Natural Gas Patents (Class 62/611)
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Patent number: 12135165Abstract: A method for liquefying a hydrocarbon stream using a heat exchanger having a plurality of plates parallel to each other and to a longitudinal direction that is substantially vertical, the exchanger having a length measured in the longitudinal direction, the plates being stacked with spacing so as to define between them at least one first series of passages for the flow of at least part of a two-phase cooling stream vaporizing by exchanging heat with at least the hydrocarbon stream.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2020Date of Patent: November 5, 2024Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Natacha Haik-Beraud, Jean-Marc Peyron, Sophie Lazzarini, Thomas Morel
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Patent number: 12122964Abstract: The invention relates to various nonlimiting embodiments that include methods, apparatuses or systems for processing natural gas comprising a heavies removal column processing natural gas and light oil reflux. The overhead stream goes to heavies treated natural gas storage. The heavies removal column reboiler bottoms stream product is input to a debutanizer column. The debutanizer column overhead lights are input to a flash drum where the bottoms is pumped through a heat exchanger as a light oil reflux input to the heavies removal column, while the debutanizer reboiler bottoms product is stored as stabilized condensate. Alternatively, debutanizer column overhead lights are sent to heavies treated gas storage and the bottoms stream product goes to a depentanizer column, the overhead lights are pumped through a heat exchanger as a light oil reflux input to the heavies removal column, while the depentanizer reboiler bottoms product is stabilized condensate.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2023Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Paul R. Davies, Michael J. Calderon, Dale L. Embry, David W. Larkin, Qi Ma
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Patent number: 12044469Abstract: A system for natural gas cooling using nitrogen. The system can include a nitrogen liquefier and a natural gas cooler. The nitrogen liquefier can provide liquid nitrogen to the natural gas cooler. One or more heat exchangers of the natural gas cooler can include a gaseous nitrogen output that is in fluid communication with the nitrogen liquefier. In response to receiving gaseous nitrogen at the nitrogen liquefier, from the one or more heat exchangers, a production rate of the the nitrogen liquefier is adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2023Date of Patent: July 23, 2024Assignee: COSMODYNE, LLCInventors: John Jefferson Odell, Irina Dean
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Patent number: 11988069Abstract: Systems and methods include a computer-implemented method for providing a predictive pressure protection system. Flare sources, performance limits, and relationships between control valves and relief valves are established. A flare simulator is generated using piping isometric drawings. An emergency event is monitored, and information for the emergency event is filtered based on a control valve limit breach. Event start and finish time periods are divided into cases representing smaller time frames. Source max loads are determined for each case, and each case is run through the flare simulator. Flare/relief valve performance indicators are determined based on the source max loads after running each case.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2020Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Ahmer Irshad, Wael F. Blaies, Mahdi A. Al-Dajani
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Patent number: 11913717Abstract: A natural gas liquefying apparatus includes: a precooling unit, which is a treatment unit configured to precool natural gas; a liquefying unit, which is a treatment unit configured to liquefy the natural gas; a refrigerant cooling unit, which is a treatment unit configured to cool a liquefying refrigerant; a compression unit configured to compress vaporized refrigerants; and a pipe rack including air-cooled coolers arrayed and arranged on an upper surface. The treatment units and the compression unit are separately arranged in a first arrangement region and a second arrangement region arranged opposed to each other across a long side of the pipe rack. The pipe rack interposed between the first and second arrangement regions has a region in which no air-cooled cooler is arranged in order to arrange a plurality of pipes, through which refrigerants are allowed to flow, in a direction of a short side of the pipe rack.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2019Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: JGC CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshinori Yamada, Kaoru Sawayanagi, Tomoharu Inoue, Yuichi Yoshizawa, Masahito Seiwa, Ken Ichimura
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Patent number: 11827317Abstract: A marine vessel and method for carbon capture and sequestration are described. The marine vessel includes a buoyant hull, a cryogenic storage tank within the hull, and a gaseous carbon dioxide loading manifold. The marine vessel also includes a carbon dioxide liquefaction system in fluid communication with the cryogenic storage tank downstream of the carbon dioxide liquefaction system and with the gaseous carbon dioxide loading manifold upstream of the carbon dioxide liquefaction system. Finally, the marine vessel includes a carbon dioxide supercritical system in fluid communication with the cryogenic storage tank. In operation, the marine vessel moves between multiple locations, where gaseous carbon dioxide is onboarded, liquified and stored. Thereafter, the marine vessel transports the liquified carbon dioxide to a location adjacent an offshore geological reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2023Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: StoreCo2 UK LimitedInventor: Keith William Hutchinson
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Patent number: 11774173Abstract: A technology liquefies natural gas. The natural gas liquefaction method pre-cools treated natural gas by ethane evaporation, sub-cools liquefied gas using cooled nitrogen as a refrigerant, reduces liquefied gas pressure, separates non-liquefied gas and diverts liquefied natural gas. Before pre-cooling the natural gas is compressed, ethane is evaporated during the multi-stage pre-cooling of liquefied gas with simultaneous evaporation of ethane using cooled ethane as a refrigerant. Ethane generated by evaporation is compressed, condensed and used as a refrigerant during the cooling of liquefied gas and nitrogen, with nitrogen being compressed, cooled, expanded and fed to the natural gas sub-cooling stage. The natural gas liquefaction unit contains a natural gas liquefaction circuit, an ethane circuit and a nitrogen circuit. The natural gas liquefaction circuit includes a natural gas compressor, a cooler unit, ethane vaporizers, a closed-end subcooling heat exchanger, and a separator, connected in series.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Publichnoe Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo “NOVATEK”Inventors: Rafail Minigulovich Minigulov, Sergei Vladimirovich Rudenko, Oleg Evgenievich Vasin, Dmitriy Nikolaevich Gritsishin, Evgeniy Igorevich Sobolev
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Patent number: 11713423Abstract: The invention relates to various nonlimiting embodiments that include methods, apparatuses or systems for processing natural gas comprising a heavies removal column processing natural gas and light oil reflux. The overhead stream goes to heavies treated natural gas storage. The heavies removal column reboiler bottoms stream product is input to a debutanizer column. The debutanizer column overhead lights are input to a flash drum where the bottoms is pumped through a heat exchanger as a light oil reflux input to the heavies removal column, while the debutanizer reboiler bottoms product is stored as stabilized condensate. Alternatively, debutanizer column overhead lights are sent to heavies treated gas storage and the bottoms stream product goes to a depentanizer column, the overhead lights are pumped through a heat exchanger as a light oil reflux input to the heavies removal column, while the depentanizer reboiler bottoms product is stabilized condensate.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Paul R. Davies, Michael J. Calderon, Dale L. Embry, David W. Larkin, Qi Ma
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Patent number: 11703276Abstract: A system and method for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a natural gas stream. Each of a plurality of LNG trains liquefies a portion of the natural gas stream to generate a warm LNG stream in a first operating mode, and a cold LNG stream in a second operating mode. A sub-cooling unit is configured to, in the first operating mode, sub-cool the warm LNG streams to thereby generate a combined cold LNG stream. The warm LNG streams have a higher temperature than a temperature of the cold LNG streams in the second operating mode and the combined cold LNG stream. The combined cold LNG stream has, in the first operating mode, a higher flow rate than the flow rate of the cold LNG streams in the second operating mode.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering CompanyInventors: Sorin T. Lupascu, Yow-Yeen Lee
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Patent number: 11698169Abstract: A vessel for the transport of liquefied gas has a hull, a cargo storage tank arranged in the hull for storing liquefied gas and an engine to propel the ship. A compressor has a compressor inlet connected to a vapour space of the at least one cargo storage tank for receiving boil-off gas at a first pressure and a compressor outlet for supplying pressurized boil-off gas to the at least one engine at a second pressure exceeding the first pressure. A boil-off gas recovery system is provided for recovery of boil off gas. The boil-off gas recovery system has a cooling section with a cooling section inlet connected to the compressor outlet to recondense at least part of the pressurized boil-off gas and a boil-off gas storage tank having a boil-off gas storage tank inlet connected to the cooling section outlet for storing the recondensed pressurized boil-off gas.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2017Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: SHELL USA, INC.Inventors: Mark Andrew Hodgson, Stephen Andrew Brown
