METHODS OF NATURAL GAS LIQUEFACTION AND NATURAL GAS LIQUEFACTION PLANTS UTILIZING MULTIPLE AND VARYING GAS STREAMS
First Claim
1. A method of natural gas liquefaction, comprising:
- directing a gaseous natural gas process stream and a cooling stream into a plant;
cooling the gaseous natural gas process stream by transferring heat from the gaseous natural gas process stream to the cooling stream;
expanding the cooled gaseous natural gas process stream to form a liquid natural gas process stream and a first tail gas stream comprising a gaseous natural gas;
directing the first tail gas stream out of the plant at a first pressure;
separating a secondary liquid natural gas stream from the liquid natural gas process stream and vaporizing the secondary liquid natural gas stream with a heat exchanger to form a second tail gas stream comprising gaseous natural gas; and
directing the second tail gas stream out of the plant at a second pressure, the second pressure different than the first pressure of the first tail gas stream.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of natural gas liquefaction may include cooling a gaseous NG process stream to form a liquid NG process stream. The method may further include directing the first tail gas stream out of a plant at a first pressure and directing a second tail gas stream out of the plant at a second pressure. An additional method of natural gas liquefaction may include separating CO2 from a liquid NG process stream and processing the CO2 to provide a CO2 product stream. Another method of natural gas liquefaction may include combining a marginal gaseous NG process stream with a secondary substantially pure NG stream to provide an improved gaseous NG process stream. Additionally, a NG liquefaction plant may include a first tail gas outlet, and at least a second tail gas outlet, the at least a second tail gas outlet separate from the first tail gas outlet.
110 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of natural gas liquefaction, comprising:
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directing a gaseous natural gas process stream and a cooling stream into a plant; cooling the gaseous natural gas process stream by transferring heat from the gaseous natural gas process stream to the cooling stream; expanding the cooled gaseous natural gas process stream to form a liquid natural gas process stream and a first tail gas stream comprising a gaseous natural gas; directing the first tail gas stream out of the plant at a first pressure; separating a secondary liquid natural gas stream from the liquid natural gas process stream and vaporizing the secondary liquid natural gas stream with a heat exchanger to form a second tail gas stream comprising gaseous natural gas; and directing the second tail gas stream out of the plant at a second pressure, the second pressure different than the first pressure of the first tail gas stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of natural gas liquefaction, the method comprising:
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directing a gaseous natural gas process stream comprising gaseous carbon dioxide (CO2) into a plant; cooling the gaseous natural gas process stream within a heat exchanger; expanding the cooled gaseous natural gas process stream to form a liquid natural gas process stream comprising solid CO2; directing a substantially pure liquid natural gas into a storage tank; separating the CO2 from the liquid natural gas process stream and processing the CO2 to provide a CO2 product stream.
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25. A method of natural gas liquefaction, the method comprising:
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directing a marginal gaseous natural gas process stream comprising at least one impurity into a plant; combining the marginal gaseous natural gas process stream with a secondary substantially pure natural gas stream to provide an improved gaseous natural gas process stream; cooling the improved gaseous natural gas process stream within a heat exchanger; expanding the cooled improved gaseous natural gas process stream to form a liquid natural gas process stream; separating the at least one impurity from the liquid natural gas process stream to provide a substantially pure liquid natural gas process stream; and providing the secondary substantially pure natural gas stream from the substantially pure liquid natural gas process stream.
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26. A natural gas liquefaction plant, comprising:
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a gaseous natural gas process stream inlet; a multi-pass heat exchanger comprising a first channel configured to receive and cool a gaseous natural gas process stream; an expander valve configured to cool at least a portion of the gaseous natural gas process stream to a liquid state; a liquid natural gas outlet; a first tail gas outlet; and at least a second tail gas outlet, the at least a second tail gas outlet separate from the first tail gas outlet. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification