Method and apparatus for liquefying a hydrocarbon stream
First Claim
1. A method of liquefying a hydrocarbon stream from a feed stream, the method at least comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a feed stream;
(b) dividing the feed stream of step (a) to provide at least a first feed stream comprising at least 90% of the mass of the initial feed stream, and a second feed stream;
(c) liquefying the first feed stream of step b) in a first heat exchanger at a pressure between 20 bar and 100 bar to provide a first liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream;
(d) cooling the second feed stream of step b) in a second heat exchanger to provide a cooled feed stream;
(e) combining the first LNG stream of step (c) with the cooled feed stream of step (d) to provide a combined LNG stream consisting essentially of liquid;
(f) reducing the pressure of the combined LNG stream of step (e) by passing the combined LNG stream consisting essentially of liquid through an expander that creates work energy for use elsewhere in the method; and
(g) passing the combined LNG stream of step (f) through a flash vessel to provide a product LNG stream and a gaseous stream that is used in the method without recycling to the feed stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of liquefying a hydrocarbon stream such as natural gas from a feed stream, the method at least comprising the steps of: (a) providing a feed stream (10); (b) dividing the feed stream (10) of step (a) to provide at least a first feed stream (20) comprising at least 90 mass % of the initial feed stream (10), and a second feed stream (30); (c) liquefying the first feed stream (20) of step (b) at a pressure between 20-100 bar to provide a first liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream (40); (d) cooling the second feed stream (30) of step (b) to provide a cooled feed stream (50); (e) combining the first LNG stream (40) of step (c) with the cooled feed stream (50) of step (d) to provide a combined LNG stream (60); (f) reducing the pressure of the combined LNG stream (60) of step (e); and (g) passing the combined LNG stream (60) of step (f) through a flash vessel (12) to provide a product LNG stream (70) and a gaseous stream (80).
43 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of liquefying a hydrocarbon stream from a feed stream, the method at least comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a feed stream; (b) dividing the feed stream of step (a) to provide at least a first feed stream comprising at least 90% of the mass of the initial feed stream, and a second feed stream; (c) liquefying the first feed stream of step b) in a first heat exchanger at a pressure between 20 bar and 100 bar to provide a first liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream; (d) cooling the second feed stream of step b) in a second heat exchanger to provide a cooled feed stream; (e) combining the first LNG stream of step (c) with the cooled feed stream of step (d) to provide a combined LNG stream consisting essentially of liquid; (f) reducing the pressure of the combined LNG stream of step (e) by passing the combined LNG stream consisting essentially of liquid through an expander that creates work energy for use elsewhere in the method; and (g) passing the combined LNG stream of step (f) through a flash vessel to provide a product LNG stream and a gaseous stream that is used in the method without recycling to the feed stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for producing a liquefied hydrocarbon gas from a feed stream, the apparatus at least comprising:
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a stream splitter configured to divide the feed stream into at least a first feed stream comprising at least 90% of the mass of the initial feed stream, and a second feed stream; a liquefying system including at least a first heat exchanger configured to liquefy the first feed stream at a pressure between 20 bar and 100 bar to provide a first liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream; a second heat exchanger configured to at least partly cool the second feed stream to provide a cooled feed stream; a combiner configured to combine the first LNG stream and the cooled feed stream so as to provide a combined LNG stream consisting essentially of liquid; an expander configured to reduce the pressure of the combined LNG stream thereby creating work energy for use elsewhere in the apparatus; and a flash vessel configured to provide a product LNG stream and a gaseous stream for use in the apparatus without recycling to the feed stream. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification