Abstract: A method for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG), wherein a feed natural gas (NG) containing methane and higher hydrocarbons, including benzene, is cooled to a first temperature level in a first cooling step using a first mixed refrigerant (WMR) and is subsequently subjected to counter-current absorption using an absorption liquid, wherein a gas fraction depleted in the higher hydrocarbons is formed, at least a portion of the gas fraction is cooled to a second temperature level in a second cooling step using a second mixed refrigerant (CMR) and is liquefied to form the liquefied natural gas (LNG), characterized in that the absorption liquid is formed from another portion of the gas fraction, which portion preferably condenses above the counter-current absorption and is returned to the counter-current absorption, in particular without a pump.

Abstract: A process for producing liquefied natural gas, in which natural gas feed having methane and higher hydrocarbons including benzene is cooled down to a first temperature level in a first cooling step using a first mixed coolant and then subjected to a countercurrent absorption using an absorption liquid to form a methane-enriched and benzene-depleted gas fraction, wherein a portion of the gas fraction is cooled down to a second temperature level in a second cooling step using a second mixed coolant and liquefied to give the liquefied natural gas. In the plant proposed, the first and second mixed coolants are low in propane or free of propane, and the absorption liquid is formed from a further portion of the gas fraction which is condensed above the countercurrent absorption and returned to the countercurrent absorption without pumping. The present invention likewise provides a corresponding plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for condensing a gas, wherein the gas is subjected to cooling in indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant and at least part of the refrigerant is subjected, after the heat exchange with the gas, to compression by means of a drive (GT1) that produces waste heat and to a partial or complete condensing process. After the partial or complete condensing process, a first portion of the refrigerant is subjected to the heat exchange with the gas and a second portion of the refrigerant is subjected, in succession, to pressurization, heating by means of the waste heat of the drive (GT1) and work-performing expansion and thereafter is fed back to the partial or complete condensing process. The invention further relates to a corresponding system.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a core tube extending in a shell space, several tubes wound around the core tube, and a liquid distributor. The liquid distributor is arranged above the tubes in the shell space and applies a liquid phase of a first medium to the tubes. The liquid distributor has distributor arms projecting in the radial direction from the core tube, an annular channel extending above the distributor arms in a circumferential direction of the shell and a collector tank formed by the core tube. The annular channel and the collector tank are each designed to collect the first medium. The distributor arms form at least one first container and at least one second container separated from the first container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger (1), comprising: a shell (2) surrounding a shell space (3) of the heat exchanger (1), wherein the shell space (3) is designed to receive a fluid first medium (M); a core tube (4) extending in the shell space (3); a tube bundle (5) having several tubes (50) wound around the core tube (4), wherein the tube bundle (5) is designed to receive at least one fluid second medium (M?) so that heat can be transferred indirectly between the first medium (M) and the at least one second medium (M?); and a liquid distributor (6), arranged above the tube bundle (5) in the shell space (3), for applying a liquid phase (F) of the first medium (M) to the tube bundle (5), wherein the liquid distributor (6) has distributor arms (60) projecting in the radial direction (R) from the core tube (3); an annular channel (61) extending above the distributor arms (60) in a circumferential direction (U) of the shell (2), and a collector tank (62) formed by the core tube (4), wherein the annular chan

Abstract: An overhead recycle process apparatus (100) comprises a heat exchange arrangement (116, 118, 120, 146, 150, 198) and a separator (110) in fluid communication with an absorber (104) and a de-ethaniser (106), the absorber (104) having a reflux inlet port (164). An ethane rectifier (170) in fluid communication with the de-ethaniser (106) is also provided, the de-ethaniser (106) being arranged to provide cooling by heat exchange to an overhead stream path (194) of the ethane rectifier (170). The ethane rectifier (170) comprises a reflux drum (182) having an ethane outlet port (184) and a vapour phase outlet port (185) in fluid communication with the reflux inlet port (164) of the absorber (104).

