Recycle liquefier process

Patent · Tue Jan 16 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6975068

Dobracki, T N; Dubbs, J D; McGuinness, R M; Peterson, J C

This patent describes a process for the liquefaction of an atmospheric gas. It comprises: compressing in a compression zone one or more atmospheric gas feed streams to produce an intermediate pressure stream and a high pressure stream; cooling the high pressure stream; removing at least a portion of the high pressure stream as a high pressure stream, side-stream and expanding the high pressure stream, side-stream in a first expansion step thereby providing refrigeration and producing a first expansion discharge; further cooling and expanding the cooled high pressure stream in a second expansion step thereby producing a partially liquefied second expansion discharge; phase separating the partially liquefied second expansion discharge into a vapor stream and a liquid product stream; removing at least a portion of the intermediate pressure stream as an intermediate pressure stream, side-stream and expanding the intermediate pressure stream, side-stream in a third expansion step, thus providing refrigeration and producing a third expansion discharge; cooling the intermediate pressure stream; combining the cooled intermediate pressure stream step and the first expansion discharge to form a first combined stream, and expanding the first combined stream in a fourth expansion step, thus providing refrigeration and producing a fourth expansion discharge; and warming and subsequently recycling to the compression zone the fourth expansion discharge, the vapor stream and the third expansion discharge.

• Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA
• Patent Number(s): US 4894076; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-297463A
• OSTI ID: 6975068
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
COMPRESSION
COOLING
FLUIDS
GASES
HEATING
LIQUEFACTION
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES