US20110219819A1 - Process for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction - Google Patents

Process for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction Download PDF

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Publication number
US20110219819A1
US20110219819A1 US13/043,944 US201113043944A US2011219819A1 US 20110219819 A1 US20110219819 A1 US 20110219819A1 US 201113043944 A US201113043944 A US 201113043944A US 2011219819 A1 US2011219819 A1 US 2011219819A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
fraction
boiling
liquid fraction
hydrocarbon
gas
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
US13/043,944
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English (en)
Inventor
Heinz Bauer
Hans Schmidt
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.)
Linde GmbH
Original Assignee
Linde GmbH
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Filing date
Publication date
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Assigned to LINDE AG reassignment LINDE AG ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BAUER, HEINZ, SCHMIDT, HANS
Publication of US20110219819A1 publication Critical patent/US20110219819A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0022—Hydrocarbons, e.g. natural gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
    • F25J1/0047—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/0052—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream
    • F25J1/0055—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream originating from an incorporated cascade
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/006—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the refrigerant fluid used
    • F25J1/008—Hydrocarbons
    • F25J1/0092—Mixtures of hydrocarbons comprising possibly also minor amounts of nitrogen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0211—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/0212—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle as a single flow MCR cycle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0257—Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J1/0262—Details of the cold heat exchange system
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/32—Details on header or distribution passages of heat exchangers, e.g. of reboiler-condenser or plate heat exchangers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a process for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, especially natural gas, by
  • a process of this type for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction is known, for example, from German Patent Application 197 22 490.
  • Such processes for liquefying hydrocarbon-rich fractions are employed, for example, in natural gas liquefaction plants with a liquefaction performance between 10 000 and 3 000 000 t/a of LNG.
  • German Patent Application 197 22 490 the content thereof is incorporated in its entirety into the disclosure-content of the present application.
  • the coolant mixture in the course of the multistage compression thereof, is partially condensed after each compressor stage, typically against ambient air and/or water.
  • a first liquid phase obtained at an intermediate stage is used to precool the hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied.
  • the first gas obtained at the highest pressure is likewise partially condensed and separated into a second gas phase and a second liquid phase.
  • the second gas phase is liquefied, decompressed and then partly vaporized in countercurrent to the hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied.
  • the expanded second liquid phase which is likewise present in biphasic form, is added to this partly vaporized coolant mixture stream.
  • the aforementioned first liquid phase is, after the expansion thereof, added, likewise in biphasic form, to the aforementioned mixture stream of second gas phase and second liquid phase.
  • a process for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, characterized in that the composition of the coolant mixture is selected such that the final boiling point (dew point) of the second lower-boiling gas fraction is at a lower temperature than the initial boiling point of the first higher-boiling liquid fraction.
  • the first higher-boiling liquid fraction is not now added to the second lower-boiling gas fraction until after the complete vaporization thereof.
  • This procedure dispenses with the provision of a biphasic riser line, described at the outset, between heat exchanger and vessel.
  • the FIGURE shows a natural gas liquefaction process in which the natural gas to be liquefied is fed via line A to a heat exchanger E, liquefied against a coolant circuit and then drawn off via line B and sent to further use or storage thereof.
  • the FIGURE does not show any pretreatment steps to be provided for the natural gas to be liquefied, or any removal of nitrogen and/or C 2+ hydrocarbons to be provided, although such pretreatment steps may be included in the process according to the invention.
  • the coolant mixture to be compressed in the coolant circuit is supplied via line 1 to a first separator D 1 which is connected upstream of the compressor unit C 1 /C 2 and serves to remove condensate.
  • the gas phase obtained at the top of the separator D 1 is fed via line 1 ′ to the first compressor stage C 1 and compressed to an intermediate pressure which is typically between 15 and 35 bar.
  • Separator D 1 acts as a safeguard for the first compression stage C 1 . In some operation modes, small amounts of liquid may collect within D 1 . This liquid can be withdrawn from D 1 and optionally recycled.
  • the compressed coolant mixture is partially condensed in the heat exchanger E 1 and fed via line 2 to a second separator D 2 .
  • the first higher-boiling liquid fraction drawn off from the bottom of the separator D 2 via line 3 is cooled in the heat exchanger E, decompressed to perform cooling in the valve a and then added via line 3 ′ to the coolant fraction in line 8 , which will be discussed in more detail below.
  • the expanded fraction 3 ′ and the coolant fraction 8 can also be mixed outside the heat exchanger E.
  • a separator should be provided, to which the two aforementioned fractions are supplied, the coolant fraction 8 being supplied in monophasic form.
  • the gas phase drawn off from the separator D 2 via line 2 ′ is compressed in the second compressor stage C 2 to the desired final pressure, which is typically between 25 and 70 bar.
  • the coolant mixture compressed to the final pressure is partially condensed in the heat exchanger E 2 and fed via line 4 to a further separator D 3 .
  • the liquid phase obtained in the separator D 3 is recycled via line 4 ′ upstream of the second separator D 2 .
  • there is an exchange of heat between the liquid phases in lines 3 and 4 ′ in the heat exchanger E 3 which preferably serves to subcool the liquid phase 3 drawn off from the bottom of the separator D 2 .
  • a first lower-boiling gas fraction is drawn off at the top of the separator D 3 . This is partially condensed in the heat exchanger E and then supplied to a further separator D 4 via line 5 ′. A separation is effected therein into a second higher-boiling liquid fraction 6 and a second lower-boiling gas fraction 7 .
  • the second liquid fraction 6 is supplied to the heat exchanger E, subcooled therein and then expanded to perform cooling in the valve b. Via line sections 6 ′ and 10 , the expanded liquid fraction is fed again to the heat exchanger E or passed through it.
  • the second gas fraction 7 obtained at the top of the separator D 4 is likewise first liquefied and then subcooled in the heat exchanger E. After it has been drawn off from the heater exchanger E, this fraction is divided into two substreams 8 and 9 . Both substreams are expanded to perform cooling in the valves c or d, respectively. While one substream is conducted via line 8 through the heat exchanger E and is vaporized in heat exchange against the hydrocarbon-rich stream to be liquefied, a further substream of the liquid fraction already mentioned can be added in the line 6 ′. This addition improves the controllability of temperature and cooling performance of stream 10 , thus reducing the energy consumption, and/or serves to establish process conditions in the removal of nitrogen and/or C 2+ hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon-rich fraction A to be liquefied.
  • the expanded second higher-boiling liquid fraction 6 ′ is vaporized separately from the expanded first higher-boiling liquid fraction 3 ′ and the expanded second lower-boiling gas fraction 8 .
  • This separate vaporization is effected in separate flow channels of the heat exchanger E.
  • the aforementioned fractions are therefore not mixed until the hot end of the heat exchanger E, when these fractions are completely vaporized.

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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)
US13/043,944 2010-03-11 2011-03-09 Process for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction Abandoned US20110219819A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102010011052A DE102010011052A1 (de) 2010-03-11 2010-03-11 Verfahren zum Verflüssigen einer Kohlenwasserstoff-reichen Fraktion
DE102010011052.3 2010-03-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20110219819A1 true US20110219819A1 (en) 2011-09-15

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/043,944 Abandoned US20110219819A1 (en) 2010-03-11 2011-03-09 Process for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20110219819A1 (de)
CN (1) CN102200369A (de)
AU (1) AU2011201092A1 (de)
BR (1) BRPI1100950A2 (de)
DE (1) DE102010011052A1 (de)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20150121953A1 (en) * 2012-05-03 2015-05-07 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Process for reliquefying a methane-rich fraction
US9441877B2 (en) 2010-03-17 2016-09-13 Chart Inc. Integrated pre-cooled mixed refrigerant system and method
RU2662005C2 (ru) * 2013-10-08 2018-07-23 Линде Акциенгезелльшафт Способ для сжижения обогащенной углеводородом фракции
US10480851B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2019-11-19 Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc. Mixed refrigerant system and method
US10663221B2 (en) 2015-07-08 2020-05-26 Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc. Mixed refrigerant system and method
US11408673B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2022-08-09 Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc. Mixed refrigerant system and method
US11428463B2 (en) * 2013-03-15 2022-08-30 Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc. Mixed refrigerant system and method
US20220275998A1 (en) * 2019-08-23 2022-09-01 LGE IP Management Company Limited Method of Cooling Boil-Off Gas and Apparatus Therefor
US11561042B2 (en) * 2016-02-26 2023-01-24 LGE IP Management Company Limited Method of cooling boil-off gas and apparatus therefor
US11578914B2 (en) 2017-04-20 2023-02-14 LGE IP Management Company Limited Method of cooling boil-off gas and apparatus therefor
RU2797608C1 (ru) * 2023-02-17 2023-06-07 Публичное акционерное общество "НОВАТЭК" Способ сжижения природного газа "АРКТИЧЕСКИЙ МИКС"

