INTEGRALLY-GEARED COMPRESSORS FOR PRECOOLING IN LNG APPLICATIONS

• Main Authors: PELAGOTTI ANTONIO, BANCHI NICOLA
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.02.2016
• 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

A natural gas liquefaction system is disclosed, which comprises at least a pre-cooling loop, through which a first refrigerant is adapted to circulate. The pre-cooling loop comprises at least one compressor for pressurizing the first refrigerant; at least one prime mover for driving the compressor; at least one condenser for removing heat from the first refrigerant; at least a first expansion element for expanding the first refrigerant; at least a first heat exchanger for transferring heat from natural gas to the first refrigerant. The system further comprises at least a cooling loop, downstream of the pre-cooling loop, where through a second refrigerant circulates. The natural gas is adapted to be sequentially cooled in the pre-cooling loop and in the cooling loop. The compressor of the pre-cooling loop is an integrally-geared turbo-compressor comprising a plurality of compressor stages.