US20210310731A1 - Flexible installation of a hydrocarbon liquefaction unit - Google Patents
Flexible installation of a hydrocarbon liquefaction unit Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20210310731A1 US20210310731A1 US17/224,682 US202117224682A US2021310731A1 US 20210310731 A1 US20210310731 A1 US 20210310731A1 US 202117224682 A US202117224682 A US 202117224682A US 2021310731 A1 US2021310731 A1 US 2021310731A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- refrigeration cycle
- nitrogen
- natural gas
- cold box
- liquefaction
- 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
Links
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 title claims abstract description 18
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 title claims abstract description 18
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 14
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 title claims description 12
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 70
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 61
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 34
- 239000003345 natural gas Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 34
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 31
- 238000005057 refrigeration Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 27
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000004411 aluminium Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000005465 channeling Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000012354 overpressurization Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 13
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000002826 coolant Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000035882 stress Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000003949 liquefied natural gas Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 3
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004172 nitrogen cycle Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfur Chemical compound [S] NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000005864 Sulphur Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000018109 developmental process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004821 distillation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006355 external stress Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007792 gaseous phase Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007791 liquid phase Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007726 management method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N nitrogen group Chemical group [N] QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000012071 phase Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011160 research Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012384 transportation and delivery Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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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
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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
- F25J1/0228—Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes
- F25J1/0235—Heat exchange integration
- F25J1/0237—Heat exchange integration integrating refrigeration provided for liquefaction and purification/treatment of the gas to be liquefied, e.g. heavy hydrocarbon removal from natural gas
- F25J1/0238—Purification or treatment step is integrated within one refrigeration cycle only, i.e. the same or single refrigeration cycle provides feed gas cooling (if present) and overhead gas cooling
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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
- F25J1/003—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
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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
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- 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
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
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- 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
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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
- F25J1/0221—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
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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
- F25J1/0243—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
- F25J1/0259—Modularity and arrangement of parts of the liquefaction unit and in particular of the cold box, e.g. pre-fabrication, assembling and erection, dimensions, horizontal layout "plot"
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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
- F25J1/0243—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
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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
- 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
- F25J3/0228—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 characterised by the separated product stream
- F25J3/0247—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 characterised by the separated product stream separation of CnHm with 4 carbon atoms or more
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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
- F25J2230/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams
- F25J2230/24—Multiple compressors or compressor stages in parallel
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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
- F25J2230/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams
- F25J2230/32—Compression of the product stream
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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
- F25J2230/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams
- F25J2230/60—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams the fluid being hydrocarbons or a mixture of hydrocarbons
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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
- F25J2240/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for expanding of process streams
- F25J2240/40—Expansion without extracting work, i.e. isenthalpic throttling, e.g. JT valve, regulating valve or venturi, or isentropic nozzle, e.g. Laval
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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
- F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
- F25J2270/14—External refrigeration with work-producing gas expansion loop
- F25J2270/16—External refrigeration with work-producing gas expansion loop with mutliple gas expansion loops of the same refrigerant
Abstract
Natural gas liquefaction unit including at least one cryogenic cold box having at least one heat exchanger; a fixed assembly zone on its outer wall; at least one closed loop nitrogen refrigeration cycle; at least one device for equipment required for implementing the liquefaction of a natural gas stream from a hydrocarbon supply stream; at least one interconnection module comprising a pipe holder means and a set of pipes and valves, designed to connect said at least one cold box to at least one equipment device for the cycle for refrigerating and/or separating C6+ type hydrocarbon elements contained in the natural gas, wherein the interconnection module rests on a frame allowing it to be handled and is connected to the cold box and to the other method or equipment sub-assemblies located around said fixed assembly zone.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (a) and (b) to French Patent Application No. 2003456, filed Apr. 7, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
- The technical field of the invention is that of the liquefaction of natural gas using a nitrogen refrigeration cycle.
- The present invention relates to an installation of a natural gas liquefaction unit using a nitrogen refrigeration cycle and its unit.
- Natural gas liquefaction methods need to be used in order to reduce the environmental impact. Market developments promote the use of liquefiers close to public areas in order to ensure more efficient management of deliveries. The available land is generally small and must meet strict environmental restrictions.
- Commonly, this type of unit uses mixed coolants that are mixtures of gas with high yields for the liquefaction of natural gas. However, their hazardousness results in factory configurations that are very spread out with a very high societal risk. The invention defines the design of Natural Gas liquefiers using a nitrogen refrigeration cycle called Turbofin™.
- The invention offers a solution to the aforementioned problems. An aspect of the invention relates to a natural gas liquefaction unit comprising:
-
- at least one cryogenic cold box comprising:
- at least one heat exchanger;
- a fixed assembly zone on its outer wall;
- at least one closed loop nitrogen refrigeration cycle;
- at least one device for equipment required for implementing the liquefaction of a natural gas stream from a hydrocarbon supply stream;
- at least one interconnection module comprising a pipe holder means and a set of pipes and valves, designed to connect said at least one cold box to at least one equipment device for the cycle for refrigerating and/or separating C6+ type hydrocarbon elements contained in the natural gas;
characterized in that the interconnection module rests on a frame allowing it to be handled and is connected to the cold box and to the other method or equipment sub-assemblies located around said fixed assembly zone.
- at least one cryogenic cold box comprising:
- According to other embodiments, the present invention also relates to:
-
- a unit as defined above, characterized in that the interconnection module particularly comprises one or more elements selected from among control valves, manual valves, sample connections, pipes, pre-cut panels with valve actuators, instruments, vapour sources, lighting, ladders and platforms, pre-wired junction boxes, platforms for instrument/electric cables, pipe supports, channeling;
- a unit as defined above, characterized in that the interconnection module comprises one or more elements selected from among control valves; manual valves, valve actuators;
- a unit as defined above, characterized in that said other method or equipment sub-assemblies are required to implement at least one method function selected from among the compression of the nitrogen of the refrigeration cycle, the overpressurization of the nitrogen of the refrigeration cycle, the expansion of the nitrogen of the refrigeration cycle, the cooling of the nitrogen of the refrigeration cycle, the liquefaction of the natural gas stream, the separation of the C6+ type hydrocarbons contained in the natural gas, the interconnection module being devoid of such method or equipment sub-assemblies. In other words, the interconnection module does not comprise any method or equipment sub-assembly as defined above. In particular, the interconnection module is devoid of a separator module;
- a unit as defined above, characterized in that the refrigeration cycle comprises a first means for compressing the nitrogen of the refrigeration cycle, a means for cooling the nitrogen of the refrigeration cycle, a second means for compressing the nitrogen of the refrigeration cycle, said second compression means comprising two booster compressors coupled to two respective expansion means, said booster compressors being configured to compress the nitrogen of the refrigeration cycle at an identical pressure;
- a unit as defined above, characterized in that said frame has a metal structure;
- a unit as defined above, characterized in that said at least one heat exchanger is a brazed aluminium heat exchanger;
- the use of a unit as defined above for liquefying a natural gas stream.
- A method for starting a liquefaction unit as defined above, comprising the following steps:
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- on-site installation of a closed loop nitrogen refrigeration cycle and of a cold box comprising:
- at least one heat exchanger;
- a fixed assembly zone on its outer wall;
- on-site installation of an interconnection module comprising a pipe holder means and a set of pipes and valves, designed to connect said at least one cold box to at least one equipment device for the cycle for refrigerating and/or separating C6+ type hydrocarbon elements contained in the natural gas,
- fixing said interconnection module to the cold box and to at least one equipment device, allowing the implementation of the liquefaction method using said cold box, already available on the site.
- on-site installation of a closed loop nitrogen refrigeration cycle and of a cold box comprising:
- The natural gas is composed of different gases with different physical features, Nitrogen is a pure substance and does not allow all the compounds of the natural gas to be tracked for the liquefaction thereof. However, the method allows the use of the “compression-expansion” principle and therefore allows cold production with high liquefaction yields.
- The method is composed of two main parts. The cold creation part identified by the name ‘nitrogen cycle’ and the natural gas liquefaction part. A nitrogen refrigeration cycle is understood to be a cycle in which the coolant is nitrogen, contrary to the cycles with mixed coolants, in which the coolant is a mixture of different constituent elements, in particular a mixture of hydrocarbons.
- The nitrogen cycle is a closed loop. The natural gas only passes through the liquefaction zone, called cold box. The nitrogen of the cycle is compressed in a compressor, then cooled, before being compressed a second time, by two boosters, or booster compressors, coupled to two separate turbines.
- Preferably, the output pressure of the two boosters of the turbines is identical. Contrary to the configurations in which the outputs of the cold and hot turbines have different pressures and are therefore compressed at two different stages of the cycle compressor, this allows only a single suction pressure to be processed, which simplifies the architecture of the unit and improves its operational efficiency, by simplifying the operating and maintenance operations.
- The nitrogen is then pre-cooled before being expanded to create two different cold temperatures. These two latter temperatures correspond to two liquefaction temperatures. Said temperatures themselves correspond to two average temperatures for liquefaction of the gases composed of the natural gas.
- Each compression stage corresponds to the heating of the gas. In order to optimize the next compression, the gas must be pre-cooled using equipment called “refrigerators”, operating by exchanging with air or with water.
- The consequence of this type of liquefaction is the significant number of connections connecting the equipment to each other. This configuration results in a significant cost compared to the size of the liquefaction cycle.
- The liquefaction comprises one or more exchangers, as well as, in general, an element allowing separation of the heavy C6+ type hydrocarbon components contained in the natural gas. The gas that is thus purified, basically composed of methane, is recovered in order to be liquefied through exchangers located in said cold box. The aforementioned separation equipment is located in the same insulating assembly, called cold box.
- The liquefaction assembly called cold box can, as a function of the liquefaction volumes, be composed of one or more cold boxes. These can be vertical or horizontal.
- The aforementioned equipment and/or sub-assemblies are located around a distribution module comprising all the connections between all the equipment that are required for the method, as well as the connections to the outside of the liquefaction assembly. AH the elements allowing the measurements and the liquefaction assembly to be controlled are also located in this sub-assembly, called central module.
- The machines called turbine/booster machines may or may not be, as a function of their capacities, located on the same support structure.
- Each of these satellite modules comprises the method function for which it has been identified, as well as the elements allowing it to be controlled and enabling its intrinsic safety.
- The connection between the central module and the satellites is adapted for each project condition and/or for each physical variation of each of these satellite modules.
- The present invention allows the interconnection zone to be defined as a central distribution module between all the method modules. This can cover the equipment associated with the method or other modules comprising method sub-assemblies. These other method or equipment sub-assemblies are those that are configured to implement method functions that are required for implementing the cold fluid required for the liquefaction of a natural gas stream. The method functions are clearly separate from each other, as well as from those that are associated with the designs of each supplier, and the interconnection allows the possibility of changing suppliers without necessarily changing the circulation of the fluids. The connections are adapted to the modules during the on-site assembly.
- In order to meet this requirement, the sub-assemblies and satellite equipment are designed to be autonomous and independent from a method perspective, but also to be mechanical.
- The present invention allows a natural gas liquefaction installation to be provided using a nitrogen cooling cycle that adapts to the environment in a manner that is simple and is the least expensive, By virtue of the invention, the system allows a flexible arrangement to be proposed for the installation as a function of the environment.
- This also makes it possible to ensure the effectiveness of the method irrespective of the type of hydrocarbon, in particular natural gas.
- This also makes it possible to guarantee construction with a manageable cost, since the modules can be constructed in the factory and delivered directly to the site, while being able to be adapted to the environment of the site.
- A cold box integrates one or more heat exchangers in an insulating enclosure that is generally made of steel or of carbon. The cold box combines the exchangers with their associated cryogenic equipment: separator tanks, two-phase supply tanks, distillation columns, connection pipes, valves and instrumentation.
- Therefore, the present invention allows the aforementioned problem to be resolved in at least two points:
-
- The number of pipes forming the connection between equipment leads to an assembly cost and a significant impact on the overall cost of the installation.
- a. The present invention allows the interconnection zone to be defined as a central distribution module between all the modules required for the method.
- b. This separation between the “method functions” (Compression, Overpressure, Expansion, Cooling, Liquefaction), which are associated with the designs of each supplier, and the interconnection enables the possibility of changing suppliers without necessarily changing the circulation of the fluids. The connections are adapted to the modules during on-site assembly.
- In order to monitor the evolution that is desired by the user without having to modify the general design of the path of the fluids, each module must be able to have an acceptance threshold for the external stresses.
- The present invention will basically cover the cryogenic part of the method. It forms the liquefaction area thereof. In order to limit thermal losses, this part of the method is installed in an insulating box, called cold box. The temperatures vary between +20° C. to −196° C. The equipment is therefore subject to significant mechanical stresses. In order to reduce the mechanical effects, it is common to distribute the stresses over the whole of the relevant method line. The solution implemented in the present invention allows an approach for managing stresses to be provided by defining the cold box as being autonomous. The stresses inside the cold box will be managed by placing a fixed point at the limit of the cold box or by providing permissible stresses for other parts.
- This installation allows the cold-part modules (heat-exchange module and separator module) to be aligned together and allows the hot part (compressor module) to be added in line with or perpendicular to this alignment, thus reducing the ground footprint and also reducing the lengths of the interconnections.
- The invention and the various applications thereof will be better understood from reading the following description and from studying the accompanying FIGURES.
- For a further understanding of the nature and objects for the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are given the same or analogous reference numbers and wherein:
- The FIGURE shows a representation of a schematic diagram of a liquefaction system according to one embodiment of the invention.
-
FIG. 1 shows a representation of a schematic diagram of a liquefaction unit according to one embodiment of the invention. - In
FIG. 1 , the hydrocarbonfluid liquefaction unit 1 comprises: -
- at least one cryogenic
cold box 2 comprising:- at least one heat exchanger;
- a fixed
assembly zone 8 on its outer wall;
- a
device 3 for the various equipment required for implementing the cold fluid required for the liquefaction of a natural gas stream from a hydrocarbon supply stream; - an
interconnection module 4 comprising a pipe holder means and a set of pipes, control valves, and electricity connection andinstrumentation cold box 2 to the at least oneequipment device 3 for the cycle for refrigerating and/or separating C6+ type hydrocarbon elements contained in the natural gas.
- at least one cryogenic
- The
interconnection module 4 rests on a frame that allows it to be handled and is connected to the cold box in the vicinity of said assembly zone. - Advantageously, the interconnection module comprises one or more elements selected from among control valves, manual valves, valve actuators. Thus, the important elements for controlling the liquefaction assembly are arranged in the interconnection module, the assembly and the on-site handling of which are simpler and safer, which facilitates the assembly of these elements and facilitates access for maintenance. The safety of the unit is improved. In particular, one or more valves are of the Pressure Safety Valve (PSV) type. According to a particular embodiment, the unit comprises one or more pressure safety valves, all of which are arranged in the interconnection module.
- The feed stream NG can be a stream of natural gas, which can be pre-treated, in which one or several substances, such as sulphur, carbon dioxide, water, are reduced, so as to be compatible with cryogenic temperatures, as is known in the prior art.
- The heat exchangers are known from the prior art and can have various arrangements of their feed flows and refrigerant streams.
- When the flow of liquefied, or at least partially liquefied, hydrocarbons is liquefied natural gas (LNG), the temperature can be approximately −150° C. to −160° C.
- The liquefaction of the feed stream NG is carried out by virtue of a fluid or an expanded cooling nitrogen current in one or more coolant circuits for pre-cooling the feed stream NG.
- A heat exchange module comprises walls for thermally insulating the heat exchanger from the outside and comprises a framework allowing the heat exchange module to be transported so that it can be fixed.
- The framework can be made of stainless steel bars in order to reduce the effects of thermal diffusion. Furthermore, this framework can assume the form of a container, thus forming the edges of a rectangular parallelepiped, also referred to as a right cuboid. Thus, it is simple to transport. The framework of the heat exchange module can also comprise means for facilitating installation.
- An element is understood to be a module, or a compressor, or an expansion device or a circuit of a module, or a cooler, or a separator.
- Connections are understood to be a tube or pipe that may or may not be insulated and that can comprise valves or restrictors.
- A stream is understood to be one or more fluids, that may be in the liquid phase or in the gaseous phase or both, circulating through elements of the system.
- An inlet is understood to be a point at which the fluid enters, therefore giving the stream a direction of circulation. In other words, an inlet of a first element is connected downstream of an outlet of a second element.
- An outlet is understood to mean that the fluid exits an element and therefore provides a direction of circulation for the stream. In other words, an outlet of a first element is connected upstream of an inlet of a second element.
- Connected means connected for transporting a fluid, for example, an inlet connected to an element implies that a fluid can transition from the element to the inlet either directly or via other elements.
- Connected is understood to mean the connection of two elements (the outlet of one element to an inlet of another element) for transporting fluid using connections or connected directly to one another (an outlet directly connected to an inlet of an element (without pipe)). In other words, there are no other elements between the two elements.
- Fixed is understood to mean the physical assembly of one element to another element in order to secure them together.
- An expanded stream is understood to mean the stream downstream of an expansion circuit and upstream of a compressor.
- A compressed stream is understood to mean the stream upstream of an expansion circuit and downstream of a compressor.
- The liquefied natural gas resulting from the method that is the subject matter of the present invention subsequently can be, for example, transferred to a storage or transportation device.
- The method that is the subject matter of the present invention particularly enables the investment expenditure to be optimized. Indeed, having a modular system allows several arrangements of the modules to be proposed and thus allows the installation research costs, as well as the manufacturing cost, to be reduced.
- It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. Thus; the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments in the examples given above.
Claims (9)
1. Natural gas liquefaction unit comprising:
at least one cryogenic cold box (2) comprising:
at least one heat exchanger;
a fixed assembly zone (8) on its outer wall;
at least one closed loop nitrogen refrigeration cycle;
at least one device (3) for equipment required for implementing the liquefaction of a natural gas stream from a hydrocarbon supply stream;
at least one interconnection module (4) comprising a pipe holder means and a set of pipes and valves (5, 6, 7), designed to connect said at least one cold box (2) to at least one equipment device for the cycle for refrigerating and/or separating C6+ type hydrocarbon elements contained in the natural gas,
characterized in that the interconnection module (4) rests on a frame allowing it to be handled and is connected to the cold box (2) and to the other method or equipment sub-assemblies (3) located around said fixed assembly zone (8).
2. Unit according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the interconnection module (4) particularly comprises one or more elements selected from among control valves, manual valves, sample connections, pipes, pre-cut panels with valve actuators, instruments, vapour sources, lighting, ladders and platforms, pre-wired junction boxes, platforms for instrument/electric cables, pipe supports, channeling.
3. Unit according to claim 2 , characterized in that the interconnection module (4) comprises one or more elements selected from among control valves, manual valves, valve actuators.
4. Unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said other method or equipment sub-assemblies (3) are required to implement at least one method function selected from among the compression of the nitrogen of the refrigeration cycle, the overpressurization of the nitrogen of the refrigeration cycle, the expansion of the nitrogen of the refrigeration cycle, the cooling of the nitrogen of the refrigeration cycle, the liquefaction of the natural gas stream, the separation of the C6+ type hydrocarbons contained in the natural gas, the interconnection module (4) being devoid of such method or equipment sub-assemblies.
5. Unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the refrigeration cycle comprises a first means for compressing the nitrogen of the refrigeration cycle, a means for cooling the nitrogen of the refrigeration cycle, a second means for compressing the nitrogen of the refrigeration cycle, said second compression means comprising two booster compressors coupled to two respective expansion means, said booster compressors being configured to compress the nitrogen of the refrigeration cycle at an identical pressure.
6. Unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said frame has a metal structure.
7. Unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one heat exchanger is a brazed aluminium heat exchanger.
8. Use of a unit as defined in one of the preceding claims for liquefying a natural gas stream.
9. Method for starting a liquefaction unit as defined in claims 1 to 6 , comprising the following steps:
on-site installation of a closed loop nitrogen refrigeration cycle and of a cold box (2) comprising:
at least one heat exchanger;
a fixed assembly zone (8) on its outer wall;
on-site installation of an interconnection module (4) comprising a pipe holder means and a set of pipes and valves (5, 6, 7), designed to connect said at least one cold box (2) to at least one equipment device (3) for the cycle for refrigerating and/or separating C6+ type hydrocarbon elements contained in the natural gas;
fixing said interconnection module (4) to the cold box (2) and to at least one equipment device (3), allowing the implementation of the liquefaction method using said cold box (2), already available on the site.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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FR2003456 | 2020-04-07 | ||
FR2003456A FR3108969B1 (en) | 2020-04-07 | 2020-04-07 | Agile installation of a hydrocarbon liquefaction unit |
Publications (1)
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US20210310731A1 true US20210310731A1 (en) | 2021-10-07 |
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ID=70738755
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US17/224,682 Abandoned US20210310731A1 (en) | 2020-04-07 | 2021-04-07 | Flexible installation of a hydrocarbon liquefaction unit |
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US (1) | US20210310731A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3892946A1 (en) |
FR (1) | FR3108969B1 (en) |
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US20060260357A1 (en) * | 2003-03-31 | 2006-11-23 | Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. | Apparatus for cryogenic air distillation |
US20070107465A1 (en) * | 2001-05-04 | 2007-05-17 | Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc | Apparatus for the liquefaction of gas and methods relating to same |
US20100122551A1 (en) * | 2008-11-18 | 2010-05-20 | Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. | Liquefaction Method and System |
US20210080172A1 (en) * | 2017-05-10 | 2021-03-18 | Nuovo Pignone Tecnologie - S.R.L. | Compressor train arrangements |
US20210372116A1 (en) * | 2018-03-02 | 2021-12-02 | Modular Plant Solutions Llc | Modular process plant structural system |
Family Cites Families (2)
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FR2706025B1 (en) * | 1993-06-03 | 1995-07-28 | Air Liquide | Air distillation installation. |
CN105222524A (en) * | 2015-11-05 | 2016-01-06 | 天津市振津石油天然气工程有限公司 | A kind of miniature movable type natural gas liquefaction sled |
-
2020
- 2020-04-07 FR FR2003456A patent/FR3108969B1/en active Active
-
2021
- 2021-04-01 EP EP21166576.5A patent/EP3892946A1/en active Pending
- 2021-04-07 US US17/224,682 patent/US20210310731A1/en not_active Abandoned
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US20070107465A1 (en) * | 2001-05-04 | 2007-05-17 | Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc | Apparatus for the liquefaction of gas and methods relating to same |
US20060260357A1 (en) * | 2003-03-31 | 2006-11-23 | Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. | Apparatus for cryogenic air distillation |
US20100122551A1 (en) * | 2008-11-18 | 2010-05-20 | Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. | Liquefaction Method and System |
US20210080172A1 (en) * | 2017-05-10 | 2021-03-18 | Nuovo Pignone Tecnologie - S.R.L. | Compressor train arrangements |
US20210372116A1 (en) * | 2018-03-02 | 2021-12-02 | Modular Plant Solutions Llc | Modular process plant structural system |
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TROCQUET,B.etal.,ThelatestinfloatingLNGtechnologies;March10,2008,downloaded from http:/Awww.mustangeng.com/content/Downloadable/Gas%20Tech%202008%20FLG%20Busine ss%20Presentation.pdf,25pages (Year: 2008) * |
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FR3108969B1 (en) | 2022-07-15 |
FR3108969A1 (en) | 2021-10-08 |
EP3892946A1 (en) | 2021-10-13 |
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