Mixed Refrigerant Compression Circuit
First Claim
1. A refrigerant circuit for use in a liquefaction plant, the refrigerant circuit comprising:
- a first compression stage for compressing a mixed refrigerant gas from a first pressure to a second pressure, the first compression stage comprising at least a first compressor body and a second parallel compressor body, each compressor body including a suction inlet and an outlet;
a first distribution means for splitting the mass flow of refrigerant gas to the first stage of compression across the at least two parallel compressor bodies, such that a first stream of refrigerant gas is fed to the suction inlet of the first compressor body and a second stream of refrigerant gas is fed to the suction inlet of the second compressor body;
a second compression stage for compressing the mixed refrigerant gas from the second pressure to a third pressure, the second compression stage comprising a single compressor body; and
a first merging means for recombining the first stream of refrigerant gas with the second stream of refrigerant gas to form a combined stream downstream of the first compression stage for delivery to the single compressor body of the second compression stage.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A refrigerant circuit includes a first compression stage for compressing a mixed refrigerant gas, the first compression stage including at least a first compressor body and a second parallel compressor body, each compressor body including a suction inlet and an outlet, a first distribution means for splitting the flow of refrigerant gas to the first stage of compression across the at least two parallel compressor bodies, such that a first stream of refrigerant gas is fed to the suction inlet of the first compressor body and a second stream of refrigerant gas is fed to the suction inlet of the second compressor body, a second compression stage for compressing the mixed refrigerant gas, and a first merging means for recombining the first stream of refrigerant gas with the second stream of refrigerant gas downstream of the first compression stage for delivery to the second compression stage.
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A refrigerant circuit for use in a liquefaction plant, the refrigerant circuit comprising:
-
a first compression stage for compressing a mixed refrigerant gas from a first pressure to a second pressure, the first compression stage comprising at least a first compressor body and a second parallel compressor body, each compressor body including a suction inlet and an outlet; a first distribution means for splitting the mass flow of refrigerant gas to the first stage of compression across the at least two parallel compressor bodies, such that a first stream of refrigerant gas is fed to the suction inlet of the first compressor body and a second stream of refrigerant gas is fed to the suction inlet of the second compressor body; a second compression stage for compressing the mixed refrigerant gas from the second pressure to a third pressure, the second compression stage comprising a single compressor body; and a first merging means for recombining the first stream of refrigerant gas with the second stream of refrigerant gas to form a combined stream downstream of the first compression stage for delivery to the single compressor body of the second compression stage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for cooling, preferably liquefying, a hydrocarbon stream, wherein the hydrocarbon stream to be cooled by indirect heat exchange with an evaporating refrigerant, and the evaporated refrigerant is cooled using a refrigerant circuit, the method comprising:
-
compressing a mixed refrigerant gas from a first pressure to a second pressure in a first compression stage, the first compression stage comprising at least a first compressor body and a second parallel compressor body, each compressor body including a suction inlet and an outlet; splitting the mass flow of refrigerant gas to the first stage of compression across the at least two parallel compressor bodies, such that a first stream of refrigerant gas is fed to the suction inlet of the first compressor body and a second stream of refrigerant gas is fed to the suction inlet of the second compressor body; compressing the mixed refrigerant gas from the second pressure to a third pressure in a second compression stage, the second compression stage comprising a single compressor body; and recombining the first stream of refrigerant gas with the second stream of refrigerant gas to form a combined stream downstream of the first compression stage for delivery to the single compressor body of the second compression stage. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
Specification