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Patent number: 11656015Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus is a refrigeration cycle apparatus having a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a supercooler, an expansion device, and an evaporator connected by a refrigerant pipe, and configured to circulate refrigerant containing refrigerant having a temperature gradient, wherein the supercooler sets a degree of supercooling of the refrigerant, which is a temperature difference between a temperature from the condenser to a refrigerant flow inlet of the supercooler and a temperature in a refrigerant flow outlet on a downstream side of the supercooler, to be larger than the temperature gradient generated at a time of refrigerant shortage of the refrigerant between the refrigerant flow inlet and the refrigerant flow outlet of the supercooler, the refrigeration cycle apparatus including a refrigerant amount determination unit configured to compare a determination threshold value set to a value larger than the temperature gradient of the refrigerant with the degree of supercooType: GrantFiled: September 14, 2017Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Sata, Tomotaka Ishikawa
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Patent number: 11566840Abstract: A technology liquefies natural gas. The natural gas liquefaction method pre-cools treated natural gas by ethane evaporation, sub-cools liquefied gas using cooled nitrogen as a refrigerant, reduces liquefied gas pressure, separates non-liquefied gas and diverts liquefied natural gas. Before pre-cooling the natural gas is compressed, ethane is evaporated during the multi-stage pre-cooling of liquefied gas with simultaneous evaporation of ethane using cooled ethane as a refrigerant. Ethane generated by evaporation is compressed, condensed and used as a refrigerant during the cooling of liquefied gas and nitrogen, with nitrogen being compressed, cooled, expanded and fed to the natural gas sub-cooling stage. The natural gas liquefaction unit contains a natural gas liquefaction circuit, an ethane circuit and a nitrogen circuit. The natural gas liquefaction circuit includes a natural gas compressor, a cooler unit, ethane vaporizers, a closed-end subcooling heat exchanger, and a separator, connected in series.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2017Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Publichnoe Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo “NOVATEK”Inventors: Rafail Minigulovich Minigulov, Sergei Vladimirovich Rudenko, Oleg Evgenievich Vasin, Dmitriy Nikolaevich Gritsishin, Evgeniy Igorevich Sobolev
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Patent number: 11150015Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling the production of a liquefied natural gas product stream (31) obtained by removing heat from natural gas by indirect heat exchange with an expanded heavy mixed refrigerant and an expanded light mixed refrigerant. The method comprises executing a control loop comprising maintaining the flow rate of the liquefied natural gas product stream (31) at a dependent set point and maintaining the flow rates of the heavy mixed refrigerant (60a) and the light mixed refrigerant (65) at operator manipulated set points (80, 81). The method further comprises executing an override control loop comprising: determining an override set point (95?) for the flow rate of the liquefied natural gas and computing an override set point (80?) for the flow rate of the heavy mixed refrigerant and an override set point (81?) to reduce residual available power of the electric motor.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANYInventors: Adriaan Spaander, Srinivas Nurani Ramachandran
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Patent number: 11143453Abstract: A system and method for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a natural gas stream. Each of a plurality of LNG trains liquefies a portion of the natural gas stream to generate a warm LNG stream in a first operating mode, and a cold LNG stream in a second operating mode. A sub-cooling unit is configured to, in the first operating mode, sub-cool the warm LNG streams generated by each of the plurality of LNG trains to thereby generate a plurality of cold LNG streams. The warm LNG streams have a higher temperature than a temperature of the cold LNG streams in the second operating mode and the plurality of cold LNG streams. The combined flow rate of the plurality of cold LNG streams has, in the first operating mode, a higher flow rate than the combined flow rate of the cold LNG streams in the second operating mode.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Sorin Lupascu, Yow-Yeen Lee
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Patent number: 11083109Abstract: A heat exchange system includes a heat-absorbing substance such as Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), a heat dissipation apparatus, a water storage tank, a heating portion, and a cooling portion. The heating portion is coupled between the LNG and the water storage tank. The cooling portion is coupled between the heat dissipation apparatus and the water storage tank. The cooling portion transfers heat of the heat dissipation apparatus to water of the water storage tank to heat the heating portion, and the heating portion transfers heat of the water of the water storage tank to the LNG.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2017Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: HONGFUJIN PRECISION ELECTRONICS (TIANJIN) CO., LTD.Inventors: Tze-Chern Mao, Yen-Chun Fu, Chih-Hung Chang, Chao-Ke Wei, Li-Wen Chang, Ching-Tang Liu, Hung-Chou Chan
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Patent number: 11047307Abstract: A gas turbine engine system includes a gas turbine engine and a fuel turbine system. The gas turbine engine includes a heat exchange system configured to transfer thermal energy from a first compressed air flow and an exhaust gas flow to a fuel to produce a gaseous fuel. The fuel turbine system includes a fuel turbine fluidly coupled to the heat exchange system and a combustor of the gas turbine engine, and a fuel pump fluidly coupled to the heat exchange system and configured to be driven by the fuel turbine. The fuel turbine is configured to extract energy from expansion of the gaseous fuel to produce the gaseous fuel at a lower pressure for delivery to the combustor.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventor: Gary D. Roberge
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Patent number: 11002481Abstract: A process for removing a foulant from a gas stream is disclosed. The gas stream, containing a foulant, is cooled across a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, producing a solid foulant entrained in cryogenic liquid as a foulant slurry, and a foulant-depleted gas stream. The foulant-depleted gas stream is passed through a cryogenic turbine and a first separation vessel, producing a light gas stream and further solid foulant. The solid foulants are recovered by a combination of pressurization, melting, and distillation to produce a liquid foulant product. Heat is recovered from the various streams in the various heat exchangers and the melter.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2017Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Larry Baxter, Christopher Hoeger, Eric Mansfield
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Patent number: 10808997Abstract: A method for controlling the refrigerant composition in a pre-cooled mixed refrigerant (PMR) cycle for LNG production includes obtaining a weather forecast temperature, measuring the concentration of each PMR component and measuring the ambient temperature. The method further includes calculating the optimum concentration of each PMR component for each of the measured and weather forecast temperatures and calculating the time period required to change appropriately each component concentration in transition from the ambient temperature to the weather forecast temperature; and comparing the measured and optimum concentration of each component in view of the calculated time period and direction of change in the component concentrations during the time period.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2019Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: SAKHALIN ENERGY INVESTMENT COMPANY LTD.Inventor: Igor Evgenievich Simdyashkin
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Patent number: 10598431Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of cooling and separating a hydrocarbon stream: (a) passing an hydrocarbon feed stream (7) through a first cooling and separation stage to provide a methane enriched vapour overhead stream (110) and a methane depleted liquid stream (10); (b) passing the methane depleted liquid stream (10) to a fractionation column (200) to obtain a bottom condensate stream (210), a top stream enriched in C1-C2 (220) and a midstream enriched in C3-C4 (230), (c) cooling the upper part of the fractionation column (201) by a condenser (206), (d) obtaining a split stream (112) from the methane enriched vapour overhead stream (110) and obtaining a cooled split stream (112?) by expansion-cooling the split stream (112), (e) providing cooling duty to the top of the fractionation column (201) using the cooled split stream (112?).Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2016Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANYInventors: Johan Jan Barend Pek, Karel Antonius Kusters, Meta Jannetta Van Veghel
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Patent number: 10215486Abstract: A liquefied gas production facility includes a plurality of liquefied gas producers which produce liquefied gas by removing an unnecessary substance and liquefying feed gas containing methane as a main component.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2013Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: JGC CORPORATIONInventors: Keiji Akiyama, Yoshihisa Wakamatsu, Naoyuki Takezawa, Takahiro Kitabayashi, Masahito Seiwa, Yuzuru Kakutani, Takashi Hirata, Kei Kubota
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Patent number: 10180282Abstract: A system and method for increasing the capacity and efficiency of natural gas liquefaction processes by debottlenecking the refrigerant compression system. A secondary compression circuit comprising at least one positive displacement compressor is provided in parallel fluid flow communication with at least a portion of a primary compression circuit comprising at least one dynamic compressor.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Gerard Wehrman, Gowri Krishnamurthy
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Patent number: 10012433Abstract: The process for liquefying a gaseous stream received from a pipeline that is comprised predominantly of ethane and a relatively small amount of other components by using a mixed refrigerant loop incorporating heavy hydrocarbons, as well as a distillation column to remove constituents lighter than ethane.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2015Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: L'AIR LIQUIDE SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDEInventors: Michael A. Turney, Yasser Jebbari
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Patent number: 9989304Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for liquefying natural gas. In another aspect, the invention concerns an improved liquefied natural gas facility employing a closed loop methane refrigeration cycle. In another aspect, the invention concerns the utilization of lean boil-off gas.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2010Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Megan V. Evans, Attilio J. Praderio, Lisa M. Strassle
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Patent number: 9879904Abstract: A variable speed liquid LNG expander (X1) and a variable speed two-phase LNG expander (X2) in line, downstream from X1. The rotational speed of both expanders can be controlled and changed independent from each other. The speed of expander X1 and expander X2 is determined in such way that the amount of liquid LNG downstream from the PHS compared to the feed gas supply is maximized and the amount of vapor and boil-off downstream of X2 is minimized.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: EBARA International CorporationInventor: Hans E. Kimmel
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Patent number: 9709170Abstract: A machine tool including a sealing structure in a rotation unit includes a gas supply amount control unit configured to control so that an air sealing gas supply amount in the case of a deceleration state of the rotation unit determined by a rotation state determination unit becomes larger than an air sealing gas supply amount in the case of a non-deceleration state determined by the rotation state determination unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: FANUC CORPORATIONInventor: Masahiro Murota
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Patent number: 9709325Abstract: Disclosed is a method of retrofitting a full-scale LNG plant to enhance the LNG production capacity of the LNG plant and a method for operating such a retrofit plant. A small scale LNG plant having a capacity less than 2 MTPA can be integrated with a main LNG plant having a capacity of at least 4 MTPA such that end flash gas and boil off gas from the main LNG plant can be liquefied by the small scale LNG plant as incremental LNG. It has been found that the production capacity of the integrated system can be improved by increasing the temperature of the gas stream exiting the main cryogenic heat exchanger of the main LNG plant between 5° C. and 30° C. as compared with the design temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2013Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Daniel Chinn, Stanley Hsing-Wei Huang, Yaofan Yi
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Patent number: 9436497Abstract: A linked multiple independent control system can include two or more independent controllers configured to cooperatively control operating points of a system. In one particular embodiment, the linked multiple independent control system can control operating temperatures of a computing device. In one embodiment, the independent controllers can operate in parallel to develop control effort signals that are used by the computing device to affect operating parameters of one or more components included in the computing device. In another embodiment, independent controllers can have independent temperature thresholds that can affect control effort signals only from the related controller.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2013Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Keith Cox, Kit-Man Wan, Michael F. Culbert
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Patent number: 9400106Abstract: A CO2 recovery system 10A has a CO2 recovery unit 11, a compression unit 12, and a condensed-water supply line 65A that supplies condensed water 64 to an absorbent regenerator 14. The CO2 recovery unit 11 includes a CO2 absorber 13 and the absorbent regenerator 14. The compression unit 12 has a first compressor 61-1 to an nth compressor 61-n that compress CO2 gas 56 emitted from the absorbent regenerator 14, a first separator 63-1 to an nth separator 63-n that reduce moisture in the CO2 gas 56, and a first heat exchanger 66-1 that performs heat exchange between the CO2 gas 56 emitted from the first compressor 61-1 and the condensed water 64 emitted from the first separator 63-1.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventor: Masaki Iijima
