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 method is described for cooling a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, in particular of natural gas, wherein the hydrocarbon-rich fraction (1) is cooled against at least one coolant circuit (10-15), the coolant has at least nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane and/or C2+ hydrocarbons, the coolant is compressed by means of at least one turbocompressor (C1) having one or more gas-lubricated sliding-ring seals, and as primary seal gas, a substream of the coolant and/or an external gas or gas mixture having substantially nitrogen and/or methane is fed to the turbocompressor (C1), and as secondary seal gas, nitrogen is fed. According to the invention, at least one nitrogen-rich stream (21) is withdrawn at least at times from the coolant circuit (10-15).

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 a process for separating off C2+-hydrocarbons from a feed fraction containing essentially nitrogen and hydrocarbons, wherein a) the feed fraction (1, 20) is partially condensed (E1, E1?, E3) and separated by rectification (T) into a C2+-hydrocarbon-rich fraction (11) and a C2+-hydrocarbon-depleted fraction (2), b) the C2+-hydrocarbon-depleted fraction (2) is partially condensed (E2) and separated into a liquid fraction which forms at least in part the reflux (3) for the separation by rectification (T), and a C2+-hydrocarbon-depleted gas fraction (4), and c) the C2+-hydrocarbon-depleted gas fraction (4) is separated in a double-column process (N) into a nitrogen-rich fraction (8?) and a methane-rich fraction (7?). According to the invention, the liquid fraction obtained in process step b) is fed (10) at least in part likewise to the double-column process (N) and separated therein into a nitrogen-rich fraction (8?) and a methane-rich fraction (7?).