Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
  • F25J1/0022—Hydrocarbons, e.g. natural gas
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
  • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
  • F25J1/0047—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle
  • F25J1/0052—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
  • F25J1/0047—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle
  • F25J1/0052—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream
  • F25J1/0055—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream originating from an incorporated cascade
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
  • F25J1/0211—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle
  • F25J1/0214—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle as a dual level refrigeration cascade with at least one MCR cycle
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
  • F25J1/0211—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle
  • F25J1/0214—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle as a dual level refrigeration cascade with at least one MCR cycle
  • F25J1/0215—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle as a dual level refrigeration cascade with at least one MCR cycle with one SCR cycle
  • F25J1/0216—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle as a dual level refrigeration cascade with at least one MCR cycle with one SCR cycle using a C3 pre-cooling cycle
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
  • F25J1/0228—Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes
  • F25J1/0229—Integration with a unit for using hydrocarbons, e.g. consuming hydrocarbons as feed stock
  • F25J1/0231—Integration with a unit for using hydrocarbons, e.g. consuming hydrocarbons as feed stock for the working-up of the hydrocarbon feed, e.g. reinjection of heavier hydrocarbons into the liquefied gas
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
  • F25J1/0228—Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes
  • F25J1/0235—Heat exchange integration
  • F25J1/0237—Heat exchange integration integrating refrigeration provided for liquefaction and purification/treatment of the gas to be liquefied, e.g. heavy hydrocarbon removal from natural gas
  • F25J1/0239—Purification or treatment step being integrated between two refrigeration cycles of a refrigeration cascade, i.e. first cycle providing feed gas cooling and second cycle providing overhead gas cooling
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
  • F25J1/0228—Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes
  • F25J1/0235—Heat exchange integration
  • F25J1/0237—Heat exchange integration integrating refrigeration provided for liquefaction and purification/treatment of the gas to be liquefied, e.g. heavy hydrocarbon removal from natural gas
  • F25J1/0239—Purification or treatment step being integrated between two refrigeration cycles of a refrigeration cascade, i.e. first cycle providing feed gas cooling and second cycle providing overhead gas cooling
  • F25J1/0241—Purification or treatment step being integrated between two refrigeration cycles of a refrigeration cascade, i.e. first cycle providing feed gas cooling and second cycle providing overhead gas cooling wherein the overhead cooling comprises providing reflux for a fractionation step
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
  • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
  • F25J1/0257—Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments, e.g. valves, machines
  • F25J1/0258—Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments, e.g. valves, machines vertical layout of the equipments within in the cold box
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
  • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
  • F25J1/0279—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc.
  • F25J1/0292—Refrigerant compression by cold or cryogenic suction of the refrigerant gas
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
  • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
  • F25J3/0204—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the feed stream
  • F25J3/0209—Natural gas or substitute natural gas
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
  • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
  • F25J3/0228—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream
  • F25J3/0233—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream separation of CnHm with 1 carbon atom or more
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
  • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
  • F25J3/0228—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream
  • F25J3/0242—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream separation of CnHm with 3 carbon atoms or more
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
  • F25J2200/02—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification in a single pressure main column system
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
  • F25J2200/30—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification using a side column in a single pressure column system
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
  • F25J2200/74—Refluxing the column with at least a part of the partially condensed overhead gas
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
  • F25J2205/02—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using simple phase separation in a vessel or drum
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
  • F25J2205/30—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using a washing, e.g. "scrubbing" or bubble column for purification purposes
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
  • F25J2205/50—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using absorption, i.e. with selective solvents or lean oil, heavier CnHm and including generally a regeneration step for the solvent or lean oil
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J2215/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the product stream
  • F25J2215/64—Propane or propylene
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J2235/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams
  • F25J2235/60—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams the fluid being (a mixture of) hydrocarbons
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J2245/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams
  • F25J2245/02—Recycle of a stream in general, e.g. a by-pass stream
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
  • F25J2270/12—External refrigeration with liquid vaporising loop
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
  • F25J2270/60—Closed external refrigeration cycle with single component refrigerant [SCR], e.g. C1-, C2- or C3-hydrocarbons
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
  • F25J2270/66—Closed external refrigeration cycle with multi component refrigerant [MCR], e.g. mixture of hydrocarbons
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • 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
  • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
  • F25J2290/40—Vertical layout or arrangement of cold equipments within in the cold box, e.g. columns, condensers, heat exchangers etc.

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the separation of methane from admixture with ethane and heavier hydrocarbons and has particular, but not exclusive, application to an integrated process in which natural gas liquids (NGL) are recovered and liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced from natural gas (NG).
• NNL natural gas liquids
• LNG liquefied natural gas
• Natural gas comprises primarily methane and minor constituents that include heavier hydrocarbons. Liquefied natural gas contains mostly methane. The hydrocarbons heavier than methane are usually condensed and recovered as natural gas liquids and fractionated to yield valuable hydrocarbon products.
• a typical NG liquefaction system comprises a scrub column fed with raw natural gas or pipeline gas and producing a methane-rich overhead vapor and NGL as bottoms liquid.
• a portion of methane-rich overhead vapor is partially condensed to provide reflux for the column and the remainder liquefied to provide the LNG product.
• the bottoms liquid is fractionated to obtain individual hydrocarbons and/or hydrocarbon cuts (fractions) as valuable products.
• Expansion of the scrub column feed followed by compression of the overhead vapor can be avoided by recycling heavy components obtained from NGL fractionation to the top or near the top of the scrub column as absorber liquid.
• a heavy alkane recycle such as all or part of a C 4 NGL fraction
• the scrub column of a LNG process can raise the critical pressure of the separated mixture and thus the operating pressure for the scrub column.
• WO 01101307/US-A-2003005722/US-B-6,742,358 discloses LNG processes in which top reflux to the scrub column is provided by condensing vapor withdrawn from an intermediate location of the column. It also discloses processes in which the vapor and liquid fractions of partially condensed feed gas are separately fractionated and bottoms liquid from fractionation of the vapor fraction provides intermediate or top reflux to the fractionation of the liquid fraction. In all of these processes, vapor overhead from the scrub column is compressed before liquefaction.
• DE-A-10205366 (published August 21 , 2003) discloses an LNG process in which ethane-rich vapor overhead from the scrub column is cooled and passed to a second column for the removal of residual higher hydrocarbons.
• the bottoms liquid of the second column provides reflux to the scrub column.
• a C 4 /C 5 NGL fraction provides reflux to the second column.
• the rectification and adsorption functions of the two columns can be combined into a single column.
• US-A-6662589/EP-A-1469266 discloses an LNG process in which a NGL fraction comprising components heavier than ethane is fed to the scrub column as absorber liquid at a location between the natural gas feed and feed of a methane-rich reflux stream.
• the reflux stream is obtained by partial condensation of the overhead vapor from the scrub column.
• the scrub column overhead is not compressed prior to liquefaction to provide the LNG product.
• WO 2004/010064 discloses an LNG process in which a C 4 IC 5 NGL fraction is directly or indirectly fed to the scrub column to provide additional reflux. The fraction is fed to the column at or above the feed of reflux provided by partial condensation of the column vapor overhead.
• Critical pressure of the mixture in the scrub column can be increased also by refluxing the column with an ethane-rich stream. This also allows good C 2 -C 3 separation and high propane (C 3 ) recovery from NGL.
• WO-A-0188447/US-A-6,401 ,486 discloses an LNG process in which top reflux for the scrub column is provided by condensation of a vapor containing mostly methane and ethane with very little propane.
• the scrub column overhead vapor is totally liquefied to provide the LNG product and the scrub column bottoms is fractionated in an NGL purifying column.
