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Process and apparatus to produce a small scale LNG stream from an existing NGL expander plant demethanizer

  • US 5,600,969 A
  • Filed: 12/18/1995
  • Issued: 02/11/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A process for producing liquefied natural gas at a natural gas expander plant comprising(a) withdrawing a methane-rich side stream from the gas overhead stream at the demethanizer;

  • (b) expanding said side stream by flowing through a turbo expander thereby producing energy and a two-phase stream;

    (c) splitting said two-phase stream into a first stream and a second stream;

    (d) flowing said first stream and a condensible refrigerant vapor stream to a condenser wherein said first stream functions via indirect heat exchange as a coolant thereby condensing at least a portion of the condensible refrigerant stream and producing a liquid-bearing refrigerant stream and a warmed first stream;

    (e) flashing said refrigerant stream of step (d) thereby creating a flashed refrigerant stream;

    (f) flowing the second stream and at least a portion of the flashed refrigerant stream into an indirect heat exchange means thereby condensing at least a portion of the second stream and producing an LNG-bearing stream and a refrigerant vapor stream.

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