US2017097188A1PendingUtilityA1

Consolidated Refrigeration And Liquefaction Module In A Hydrocarbon Processing Plant

37
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Oct 6, 2015Filed: Sep 16, 2016Published: Apr 6, 2017
Est. expiryOct 6, 2035(~9.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Sorin T. LupascuAshley R. Guy
F25J 1/0022F25J 1/0082F25J 2220/64F25J 1/0057F25J 1/0216F25J 2290/42F25J 1/0042F25J 1/0055F25J 1/0283F25J 1/0052F25J 1/0085F25J 1/0259F25J 2210/60F25J 1/0294F25J 1/0087F25J 1/0292F25J 1/029F25J 2220/62F25J 2220/04
37
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Claims

Abstract

A method of processing natural gas to produce liquefied natural gas using a consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module. The natural gas is cooled in a first array of one or more heat exchangers using a first refrigerant from a first refrigerant circuit, wherein the first refrigerant is compressed in a first compressor. A second refrigerant from a second refrigerant circuit is compressed in a second compressor. The second refrigerant is cooled and partially condensed using the first refrigerant in a second array of one or more heat exchangers located in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module. The partially condensed second refrigerant is separated into liquid and vapor phases using a refrigerant separator located in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module. The natural gas is liquefied to produce LNG in a third array of one or more heat exchangers using the vapor and liquid phases of the partially condensed second refrigerant.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of processing natural gas to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) using a consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module, comprising:
 (a) cooling the natural gas in a first array of one or more heat exchangers using a first refrigerant from a first refrigerant circuit, wherein the first refrigerant is compressed in a first compressor;   (b) compressing a second refrigerant from a second refrigerant circuit in a second compressor;   (c) cooling and partially condensing the compressed second refrigerant using the first refrigerant in a second array of one or more heat exchangers located in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module;   (d) separating the partially condensed second refrigerant into liquid and vapor phases using a refrigerant separator located in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module; and   (e) liquefying the natural gas to produce LNG in a third array of one or more heat exchangers using the vapor and liquid phases of the partially condensed second refrigerant.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first array of one or more heat exchangers is located in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant separator is connected with the second array of at least one heat exchangers such the length of process piping connecting an inlet of the refrigerant separator and an outlet of the nearest heat exchanger in the second array of at least one heat exchangers is less than ten meters. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third array of one or more heat exchangers is located in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising connecting the third array of heat exchangers to the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module at an operating site. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third array of one or more heat exchangers are installed in a module separate from the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module and are connected at an operating site to the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to step (e), removing heavy hydrocarbon components from the natural gas using a scrub column installed in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module, isentropically expanding the liquid stream of the partially condensed liquid refrigerant.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module, isentropically expanding the LNG.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module, providing components for (a) end-flashing the LNG and/or (b) nitrogen rejection.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 including, in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module, an accumulator vessel providing buffer liquid storage for the first refrigerant.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a subcooling heat exchanger providing subcooling of the first refrigerant is included in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first refrigerant is propane and/or propylene and the second refrigerant is a mixed refrigerant that includes methane, ethane and/or ethylene and propane and/or propylene. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising locating a fourth array of one or more heat exchangers in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: disposing an array of piping on the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module, the array of piping configured to connect components on the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module to other modules in an LNG facility in which the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module is located. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: disposing an array of piping on the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module, the array of piping configured to connect components on a first additional module in an LNG facility in which the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module is located, to a second additional module in the LNG facility. 
     
     
         17 . A hydrocarbon processing plant, comprising:
 a first refrigerant circuit;   a first refrigerant configured to circulate in the first refrigerant circuit;   a first compressor configured to compress the first refrigerant;   a first array of one or more heat exchangers configured to cool a hydrocarbon stream using the first refrigerant;   a second refrigerant circuit;   a second refrigerant configured to circulate in the second refrigerant circuit;   a second compressor configured to compress the second refrigerant;   a second array of one or more heat exchangers configured to cool and partially condense the compressed second refrigerant using the first refrigerant;   a refrigerant separator configured to separate the partially condensed second refrigerant into liquid and vapor phases;   a third array of one or more heat exchangers configured to liquefy the hydrocarbon stream using the vapor and liquid phases of the partially condensed second refrigerant; and   a consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module within which is located the second array of one or more heat exchangers and the refrigerant separator.   
     
     
         18 . The hydrocarbon processing plant of  claim 17 , wherein the hydrocarbon stream is natural gas and the liquefied hydrocarbon stream is liquefied natural gas (LNG). 
     
     
         19 . The hydrocarbon processing plant of  claim 17 , wherein the first array of one or more heat exchangers is located in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module. 
     
     
         20 . The hydrocarbon processing plant of  claim 17 , further comprising process piping connecting the refrigerant separator to the second array of at least one heat exchangers, wherein the length of process piping connecting an inlet of the refrigerant separator and an outlet of the nearest heat exchanger in the second array of at least one heat exchangers is less than ten meters. 
     
     
         21 . The hydrocarbon processing plant of  claim 17 , wherein the third array of one or more heat exchangers is located in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module. 
     
     
         22 . The hydrocarbon processing plant of  claim 17 , wherein the third array of heat exchangers is connected to the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module at an operating site. 
     
     
         23 . The hydrocarbon processing plant of  claim 17 , further comprising a second module, separate from the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module, within which the third array of one or more heat exchangers is installed. 
     
     
         24 . The hydrocarbon processing plant of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a scrub column, located in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module, the scrub column configured to remove heavy hydrocarbon components from the hydrocarbon stream.   
     
     
         25 . The hydrocarbon processing plant of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 an isotropic expansion component located in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module and configured to isentropically expand the liquid stream of the partially condensed liquid refrigerant.   
     
     
         26 . The hydrocarbon processing plant of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 an isotropic expansion component located in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module and configured to isentropically expand the liquefied hydrocarbon stream.   
     
     
         27 . The hydrocarbon processing plant of  claim 17 , further comprising components for (a) end-flashing the LNG and/or (b) nitrogen rejection, said components being located in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module. 
     
     
         28 . The hydrocarbon processing plant of  claim 17 , further comprising an accumulator vessel configured to provide buffer liquid storage for the first refrigerant, the accumulator vessel being located in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module. 
     
     
         29 . The hydrocarbon processing plant of  claim 17 , further comprising a subcooling heat exchanger configured to provide subcooling of the first refrigerant, the subcooling heat exchanger being located in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module. 
     
     
         30 . The hydrocarbon processing plant of  claim 17 , wherein the first refrigerant is propane and/or propylene and the second refrigerant is a mixed refrigerant that includes methane, ethane and/or ethylene and propane and/or propylene. 
     
     
         31 . The hydrocarbon processing plant of  claim 17 , further comprising locating a fourth array of one or more heat exchangers located in the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module. 
     
     
         32 . The hydrocarbon processing plant of  claim 17 , further comprising an array of piping disposed on the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module, the array of piping configured to connect components on the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module to other modules in the hydrocarbon processing facility in which the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module is located. 
     
     
         33 . The hydrocarbon processing plant of  claim 17 , further comprising an array of piping on the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module, the array of piping configured to connect components on a first additional module in a hydrocarbon processing facility in which the consolidated refrigeration and liquefaction module is located, to a second additional module in the hydrocarbon processing facility.

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