• the vapor condensed to provide said top reflux can be derived from:
• additional reflux to the scrub column can be provided by condensing a slipstream of the feed gas portion but there is no teaching of providing reflux derived from both NGL fractionation and partially condensed scrub column overhead. In these processes, it is unnecessary to compress the scrub column overhead prior to liquefaction.
• EP-A-0178207/US-A-4,690,702 (published April 15, 1986/September 1 , 1987); DE-A-3802553/US-A-4,952,305(published August 3, 1989/August 28, 1990); and EP-A-0535752/US-A-5,291 ,736 (published April 7, 1993/March 8, 1994) all disclose LNG processes in which reflux to the scrub column is provided by a mixture of methane and ethane obtained by condensing vapor overhead from an NGL fractionation. None of these patents show reflux obtained by partially condensing the overhead product.
• the present invention provides a process for recovery of components heavier than methane from a feed of methane in admixture with ethane and heavier hydrocarbon(s), the process comprising: introducing the feed into a scrub column at a first location; withdrawing from the scrub column a first overhead vapor stream depleted in components heavier than methane and a bottoms stream enriched in components heavier than methane; cooling and partially condensing the first overhead vapor stream to form a first two-phase stream; separating the first two-phase stream to provide a second overhead vapor stream and a methane-rich first reflux stream; introducing the methane-rich first reflux stream at a second location in the scrub column above the first location; separating the bottoms stream into an ethane-enriched stream and one or more streams enriched in components heavier than ethane; and introducing into the scrub column, at a location selected from the second location and a third location above the first location, an ethane-enriched second reflux stream derived from the
• the ethane-enriched stream preferably deethanizer overhead, obtained from NGL fractionation is condensed, pumped, combined with the reflux stream obtained by partially condensing the scrub column overhead vapor and recycled to the scrub column, preferably to a scrub column reflux drum.
• This allows the scrub column to operate at a higher pressure by increasing the mixture's critical pressure and also improves ethane- propane separation.
• the ethane-enriched stream can be fully condensed using mixed refrigerant (MR) refrigeration available in the main heat exchanger of the LNG process to maximize the benefit.
• MR mixed refrigerant
• a heavy recycle stream particularly pentane and isopentane
• Such a stream can be introduced either to the reflux drum or directly to the scrub column.
• the heavy and light recycles can be combined and cooled separately or, preferably, mixed with the reflux stream obtained by condensing the scrub column overhead vapor.
• Reflux obtained by condensing the overhead vapor is typically more than about 80% of the total liquid reflux (including any heavy recycle stream) to the scrub column.
• cooling takes place in the warm bundle of the main LNG process heat exchanger.
• the present invention provides, in its broadest process aspect, a process for recovery of components heavier than methane from a feed of methane in admixture with ethane and heavier hydrocarbon(s), the comprising: introducing the feed into a scrub column at a first location; withdrawing from the scrub column a first overhead vapor stream depleted in components heavier than methane and a bottoms stream enriched in components heavier than methane; cooling and partially condensing the first overhead vapor stream to form a first two-phase stream; separating the first two-phase stream to provide a second overhead vapor stream and a methane-rich first reflux stream; introducing the methane-rich first reflux stream at a second location in the scrub column above the first location; separating the bottoms stream into an ethane-enriched stream and one or more streams enriched in components heavier than ethane; and introducing into the scrub column, at a location selected from the second location and a third location above the first location, an ethane-enriched second reflux
• the present invention provides an apparatus for recovery of components heavier than methane from a feed of methane in admixture with ethane and heavier hydrocarbon(s) by a process of the aforementioned aspect, said apparatus comprising: a scrub column; conduit means for introducing the feed into the scrub column at a first location; conduit means for withdrawing from the scrub column a first overhead vapor stream depleted in components heavier than methane and a bottoms stream enriched in components heavier than methane; heat exchanger means for cooling and partially condensing the first overhead vapor stream to form a first two-phase stream; separation means for separating the first two-phase stream to provide a second overhead vapor stream and a methane-rich first reflux stream; conduit means for introducing the methane-rich first reflux stream at a second location in the scrub column above the first location; separation means for separating the bottoms stream into an ethane- enriched stream and one or more streams enriched in components heavier than ethane; and conduit means for
• the invention provides a process for obtaining liquefied methane from a feed of methane in admixture with ethane and heavier hydrocarbon(s), said process comprising: introducing the feed into a scrub column at a first location; withdrawing from the scrub column a first overhead vapor stream depleted in components heavier than methane and a bottoms stream enriched in components heavier than methane; cooling and partially condensing the first overhead vapor stream to form a first two-phase stream; separating the first two-phase stream to provide a second overhead vapor stream and a methane-rich first reflux stream; liquefying the second overhead vapor stream; introducing the methane-rich first reflux stream at a second location in the scrub column above the first location; separating the bottoms stream into an ethane-enriched stream and one or more streams enriched in components heavier than ethane; and introducing into the scrub column, at a location selected from the second location and a third location above the first location, an
• the present invention provides an apparatus for obtaining liquefied methane from a feed of methane in admixture with ethane and heavier hydrocarbon(s) by a process according to said preferred process aspect, said apparatus comprising: a scrub column; conduit means for introducing the feed into the scrub column at a first location; conduit means for withdrawing from the scrub column a first overhead vapor stream depleted in components heavier than methane and a bottoms stream enriched in components heavier than methane; heat exchanger means for cooling and partially condensing the first overhead vapor stream to form a first two-phase stream; separation means for separating the first two-phase stream to provide a second overhead vapor stream and a methane-rich first reflux stream; heat exchange means for liquefying said second overhead vapor stream; conduit means for introducing the methane-rich first reflux stream at a second location in the scrub column above the first location; separation means for separating the bottoms stream into an ethane- enriched stream and one or more streams
• the feed is a cooled natural gas feed and the second overhead vapor is liquefied to provide a liquefied natural gas product.
• the ethane-enriched second reflux stream can be fed to the scrub column separately from the methane-rich first reflux stream but it is preferred that it is mixed with the methane-rich first reflux stream before introducing into the scrub column.
• the ethane-enriched stream can be partially or fully condensed before mixing with the methane-rich first reflux stream.
• the mixing suitably takes place upstream of or in a reflux drum or by feeding the first two-phase stream to the bottom of an absorption column to which the ethane-enriched second reflux stream is fed as reflux.
• the ethane-enriched stream alone or after admixture with one or more other process streams preferably is condensed at temperature below that of the feed to the scrub column and the condensed stream pumped prior to introduction into the scrub column as the ethane-enriched second reflux stream. Said temperature usually is below -32°F (-35.5 0 C).
• the ethane-enriched stream (130) is the vapor overhead of a deethanizer.
• Methane can be removed from the ethane-enriched stream whereby the second reflux stream consists essentially of ethane.
• the second reflux stream contains less than about 0.05% of propane.
• the methane-rich first reflux stream will constitute at least about
• 80% of the total reflux (i.e. liquid fed to the scrub column above the first location) and the second reflux stream will be less than about 20% of the total reflux.
• Preferably more than 90%, especially more than 96%, of propane and/or butane contained in the feed is recovered from the bottoms stream as product.
• the first overhead stream can be partially condensed in two stages and liquid fraction from each condensation fed to the scrub column as reflux.
• a process of the invention comprises introducing the feed into a scrub column at a first location; withdrawing from the scrub column a first overhead vapor stream depleted in components heavier than methane and a bottoms stream enriched in components heavier than methane; cooling and partially condensing the first overhead vapor stream to form a first two-phase stream; separating the first two-phase stream to provide a second overhead vapor stream and a methane-rich first reflux stream; introducing the methane-rich first reflux stream at a second location in the scrub column above the first location; separating the bottoms stream into an ethane-enriched stream and two or more streams enriched in components heavier than ethane including an absorber liquid stream enriched in component(s) heavier than ethane; introducing into the scrub column, at a location selected from the second location and a third location above the first location, an ethane-enriched second reflux stream derived from the ethane-enriched stream; and . introducing the absorber liquid into the scrub column
• an apparatus of the invention comprises: a scrub column; conduit means for introducing the feed into the scrub column at a first location; conduit means for withdrawing from the scrub column a first overhead vapor stream depleted in components heavier than methane and a bottoms stream enriched in components heavier than methane; heat exchanger means for cooling and partially condensing the first overhead vapor stream to form a first two-phase stream; separation means for separating the first two-phase stream to provide a second overhead vapor stream and a methane-rich first reflux stream; conduit means for introducing the methane-rich first reflux stream at a second location in the scrub column above the first location; separation means for separating the bottoms stream into an ethane- enriched stream and two or more streams enriched in components heavier than ethane including an absorber liquid stream enriched in component(s) heavier than ethane; conduit means for introducing into the scrub column, at a location selected from the second location and a third location above the first location, an ethan
• the absorber liquid can comprise C 4 hydrocarbon (s) but preferably comprises C 5+ hydrocarbon(s)
• the absorber liquid can be fed to the scrub column separately from either the ethane-enriched second reflux stream or the methane-rich first reflux stream. However, it is preferred that it is combined with at least one of the methane-rich first reflux stream and the ethane-enriched second reflux stream (136) before introducing into the scrub column. For example, it can be combined with at least one of the first two-phase stream and the ethane-enriched second reflux stream upstream of or in a reflux drum or the first two-phase stream can be fed to the bottom of an absorption column to which the absorber liquid and optionally the ethane-enriched second reflux stream is fed as reflux.
• the absorber liquid can be combined with the first overhead vapor stream before partial condensation of said stream to form the first two-phase stream and/or combined with gaseous ethane- enriched stream before condensation of said stream to provide the second reflux stream.
• a combined absorber liquid and gaseous ethane-enriched stream can phase separated and the liquid fraction fed to the scrub column above the first location.
• the liquid fraction can be combined with the first overhead stream before partial condensation of that overhead stream to provide the first two-phase stream.
• the vapor fraction can be condensed and the condensed stream fed to the scrub column above the first location, added to the second overhead vapor prior to liquefaction, or combined with the first overhead stream before partial condensation of that overhead stream to provide the first two-phase stream. Both the condensed vapor fraction and the liquid fraction can be combined with the first overhead stream before partial condensation of that overhead stream to provide the first two-phase stream.
• the absorber liquid will constitute less than about 10% of the total reflux (i.e. liquid fed to the scrub column above the first location).
• Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2 shows a modification of the embodiment of Figure 1 , in which the reflux drum (118) is replaced by an absorption column (218);
• Figure 3 shows another modification of the embodiment of Figure 1 , in which the ethane-enriched stream (130) and "absorber liquid” stream (140) are combined to form a single stream (330);
• Figure 4 shows a modification of the embodiment of Figure 3, in which the combined second reflux and absorber liquid stream (330) is phase separated (430);
• Figure 5 shows a modification of the embodiment of Figure 4, in which the separated vapor portion (436) is compressed, cooled and condensed and the resultant stream (536) combined with the liquid portion (438);
• Figure 6 shows another modification of the embodiment of Figure 4, in which the overhead vapor (116) from the scrub column (114) is condensed in two stages (612, 122) to provide separate reflux streams (619, 626) to the scrub column.
• pretreated pressurized natural gas feed 110 containing primarily methane with heavier hydrocarbons in the C 2 -C 6 range with very little water, acid gases such as CO 2 and H 2 S, and other contaminants such as mercury is cooled in a heat exchanger 112 to between about -20°F (-29°C) and about -40°F (-40 0 C) and fed to the scrub column 114.
• the feed 110 is at a pressure of between about 600 and about 900 psia (4 and 6.25 MPa) and at about ambient temperature.
• Heat exchanger 112 represents multiple stages of cooling by evaporating propane at different pressures. Any other means of cooling, such as vaporizing mixed refrigerant in a single exchanger, can be used.
• Stream 110, or a vapor portion of stream 110 downstream of the heat exchanger, 112 can be throttled or isentropically expanded into the column 114. Energy obtained from the expansion can be used to at least partially compress another vapor stream, for example process stream 116, 120, 150, or 156.
• Scrub column 114 separates the feed into a bottoms liquid 126 & 127 enriched in heavier hydrocarbons and a "first" overhead vapor stream 116 enriched in methane.
• One portion 127 of the bottoms liquid is vaporized in reboiler 128 to provide boilup for the column 114.
• the reboiler 128 can use a portion of feed stream 110, or any other suitable process stream, to provide heat duty.
• the column may also have an intermediate reboiler, for which the feed stream portion also can provide heat duty.
• the remaining bottoms liquid 126 generally described as Natural Gas Liquid (NGL), is fed to NGL fractionation system 128.
• NGL Natural Gas Liquid
• NGL is usually reduced in pressure and separated using known separation apparatus such as deethanizer, depropanizer, and/or debutanizer to provide two or more hydrocarbon fractions.
• the bottoms liquid 126 is separated into a stream (the ethane-enriched stream) containing methane and ethane with very little propane and factions containing primarily C 3 , C 4 , and C 5+ hydrocarbons (i.e. n-pentane, isopentane and heavier).
• the ethane- enriched stream 130 is deethanizer overhead and contains less than about 0.05% propane.
• the use of the ethane-enriched second reflux stream 136 allows high recovery of propane (96-99%) and butane (almost 100%) in the fractionation system.
• a portion of C 5+ hydrocarbons is withdrawn as "absorber" liquid 140, which is pumped to scrub column pressure (i.e. pressure sufficient to introduce it to the scrub column 114, including equipment pressure drops and static pressure) by pump 142, cooled in heat exchanger 144 against vaporizing propane, further cooled in the main heat exchanger 122, and introduced into a reflux drum 118, either mixed with the second reflux stream obtained from NGL fractionation or, as shown in ghost lines, directly.
• Heat exchanger 144 can be placed before or after the pump 142.
• the absorber liquid 140 could be fed directly to the top or near the top of the scrub column 114, or, in a preferred implementation, combined with the first overhead vapor stream 116 upstream of the main heat exchanger 122.
• Ethane-enriched stream 130 is cooled and partially condensed in the heat exchanger 132 against vaporizing propane, cooled and completely condensed in the main heat exchanger 122, pumped to the scrub column pressure by pump 134, preferably combined with the absorber liquid 140, and introduced into the reflux drum as stream 136. Any uncondensed vapor upstream of the pump 134 can be separated, condensed in the middle bundle of the main heat exchanger 122, and combined with the liquefied natural gas product 124.
• Absorber liquid 140 can also be obtained from lighter products of NGL fractionation such as C 3 and C 4 hydrocarbons, either pure or blended together. It may contain mostly C 5 hydrocarbons without C 6 and heavier components that may be rejected in an additional distillation column. Stream 130 can be nearly-pure ethane, methane being rejected in an additional distillation column. A portion of ethane or ethane-methane mixture can be recovered as product.
• the first overhead vapor stream 116 is cooled and partially condensed in the warm bundle of the main heat exchanger 122 and introduced to the reflux drum 118. It can be compressed (not shown) prior to cooling in main heat exchanger 122.
• the liquid portion is returned to the scrub column as the "first" liquid reflux 119.
• the methane-enriched "second" vapor portion 120 is liquefied and preferably subcooled in the middle and cold bundle of the main heat exchanger to provide LNG product 124.
• the partially condensed first overhead vapor stream 116 is combined with the second reflux stream 136 and/or the absorber liquid 140 in or upstream of the reflux drum 118 so that some equilibration takes place.
• the first liquid reflux (the liquid portion of the partially condensed first overhead vapor) gets mixed with the second liquid reflux 136 and/or the absorber liquid 140.
