Process and system for removing total heat from base load liquefied natural gas facility

Abstract

A process and system is provided for removing total heat from a base load LNG liquefaction facility by using a hybrid cooling process. After liquefying a gas such as natural gas with a refrigerant, the refrigerant is transferred to a compression unit. In order to condense the compressed refrigerant, the refrigerant first flows through process coil bundles. As the refrigerant flows through the process coil bundles, water is sprayed, via a spray distribution system and a water reservoir, onto the outer surface of the process coil bundles. Air is passed over the process coil bundles via a fan system to allow heat transfer to take place and to cool and condense the refrigerant.

1 ) A process for removing the total heat from a gas liquefaction facility, comprising:
 cross heat exchanging a natural gas with a refrigerant;   compressing the refrigerant; and   hybrid-cooling and condensing the refrigerant.   
   
   
       2 ) The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant is one or a mixture of two or more selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, ethylene, propane, butane and nitrogen. 
   
   
       3 ) The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of hybrid-cooling comprises;
 de-superheating the refrigerant in a first stage hybrid cooler; and   condensing the refrigerant in a second stage hybrid cooler.   
   
   
       4 ) The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of hybrid-cooling comprises:
 flowing the refrigerant through at least one process coil;   spraying water onto an outer surface of the at least one process coil; and   flowing air over the outer surface of the at least one process coil.   
   
   
       5 ) The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the air and the water flow over the exterior surface of the at least one process coil in a co-current direction and at the same time. 
   
   
       6 ) The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of hybrid-cooling is conducted in a wet surface air cooler. 
   
   
       7 ) The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant is propane, and wherein the refrigerant is compressed to a pressure in the range of about 540 to 2060 kPa. 
   
   
       8 ) The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant is propane, and wherein the refrigerant is hybrid-cooled to a temperature in the range of about 0 to 60° C. 
   
   
       9 ) The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of compressing is conducted in one or multi-stage steam/gas turbine or motor driven compressors. 
   
   
       10 ) The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of cross heat exchanging is conducted in at least one selected from the group consisting of a spool wound heat exchanger, shell and tube heat exchanger and a plate-fin heat exchanger. 
   
   
       11 ) A gas liquefaction system comprising:
 a cooling and liquefaction unit;   a compression unit;   a hybrid-cooler unit; and   a storage unit,   wherein a refrigerant is first transferred to the compression unit, the hybrid-cooler unit and then to the storage unit after being cross heat exchanged with a gas in the cooling and liquefaction unit.   
   
   
       12 ) The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerant is one or a mixture of two or more selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, ethylene, propane, butane and nitrogen. 
   
   
       13 ) The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the hybrid-cooler unit comprises:
 a de-superheating first stage hybrid-cooler; and   a condensing second stage hybrid-cooler,   wherein a refrigerant is cooled to a dew point temperature in the de-superheating first stage hybrid-cooler before being condensed in the condensing second stage hybrid-cooler.   
   
   
       14 ) The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the hybrid-cooler unit comprises:
 at least one process coil;   a spray distribution system; and   a fan system,   wherein the refrigerant flows through the at least one process coil while water is sprayed onto an outer surface of the at least one process coil via the spray distribution system, and wherein air is passed over the at least one process coil via the fan system.   
   
   
       15 ) The system, according to  claim 11 , wherein the hybrid-cooler unit comprises a wet surface air cooler. 
   
   
       16 ) The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerant is propane, and wherein the refrigerant is compressed to a pressure in the range of about 540 to 2060 kPa in the compression unit. 
   
   
       17 ) The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerant is propane, and wherein the refrigerant is hybrid-cooled to a temperature in the range of about 0 to 60° C. in the hybrid-cooler unit. 
   
   
       18 ) The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a storage unit,   wherein the refrigerant is transferred to the storage unit after being cooled in the hybrid-cooler unit.   
   
   
       19 ) The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the compression unit comprises one or multi-stage steam/gas turbine or motor driven compressors. 
   
   
       20 ) The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the liquefaction unit comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a spool wound heat exchanger, shell and tube heat exchanger and a plate-fin heat exchanger.