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Self-refrigerated LNG process

  • US 6,564,578 B1
  • Filed: 01/18/2002
  • Issued: 05/20/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A process for producing LNG, comprising:

  • (a) directing a feed stream comprising natural gas to a cooling stage, the cooling stage comprising the steps of;

    (i) cooling the feed stream in at least one cooling step producing a cooled feed stream;

    (ii) expanding the cooled feed stream in at least one expansion step by reducing the pressure of the cooled feed stream producing a refrigerated vapor component and a liquid component; and

    (iii) separating at least a portion of the refrigerated vapor component from the liquid component; and

    (b) repeating step (a) one or more times until at least a substantial portion of the feed stream in the first cooling stage is processed into LNG wherein the feed stream comprises at least a portion of the liquid component from step (iii) of a previous cooling stage;

    wherein at least a portion of the cooling for step (i) in at least one cooling stage is derived from at least a portion of the refrigerated vapor component produced in at least one cooling stage.

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