Liquefaction Method and System
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for liquefaction using a closed loop refrigeration system, the method comprising the steps of (a) compressing a gaseous refrigerant stream in at least one compressor; (b) cooling the compressed gaseous refrigerant stream in a first heat exchanger; (c) expanding at least a first portion of the cooled, compressed gaseous refrigerant stream from the first heat exchanger in a first expander to provide a first expanded gaseous refrigerant stream; and (d) cooling and substantially liquefying a feed gas stream to form a substantially liquefied feed gas stream in a second heat exchanger through indirect heat exchange against at least a first portion of the first expanded gaseous refrigerant stream from the first expander, wherein the first expanded gaseous refrigerant stream exiting the first expander is substantially vapor.
26 Citations
60 Claims
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1-48. -48. (canceled)
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49. A method of liquefaction using a closed loop refrigeration system, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) compressing a gaseous refrigerant stream in at least one compressor; (b) cooling at least a portion of the compressed gaseous refrigerant stream in a first heat exchanger; (c) expanding a first portion of the cooled, compressed gaseous refrigerant stream from the first heat exchanger in a first expander to provide a first expanded gaseous refrigerant stream; (d) cooling and substantially liquefying a feed gas stream to form a substantially liquefied feed gas stream in a second heat exchanger through indirect heat exchange against a first portion of the first expanded gaseous refrigerant stream from the first expander; and (e) further cooling a second portion of the cooled, compressed gaseous refrigerant stream from the first heat exchanger in a third heat exchanger by indirect heat exchange with a second portion of the first expanded gaseous refrigerant stream from the first expander, wherein the first expanded gaseous refrigerant stream exiting the first expander is substantially vapor, and wherein the first heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger may be combined into one heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification