MIXED REFRIGERANT COOLING PROCESS AND SYSTEM

• Main Authors: MARK JULIAN ROBERTS, ADAM ADRIAN BROSTOW, GOWRI KRISHNAMURTHY
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.07.2023
• Subjects: BLASTING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; WEAPONS

The present invention relates to methods of increasing the operability, capacity, and efficiency of natural gas liquefaction processes, with a focus on mixed refrigerant cycles. The present invention also relates to natural gas liquefaction systems in which the above-mentioned methods can be carried out. More specifically, a refrigerant used in a pre-cooling heat exchanger (460) of a natural gas liquefaction plant is withdrawn from the pre-cooling heat exchanger (460), separated into liquid and vapor streams in a liquid- vapor separator (416) after being cooled and compressed. The vapor portion is further compressed, cooled, and fully condensed, then returned to the liquid-vapor separator (416). Optionally, the fully condensed stream may be circulated through a heat exchanger before being returned to the liquid-vapor separator (416) for the purpose of cooling other streams, including the liquid stream from the liquid-vapor separator. (FIG. 4)