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Method and apparatus for producing liquified natural gas

  • US 6,269,656 B1
  • Filed: 09/18/1998
  • Issued: 08/07/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for converting a fraction of natural gas from a source to liquid natural gas comprising the steps of providing a source of pressurized, cool, clean natural gas, splitting said natural gas into first and second portions, causing said first portion to pass through at least a first heat exchanger to cool said first gas portion, causing said first gas portion to pass through a restriction into a liquid natural gas collector wherein a part of said first gas portion flashes to liquid natural gas, the remainder comprising a very cold saturated natural gas, venting said remainder through said at least first heat exchanger to serve as a cooling medium therefor, directing said second portion of said cleansed natural gas to an expander, expanding said second portion by extracting expander work, combining said cooled and expanded second portion with said vent remainder prior to passage thereof through said at least first heat exchanger, thereafter conducting said combined vent remainder of said first gas portion and said second gas portion to a receiver, and assuring that said combined vent remainder of said first gas portion and said second gas portion are at a pressure equal or greater than the pressure in said receiver.

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