System And Method For Natural Gas Liquefaction
First Claim
1. A liquefied natural gas (LNG) production system, comprising:
- a main cryogenic heat exchanger;
a natural gas liquefaction subsystem; and
a refrigeration subsystem comprising a plurality of refrigerant compressors configured into a series arrangement to perform multi-stage compressions of a refrigerant, a plurality of aftercoolers each of which being coupled to each of the plurality of refrigerant compressors to cool the compressed refrigerant, a plurality of turboexpanders coupled to the last aftercooler and configured into a series configuration to perform multi-stage expansions of the compressed refrigerant, and a plurality of refrigerant heat exchange means coupled to both the first of the plurality of refrigerant compressors and the last of the plurality of turboexpanders, so that all components form a close refrigeration cycle;
wherein the main cryogenic heat exchanger facilitates heat exchange between a pressurized natural gas passing through the natural gas liquefaction subsystem and a refrigerant passing through the refrigeration subsystem so that the pressurized natural gas in the natural gas liquefaction subsystem is liquefied by the refrigerant in the refrigeration subsystem.
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Abstract
The present invention provides an LNG production system and method with improved refrigeration. The refrigeration is achieved by a refrigeration device comprising a plurality of refrigerant compressors (11, 13, 15, 17) configured into a series arrangement to perform multi-stage compressions of a refrigerant, a plurality of aftercoolers (12, 14, 16, 18) each of which being coupled to each of the plurality of refrigerant compressors to cool the compressed refrigerant, a plurality of turboexpanders (19, 20) coupled to the last aftercooler (18) and configured into a series configuration to perform multi-stage expansions of the compressed refrigerant, and a plurality of refrigerant heat exchange means (33, 34) coupled to both the first (11) of the plurality of refrigerant compressors and the last (20) of the plurality of turboexpanders, so that all components form a close refrigeration cycle.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A liquefied natural gas (LNG) production system, comprising:
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a main cryogenic heat exchanger; a natural gas liquefaction subsystem; and a refrigeration subsystem comprising a plurality of refrigerant compressors configured into a series arrangement to perform multi-stage compressions of a refrigerant, a plurality of aftercoolers each of which being coupled to each of the plurality of refrigerant compressors to cool the compressed refrigerant, a plurality of turboexpanders coupled to the last aftercooler and configured into a series configuration to perform multi-stage expansions of the compressed refrigerant, and a plurality of refrigerant heat exchange means coupled to both the first of the plurality of refrigerant compressors and the last of the plurality of turboexpanders, so that all components form a close refrigeration cycle; wherein the main cryogenic heat exchanger facilitates heat exchange between a pressurized natural gas passing through the natural gas liquefaction subsystem and a refrigerant passing through the refrigeration subsystem so that the pressurized natural gas in the natural gas liquefaction subsystem is liquefied by the refrigerant in the refrigeration subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for producing liquefied natural gas by means of a single phase gaseous refrigerant in a close loop, comprising
providing a main cryogenic heat exchanger in which heat exchange occurs; -
providing a pressurized natural gas stream that flows through the main cryogenic heat exchanger to get liquefied; and providing cold energy to the main cryogenic heat exchanger by a refrigeration device;
wherein the refrigeration device comprises a plurality of refrigerant compressors configured into a series arrangement to perform multi-stage compressions of a refrigerant, a plurality of aftercoolers each of which being coupled to each of the plurality of refrigerant compressors to cool the compressed refrigerant, a plurality of turboexpanders coupled to the last aftercooler and configured into a series configuration to perform multi-stage expansions of the compressed refrigerant, and a plurality of refrigerant heat exchange means coupled to both the first of the plurality of refrigerant compressors and the last of the plurality of turboexpanders, so that all components form a close refrigeration cycle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification