US3257813A - Liquefaction of gases - Google Patents

Liquefaction of gases Download PDF

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US3257813A
US3257813A US114199A US11419961A US3257813A US 3257813 A US3257813 A US 3257813A US 114199 A US114199 A US 114199A US 11419961 A US11419961 A US 11419961A US 3257813 A US3257813 A US 3257813A
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gas
liquefied
pressure
gases
decompression
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Hashemi-Tafreshi Hadi
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Conch International Methane Ltd
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Conch International Methane Ltd
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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
    • F25J1/006—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the refrigerant fluid used
    • F25J1/008—Hydrocarbons
    • F25J1/0085—Ethane; Ethylene
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0012—Primary atmospheric gases, e.g. air
    • F25J1/0015—Nitrogen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0012—Primary atmospheric gases, e.g. air
    • F25J1/0017—Oxygen
    • 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"
    • F25J1/004—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 flash gas recovery
    • 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"
    • F25J1/0045—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 vaporising a liquid return 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
    • F25J1/003—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
    • F25J1/0097—Others, e.g. F-, Cl-, HF-, HClF-, HCl-hydrocarbons etc. or mixtures thereof
    • 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
    • F25J1/0208—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 in combination with an internal quasi-closed refrigeration loop, e.g. with deep flash recycle loop
    • F25J1/0209—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 in combination with an internal quasi-closed refrigeration loop, e.g. with deep flash recycle loop as at least a three level refrigeration cascade
    • F25J1/021—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 in combination with an internal quasi-closed refrigeration loop, e.g. with deep flash recycle loop as at least a three level refrigeration cascade using a deep flash recycle loop
    • 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
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/20—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using solidification of components
    • 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
    • F25J2210/04—Mixing or blending of fluids with the feed stream
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2215/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the product stream
    • F25J2215/62—Ethane or ethylene
    • 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
    • F25J2220/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for the removal of impurities
    • F25J2220/42—Separating low boiling, i.e. more volatile components from nitrogen, e.g. He, H2, Ne
    • 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
    • F25J2220/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for the removal of impurities
    • F25J2220/50—Separating low boiling, i.e. more volatile components from oxygen, e.g. N2, Ar
    • 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
    • F25J2220/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for the removal of impurities
    • F25J2220/60—Separating impurities from natural gas, e.g. mercury, cyclic hydrocarbons
    • F25J2220/62—Separating low boiling components, e.g. He, H2, N2, Air
    • 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
    • F25J2220/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for the removal of impurities
    • F25J2220/60—Separating impurities from natural gas, e.g. mercury, cyclic hydrocarbons
    • F25J2220/66—Separating acid gases, e.g. CO2, SO2, H2S or RSH
    • 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
    • F25J2235/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams
    • F25J2235/60—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams the fluid being (a mixture of) hydrocarbons
    • 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
    • F25J2245/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams
    • F25J2245/02—Recycle of a stream in general, e.g. a by-pass 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
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/90—External refrigeration, e.g. conventional closed-loop mechanical refrigeration unit using Freon or NH3, unspecified external refrigeration

Definitions

  • This invention relates to'the liquefaction of a gas containing minor proportions of a lower boiling gas.
  • a gas containing minor proportions of a lower boiling gas For example, it relates to the liquefaction of natural gas which consists mainly of methane with minor proportions of other gases, some of which, e.g. nitrogen, are lower boiling than methane.
  • While the invention is particularly applicable to the liquefaction of natural gas it is applicable to the liquefaction of any gas containing minor proportions-of a lower boiling gas, e.g. ethylene or ethane containing minor proportions of methane, oxygen containing minor proportions .of nitrogen, and nitrogen containing minor proportions of helium.
  • a lower boiling gas e.g. ethylene or ethane containing minor proportions of methane, oxygen containing minor proportions .of nitrogen, and nitrogen containing minor proportions of helium.
  • a method of producing a liquefied gas at apressure lower than the pressure at which it is liquefied from a compressed gas containing minor proportions .of a lower boiling gas comprises:
  • step (e) Liquefying the rec-ornpressed gases from step (d) by indirect heat exchange with one or more refrigerants
  • the last of the refrigerants used in step (e) is a stream of the liquefied gas taken from one of the decompression stages, which stream has been compressed and is, after use as refrigerant, returned to an earlier decompression stage.
  • a minor proportion of the re-compressed gases from step (d) may, after partial refrigeration, be fed into one, preferably the first, of the decompression stages.
  • the gaseous phase from each of the decompression stages intermediate the first and last is compressed to a pressure equal to the presure of the effiuent gas from the previous decompression stage and is fed into that effiuent gas.
  • a part of the recompressed gas from step (d) may be "ice liquefied by heat exchange with the cold gas vented from the system and the liquid passed to the last decompression stage.
  • the refrigerants used may be of any type suitable to the temperature requirements and any suitable type of refrigerating systems may be used.
  • a compression refrigeration system will be employed using a material such as ammonia, propane, ethylene, ethane or methane.
  • an absorption system may be useful in some instances.
  • Natural gas which has been dried and which consists mainly of methane but which contains minor proportions of other gases including nitrogen and carbon dioxide, enters the liquefaction system by pipe 1 under a pressure of 1500 p.s.i.a. and at ambient temperature or above. It passes through heat exchanger 2 in which it is cooled to 20 F. by indirect heat exchange with liquid ammonia passing through pipe 3 under a pressure of 250 p.s.i.a. and at an inlet temperature of 25 F. The rest of the ammonia refrigeration cycle, of which pipe 3 is a part, is not shown since it forms no part of the invention.
  • the natural gas leaving heat exchanger 2 passes to heat exchanger 4 in which it is cooled to 200 F. by indirect heat exchange with liquid ethylene, at 320 p.s.i.a. and at an inlet temperature of 205 F., passing through pipe 5 which is part of an. ethylene refrigeration cycle, the rest of which is not shown on the drawing.
  • the natural gas leaves heat exchanger 4 in a liquefied condition and passes through expansion valve 6 into expansion chamber 7.
  • the degree of expansion in this chamber is sufficient to reduce the temperature to 22S F.
  • Liquid from expansion chamber 7 passes through expansion valve 8 to the second expansion chamber 9, the drop in pressure being sufficient to reduce the temperature in expansion chamber 9 to 248 F.
  • the reduction in pressure in expansion chamber 12 is sufiicient to cool the liquid to 269 F. and the pressure to substantially atmospheric.
  • the liquid in expensio-n chamber 12 if fed via pump 13 to storage tank 14.
  • the gas phase from expansion chamber 12 is vented from the system via pipe 15 which passes through heat exchanger 16 to be described in more detail hereafter.
  • the boiled off gases from the storage tank 14 are vented from the system via pump 35 and pipes 17 and 15.
  • the vented gases which are nitrogen enriched natural gas,'may be used as fuel gas for producing the power needed in the liquefaction system.
  • solid CO may be precipitated in particulate form in any of the expansion chambers 7, 9 and 12 and may be removed therefrom by any suitable means. As shown in the drawing, solid CO may be removed from expansion chamber 12 via pipe 18. The temperature to which the natural gas is reduced in heat exchanger 4 should be adjusted so that the CO in the gas remains in solution in the liquid.
  • the gases produced in expansion chamber 9 leave that chamber via pipe 19 and are compressed in compressor 24 preferably a centrifugal compressor, to apressure equal to that of the gases leaving expansion chamber 7.
  • the gases leave expansion chamber 7 via pipe 21 and are mixed with the compressed gases from compressor 20 and the mixture fed to compressor 22, preferably a centrifugal compressor, in which the gases are compressed to 470 p.s.i.a.
  • These compressed gases are passed through compressor 23, preferably a two stage reciprocating compressor, and a water cooler 24, and are then fed at 1500 p.s.i.a. and about 100 F. via pipe 25 through heat exchanger 2 in which they are cooled to F. and then through heat exchanger 4 in which they are cooled further to 200 F., in both cases by indirect heat exchange with the refrigerants already described.
  • the cold liquefied recycled gas in pipe 26, after passing through heat exchanger 27 is fed via expansion valve 32 and pipe 11 to expansion chamber 12.
  • a part of the compressed recycled gases in pipe may be fed via pipe 33 through heat exchanger 16 in which it is cooled by indirect heat exchange with the efiluent gases from expansion chamber 12 to a temperature of 255" F. and then fed via expansion valve '34 back to expansion chamber 12.
  • the process will tolerate the return of a small proportion of the recycled gases to deeompresison stages prior to the last one; In fact it may be desirable to do this in order to adjust the heat balance around heat exchanger 27, and in the accompanying drawing some of the liquefied recycled gases may be fed via expansion valve to expansion chamber 7.
  • the pressures and temperatures given are merely illustrative and are capable of quite wide variation even when liquefying natural gas.
  • the natural gas was fed into the liquefaction cycle at 1500 p.s.i.a. but in fact any suitable pressure can be employed although generally this will lie between 700 and 1600 -p s.i.a.
  • the product was liquefied natural gas at atmospheric pressure. The product liquefied gas may be required at some higher pressure in some cases and in that case the decompression stages would be such as to take the pressure down to that desired for storage and transport.
  • a method of producing a liquefied gas at a pressure lower than the pressure at which it is liquefied from a compressed gas containing minor proportions of a lower boiling gas which comprises:
  • step (e) liquefying the recompressed gases from step (d) by indirect heat exchange with at least one rcfrigerant
  • step (d) is liquefied by heat exchange with the cold gas vented from the system and the liquid is passed to the last decompression stage.
  • gas is natural gas consisting mainly of methane containing minor proportions of other gases, including nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
  • step (a) A method as claimed in claim 4, in which the natural gas is at the pressure of between 700 and 1600 p.s.i.a. when fed to step (a) and the product is liquefied natural gas at substantially atmospheric pressure.
  • a method of producing a liquefied gas at a pressure lower than the pressure at which it is liquefied from a compressed gas containing minor proportions of a lower boiling gas which comprises:
  • step (e) feeding a minor proportion of the recompressed gases from step (d) after partial refrigeration, into one of the decompression stages,
  • step (f) liquefying a major proportion of the recompressed gases from step (d) by indirect heat exchange with a plurality of refrigerants in series, the last of which is a stream of the liquefied gas taken from one of the decompression stages, which stream has been compressed and which is, after use as a refrigerant, returned to an earlier decompression stage, and
  • a method as claimed in claim 8 in which there are at least three decompression stages, the gaseous phase from each of the decompression stages intermediate the first and last, is compressed to a pressure equal to the pressure of the efiiuent gas from the previous dccompression stage and is fed into that efiiuent gas.
  • a method as claimed in claim 8 in which a part of the recompressed gas from step (d) is liquefied by heat exchange with the cold gas vented from the system and the liquid is passed to the last decompression stage.
  • a method of producing liquefied natural gas at a pressure lower than the pressure at which it is liquefied from compressed natural gas containing minor proportions of nitrogen which comprises:
  • step (e) feeding a minor proportion of the recompressed gases from step (d) after partial refrigeration, into one of the decompression stages,
  • step (f) liquefying a major proportion of the recompressed gases from step (d) by indirect heat exchange with a plurality of refrigerants in series, the last of which is a stream of the liquefied gas taken from one of the decompression stages, which stream has been compressed and which is, after use as a refrigerant, returned to an earlier decompression stage, and
  • a method of producing a liquefied gas at a pressure lower than the pressure at which it is liquefied from a compressed gas containing minor proportions of a lower boiling gas which comprises:
  • step (d) liquefying the recompressed gases from step (d) by indirect heat exchange with at least one refrigerant
  • step (h) using a plurality of refrigerants in series in step (e), the last of which refrigerants is the compressed stream of liquefied gas of step (g),
  • a method of producing a liquefied gas at a pressure lower than the pressure at which it is liquefied from a compressed gas containing minor proportions of a lower boiling gas which comprises:
  • step (e) liquefying the recompressed gases from step (d) by indirect heat exchange with at least one refrigerant

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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)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Emergency Medicine (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
US114199A 1960-08-03 1961-06-01 Liquefaction of gases Expired - Lifetime US3257813A (en)

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Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3331214A (en) * 1965-03-22 1967-07-18 Conch Int Methane Ltd Method for liquefying and storing natural gas and controlling the b.t.u. content
US3343374A (en) * 1964-12-16 1967-09-26 Conch Int Methane Ltd Liquid nitrogen production
US3360945A (en) * 1965-02-25 1968-01-02 Lummus Co Repressurized natural gas addition to main gas stream to maintain well head pressure
US3413817A (en) * 1964-04-10 1968-12-03 Lummus Co Liquefaction of natural gas at supercritical pressure employing a single refrigeration cycle
US3489678A (en) * 1966-11-28 1970-01-13 Phillips Petroleum Co Precluding liquid from a compressing zone
US4012212A (en) * 1975-07-07 1977-03-15 The Lummus Company Process and apparatus for liquefying natural gas
US6112528A (en) * 1998-12-18 2000-09-05 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Process for unloading pressurized liquefied natural gas from containers
WO2000077466A1 (en) * 1999-06-15 2000-12-21 Exxonmobil Oil Corporation Process and system for liquefying natural gas
US6202707B1 (en) 1998-12-18 2001-03-20 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Method for displacing pressurized liquefied gas from containers
US6257017B1 (en) 1998-12-18 2001-07-10 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Process for producing a displacement gas to unload pressurized liquefied gas from containers
US20120096895A1 (en) * 2010-10-26 2012-04-26 Kirtikumar Natubhai Patel Process for separating and recovering NGLs from hydrocarbon streams
WO2014048864A2 (en) 2012-09-28 2014-04-03 Solvay Sa Process for producing liquefied impure ethylene
WO2017021275A1 (en) * 2015-07-31 2017-02-09 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Method and apparatus for partially solidifying a methane comprising stream

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1054489A (es) * 1964-07-15

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US1574119A (en) * 1924-02-21 1926-02-23 Seligmann Arthur Method for the liquefaction and separation of gases with the aid of external work
US2145130A (en) * 1936-06-12 1939-01-24 Gustave T Reich Cooling liquefied gases
US2258749A (en) * 1938-06-04 1941-10-14 Polymerization Process Corp Treatment of hydrocarbon fluids
US2500118A (en) * 1945-08-18 1950-03-07 Howell C Cooper Natural gas liquefaction
US2500129A (en) * 1944-08-29 1950-03-07 Clark Bros Co Inc Liquefaction system
US2712738A (en) * 1952-01-10 1955-07-12 Linde S Eismaschinen Ag Method for fractionating air by liquefaction and rectification
US2811843A (en) * 1954-05-07 1957-11-05 Constock Liquid Methane Corp Method of liquefying natural gas at casing head pressure
US2812646A (en) * 1949-08-04 1957-11-12 Lee S Twomey Manipulation of nitrogen-contaminated natural gases
US2896414A (en) * 1955-09-12 1959-07-28 Constock Liquid Methane Corp Methane liquefaction cycle
US2900797A (en) * 1956-05-25 1959-08-25 Kurata Fred Separation of normally gaseous acidic components and methane
US2901326A (en) * 1955-12-22 1959-08-25 Kurata Fred Separation of hydrogen sulfide and methane
US2973834A (en) * 1958-08-12 1961-03-07 Hydrocarbon Research Inc Hydrocarbon recovery from natural gas
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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1574119A (en) * 1924-02-21 1926-02-23 Seligmann Arthur Method for the liquefaction and separation of gases with the aid of external work
US2145130A (en) * 1936-06-12 1939-01-24 Gustave T Reich Cooling liquefied gases
US2258749A (en) * 1938-06-04 1941-10-14 Polymerization Process Corp Treatment of hydrocarbon fluids
US2500129A (en) * 1944-08-29 1950-03-07 Clark Bros Co Inc Liquefaction system
US2500118A (en) * 1945-08-18 1950-03-07 Howell C Cooper Natural gas liquefaction
US2812646A (en) * 1949-08-04 1957-11-12 Lee S Twomey Manipulation of nitrogen-contaminated natural gases
US2712738A (en) * 1952-01-10 1955-07-12 Linde S Eismaschinen Ag Method for fractionating air by liquefaction and rectification
US2811843A (en) * 1954-05-07 1957-11-05 Constock Liquid Methane Corp Method of liquefying natural gas at casing head pressure
US2896414A (en) * 1955-09-12 1959-07-28 Constock Liquid Methane Corp Methane liquefaction cycle
US2901326A (en) * 1955-12-22 1959-08-25 Kurata Fred Separation of hydrogen sulfide and methane
US2900797A (en) * 1956-05-25 1959-08-25 Kurata Fred Separation of normally gaseous acidic components and methane
US2996891A (en) * 1957-09-23 1961-08-22 Conch Int Methane Ltd Natural gas liquefaction cycle
US3020723A (en) * 1957-11-25 1962-02-13 Conch Int Methane Ltd Method and apparatus for liquefaction of natural gas
US2973834A (en) * 1958-08-12 1961-03-07 Hydrocarbon Research Inc Hydrocarbon recovery from natural gas

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3413817A (en) * 1964-04-10 1968-12-03 Lummus Co Liquefaction of natural gas at supercritical pressure employing a single refrigeration cycle
US3343374A (en) * 1964-12-16 1967-09-26 Conch Int Methane Ltd Liquid nitrogen production
US3360945A (en) * 1965-02-25 1968-01-02 Lummus Co Repressurized natural gas addition to main gas stream to maintain well head pressure
US3331214A (en) * 1965-03-22 1967-07-18 Conch Int Methane Ltd Method for liquefying and storing natural gas and controlling the b.t.u. content
US3489678A (en) * 1966-11-28 1970-01-13 Phillips Petroleum Co Precluding liquid from a compressing zone
US4012212A (en) * 1975-07-07 1977-03-15 The Lummus Company Process and apparatus for liquefying natural gas
US6202707B1 (en) 1998-12-18 2001-03-20 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Method for displacing pressurized liquefied gas from containers
US6112528A (en) * 1998-12-18 2000-09-05 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Process for unloading pressurized liquefied natural gas from containers
US6257017B1 (en) 1998-12-18 2001-07-10 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Process for producing a displacement gas to unload pressurized liquefied gas from containers
WO2000077466A1 (en) * 1999-06-15 2000-12-21 Exxonmobil Oil Corporation Process and system for liquefying natural gas
US6324867B1 (en) 1999-06-15 2001-12-04 Exxonmobil Oil Corporation Process and system for liquefying natural gas
AU766658B2 (en) * 1999-06-15 2003-10-23 Exxonmobil Oil Corporation Process and system for liquefying natural gas
US20120096895A1 (en) * 2010-10-26 2012-04-26 Kirtikumar Natubhai Patel Process for separating and recovering NGLs from hydrocarbon streams
US9175905B2 (en) * 2010-10-26 2015-11-03 Kirtikumar Natubhai Patel Process for separating and recovering NGLs from hydrocarbon streams
KR101900773B1 (ko) 2010-10-26 2018-09-20 키르티쿠마르 나투브하이 파텔 탄화수소 스트림으로부터 ngl을 분리 및 회수하기 위한 공정
WO2014048864A2 (en) 2012-09-28 2014-04-03 Solvay Sa Process for producing liquefied impure ethylene
WO2014048864A3 (en) * 2012-09-28 2015-07-16 Solvay Sa Process for producing liquefied impure ethylene
WO2017021275A1 (en) * 2015-07-31 2017-02-09 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Method and apparatus for partially solidifying a methane comprising stream

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GB883656A (en) 1961-12-06
NL265417A (es)

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