Compact lng production train and method

Abstract

Disclosed is a liquefied natural gas production train, comprising at least one integrated process unit having a structural frame forming multiple process equipment floors. The at least one integrated process unit extends in vertical direction, wherein a height of the at least one integrated process unit is substantially equal to or larger than a width and a length of the at least one integrated process unit. The disclosure also provides a method of producing liquefied natural gas, using the LNG production train.

1 . A liquefied natural gas (LNG) production train,
 comprising at least one integrated process unit having a structural frame forming multiple process equipment floors.   
     
     
         2 . The LNG production train of  claim 1 , the at least one integrated process unit extending in vertical direction, wherein a height of the at least one integrated process unit is substantially equal to or larger than a width and a length of the at least one integrated process unit. 
     
     
         3 . The LNG production train of  claim 1 , the at least one integrated process unit extending in vertical direction, wherein a height of the at least one integrated process unit exceeds a width and a length of the at least one integrated process unit. 
     
     
         4 . The LNG production train of  claim 1 , the structural frame of at least one of the at least one integrated process units being arranged on supports, the supports lifting a lower process floor a predetermined distance above ground. 
     
     
         5 . The LNG production train of  claim 4 , the predetermined distance being in the order of 1 to 5 meters. 
     
     
         6 . The LNG production train of  claim 1 , the at least one integrated process unit being connected to one or more pieces of process equipment arranged on the ground adjacent to the respective integrated process unit. 
     
     
         7 . The LNG production train of  claim 1 , the at least one integrated process unit comprising interconnected compact building blocks, each compact building block comprising one or more pieces of selected process equipment. 
     
     
         8 . The LNG production train of  claim 7 ,
 the structural frame being provided with sets of building block rails, each set of building block rails being adapted for holding a corresponding compact building block; and   the compact building blocks being provided with a runner device for moving the respective compact building block over a corresponding set of building block rails.   
     
     
         9 . The LNG production train of  claim 8 , the runner device comprising rollers, skids, and/or sliders. 
     
     
         10 . The LNG production train of  7 , the compact building blocks being provided with a removable transport frame for protecting the compact building block during transport. 
     
     
         11 . The LNG production train of  claim 10 , the transport frame being sized to fit in a freight container. 
     
     
         12 . The LNG production train of  claim 7 , the multiple process equipment floors of the at least one integrated process unit each being provided with at least one of the compact building blocks. 
     
     
         13 . The LNG production train  claim 7 , the compact building blocks in the at least one integrated process unit being arranged both horizontally and vertically displaced with respect to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The LNG production train of  claim 1 , the at least one integrated process unit comprising at least one process section comprising at least two or more pieces of process equipment interconnected by downward sloping pipe. 
     
     
         15 . The LNG production train of  claim 14 , the process section being provided with a purging system connected to a secondary inlet of the process section. 
     
     
         16 . The LNG production train of  claim 14 , the process section being provided with a vacuum system for the removal of hydrocarbons or other process streams, the vacuum system being connected to a gravitationally lower end of the process section. 
     
     
         17 . The LNG production train of  claim 16 , an outlet of the vacuum system being connected to a flare and/or a vent to atmosphere. 
     
     
         18 . The LNG production train of  claim 16 , the gravitationally lower end of the process section being provided with a liquid outlet with dedicated valve. 
     
     
         19 . The LNG production train of  claim 1 , comprising:
 i) a pretreatment section for pre-treating a natural gas feed stream to produce a pre-treated natural gas stream;   ii) a first refrigerant compression section for pre-cooling the pre-treated natural gas stream to produce a pre-cooled gas stream and a first refrigerant vapor stream which is compressed therein;   iii) a first refrigerant condenser section for condensing the first refrigerant vapor stream to produce a compressed first refrigerant stream for recycle to the first refrigerant compression section;   iv) a liquefaction section for further cooling the pre-cooled gas stream in a main cryogenic heat exchanger operatively associated with the liquefaction section through indirect heat exchange with a second refrigerant to produce a liquefied natural gas product stream and a second refrigerant vapor stream; and,   v) a second refrigerant compression section for compressing the second refrigerant vapor stream to produce a compressed second refrigerant stream for recycle to the liquefaction section.   
     
     
         20 . The LNG production train of  claim 16 , a single integrated process unit including at least part of at least two or more of the first refrigerant compression section, the first refrigerant condenser section, the liquefaction section, and the second refrigerant compression section. 
     
     
         21 . The LNG production train of  claim 1 , wherein air cooled heat exchangers are provided on top of the at least one integrated process unit, the air cooled heat exchangers covering the entire integrated process unit including process equipment therein. 
     
     
         22 . A method of producing liquefied natural gas, using an LNG production train comprising at least one integrated process unit having a structural frame forming multiple process equipment floors.