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AU2009201206B2 - Method of liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction - Google Patents
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AU2009201206B2 - Method of liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction - Google Patents

Method of liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2009201206B2
AU2009201206B2 AU2009201206A AU2009201206A AU2009201206B2 AU 2009201206 B2 AU2009201206 B2 AU 2009201206B2 AU 2009201206 A AU2009201206 A AU 2009201206A AU 2009201206 A AU2009201206 A AU 2009201206A AU 2009201206 B2 AU2009201206 B2 AU 2009201206B2
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Australia
Prior art keywords
hydrocarbon
rich fraction
fraction
liquefied
coolant mixture
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AU2009201206A
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AU2009201206A1 (en
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Hans Schmidt
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Linde GmbH
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Linde GmbH
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0022—Hydrocarbons, e.g. natural gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B9/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point
    • F25B9/002—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the refrigerant
    • F25B9/006—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the refrigerant the refrigerant containing more than one component
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
    • F25J1/0047—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/0052—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
    • F25J1/0047—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/0052—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream
    • F25J1/0055—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream originating from an incorporated cascade
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0211—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0211—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/0212—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle as a single flow MCR cycle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0244—Operation; Control and regulation; Instrumentation
    • F25J1/0245—Different modes, i.e. 'runs', of operation; Process control
    • F25J1/0249—Controlling refrigerant inventory, i.e. composition or quantity
    • F25J1/025—Details related to the refrigerant production or treatment, e.g. make-up supply from feed gas itself
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0257—Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J1/0262—Details of the cold heat exchange system
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0279—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc.
    • F25J1/0291—Refrigerant compression by combined gas compression and liquid pumping
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2220/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for the removal of impurities
    • F25J2220/60—Separating impurities from natural gas, e.g. mercury, cyclic hydrocarbons
    • F25J2220/64—Separating heavy hydrocarbons, e.g. NGL, LPG, C4+ hydrocarbons or heavy condensates in general
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2245/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams
    • F25J2245/90—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams the recycled stream being boil-off gas from storage
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/32—Details on header or distribution passages of heat exchangers, e.g. of reboiler-condenser or plate heat exchangers

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)

Abstract

Abstract Method of liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction 5 A method is described of liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, in particular natural gas, wherein the hydro carbon-rich fraction which is to be liquefied is merely cooled and liquefied against a coolant mixture, and the coolant mixture, before its cooling, is separated into 10 a gas phase and a liquid phase. According to the invention the gas (5) and the liquid phases (6) are cooled (E) separately and not until after cooling (E) has been performed are they expanded 15 (a, b) and recombined (8).

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant/s: Linde Aktiengesellschaft Actual Inventor/s: Hans Schmidt Address for Service is: SHELSTON IP 60 Margaret Street Telephone No: (02) 9777 1111 SYDNEY NSW 2000 Facsimile No. (02) 9241 4666 CCN: 3710000352 Attorney Code: SW Invention Title: METHOD OF LIQUEFYING A HYDROCARBON-RICH FRACTION The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: File: 62075AUP00 - la METHOD OF LIQUEFYING A HYDROCARBON-RICH FRACTION The invention relates to a method of liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, in particular natural gas, wherein the hydrocarbon-rich fraction which is to be 5 liquefied is merely cooled and liquefied against a coolant mixture, and the coolant mixture, before its cooling, is separated into a gas phase and a liquid phase. Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an 10 admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field. Methods of the type in question for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction are used, in particular, in the implementation of natural gas liquefaction processes having 15 a liquefaction power of 200 kW to greater than 20 MW. In Figure 1 a method of the type in question which is comparatively of little complexity in engineering for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction is shown. The hydrocarbon-rich fraction which is to be liquefied is 20 fed via line 1' to a heat exchange E' and in this is cooled against a coolant mixture which is conducted via line 8' in countercurrent through the heat exchange E' and liquefied. If necessary, a fraction of heavy hydrocarbons is separated off from the hydrocarbon-rich fraction which is to be 25 liquefied in order to adjust the heating value of the liquefied hydrocarbon-rich fraction, in the case of natural gas liquefaction of the LNG, and/or to prevent these components from freezing out on further lowering of -2 temperature. The liquefied hydrocarbon-rich fraction is subsequently fed via line 2' to its further use. The coolant mixture which is completely vaporized in the cooling and liquefaction of the hydrocarbon-rich fraction 5 is fed via line 3' to a compressor unit V' which is designed as a single stage or multistage compressor unit and in this is compressed to the desired cycle pressure which is customarily in the range between 10 to 80 bar. Subsequently thereto the compressed coolant mixture is fed 10 via line 4' to a separator D' and in this is separated into a gas phase and also a liquid phase. The gas phase is taken off via the line 5' from the top of the separator D' and fed to the heat exchanger E'. The liquid phase which is taken off from the bottom of the 15 separator D' via line 6' is likewise fed upstream of the heat exchanger E' by means of the pump P' and mixed directly in the inlet to the heat exchanger E' with the gas phase which is fed via line 5'. The gas and liquid phases which are mixed with one another 20 are passed via line 7' through the heat exchanger E' and cooled. In the expansion valve a' a cold-producing expansion is then performed, before the expanded coolant mixture is again passed through the heat exchanger E' via the abovementioned line 8'. 25 This mixing of gas and liquid phases immediately before entry into the heat exchanger E' is thus useful since it enables the use of a structurally simple and thereby inexpensive heat exchanger. However, it is disadvantageous in this case that the mixing of the gas and liquid phases 30 is comparatively complex, since at least one pump P' must -3 be provided. Pumps in turn, however, are relatively high in costs and also maintenance. It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior 5 art, or to provide a useful alternative. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method of the type in question for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, in particular natural gas, which avoids the abovementioned problems, and in particular, 10 enables a cheaper and less maintenance-intensive liquefaction process to be implemented. Although the invention will be described with reference to specific examples it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other 15 forms. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, wherein the hydrocarbon-rich fraction which is to be liquefied is merely cooled and liquefied against a 20 coolant mixture, and the coolant mixture, before its cooling, is separated into a gas phase and a liquid phase, wherein the gas and the liquid phases are cooled separately to the same temperature and not until after cooling has been performed are they expanded and recombined. 25 According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a liquefied hydrocarbon-rich fraction produced by a method according to the first aspect.
-3a Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise", "comprising", and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive 5 sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to". According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the gas and also the liquid phases are then separately cooled to the desired temperature and not 10 combined until subsequently, after expansion to the desired pressure. In this procedure according to the invention the use of a liquid pump can be omitted. The disadvantages associated with such a pump are therefore avoided. Instead of the pump, however, a further expansion valve is 15 required. The omission of the relatively fault-susceptible pump leads to higher operational reliability and also to longer running time of the liquefaction process. In addition, the operating personnel are relieved, since there is no 20 monitoring of the pumps which were hitherto required. In addition, the method according to the invention leads to a saving of operating costs, in particular maintenance, power and personnel costs. Further advantageous embodiments of the method according to 25 the invention of liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, in particular natural gas, which are subjects of the dependent patent claims are characterized in that - the gas and liquid phases are recombined before or after warming thereof against the hydrocarbon-rich 30 fraction which is to be liquefied, -4 - a fraction which is rich in relatively heavy hydrocarbons is separated off from the hydrocarbon-rich fraction which is to be cooled, - the coolant mixture comprises the components 5 nitrogen, methane, ethane, ethylene, propane, butane and/or pentane, - at least some of the hydrocarbon-rich fraction which is to be cooled, the fraction which is rich in relatively heavy hydrocarbons and has been 10 separated off and/or the liquefied hydrocarbon rich fraction is added to the coolant mixture, wherein these fractions preferably replace the component methane, - if the liquefied hydrocarbon-rich fraction is 15 stored (temporarily) in a storage vessel, the return gas which arises in the storage vessel is at least in part added to the coolant mixture, wherein this return gas preferably replaces the component nitrogen and 20 - if the coolant mixture is compressed in at least two stages, the liquid fraction(s) arising at the or an intermediate pressure after the cooling of the compressed coolant mixture is or are pumped to the final pressure of compression and fed to the 25 separation of the coolant mixture. The method according to the invention of liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, in particular natural gas, and also other embodiments of the same may be described 30 in more detail hereinafter with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 2. As already described with reference to Figure 1, the hydrocarbon-rich fraction which is to be liquefied is 35 fed via line 1 to a heat exchanger E and in this is cooled and liquefied against a mixed coolant stream which is to be warmed and vaporized. Via line 2, the liquefied hydrocarbon-rich fraction is subsequently taken off from the heat exchanger E. 5 Via line 3, the coolant mixture which is taken off from the heat exchanger E is fed to a compressor unit V which is designed as a single stage or multistage compressor unit and in this is compressed to the desired final pressure. In correspondence to the 10 selected design of the compressor unit V, liquid can arise at one or more intermediate stages after the cooling of the compressed coolant mixture, which liquid is pumped to the final pressure of the compressor unit V and is fed to the separator D. The compressed coolant 15 mixture is fed via line 4 to a separator D and in this is separated into a gas phase and also a liquid phase. The gas fraction is taken off via line 5 from the top of the separator D and fed through the heat exchanger E for the purpose of cooling. At the cold end of the heat 20 exchanger E there then proceeds a cold-producing expansion a of this fraction. The liquid fraction which is taken off via line 6 from the bottom of the separator D is likewise cooled in the 25 heat exchanger E and subsequently thereto is cold producingly expanded in the valve b. According to the invention, the two fractions are then not combined until after the expansion has been performed in expansion valves a and b and are then jointly fed via 30 line 8 through the heat exchanger E in countercurrent to the hydrocarbon-rich fraction which is to be cooled and liquefied. Alternatively to the procedure shown in Figure 2, the 35 fractions which are passed through the heat exchanger E via lines 5 and 6 can also only be combined after their repeated passage through the heat exchanger E.

Claims (12)

1. Method of liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, wherein the hydrocarbon-rich fraction which is to be liquefied is merely cooled and liquefied against a 5 coolant mixture, and the coolant mixture, before its cooling, is separated into a gas phase and a liquid phase, wherein the gas and the liquid phases are cooled separately to the same temperature and not until after cooling has been performed are they expanded and 10 recombined.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon rich fraction is natural gas.
3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the gas and liquid phases are recombined before or after 15 warming thereof against the hydrocarbon-rich fraction which is to be liquefied.
4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a fraction which is rich in relatively heavy hydrocarbons is separated off from the hydrocarbon-rich 20 fraction which is to be cooled.
5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coolant mixture comprises the components nitrogen, methane, ethane, ethylene, propane, butane and/or pentane. 25
6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least some of the hydrocarbon-rich fraction which is to be cooled, the fraction which is rich in relatively heavy hydrocarbons and has been separated off and/or the liquefied hydrocarbon-rich fraction is 30 added to the coolant mixture. -7
7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the fractions added to the coolant mixture replace the component methane.
8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, 5 wherein the liquefied hydrocarbon-rich fraction is stored (temporarily) in a storage vessel, wherein the return gas which arises in the storage vessel is at least in part added to the coolant mixture.
9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the return gas 10 replaces the component nitrogen.
10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coolant mixture is compressed in at least two stages, wherein the liquid fraction(s) arising at the or an intermediate pressure after the cooling of 15 the compressed coolant mixture is or are pumped to the final pressure of compression and fed to the separation of the coolant mixture.
11. A liquefied hydrocarbon-rich fraction produced by a method according to any one of the preceding claims. 20
12. Method of liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction; or a liquefied hydrocarbon-rich fraction produced by a method substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or 25 examples.
AU2009201206A 2008-04-17 2009-03-27 Method of liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction Ceased AU2009201206B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102008019392A DE102008019392A1 (en) 2008-04-17 2008-04-17 Process for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction
DE102008019392.5 2008-04-17

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AU2009201206A1 AU2009201206A1 (en) 2009-11-05
AU2009201206B2 true AU2009201206B2 (en) 2014-08-07

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AU (1) AU2009201206B2 (en)
DE (1) DE102008019392A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2459173B (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120000242A1 (en) * 2010-04-22 2012-01-05 Baudat Ned P Method and apparatus for storing liquefied natural gas
US20110259044A1 (en) * 2010-04-22 2011-10-27 Baudat Ned P Method and apparatus for producing liquefied natural gas
DE102011010633A1 (en) * 2011-02-08 2012-08-09 Linde Ag Method for cooling a one-component or multi-component stream
GB201912126D0 (en) * 2019-08-23 2019-10-09 Babcock Ip Man Number One Limited Method of cooling boil-off gas and apparatus therefor

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US20040244415A1 (en) * 2003-06-02 2004-12-09 Technip France And Total S.A. Process and plant for the simultaneous production of an liquefiable natural gas and a cut of natural gas liquids

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US3302416A (en) * 1965-04-16 1967-02-07 Conch Int Methane Ltd Means for maintaining the substitutability of lng
US3360944A (en) * 1966-04-05 1968-01-02 American Messer Corp Gas liquefaction with work expansion of major feed portion
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US20090260392A1 (en) 2009-10-22

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