• the second reflux stream 136 is less than about 20% of the total reflux (inclusive of any absorber liquid), and the absorber liquid 140 is less than about 10% of the total reflux. If the natural gas feed 110 does not contain components that are suitable for the absorber liquid 140 or does not contain them in sufficient quantity they can be introduced as an additional feed.
• the second vapor stream 120 may be compressed (not shown) prior to introducing into main heat exchanger 122 and/or reduced in pressure before subcooling. If the LNG product 124 is stored at high pressure (PNGL) there is no need for subcooling in the cold bundle.
• the main heat exchanger 122 is cooled by vaporizing a recycled mixed refrigerant (MR) stream 150, which is compressed, cooled by multiple stages of vaporizing propane, and separated into a liquid 152 and a lighter vapor 156 (compression, cooling, and phase separation not shown).
• MR mixed refrigerant
• Vapor 156 is condensed, cooled, and expanded through throttling valve 158. Liquid 152 is cooled, expanded through throttle valve 154, and combined with vaporizing condensed vapor 156.
• the combined MR streams are completely vaporized and leave the main heat exchanger 122 as stream 150.
• Throttling valves 154 and/or 156 can be replaced with isentropic dense fluid expanders, such as hydraulic turbines. Any other refrigeration system or a combination of systems, including pure fluid cascade and isentropic vapor expansion as described in US-A-6308531 , can be used to refrigerate the main heat exchanger 122.
• Figure 2 shows a modification of the embodiment of Figure 1 , where the reflux drum 118 is replaced with an absorption column 218.
• Absorber liquid 140 and/or the second reflux stream 136 are fed to the top of the absorption column 218. They may also enter the column independently at the same location or at different locations with at least one of the two streams fed to the top of the absorption column 218.
• absorber liquid 140 can be fed some stages below the top of the column or at the bottom of the column.
• the second overhead vapor stream 120 is withdrawn from the top of the column 218 and the first reflux stream 119 is withdrawn from the bottom of the column. Multiple stages in the column 218 improve the absorption of heavy components from the ascending vapor.
• FIG 3 shows another modification of the embodiment of Figure 1 , in which the ethane-enriched stream 130 and absorber liquid 140 are combined to form a single stream 330.
• Stream 330 is cooled and partially condensed in heat exchanger 332 against vaporizing propane, further cooled and completely condensed in the main heat exchanger 122, pumped to the scrub column pressure in pump 334, and introduced into the reflux drum.
• the mixing of streams 130 and 140 at a warmer temperature and condensing them together is thermodynamically more efficient than the configurations shown in Figures 1 and 2.
• the benefit is similar to the benefit of the absorption column 218 as absorption takes place in heat exchangers 332 and 122.
• This configuration also eliminates passages in the main heat exchanger 122.
• streams 116 and 330 can be combined downstream of the main heat exchanger 122 and before the reflux drum 118.
• Figure 4 shows a modification of the embodiment of Figure 3, in which the combined ethane-enriched stream and absorber liquid stream 330 is fed to a phase separator 430.
• the liquid portion 438 is pumped by pump 432 to the pressure of the scrub column 114 and combined with the first overhead vapor 116 upstream of the main heat exchanger 122.
• the combined stream 416 exiting the main heat exchanger 122 is then fed to the reflux drum 118.
• the smaller vapor portion 436 is condensed in the main heat exchanger 122 and either pumped by pump 434 and introduced to the reflux drum 118, optionally combined with stream 416, or combined with liquefied natural gas upstream of the subcooling portion (cold bundle) of the main heat exchanger 122, where the liquid can be reduced in pressure prior to subcooling. Combining both streams 130 & 116 and the absorber liquid 140 upstream of the main heat exchanger 122 further increases thermodynamic efficiency of the process.
• stream 438 can be cooled in a separate circuit in main heat exchanger 122 prior to introduction to the reflux drum 118. If stream 130 contains little methane, which can be rejected in the scrub column 114 or in an additional demethanizer column in the fractionation system, then stream 330 can be completely condensed and there is no need for the phase separator 430, there is no stream 436, and pump 434 can also be eliminated. Further, stream 438 could be fed directly the scrub column 114, for example to the second stage below the top of the column.