Abstract: A nitrogen recovery apparatus for recovering nitrogen from natural gas comprises a separator having a liquid fraction port and a vapour fraction port in fluid communication with a split flow arrangement, the split flow arrangement having a sub-cooled fluid path and an expanded fluid path. A fractionating column has a reflux inlet port in fluid communication with the subcooled fluid path above a middle feed port thereof, the middle feed port being in fluid communication with the expanded fluid path. A bottom feed port of the fractionating column is in fluid communication with the liquid fraction port of the separator. A side reboiler circuit and a reboiler circuit are operably coupled to the fractionating column below the bottom feed port. A bottom hydrocarbon product stream path is in fluid communication with a bottom hydrocarbon port of the fractionating column.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a liquefied hydrocarbon-rich fraction (product fraction) having a nitrogen content of ?1 mol %, wherein the hydrocarbon-rich fraction is liquefied and subcooled with a refrigeration circuit and then subjected to a rectificative removal of nitrogen is disclosed.

Abstract: A method is provided for separating off acid gases, in particular CO2 and H2S, from a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, in particular natural gas. The hydrocarbon-rich fraction is cooled and partially condensed. The resultant CO2-enriched liquid fraction is separated by rectification into a CO2-rich liquid fraction and a CO2-depleted gas fraction. The hydrocarbon-rich fraction is cooled close to the temperature of the CO2 triple point by means of a closed multistage refrigeration circuit. The refrigerant is a CO2 fraction of greater than 99.5% by volume. The rectification column is operated at a pressure between 40 and 65 bar. The reboiler of the rectification column is heated by means of a condensing refrigerant substream of the refrigeration circuit that is at a suitable pressure level.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a liquefied hydrocarbon-rich fraction (product fraction) having a nitrogen content of ?1 mol %, wherein the hydrocarbon-rich fraction is liquefied and subcooled with a refrigeration circuit and then subjected to a rectificative removal of nitrogen is disclosed.

Abstract: A process for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, in particular natural gas, where the hydrocarbon-rich fraction is precooled and subjected to water separation and a subsequent drying process before liquefaction and the hydrocarbon-rich fraction is liquefied against at least one mixed refrigerant circuit, where the refrigerant circulating in the mixed refrigerant circuit is compressed in at least two stages, subsequently at least partially condensed and the liquid fraction formed here is at least partly mixed into the refrigerant which has been compressed to an intermediate pressure is described. A substream of the liquid fraction serves for precooling the hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied before it is fed to the water separation, where heat exchange between the liquid fraction and the hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied is effected by means of at least one heat exchanger system.

Abstract: A method for recovering a helium product fraction (6) from a nitrogen- and helium-containing feed fraction (3) is described, wherein the nitrogen- and helium-containing feed fraction (3) is partially condensed (E1), separated into a first helium-enriched fraction (5) and a first nitrogen-enriched fraction (8) and the former is cleaned again in an adsorptive manner. According to the invention, the separation is carried out in a separation column (T), which is supplied with the first nitrogen-enriched fraction (8) as return flow and with a sub-flow of the second nitrogen-enriched fraction as stripping gas (12), wherein the stripping gas quantity (12) is set such that a third nitrogen-enriched fraction (20), which contains at least 30% of the nitrogen contained in the first nitrogen-enriched fraction (8), can be recovered in the separation column (T).

Abstract: A process for cooling a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, in particular natural gas, against a refrigerant circuit. In this process, the compressed refrigerant is divided into three refrigerant substreams. Whereas the first substream is work-producingly expanded in a warm expander and the second substream is work-producingly expanded in a cold expander, the third substream is work-producingly expanded at the lowest temperature level. The result therefrom is that the operating point of the cold expander is shifted in such a manner that the refrigeration output of the two expanders is situated in a ratio between 40/60 and 60/40.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated process and apparatus for liquefaction of natural gas and recovery of natural gas liquids. In particular, the improved process and apparatus reduces the energy consumption of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) unit by using a portion of the already cooled overhead vapor from a fractionation column from an NGL (natural gas liquefaction) unit to, depending upon composition, provide, for example, reflux for fractionation in the NGL unit and/or a cold feed for the LNG unit, or by cooling, within the NGL unit, a residue gas originating from a fractionation column of the NGL unit and using the resultant cooled residue gas to, depending upon composition, provide, for example, reflux/feed for fractionation in the NGL and/or a cold feed for the LNG unit, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the LNG unit and rendering the process more energy-efficient.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated process and apparatus for liquefaction of natural gas and recovery of natural gas liquids. In particular, the improved process and apparatus reduces the energy consumption of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) unit by using a portion of the already cooled overhead vapor from a fractionation column from an NGL (natural gas liquefaction) unit to, depending upon composition, provide, for example, reflux for fractionation in the NGL unit and/or a cold feed for the LNG unit, or by cooling, within the NGL unit, a residue gas originating from a fractionation column of the NGL unit and using the resultant cooled residue gas to, depending upon composition, provide, for example, reflux/feed for fractionation in the NGL and/or a cold feed for the LNG unit, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the LNG unit and rendering the process more energy-efficient.

Abstract: A process for liquefying and subcooling a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, particularly natural gas, is described wherein, once cooled down, the fraction is subjected to a partial condensation to remove heavy hydrocarbons, particularly benzene, by the steps of: a) the liquefied hydrocarbon-rich fraction is subcooled in a separate heat exchanger (normal mode), b) the supply of the liquefied hydrocarbon-rich fraction to the heat exchanger is interrupted at the latest when a defined solid deposition value in the heat exchanger is reached (cleaning mode), c) the solid in the heat exchanger is melted with a defrost gas and drawn off from the heat exchanger and d) the liquefied hydrocarbon-rich fraction is subsequently returned to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A method for treating a hydrocarbon-rich gas mixture containing mercury and acid gases, said gas mixture being natural gas in particular, wherein the gas mixture is subject to an adsorptive mercury removal and a downstream acid-gas scrubbing. Before the gas mixture to be treated is fed to the adsorptive mercury removal, the gas mixture to be treated is heated at least to such an extent that the gas mixture does not fall below the water dew point in the adsorptive mercury removal and does not fall below the hydrocarbon dew point in the acid-gas scrubbing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a toggle switch for a plurality of switching positions, comprising a housing, a toggle lever supported on the housing and has a pivot axis, a switching cylinder supported on the housing and has a rotary axis, and a detent mechanism for catching the toggle lever in at least one switching position. The pivot axis of the toggle lever is located in the region of the housing top side with a first gear segment connected to the toggle lever and a second gear segment connected to the switching cylinder, the toggle lever and the switching cylinder engaged with each other. Light-emitting elements arranged inside the housing emit a light signal for indicating the switching position or other information. At least one element of the toggle switch is transparent, so that the light signal is emitted outwardly through the transparent element.

Abstract: A device for mounting a switch or the like on a mounting plate having a front side, a back side as well as a mounting hole. The switch has a housing with a housing upper side and at least one fixing projection insertable into the mounting hole from the back side of the mounting plate. Moreover, both a support to support the fixing projection against the front side of the mounting plate and counter-supporting elements to support the housing upper side against the back side of the mounting plate are provided. The counter-supporting elements are springs.

Abstract: A process for cooling a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, in particular natural gas, against a refrigerant circuit. In this process, the compressed refrigerant is divided into three refrigerant substreams. Whereas the first substream is work-producingly expanded in a warm expander and the second substream is work-producingly expanded in a cold expander, the third substream is work-producingly expanded at the lowest temperature level. The result therefrom is that the operating point of the cold expander is shifted in such a manner that the refrigeration output of the two expanders is situated in a ratio between 40/60 and 60/40.