Process for the liquefaction of natural gas

Patent · Tue Oct 22 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:5865340

Chiu, C

The present invention is a process for the liquefaction of high pressure natural gas. The natural gas is expanded through a turboexpander to reduce its pressure and thereby cool it. The natural gas is then passed through a demethanizer to remove the heavier components therefrom. The natural gas is then precooled, before substantial warming occurs, by heat exchange with a C/sub 2/ hydrocarbon refrigerant, either ethane or ethylene, contained in a single refrigerant system. The precooled natural gas is liquefied by heat exchange with a mixed refrigerant contained in a mixed refrigerant system. The mixed refrigerant consists essentially of nitrogen, methane and a C/sub 2/ hydrocarbon, either ethane or ethylene. The mixed refrigerant contained in the mixed refrigerant system is cooled by heat exchange with the C/sub 2/ hydrocarbon refrigerant contained in the single refrigerant system.

• Assignee: Exxon Production Research Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 4548629
• OSTI ID: 5865340
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
ALKANES
ALKENES
COMPRESSIBLE FLOW
COOLING
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY TRANSFER
ETHANE
ETHYLENE
EXPANSION
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDRAULICS
HYDROCARBONS
LIQUEFACTION
MECHANICS
METHANE
MIXING
NATURAL GAS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PRESSURE DROP
REFRIGERANTS
REFRIGERATORS
REMOVAL
SEPARATION PROCESSES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WORKING FLUIDS