Apparatus for the liquefaction of natural gas and methods relating to same
Abstract
An apparatus and method for producing liquefied natural gas. A liquefaction plant may be coupled to a source of unpurified natural gas, such as a natural gas pipeline at a pressure letdown station. A portion of the gas is drawn off and split into a process stream and a cooling stream. The cooling stream passes through a turbo expander creating work output. A compressor is driven by the work output and compresses the process stream. The compressed process stream is cooled, such as by the expanded cooling stream. The cooled, compressed process stream is divided into first and second portions with the first portion being expanded to liquefy the natural gas. A gas-liquid separator separates the vapor from the liquid natural gas. The second portion of the cooled, compressed process stream is also expanded and used to cool the compressed process stream. Additional features and techniques may be integrated with the liquefaction process including a water clean-up cycle and a carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) clean-up cycle.
- Inventors:
-
- Idaho Falls, ID
- Ammon, ID
- Shelley, ID
- Concord, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 909408
- Patent Number(s):
- 7219512
- Application Number:
- 11/124,589
- Assignee:
- Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (Idaho Falls, ID)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25J - LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS {OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS} MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT {OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-99ID13727; AC07-05ID14517
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 03 NATURAL GAS
Citation Formats
Wilding, Bruce M, Bingham, Dennis N, McKellar, Michael G, Turner, Terry D, Raterman, Kevin T, Palmer, Gary L, Klingler, Kerry M, and Vranicar, John J. Apparatus for the liquefaction of natural gas and methods relating to same. United States: N. p., 2007.
Web.
Wilding, Bruce M, Bingham, Dennis N, McKellar, Michael G, Turner, Terry D, Raterman, Kevin T, Palmer, Gary L, Klingler, Kerry M, & Vranicar, John J. Apparatus for the liquefaction of natural gas and methods relating to same. United States.
Wilding, Bruce M, Bingham, Dennis N, McKellar, Michael G, Turner, Terry D, Raterman, Kevin T, Palmer, Gary L, Klingler, Kerry M, and Vranicar, John J. Tue .
"Apparatus for the liquefaction of natural gas and methods relating to same". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/909408.
@article{osti_909408,
title = {Apparatus for the liquefaction of natural gas and methods relating to same},
author = {Wilding, Bruce M and Bingham, Dennis N and McKellar, Michael G and Turner, Terry D and Raterman, Kevin T and Palmer, Gary L and Klingler, Kerry M and Vranicar, John J},
abstractNote = {An apparatus and method for producing liquefied natural gas. A liquefaction plant may be coupled to a source of unpurified natural gas, such as a natural gas pipeline at a pressure letdown station. A portion of the gas is drawn off and split into a process stream and a cooling stream. The cooling stream passes through a turbo expander creating work output. A compressor is driven by the work output and compresses the process stream. The compressed process stream is cooled, such as by the expanded cooling stream. The cooled, compressed process stream is divided into first and second portions with the first portion being expanded to liquefy the natural gas. A gas-liquid separator separates the vapor from the liquid natural gas. The second portion of the cooled, compressed process stream is also expanded and used to cool the compressed process stream. Additional features and techniques may be integrated with the liquefaction process including a water clean-up cycle and a carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) clean-up cycle.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2007},
month = {5}
}