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102011104725A1 (de) 2011-06-08 2012-12-13 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren zum Verflüssigen einer Kohlenwasserstoffreichen Fraktion
CN102748919A (zh) * 2012-04-26 2012-10-24 中国石油集团工程设计有限责任公司 单循环混合冷剂四级节流制冷系统及方法
CN104089463B (zh) * 2014-07-16 2017-11-17 北京安珂罗工程技术有限公司 一种混合冷剂气液分流式节流制冷的方法和系统
DE102014012316A1 (de) * 2014-08-19 2016-02-25 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren zum Abkühlen einer Kohlenwasserstoff-reichen Fraktion

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4325231A (en) * 1976-06-23 1982-04-20 Heinrich Krieger Cascade cooling arrangement
US5535594A (en) * 1993-04-09 1996-07-16 Gaz De France (Service National) Process and apparatus for cooling a fluid especially for liquifying natural gas
US6253574B1 (en) * 1997-04-18 2001-07-03 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Method for liquefying a stream rich in hydrocarbons
US6334334B1 (en) * 1997-05-28 2002-01-01 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Process for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich stream

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4325231A (en) * 1976-06-23 1982-04-20 Heinrich Krieger Cascade cooling arrangement
US5535594A (en) * 1993-04-09 1996-07-16 Gaz De France (Service National) Process and apparatus for cooling a fluid especially for liquifying natural gas
US6253574B1 (en) * 1997-04-18 2001-07-03 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Method for liquefying a stream rich in hydrocarbons
US6334334B1 (en) * 1997-05-28 2002-01-01 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Process for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich stream

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Foerg Wolfgang; Bach Wilfried; Stockmann Rudolf; et al., A new LNG baseload and the manufacturing of the main heat exchangers, in: Twelfth International Conference and Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas, Perth, Australia, 1998, 2.6. *

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10502483B2 (en) 2010-03-17 2019-12-10 Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc. Integrated pre-cooled mixed refrigerant system and method
US9441877B2 (en) 2010-03-17 2016-09-13 Chart Inc. Integrated pre-cooled mixed refrigerant system and method
US20150121953A1 (en) * 2012-05-03 2015-05-07 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Process for reliquefying a methane-rich fraction
US11408673B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2022-08-09 Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc. Mixed refrigerant system and method
US10480851B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2019-11-19 Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc. Mixed refrigerant system and method
US11428463B2 (en) * 2013-03-15 2022-08-30 Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc. Mixed refrigerant system and method
RU2662005C2 (ru) * 2013-10-08 2018-07-23 Линде Акциенгезелльшафт Способ для сжижения обогащенной углеводородом фракции
US10663221B2 (en) 2015-07-08 2020-05-26 Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc. Mixed refrigerant system and method
US11408676B2 (en) * 2015-07-08 2022-08-09 Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc. Mixed refrigerant system and method
US11561042B2 (en) * 2016-02-26 2023-01-24 LGE IP Management Company Limited Method of cooling boil-off gas and apparatus therefor
US11578914B2 (en) 2017-04-20 2023-02-14 LGE IP Management Company Limited Method of cooling boil-off gas and apparatus therefor
US20220275998A1 (en) * 2019-08-23 2022-09-01 LGE IP Management Company Limited Method of Cooling Boil-Off Gas and Apparatus Therefor
RU2797608C1 (ru) * 2023-02-17 2023-06-07 Публичное акционерное общество "НОВАТЭК" Способ сжижения природного газа "АРКТИЧЕСКИЙ МИКС"
RU2811216C1 (ru) * 2023-06-23 2024-01-11 Игорь Анатольевич Мнушкин Способ сжижения природного газа

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BRPI1100950A2 (pt) 2012-08-07
AU2011201092A1 (en) 2011-09-29
DE102010011052A1 (de) 2011-09-15
CN102200369A (zh) 2011-09-28

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Owner name: LINDE AG, GERMANY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BAUER, HEINZ;SCHMIDT, HANS;REEL/FRAME:025928/0632

Effective date: 20110228

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION