or propane but not methane. This method of liquefying gas is also known as flashing.
  • the present invention aims to provide a device making it possible to liquefy gas, in particular natural gas, by controlling the composition of the liquid gas obtained.
  • a device according to the invention will make it possible to recover the expansion energy resulting from the pressure difference of the gas between the inlet and the outlet of the pressure lowering station to produce a fraction of liquid natural gas while avoiding the formation of ice inside the ducts of these stations.
  • the device will also preferably be easy to use and simple in design.
  • this device further comprises means for recovering heat produced by the compression means of the refrigeration system associated with means for heating the gas at the inlet of the pressure reduction station.
  • the device that is the subject of the present invention thus provides for integrating the heating of natural gas before its expansion and the cooling of the refrigerant while saving a significant amount of energy and / or gas for the manufacture of liquid (natural) gas.
  • a flow of gas (natural) in gaseous form is always maintained between the high pressure pipe and the low pressure pipe.
  • a volume of 100 m 3 for example of natural gas 5 to 15 m 3 are converted by means of the device according to the invention into liquid natural gas.
  • the invention thus makes it possible to recover the work of expansion between the two pressure levels to transform a small part (5 to 15%) of the (natural) gas into liquefied (natural) gas.
  • the heating of the gas according to the present invention is carried out at the inlet of the expander by the recovery of the heat emitted by the compression means used for the liquefaction of the gas.
  • the gas going from the high pressure pipe to the low pressure pipe is thus reheated before entering the pressure lowering station so that it is present at the outlet thereof with a temperature above the point of water solidification.
  • the refrigeration system forms a closed loop between the condensing means, the compression means and the means for heating the natural gas.
  • This closed loop makes it possible to combine a refrigeration system (compressor and condenser) for the liquefaction of the gas with a heat exchanger achieving thermal integration between the lowering of the gas pressure and the production of liquid gas.
  • the refrigeration system forms a first closed loop between the compression means, the condensation means and at least one intermediate exchanger as well as a second closed loop, optionally using a separate heat transfer fluid. of a heat transfer fluid used in the first loop, between at least one intermediate exchanger and the means for heating the gas.
  • the device according to the present invention consists, in these two embodiments, of an intermediate system comparable to a closed loop, possibly double, making it possible to cool a fraction of the gas until it liquefies.
  • the advantage of an independent closed loop system is that it makes it possible to achieve significantly low temperatures insofar as it is not linked to the pressure drop achieved within the lowering station. Thanks to this system, the composition of the liquid gas hardly varies with respect to the inlet gas, since the change of state is obtained by direct cooling inside a heat exchanger reserved for this operation at the instead of the classic flashing system.
  • the means for recovering a mechanical work produced in the expansion turbine when the gas pressure is lowered are mechanically coupled to an electric generator, and the compression means are then driven by a powered motor. into electrical energy by the electrical generator.
  • the device that is the subject of the present invention therefore allows the integration a refrigeration loop for liquefying gas and preheating the inlet of the gas pressure lowering station.
  • Liquid natural gas can be produced according to the invention from a refrigeration unit involving a refrigeration system using either nitrogen and / or a mixture of hydrocarbons.
  • a refrigeration system used in a device according to the invention may for example comprise a heat exchanger and / or a condenser of the PFHE aluminum type.
  • the refrigeration system of the device according to the invention comprises compressors and / or radial flow expanders.
  • the device according to the invention comprises means for treating the water and carbon dioxide of natural gas at low pressure by adsorption and / or absorption arranged upstream of the gas condensing means.
  • the figure 1 schematically represents a gas pipeline 2 carrying a gas, for example natural gas composed mainly of methane, under high pressure, for example of the order of 60 to 100 bars (generally in the present application, the examples and the numerical values are illustrative and not limiting).
  • a gas pressure reduction station called PLD (English acronym for Pressure Let Down) on the figure 1 makes it possible to supply a pipe 4 intended to supply a domestic network or the like with gas (natural gas to take up the previous example) at low pressure, generally of the order of a few bars.
  • a liquefied gas production unit 6 is associated with the pressure reduction station PLD. It is supplied with gas from the gas pipeline 2, passes through a processing unit 8 carrying out a treatment of the gas before it enters the production unit 6 in order to remove from the gas impurities which are generally found in gas "gross". At the output of the production unit 6, a liquid natural gas LNG is obtained which is for example stored in a storage unit (not illustrated on the figure 1 ).
  • the figure 2 shows in more detail a first embodiment of the invention implementing the overall scheme of the figure 1 .
  • a gas pipeline 2 which supplies a pressure lowering station PLD to supply gas under less pressure in a pipe 4.
  • a production unit 6 supplies liquefied gas LNG.
  • gas from pipeline 2 passes through pipes G2 and G3. It is heated in each of these conduits by a preheating device 10.
  • conduits G4 and G5 are collected in a conduit G6 which supplies an expansion turbine 12.
  • the gas is expanded and can reach pipe 4 directly via a pipe G7.
  • the production unit 6 essentially comprises a condenser 14.
  • the gas supplying the production unit 6 is supplied from a bypass G9 of the pipe G7 before arriving at a valve 16 at which a pressure reduction. additional is carried out.
  • the gas is conducted via a line G10 to the processing unit 8 which purifies the gas, for example by absorption or preferably by adsorption.
  • the purified gas is conducted through G11 to a desuperheater 18 before being introduced through G12 into the condenser 14. At the outlet of the latter, liquefied gas is obtained which passes through a pipe L1 to a control valve 20. then by L2 to arrive at an LNG liquefied natural gas storage device.
  • the present invention proposes to realize an interaction between the pressure lowering station PLD and the production unit 6.
  • the energy recovered during the expansion in the PLD station is used in the form of electrical energy in the production unit 6 and the heat produced in the production unit 6 is used to heat the gas at the inlet of PLD station.
  • the thermal integration is carried out by a closed loop circuit described below.
  • the fluid used can be, by way of nonlimiting example, nitrogen or else a mixture of hydrocarbons.
  • the refrigerant fluid arrives in the compressor C1 via a pipe R1 and leaves it via a pipe R2. It then arrives in a first preheating device 10 in order to heat the gas coming from the gas pipeline 2 and intended to supply the pressure lowering station PLD.
  • the fluid is then brought by a line R3 to a cooler 22 in order to control the temperature of the refrigerant before being returned to the compression unit by a line R4.
  • the fluid is then compressed by the second compressor C2, then brought by R5 to the second preheating device 10 before being conducted by R6 to a second cooler 22 and reaching through R7 a third compression stage of the compression unit .
  • a third cooler 22, connected to the third compressor C3 by a pipe R8, makes it possible to control the temperature of the fluid leaving the compression unit.
  • a pipe R9 leads the refrigerating fluid to a counter-current exchanger 24 then is brought by R10 to a pressure reducing valve 26.
  • the latter is mechanically linked to the motor M and to the compression unit.
  • the fluid is then brought (R11) to the condenser 14 of the production unit 6 where it absorbs calories from the portion of natural gas that it is desired to liquefy to obtain liquid natural gas (LNG ).
  • the fluid is led (R12) to the desuperheater 18 before reaching, via R13, the counter-current exchanger 24 which is connected downstream to the first compressor C1 of the compression unit.
  • the refrigerant fluid is used to achieve thermal integration between the production unit and the pressure lowering station, in particular by recovering the calories released during the compression of the fluid for use in heating the gas. natural at the inlet of the PLD pressure reduction station.
  • a reservoir 28 which is used conventionally as an expansion vessel for the refrigerant.
  • the figure 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment which uses certain references from the preceding figures to designate similar elements.
  • a closed pressurized water loop or of another heat transfer fluid such as for example thermal oil
  • An air cooler can for example be placed on this line to adjust the cooling capacity to the demand of the compression loop.
  • a positive displacement pump is used to allow the circulation of the heat transfer fluid (pressurized water) and an expansion vessel can be conventionally integrated into this circuit.
  • the main difference with the first embodiment of the figure 2 is that the preheating devices 10 do not directly transfer the calories extracted from the compression stages to natural gas but to another heat transfer fluid, such as, for example, pressurized water.
  • a second refrigerant circuit is thus produced which passes in parallel through the three preheating devices 10 to supply a preheating device 110 transferring the calories from the compression stages to natural gas at the inlet of the PLD station.
  • These preheating devices 10 thus form intermediate exchangers.
  • a positive displacement pump 142 allowing the heat transfer fluid to circulate in the corresponding circuit.
  • a cooler 122 for controlling the temperature of the heat transfer fluid in this circuit.
  • an expansion vessel 144 is advantageously integrated into this refrigerant circuit.
  • FIG 4 illustrates for its part a simplified version of the first embodiment illustrated on the figure 2 .
  • the references already used to designate similar elements are reused in order to simplify the reading comprehension.
  • the compression unit has only one stage with a single compressor C.
  • the natural gas is then reheated within a single preheating device 10 which makes it possible to exchange directly. the calories from the compressor with natural gas at the entrance to the PLD station.
  • the refrigerant circuit uses, for example, a mixture of hydrocarbons and nitrogen as heat transfer fluid.
  • the latter is compressed by the compressor C driven by the electric motor M (electrically coupled to the generator G of the turbine 12 of the PLD station.
  • the fluid is then cooled in contact with natural gas in the preheating device 10 at the inlet of the turbine 12 (it should be noted that one could here also provide another refrigerant circuit between the preheating device 10 and the natural gas as in the previous figure).
  • a cooler 22 or (air cooler) can be introduced into the circuit to adjust the cooling capacity to the demand of the compression loop.
  • the heat transfer fluid is then sent through a heat exchanger 214, for example of the PHFE type (acronym for Plate Fin Heat Exchanger or in French plate and fin heat exchanger), where it is cooled and condensed during a first past. It is then relaxed through a valve 246 where, by the Joule-Thompson effect, it partially vaporizes, causing a further drop in its temperature. It returns (2 nd pass) in the heat exchanger 214 and vaporizes and heats up in contact with the natural gas to be liquefied and the mixture refrigerant to condense. After this second pass, at the outlet of heat exchanger 214, the heat transfer fluid (mixture of hydrocarbons and nitrogen for example) returns to the compressor vs.
  • a mechanical integration is carried out between the pressure lowering station and the production unit ( fig. 5 ) instead of an electrical integration ( fig. 2 to 4 ).
  • This embodiment does not form part of the invention but represents an element of the state of the art which is useful for its understanding.
  • Figure 6 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the present invention. This fifth embodiment can be considered as a variant of the fourth embodiment of the figure 5 since a mechanical integration is carried out here.
  • the orientation of the various elements is quite different from that chosen for the other figures.
  • the pipeline 2 is shown horizontally at the top of the figure.
  • the pipe 4 supplying for example a domestic network is for its part illustrated at the bottom right of this figure.
  • the production unit 6 is shown on the left side of Figure 6 while the pressure lowering station PLD is shown on the right.
  • a first branch 30 supplies the production unit 6 with natural gas from the gas pipeline 2 and a second branch 32 supplies the station. PLD pressure reduction, and therefore also line 4.
  • the gas derived in the first branch 30 firstly passes through a valve bridge 34 before entering the processing unit 8 represented here by two reactors 36.
  • the purified gas is collected by line G11 at the outlet of the 'treatment unit 8 to pass into the condenser 14.
  • the liquid natural gas LNG at the outlet of the condenser 14 is collected in a tank 38.
  • the liquefied gas is for example stored at a pressure of between 0.1 and 10 bars of overpressure by relative to atmospheric pressure, to saturation temperature or else with cooling.
  • the second branch 32 leads the natural gas through an exchanger 40 before passing into the turbine 12.
  • the gas is led (G7) to the pipe 4 .
  • the turbine 12 is mechanically coupled to a compressor C and forms with it a turbocharger.
  • the compressor C is the compressor of a refrigeration circuit used in combination with the condenser 14 to carry out the liquefaction of gas at the level of the production unit.
  • This refrigeration circuit uses a refrigerant fluid (which can here also be, for example, nitrogen or a mixture of hydrocarbons) and is a closed circuit. Conventionally, this refrigerating fluid is expanded at the level of the expansion valve 26.
  • the embodiment of the figure 4 provides for this expansion valve to be mechanically connected to a compressor C 'which enables a second compression stage to be produced.
