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
  • F25J1/0032—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"
  • F25J1/0042—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 liquid expansion with extraction of work
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
  • F25J1/0047—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle
  • F25J1/0052—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
  • F25J1/003—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
  • F25J1/0057—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 after expansion of the liquid refrigerant stream with extraction of work
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/02—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
  • F25J1/0214—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 dual level refrigeration cascade with at least one MCR cycle
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
  • F25J1/0228—Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes
  • F25J1/0235—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
  • F25J1/0239—Purification or treatment step being integrated between two refrigeration cycles of a refrigeration cascade, i.e. first cycle providing feed gas cooling and second cycle providing overhead gas cooling
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
  • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
  • F25J1/0279—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc.
  • F25J1/0281—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc. characterised by the type of prime driver, e.g. hot gas expander
  • F25J1/0283—Gas turbine as the prime mechanical driver
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
  • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
  • F25J1/0279—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc.
  • F25J1/0285—Combination of different types of drivers mechanically coupled to the same refrigerant compressor, possibly split on multiple compressor casings
  • F25J1/0287—Combination of different types of drivers mechanically coupled to the same refrigerant compressor, possibly split on multiple compressor casings including an electrical motor
• • 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.
  • F25J1/0292—Refrigerant compression by cold or cryogenic suction of the refrigerant 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
  • F25J1/02—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.
  • F25J1/0295—Shifting of the compression load between different cooling stages within a refrigerant cycle or within a cascade refrigeration system
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
  • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
  • F25J1/0279—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc.
  • F25J1/0296—Removal of the heat of compression, e.g. within an inter- or afterstage-cooler against an ambient heat sink
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • 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.
  • F25J1/0298—Safety aspects and control of the refrigerant compression system, e.g. anti-surge control
• • 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
  • F25J2220/64—Separating heavy hydrocarbons, e.g. NGL, LPG, C4+ hydrocarbons or heavy condensates in general
• • 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

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich stream, in particular a natural gas stream, the liquefaction of the hydrocarbon-rich stream against one of two
• Refrigerant mixture circuits existing refrigerant mixture circuit cascade takes place, the first refrigerant mixture circuit for pre-cooling and the second refrigerant mixture circuit for the liquefaction and subcooling of the hydrocarbon-rich stream to be liquefied, and each
• Refrigerant mixture circuit has at least one single-stage or multi-stage compressor driven by at least one gas turbine, starters which can be used during normal operation to support the gas turbines being assigned to the gas turbines.
• pre-cooling is understood below to mean the cooling of the hydrocarbon-rich stream to be liquefied to a temperature at which the separation of heavy or higher-boiling hydrocarbons takes place.
• the subsequent, further cooling of the hydrocarbon-rich stream to be liquefied subsequently falls under the term "liquefaction”.
• Heavy hydrocarbons are contained in the natural gas stream to be liquefied, these are separated between the pre-cooling and the liquefaction and drawn off as a so-called NGL (Natural Gas Liquids) fraction and possibly further processed.
• Heavy or higher-boiling hydrocarbons are those components of the hydrocarbon-rich stream or natural gas to be liquefied that would freeze out during the subsequent cooling and liquefaction - i.e. C 5+ hydrocarbons and aromatics. Often, those hydrocarbons are also used - this means in particular Propane and butane - which would undesirably increase the calorific value of the liquefied natural gas, are separated before liquefaction.
• HHC heavy hydrocarbon HHC heavy hydrocarbon
• scrub column This separation of higher-boiling hydrocarbons usually takes place by providing a so-called HHC heavy hydrocarbon) column or scrub column, which is used to separate the heavy hydrocarbons and benzene from the hydrocarbon-rich stream to be liquefied.
• HHC heavy hydrocarbon HHC heavy hydrocarbon
• the cycle compressors are usually driven by gas turbines. These in turn are usually put into operation by electric or steam-powered starters. Since such starters often have to provide a noteworthy power - 20 to 40% of the gas turbine power - during normal operation they are used as so-called helpers to support the gas turbines. Larger gas turbines are only available on the market in discrete power levels with comparatively large jumps in performance. The starter or helper performance is limited in relation to the gas turbine performance in order to avoid synchronization problems.
• the first or pre-cooling circuit typically requires about 40 to 55% of the total energy.
• the power requirement of the pre-cooling circuit is also often less than that of the second or liquefaction circuit.
• helper This asymmetry can be compensated for by using the helper differently. For example, if the power distribution between the first and the second refrigerant mixture circuits is 45% to 55% and both refrigerant mixture circuits each have a gas turbine with an output of 70 MW and a helper with an output of 20 MW, the helper will be the first Refrigeration circuit operated only with 4 instead of the possible 20 MW. Much of this helper's investment remains unused during normal liquefaction.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a generic method for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich stream, in which the installed power of the gas turbines and starter / helper can be fully utilized in normal operation. Furthermore, the investment and operating costs of the gas turbines and starters / helper used should be reduced or optimized, in particular the use of identical gas turbines and starter / helper should be made possible.
• the second refrigerant mixture circuit has a cold-suction compressor with a pressure ratio of at least 10
• the first refrigerant mixture circuit is at least partially used for the intermediate cooling of at least a partial flow of the partially compressed refrigerant mixture flow of the second refrigerant mixture circuit.
• the hydrocarbon-rich stream to be liquefied is fed via line a to a heat exchanger E1.
• the hydrocarbon-rich stream to be liquefied is cooled to such an extent that the heavy or higher-boiling hydrocarbons contained therein condense and can be separated from the hydrocarbon-rich stream in the separation unit H, to which the cooled process stream is fed via line b.
• the separated hydrocarbons are withdrawn via line c and possibly used for a further use. It should be emphasized that the process according to the invention can be combined with all known separation methods for higher-boiling hydrocarbons which are part of the prior art.
• the hydrocarbon-rich stream which is now freed of higher-boiling hydrocarbons, is fed via line d to a second heat exchanger E2, in which it is liquefied and supercooled against the refrigerant mixture of the second refrigerant mixture circuit.
• the liquefied and supercooled hydrocarbon-rich stream is withdrawn from the heat exchanger E2 via line e, optionally expanded in a expansion turbine T1 and then immediately fed to a further use or (intermediate) storage via valve f and line g.
• the refrigerant mixture compressed in the compressor V1 is fed via line 10 to a condenser E3 and then via line 11 to the heat exchanger E1 and supercooled therein.
• the heat exchanger E1 there is a separation into three refrigerant mixture partial flows 12, 15 and 18.
• the valves 13, 16 and 19 these are expanded to different pressure levels and, after renewed passage and evaporation in the heat exchanger E1, via lines 14, 17 and 20 to the compressor V1 different pressure levels supplied.
• the compressor V1 is driven by a gas turbine G1. Not shown in the figure are the starters required for the operation of the gas turbines G1 and G2, as already explained at the beginning.
• the compressed refrigerant mixture of the second refrigerant mixture circuit is first fed via line 30 to an aftercooler E4 and then via line 31 to the heat exchanger E1 and is cooled and condensed therein. Then the liquefied
• the mixed refrigerant stream is fed via line 32 to the heat exchanger E2, further subcooled in it, after passage through the heat exchanger E2 in the optional expansion turbine T2, and then fed to an expansion valve 34 via line 33 and expanded in the latter. Then the second refrigerant mixture partial flow after evaporation in the heat exchanger E2 via line 35 to the input stage of the circuit compressor V2.
• the heat exchanger E2 can be designed as a wound heat exchanger or a plate exchanger. If the hydrocarbon-rich stream to be liquefied is liquefied and supercooled in a plate exchanger, the refrigerant mixture 28 of the second refrigerant mixture circuit can be vaporized in an increasing or decreasing manner, in accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention.
• the aforementioned circuit compressor V2 which according to the invention is a cold-suction compressor which has a pressure ratio of at least 10, is also driven by a gas turbine G2, which is assigned a starter / helper (not shown in the figure).
• a partially compressed refrigerant mixture stream is now withdrawn via line 36 from an intermediate stage of the circuit compressor V2, subjected to aftercooling E5 and then at least partially fed to the heat exchanger E1 via line 39 and intercooled in the latter against the first cooling circuit.
• the intercooled, partially compressed refrigerant mixture stream is then fed back via line 40 to a suitable intermediate pressure stage of the compressor V2 and compressed to the desired final pressure.
• the use of the first refrigeration circuit for the intermediate cooling of the second refrigeration circuit relieves the latter at the expense of the first refrigeration circuit, since the compressor output of the compressor V2 in its high-pressure part falls in line 40 in proportion to the now reduced suction temperature of the intercooled refrigerant flow. According to the invention, it is now possible to shift the compressor outputs up to the same output between the two compressors V1 and V2 and their associated starters / helpers.
• the optimal choice of the above-described intermediate cooling is determined by the dew point of the refrigerant mixture selected for the second refrigeration circuit at the selected intermediate pressure at which the refrigerant mixture is drawn off. Ideally, the entire refrigerant mixture of the second refrigeration circuit is used of the first refrigeration circuit cooled until the output of both circuit drives V1 and V2 is equal.
• the fact that the first refrigerant mixture circuit is now used for intermediate cooling of the second refrigerant mixture circuit means that the installed capacity of identical gas turbines and starters / helpers can be used in full.
• the starter / helper of the second refrigeration circuit can now also be operated with an output of 20 MW.
• the usable installed power increases from 164 MW to 180 MW due to the inventive method.
• the system performance can be increased by approx. 10%.
• the temperature of the intermediate cooling E1 of at least one partial flow of the partially compressed refrigerant mixture flow 36, 39 of the second refrigerant mixture circuit is influenced by the fact that the intermediate cooled partial flow is subtracted from the intermediate cooling E1 at different temperature levels - represented by the dotted in the figure drawn line 21 - and / or the partial flow of the partially compressed refrigerant mixture flow 37 which is not supplied to the intermediate cooling E1 and which is expanded in the valve 38 to the inlet pressure - which is fed to the subsequent compressor stages.
• the desired suction temperature of the high-pressure part of the compressor V2 can now be set.

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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)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)

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Citations (5)

• 2004
  • 2004-03-09 DE DE102004011483A patent/DE102004011483A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2005
  • 2005-02-25 RU RU2006129467/06A patent/RU2358213C2/ru active
  • 2005-02-25 WO PCT/EP2005/002019 patent/WO2005090886A1/de active Application Filing
  • 2005-02-25 AU AU2005224308A patent/AU2005224308B2/en active Active
• 2006
  • 2006-09-05 EG EGNA2006000830 patent/EG24721A/xx active
  • 2006-10-06 NO NO20064557A patent/NO20064557L/no not_active Application Discontinuation

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