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Hybrid gas liquefaction cycle with multiple expanders

  • US 7,127,914 B2
  • Filed: 09/17/2003
  • Issued: 10/31/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for gas liquefaction comprising:

  • (a) cooling a feed gas in a first heat exchange zone by indirect heat exchange with one or more refrigerant streams provided in a first refrigeration system, and withdrawing a substantially liquefied stream from the first heat exchange zone;

    (b) further cooling the substantially liquefied stream in a second heat exchange zone by indirect heat exchange with one or more work-expanded refrigerant streams provided by a second refrigeration system and withdrawing a further cooled, substantially liquefied stream from the second heat exchange zone; and

    (c) work expanding two or more cooled compressed refrigerant streams in the second refrigeration system to provide at least one of the one or more work-expanded refrigerant streams in the second heat exchange zone, wherein the operation of the second refrigeration system includes the steps of(1) compressing one or more refrigerant gases to provide a compressed refrigerant stream;

    (2) cooling all or a portion of the compressed refrigerant stream in a third heat exchange zone to provide a cooled, compressed refrigerant stream; and

    (3) work expanding the cooled, compressed refrigerant stream to provide one of the one or more work-expanded refrigerant streams;

    wherein the flow rate of a work-expanded refrigerant stream in the second heat exchange zone is less than the total flow rate of one or more work-expanded refrigerant streams in the third heat exchange zone.

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