Apparatus and systems for liquefaction of natural gas

Abstract

Described herein are apparatuses and systems related to at-shore liquefaction of natural gas. The at-shore water-based apparatuses can include a hull, an air-cooled electrically-driven refrigeration system (“AER System”), and a plurality of liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) storage tanks that are on a lower deck of the hull. The AER System can be supported by a plurality of support structures extending through an upper deck of the hull.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hull for an at-shore water-based apparatus for liquefaction of natural gas, the hull defining a bow, a stern, a port side, a starboard side, a centerline axis extending from the bow to the stern, and a mid-ship axis extending between the starboard side to the port side at a middle of the hull, the hull comprising:
 an upper deck;   a lower deck;   a plurality of support structures extending through the upper deck; and   a plurality of LNG storage tanks that are on the lower deck of the hull that are operably configured to input LNG from an AER System;   wherein the upper deck defines one or more openings such that a portion of LNG is configured to be routed into the hull from the AER System through one of the one or more openings and out of the hull from the plurality of LNG storage tanks through the same or another one of the one or more openings, and   wherein the plurality of support structures is configured to support weight of the AER System.   
     
     
         2 . The hull of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of each LNG storage tank is spaced apart from an upper deck of the hull to define a void space. 
     
     
         3 . The hull of  claim 2 , wherein void space is configured to contain a fluid and comprises a volume to contain fluid having a weight that is approximately equal to a weight of the AER System. 
     
     
         4 . The hull of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of LNG storage tanks is spaced apart in a single row along the centerline axis of the hull. 
     
     
         5 . The hull of  claim 1 , wherein each of the LNG storage tanks has a storage volume and is spaced apart in a single row along the centerline axis of the hull such that the storage volume of each tank is approximately centered on the centerline axis. 
     
     
         6 . The hull of  claim 5 , wherein each of the LNG storage tanks is a membrane tank comprising an irregular cross-sectional shape that is defined by interior surfaces of the hull. 
     
     
         7 . The hull of  claim 1 , further comprising a support frame, wherein the plurality of supports structures and support frame are operatively configured to transfer weight of a module of the AER system, restrain relative movements between the module and the hull, and limit a transfer of vibrations from the module to the upper deck. 
     
     
         8 . A hull for an at-shore water-based apparatus for liquefaction of natural gas, the hull defining a bow, a stern, a port side, a starboard side, a centerline axis extending from the bow to the stern, and a mid-ship axis extending between the starboard side to the port side at a middle of the hull, the hull comprising:
 an upper deck;   a lower deck;   a plurality of support structures extending through the upper deck; and   a plurality of LNG storage tanks that are on the lower deck of the hull that are operably configured to input LNG from an AER System; and   wherein a top surface of each LNG storage tank is spaced apart from an upper deck of the hull to define a void space configured to contain a fluid, the void space comprising a volume to contain fluid having a weight that is approximately equal to a weight of the AER System.   
     
     
         9 . The hull of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of support structures is configured to support weight of the AER System. 
     
     
         10 . The hull of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of LNG storage tanks is spaced apart in a single row along the centerline axis of the hull. 
     
     
         11 . The hull of  claim 8 , wherein each of the LNG storage tanks has a storage volume and is spaced apart in a single row along the centerline axis of the hull such that the storage volume of each tank is approximately centered on the centerline axis. 
     
     
         12 . The hull of  claim 8 , wherein the upper deck defines an opening such that a portion of LNG is configured to be routed into the hull from the AER System through the opening and out of the hull from the plurality of LNG storage tanks through the opening. 
     
     
         13 . A hull for an at-shore water-based apparatus for liquefaction of natural gas, the hull defining a bow, a stern, a port side, a starboard side, a centerline axis extending from the bow to the stern, and a mid-ship axis extending between the starboard side to the port side at a middle of the hull, the hull comprising:
 an upper deck;   a lower deck;   a plurality of support structures extending through the upper deck; and   a plurality of LNG storage tanks that are on the lower deck of the hull that are operably configured to input LNG from an AER System, wherein each of the LNG storage tanks has a storage volume and is spaced apart in a single row along the centerline axis of the hull such that the storage volume of each tank is approximately centered on the centerline axis.   
     
     
         14 . The hull of  claim 13 , wherein a top surface of each LNG storage tank is spaced apart from an upper deck of the hull to define a void space configured to contain a fluid, the void space comprising a volume to contain fluid having a weight that is approximately equal to a weight of the AER System, and wherein the plurality of support structures is configured to support weight of the AER System. 
     
     
         15 . The hull of  claim 14 , wherein the upper deck defines an opening such that a portion of LNG is configured to be routed into the hull from the AER System through the opening and out of the hull from the plurality of LNG storage tanks through the opening. 
     
     
         16 . The hull of  claim 15 , further comprising a support frame, wherein the plurality of supports structures and support frame are operatively configured to transfer weight of a module of the AER system, restrain relative movements between the module and the hull, and limit a transfer of vibrations from the module to the upper deck. 
     
     
         17 . A hull of a water-based apparatus for the liquefaction of natural gas, the water-based apparatus including an air-cooled electrically-driven refrigeration system (“AER System”) comprising one or more interconnected modules and operatively configured to (i) receive electricity and feed gas from an external source separate from but capable of connecting to the water-based apparatus, (ii) perform a refrigeration process for converting the feed gas into a liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) with the received electricity using a plurality of electrically-driven compressors and a cryogenic heat exchanger operatively configured on or above the upper deck, (iii) discharge substantially all thermal energy from the refrigeration process to ambient air with air coolers operatively configured on or above the upper deck, and (iv) output the LNG, the hull:
 configured to be operable when moored in proximity to an at-shore location; 
 defining a bow, a stern, and a centerline axis extending from the bow to the stern; 
 comprising a lower deck and an upper deck, on or above which the AER System is located or to be located; and 
 comprising a plurality of LNG storage tanks that is on the lower deck, wherein top surfaces of the plurality of LNG storage tanks are spaced apart from the upper deck to define a void space and the void space is sized and shaped to be capable of containing an amount of fluid having a weight that is approximately equal to a weight of the AER System. 
 
     
     
         18 . The hull of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of LNG storage tanks is spaced apart in a single row along the centerline axis of the hull. 
     
     
         19 . The hull of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a closed loop ballast system operable with a ballast fluid to assist in stabilizing the hull moored to the at-shore location without discharging the ballast fluid to water proximate the at-shore location.   
     
     
         20 . The hull of  claim 19 , wherein the closed loop ballast system comprises:
 a plurality of ballast tanks below the upper deck; and   one or more pumps operatively configured to move the ballast fluid between the plurality of ballast tanks.