• Figure 5 shows a modification of the embodiment of Figure 4, in which the separated vapor portion 436 is compressed to the pressure of the scrub column 114 in compressor 530, cooled and condensed in heat exchanger 532 and the resultant stream 536 combined with the liquid portion 438 to form stream 538.
• Heat exchanger 532 could be a series of heat exchangers, the first one using cooling water, the other(s) using vaporizing propane.
• Stream 438 can be warmed up to close-to ambient temperature prior to compression in an additional heat exchanger, and cooled back down following the compression in the aftercooler and the same additional heat exchanger for additional thermodynamic efficiency.
• Stream 536 may be a dense supercritical fluid.
• Figure 6 shows another modification of the embodiment of Figure 4, in which the first overhead vapor 116 is partially condensed by cooling in heat exchanger 612, with, for example, either or both of the reflux stream 136 and the absorber liquid 140 but preferably by vaporizing propane.
• the resulting first two- phase stream is separated in phase separator 618 into a "second" overhead vapor stream 616, and a methane-rich liquid stream 619.
• the liquid stream 619 is returned to scrub column 114 as reflux.
• Stream 616 now at a temperature matching the temperatures at the bottom of the main heat exchanger 122, is mixed with stream 438, cooled in main heat exchanger 122, and fed to the reflux drum 628 as a two-phase stream 626.
• the overhead vapor stream 620 from the reflux drum 628 is liquefied in the main heat exchanger 122 and recovered as liquefied natural gas product 124.
• the liquid stream 629 from the reflux drum 628, optionally reheated in the main heat exchanger 122, is returned to the scrub column 114 at the same or different location than reflux stream 619.
• Phase separator 618 and/or reflux drum 628 can be replaced with absorption columns having two-phase feed at the bottom and refluxes provided by cooled streams 136 and/or 140 at the top.
• the column 1 14 operates at 840 psia (5.8 MPa) and has an intermediate reboiler heated by 40% of the stream 110 bypassing the first two stages of propane cooling and a bottom reboiler 128 at about 13O 0 F (55°C).
• Column overhead 116 is cooled from -62.3 0 F (-52.4 0 C) to -77.5°F (-60.8 0 C) in the warm bundle of the main heat exchanger 122 and introduced into the reflux drum 118 as a two-phase stream containing about 15% of liquid.
• Scrub column bottoms stream 126 is sent to the fractionation systems 128, consisting of a series of distillation columns comprising deethanizer, depropanizer, and debutanizer.
• Stream 140 is a liquid at 17 psia (117 kPa) and a flow rate of 406 Ibmol/h (184 kgmol/h), and contains about 51% isopentane, 36% pentane, 12% hexanes and less than 1% of lighter components. It is pumped, by a pump not shown in Figure 3, to 420 psia (2.9 MPa) prior to mixing with ethane-enriched stream 130. The combined stream 330 is cooled in heat exchanger 332 by propane to -32.3°F (-35.7°C) and completely condensed by further cooling to -77.5 0 F (-60.8 0 C) in the warm bundle of the main heat exchanger 122.
• the condensed stream is pumped to the scrub column pressure in pump 334 and introduced to the reflux drum 118.
• Liquid reflux 119 is returned to the top of the scrub column 114 at -74.2°F (-59.O 0 C); there is a heat effect of pumping and mixing in the phase separator.
• Stream 120 which contains 91.3% methane, 7.8% ethane, 0.7% nitrogen, 0.2% propane, and only trace amounts of heavier hydrocarbons, is at -74.2°F (-59.O 0 C) and has a flow rate of 83,571 Ibmol/h (37,907 kgmol/h).
• the main heat exchanger 122 is cooled, as described with reference to Figure 1 , by mixed refrigerant comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane.

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