  • Arrows on the figure 4 illustrate the circulation of the refrigerant in the closed circuit used both as a refrigerant circuit for the production unit 6 of liquid natural gas and also as a thermal integration circuit between the production unit 6 and the lowering station PLD pressure.
  • the fluid at the outlet of compressor C passes into the exchanger 40 to heat the natural gas passing through the second branch 32 to the pressure reduction station. It then passes into the second compressor C 'before passing back into the exchanger 40.
  • the fluid then passes through the countercurrent exchanger 24 before entering the expansion valve 26. It can then enter the condenser 14 within which it absorbs calories from the natural gas of the production unit 6 in order to liquefy it. After passing in the opposite direction in the counter-current exchanger 24, the fluid returns to compressor C.
  • the quantity (mass) of gas passing through the production unit 6 of liquefied gas is of the order of 5 to 20 % of the quantity (mass) of gas passing through the PLD pressure reduction station and supplying line 4.
  • the systems described above make it possible to perfectly control the production of liquid natural gas.
  • the composition of this gas can be controlled. It does not depend on the pressure difference within the pressure lowering station.
  • preheating the gas at the inlet of the pressure lowering station helps prevent icing and pipe obstruction problems.
  • the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above by way of non-limiting examples. It also relates to the variant embodiments within the reach of a person skilled in the art within the framework of the claims below.

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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)
EP14711813.7A 2013-02-20 2014-02-20 Station d'abaissement de pression d'un gaz et de liquéfaction du gaz Active EP2959242B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1300380A FR3002311B1 (fr) 2013-02-20 2013-02-20 Dispositif de liquefaction de gaz, notamment de gaz naturel
PCT/FR2014/050349 WO2014128408A2 (fr) 2013-02-20 2014-02-20 Station d'abaissement de pression d'un gaz et de liquéfaction du gaz

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EP2959242B1 true EP2959242B1 (fr) 2021-03-31

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EP (1) EP2959242B1 (es)
JP (1) JP2016513230A (es)
CN (1) CN105209841A (es)
BR (1) BR112015019856A2 (es)
ES (1) ES2870082T3 (es)
FR (1) FR3002311B1 (es)
MX (1) MX2015010736A (es)
RU (1) RU2680285C2 (es)
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US10295252B2 (en) * 2015-10-27 2019-05-21 Praxair Technology, Inc. System and method for providing refrigeration to a cryogenic separation unit
FR3049341B1 (fr) * 2016-03-23 2019-06-14 Cryostar Sas Systeme de traitement d'un gaz issu de l'evaporation d'un liquide cryogenique et d'alimentation en gaz sous pression d'un moteur a gaz
RU2694566C1 (ru) * 2019-02-14 2019-07-16 Юрий Васильевич Белоусов Система ожижения природного газа на компрессорной станции магистрального газопровода
CZ2019618A3 (cs) * 2019-10-04 2020-12-16 Siad Macchine Impianti S.P.A. Zařízení pro zpracování zemního plynu
RU2738531C1 (ru) * 2020-02-21 2020-12-14 Игорь Анатольевич Мнушкин Интегрированная установка захолаживания природного газа
RU2770777C1 (ru) * 2021-05-07 2022-04-21 Публичное акционерное общество энергетики и электрификации "Мосэнерго" Способ сжижения, хранения и газификации природного газа "мосэнерго-турбокон"
IT202100026921A1 (it) * 2021-10-20 2023-04-20 Gruppo Soc Gas Rimini S P A Impianto di trattamento di gas, in particolare gas naturale, proveniente da una rete di trasporto

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WO2014128408A3 (fr) 2015-07-16
BR112015019856A2 (pt) 2017-07-18
RU2680285C2 (ru) 2019-02-19
JP2016513230A (ja) 2016-05-12
EP2959242A2 (fr) 2015-12-30
CN105209841A (zh) 2015-12-30
RU2015139854A (ru) 2017-03-30
ES2870082T3 (es) 2021-10-26
FR3002311B1 (fr) 2016-08-26
FR3002311A1 (fr) 2014-08-22
US20160003528A1 (en) 2016-01-07
WO2014128408A2 (fr) 2014-08-28
MX2015010736A (es) 2016-07-11

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