Method of liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich flow

Abstract

A hydrocarbon-rich flow, such as a natural gas flow, is liquefied by means of an open expander process, where the peak coldness required for the liquefaction and the supercooling of the hydrocarbon-rich flow takes place in that the hydrocarbon-rich flow to be liquefied is liquefied and supercooled in one or more heat exchangers, such as plate heat exchangers, against an expanded partial flow of the liquefied and supercooled hydrocarbon-rich flow. The peak coldness for the liquefaction and supercooling of the hydrocarbon-rich flow is generated by the expansion of at least two partial flows of the at least partially liquefied hydrocarbon-rich flow, the partial flows being evaporated at different pressures.

1 . Method of liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich flow, particularly a natural gas flow, by means of an open expander process, where the provision of a peak coldness required for liquefaction and supercooling of the hydrocarbon-rich flow take place in that the hydrocarbon-rich flow to be liquefied is liquefied and supercooled in one or more heat exchangers against an expanded partial flow of the liquefied and supercooled hydrocarbon-rich flow, wherein the peak coldness for the liquefaction and supercooling of the hydrocarbon-rich flow is generated by expansion of at least two partial flows of an at least partially liquefied hydrocarbon-rich flow, the partial flows being evaporated at different pressures.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein only one of the expanded partial flows is evaporated and then compressed.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the partial flows of the at least partially liquefied hydrocarbon-rich flow are separated at different pressure levels from the hydrocarbon-rich flow.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the partial flows of the at least partially liquefied hydrocarbon-rich flow are separated at different temperature levels from the hydrocarbon-rich flow.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the partial flows of the at least partially liquefied hydrocarbon-rich flow are separated at different pressure levels from the hydrocarbon-rich flow.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more heat exchangers are plate heat exchangers.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the partial flows of the at least partially liquefied hydrocarbon-rich flow are separated at different temperature levels from the hydrocarbon-rich flow.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the partial flows of the at least partially liquefied hydrocarbon-rich flow are separated at different pressure levels from the hydrocarbon-rich flow.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the partial flows of the at least partially liquefied hydrocarbon-rich flow are separated at different pressure levels from the hydrocarbon-rich flow.  
   
   
       10 . A Method of liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich flow, comprising the acts of: 
 providing a peak coldness required for the liquefaction and supercooling of a hydrocarbon-rich flow;    liquefying and supercooling the hydrocarbon-rich flow in one or more heat exchangers against an expanded partial flow of the liquefied and supercooled hydrocarbon-rich flow;    generating the peak coldness for the liquefaction and supercooling of the hydrocarbon-rich flow by at least two partial flows of an at least partially liquefied hydrocarbon-rich flow; and    evaporating the partial flows at different pressures.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein only one of the expanded partial flows is evaporated and then compressed.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the partial flows of the at least partially liquefied hydrocarbon-rich flow are separated at different temperature levels from the hydrocarbon-rich flow.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the partial flows of the at least partially liquefied hydrocarbon-rich flow are separated at different pressure levels from the hydrocarbon-rich flow.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more heat exchangers are plate heat exchangers.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the partial flows of the at least partially liquefied hydrocarbon-rich flow are separated at different pressure levels from the hydrocarbon-rich flow.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more heat exchangers are plate heat exchangers.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the partial flows of the at least partially liquefied hydrocarbon-rich flow are separated at different temperature levels from the hydrocarbon-rich flow.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the partial flows of the at least partially liquefied hydrocarbon-rich flow are separated at different pressure levels from the hydrocarbon-rich flow.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more heat exchangers are plate heat exchangers.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the partial flows of the at least partially liquefied hydrocarbon-rich flow are separated at different pressure levels from the hydrocarbon-rich flow.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more heat exchangers are plate heat exchangers.