Refrigerant Circuit

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerant circuit ( 1 ), in particular for use in a liquefaction plant, the refrigerant circuit ( 1 ) at least comprising: —a refrigerator ( 2 ) having an inlet ( 21 ) for refrigerant ( 10 ) at a refrigeration pressure, and at least five outlets ( 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 , . . . ) for evaporated refrigerant ( 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 , . . . ) evaporated at different pressure levels, the at least five outlets ( 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 , . . . ) being preferably intended for refrigerants evaporated at increasing pressures from the first outlet ( 22 ) to the fifth ( 26 ) and optional higher outlets; —a first compressor ( 3 ) having one or more inlets for receiving evaporated refrigerant from the refrigerator and an outlet ( 34 ) that can be connected to the inlet ( 21 ) of the refrigerator ( 2 ); and—a second compressor ( 4 ) having one or more inlets for receiving evaporated refrigerant from the refrigerator and an outlet ( 44 ) that can be connected to the inlet ( 21 ) of the refrigerator ( 2 ).

1 . A refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant circuit at least comprising:
 a refrigerator having an inlet for refrigerant at a refrigeration pressure, and at least five outlets for evaporated refrigerant evaporated at different pressure levels;   a first compressor having one or more inlets for receiving evaporated refrigerant from the refrigerator and an outlet that can be connected to the inlet of the refrigerator; and   a second compressor having one or more inlets for receiving evaporated refrigerant from the refrigerator and an outlet that can be connected to the inlet of the refrigerator;   wherein the at least five outlets are intended for refrigerants evaporated at at least five increasing pressures from the first outlet to the at least fifth outlet.   
   
   
       2 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first compressor has a main inlet for receiving the refrigerant from the first outlet, a second inlet for receiving the refrigerant from the third outlet, a third inlet for receiving the refrigerant from the fifth outlet and an outlet that can be connected to the inlet of the refrigerator; and   the second compressor has a main inlet for receiving the refrigerant from the second outlet, a second inlet for receiving the refrigerant from the fourth outlet and an outlet that can be connected to the inlet of the refrigerator.   
   
   
       3 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein the refrigerator comprises a sixth outlet for evaporated refrigerant, the sixth outlet being connected to a third inlet of the second compressor. 
   
   
       4 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator comprises more than six outlets for refrigerant evaporated at different pressure levels, the odd outlets being connected to the first compressor and the even outlets being connected to the second compressor. 
   
   
       5 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet of the refrigerator intended for the refrigerant evaporated at the highest pressure is connected to an economizer. 
   
   
       6 . A plant for the production of a liquefied hydrocarbon product, the plant comprising the refrigerant circuit according to  claim 1  for cooling a hydrocarbon stream to be liquefied. 
   
   
       7 . A method for cooling a hydrocarbon stream, wherein the hydrocarbon stream to be cooled is cooled using the refrigerant circuit according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       8 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 1 , in particular for use in a liquefaction plant. 
   
   
       9 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein the refrigerator comprises more than six outlets for refrigerant evaporated at different pressure levels, the odd outlets being connected to the first compressor and the even outlets being connected to the second compressor. 
   
   
       10 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 3 , wherein the refrigerator comprises more than six outlets for refrigerant evaporated at different pressure levels, the odd outlets being connected to the first compressor and the even outlets being connected to the second compressor. 
   
   
       11 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein the outlet of the refrigerator intended for the refrigerant evaporated at the highest pressure is connected to an economizer. 
   
   
       12 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 3 , wherein the outlet of the refrigerator intended for the refrigerant evaporated at the highest pressure is connected to an economizer. 
   
   
       13 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 4 , wherein the outlet of the refrigerator intended for the refrigerant evaporated at the highest pressure is connected to an economizer. 
   
   
       14 . A plant for the production of a liquefied hydrocarbon product such as liquefied natural gas, the plant comprising the refrigerant circuit according to  claim 1  for cooling a hydrocarbon stream such as a natural gas stream to be liquefied. 
   
   
       15 . A plant for the production of a liquefied hydrocarbon product, the plant comprising the refrigerant circuit according to  claim 2  for cooling a hydrocarbon stream to be liquefied. 
   
   
       16 . A plant for the production of a liquefied hydrocarbon product, the plant comprising the refrigerant circuit according to  claim 3  for cooling a hydrocarbon stream to be liquefied. 
   
   
       17 . A plant for the production of a liquefied hydrocarbon product, the plant comprising the refrigerant circuit according to  claim 4  for cooling a hydrocarbon stream to be liquefied. 
   
   
       18 . A plant for the production of a liquefied hydrocarbon product, the plant comprising the refrigerant circuit according to  claim 5  for cooling a hydrocarbon stream to be liquefied. 
   
   
       19 . A method for liquefying a hydrocarbon stream, wherein the hydrocarbon stream to be cooled is cooled using the refrigerant circuit according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       20 . A method for cooling a hydrocarbon stream, wherein the hydrocarbon stream to be cooled is cooled using the refrigerant circuit according to  claim 2 .