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Patent number: 9291388Abstract: A system and method for air separation using a supplemental refrigeration cycle is provided. A portion of the refrigeration required by the air separation plant to produce a liquid product stream is supplied via a supplemental refrigeration circuit configured to direct a cooled refrigerant produced by the turboexpander through the main heat exchanger of the air separation plant. The refrigeration capacity is controlled by removing or adding a portion of the refrigerant in the supplemental refrigeration circuit to adjust the inlet pressure while maintaining a substantially constant volumetric flow rate and substantially constant pressure ratio across the compressor. Removing the refrigerant from the supplemental refrigeration circuit decreases the refrigeration imparted by the supplemental refrigeration circuit and thus decreases the production of the liquid product stream.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Jeremiah J. Rauch, Andrew M. Warta, Hao Wu, David R. Parsnick, Sophia J. Dowd
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Patent number: 9284178Abstract: A method and system(s) are disclosed for integrating a new fuel into an operating transportation system in a continuous, seamless manner, such as diesel fuel being gradually replaced by compressed natural gas (“CNG”) in long haul trucks. Integration can be implemented using two enabling technologies. The first is an engine system capable of operating seamlessly on two or more fuels without regard to the ignition characteristics of the fuels. The second is a communications and computing system for implementing a fueling strategy that optimizes fuel consumption, guides the selection of fuel based upon location, cost and emissions and allows the transition from one fuel to another to appear substantially seamless to the truck driver.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2012Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: RHT Railhaul TechnologiesInventors: Frank Wegner Donnelly, David William Dewis, John D. Watson
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Publication number: 20150143842Abstract: A method to recover olefins and C2+ fractions from refineries gas streams. The traditional recovery methods employed at refineries are absorption with solvents and cryogenic technology using compression and expansion aided by external refrigeration systems. In contrast to known methods, there is provided first a pre-cooling heat exchanger on a feed line feeding the gas stream to a in-line mixer, secondly by injecting and mixing a stream of LNG to condense the C2+ fractions upstream of the fractionator. The temperature of the gas stream entering the fractionator is monitored downstream of the in-line mixer. A LNG stream is temperature controlled to flow through the injection inlet and mix with the feed gas at a temperature which results in the condensation of the C2+ fractions before entering the fractionator. A LNG reflux stream is temperature controlled to maintain fractionator overhead temperature. The fractionator bottoms temperature is controlled by a circulating reboiler stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2013Publication date: May 28, 2015Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
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Patent number: 9021832Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for recovering ethane, ethylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The stream is cooled, expanded to lower pressure, and supplied to a first fractionation tower at a mid-column feed position. A distillation liquid stream is withdrawn from the first fractionation tower below the feed position of the expanded stream, heated, and directed into a second fractionation tower that produces an overhead vapor stream and a bottom liquid stream. The overhead vapor stream is cooled to condense it, with a portion of the condensed stream directed to the second fractionation tower as its top feed and the remainder directed to the first fractionation tower at a lower column feed position. The bottom liquid stream from the second fractionation tower is cooled and directed to the first fractionation tower as its top feed.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2010Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Michael C. Pierce, John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson
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Patent number: 9003828Abstract: A process and system for liquefying a hydrocarbon gas is provided. The hydrocarbon feed gas is pre-treated to remove sour species and water therefrom. The pre-treated feed gas is then passed to a refrigeration zone where it is cooled and expanded to produce a hydrocarbon liquid. A closed loop single mixed refrigerant provides most of the refrigeration to the refrigeration zone together with an auxiliary refrigeration system. The auxiliary refrigeration system and closed loop single mixed refrigerant are coupled in such a manner that waste heat generated by a gas turbine drive of the compressor in the closed loop single mixed refrigerant drives the auxiliary refrigeration system and the auxiliary refrigeration system cools the inlet air of the gas turbine. In this way, substantial improvements are made in the production capacity of the system.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2010Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: LNG Technology Pty LtdInventor: Paul Bridgwood
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Publication number: 20150096326Abstract: A method for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, in particular natural gas, by indirect heat exchange with the refrigerant blend of a refrigerant blend circuit is described, wherein the refrigerant blend is compressed, separated into a liquid phase which is rich in higher-boiling components (HMR) of the refrigerant blend and a gas phase which is rich in lower-boiling components (LMR) of the refrigerant blend, and said phases are mixed before the indirect heat exchange.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Applicant: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Heinz BAUER, Jurgen WITTE, Martin GWINNER
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Patent number: 8991208Abstract: A variable speed liquid LNG expander (X1) and a variable speed two-phase LNG expander (X2) in line, downstream from X1. The rotational speed of both expanders can be controlled and changed independent from each other. The speed of expander X1 and expander X2 is determined in such way that the amount of liquid LNG downstream from the PHS compared to the feed gas supply is maximized and the amount of vapor and boil-off downstream of X2 is minimized.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2013Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Ebara International CorporationInventor: Hans E. Kimmel
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Publication number: 20150082828Abstract: Disclosed is a natural gas fractional distillation apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2012Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventor: Ho Byung Yoon
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Publication number: 20150080619Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene comprising: a fluoridation reaction of a halopropane and/or halopropene into 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene by means of hydrogen fluoride; the recovery of a gas stream resulting from the reaction; the cooling and partial condensation of the gas stream resulting from the reaction into a partially condensed stream; the separation of the partially condensed stream into a gas fraction and a liquid fraction; the compression of the gas fraction into a compressed gas fraction; the compression of the liquid fraction into a compressed liquid fraction; the distillation of the compressed gas fraction and compressed liquid fraction in order to provide a stream of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, a stream of hydrochloric acid, and a stream of unreacted hydrogen fluoride. The invention also concerns an installation suitable for implementing said method.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2013Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Dominique Deur-Bert, Bertrand Collier, Laurent Wendlinger
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Publication number: 20150075216Abstract: A floating LNG plant including a first and a second converted LNG carrier each provided with a hull and at least one LNG storage tank wherein the floating LNG plant further includes: a connection structure for connecting the hull of the first and the second converted LNG carrier in order to obtain a twin-hull vessel; process equipment for LNG processing on the floating LNG plant; and a mooring system for mooring the floating LNG plant to the seabed, wherein the at least first and second converted LNG carrier each include an LNG carrier, originally provided with a plurality of LNG tanks, wherein at least one LNG tank has been deactivated and/or removed from at least one LNG carrier to create space on the floating LNG plant for installing the process equipment for LNG processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2013Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: SBM SCHIEDAM B.V.Inventors: Willem Cornelis Van Wijngaarden, Theodorus Johannes Bernardus Brinkel
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Patent number: 8973398Abstract: A method for vaporizing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream and recovering heavier hydrocarbons from the LNG utilizing a heat transfer fluid is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2008Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLCInventor: David A. Coyle
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Patent number: 8956428Abstract: A process for treating offshore natural gas includes processing the natural gas on an off-shore processing facility by, (i) liquefying and fractionating the natural gas to generate a liquefied natural gas stream and a higher hydrocarbon stream, (ii) vaporizing at least a portion of the higher hydrocarbon stream, (iii) passing the vaporized higher hydrocarbon stream and steam over a steam reforming catalyst to generate a reformed gas mixture comprising methane, steam, carbon oxides and hydrogen, (iv) passing the reformed gas mixture over a methanation catalyst to generate a methane rich gas, and (v) combining the methane-rich gas with the natural gas prior to the liquefaction step.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2009Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Johnson Matthey PLCInventors: Peter John Herbert Carnell, Ginny Yuen Che Ng
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Publication number: 20150033793Abstract: A process and system for production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from natural gas. The natural gas is first partially purified by removal of water and other contaminants, followed by partial chilling to freeze some contaminants and to allow for production of a purge stream to remove other contaminants. These contaminants may be removed from the stream. The process has advantages of low cost and improved removal of contaminants.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2014Publication date: February 5, 2015Inventor: John L. Griffiths
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Publication number: 20150033792Abstract: A system and method for producing liquid natural gas (LNG) from a natural gas stream is presented. The system includes a moisture removal device and compressor for removing moisture from and compressing the natural gas stream. The low moisture compressed natural gas stream is cooled in a heat exchanger to discharge a cooled compressed discharge stream. A multi-phase turbo expander provides for further cooling and expansion of the cooled compressed discharge stream, generating an expanded exhaust stream comprising a mixture of a vapor comprised substantially of CH4 and a LNG/ice/solid CO2 slurry. The expanded exhaust stream is separated to generate a vapor stream comprised substantially of CH4 and a liquid natural gas/ice/solid CO2 slurry stream. Further separation of the liquid natural gas/ice/solid CO2 slurry stream generates a liquid natural gas output stream and an output stream comprised substantially of ice/solid CO2.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2013Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Vitali Victor Lissianski, Douglas Carl Hofer, Roger Allen Shisler
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Publication number: 20150020542Abstract: Underwater gas pressurization units and liquefaction systems, as well as pressurization and liquefaction methods and gas field development methods are provided. Gas is compressed hydraulically by seawater introduced into vessels and separated from the gas by a water immiscible liquid layer. Tall, possibly vertical helical vessels are used to reach a high compression ratio that lowers the liquefaction temperature. Cooling units are used to liquefy the compressed gas, possibly by a coolant which is itself pressurized by a similar mechanism. The coolant may be selected to be liquefied under surrounding seawater temperatures. The seawater which is used to pressurize the gas may be used after evacuation from the vessels to pressurize intrastratal gas in the production stages and broaden the gas field development.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Applicant: S.G.B.D. TECHNOLOGIES LTD.Inventor: Alexander BRODT
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Publication number: 20150020541Abstract: Underwater gas pressurization units and liquefaction systems, as well as pressurization and liquefaction methods are provided. Gas is compressed hydraulically by a rising pressurization liquid that is separated from the gas by a water immiscible liquid layer on top of an aqueous salt solution. Tall vessels are used to reach a high compression ratio that lowers the liquefaction temperature. The pressurizing liquid is delivered gravitationally, after gasification, transport to smaller water depths and condensation. Cooling units are used to liquefy the compressed gas. A cascade of compression and cooling units may be used with sequentially higher liquefaction temperatures, which allow eventual cooling by sea water. The pressurizing liquid, dimensions of the vessels, the delivery unit, the coolants and the implementation of the cooling units are selected according to the sea location, to enable natural gas liquefaction in proximity to the gas source.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Applicant: S.G.B.D. TECHNOLOGIES LTD.Inventor: Alexander BRODT
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Publication number: 20150013378Abstract: A system and a method for liquefying natural gas using single mixed refrigerant as refrigeration medium are provided. The system comprises a two-stage mixed refrigerant compressor (1), coolers (21, 22), gas-liquid separators (31, 32), throttling devices (51, 52), a plate-fin heat exchanger group (8) and a LNG storage tank (9). The method of the present invention reduces the power consumption for gas compression by compressing and separating the mixed refrigerant stage by stage. The heat exchange curves of cold fluid and hot fluid in the total heat exchange process match with each other better by the aid of using multiple-stage heat exchange, which can reduce the flow of the mixed refrigerant. Further, the system of the present invention has a good adaptability to load-variable operation of the apparatus, and thus can effectively avoid abnormal liquid-flooding at the bottom of the cold box.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: January 15, 2015Applicant: XINDI ENERGY ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Zhenyong He, Guiqi Wang, Limei Liu
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Patent number: 8931306Abstract: A wet hydrocarbon stream having at least methane and water, provided at a temperature equal to a first temperature, is cooled thereby lowering the temperature to a second temperature. In a water removal device a wet disposal stream having water is withdrawn from the wet hydrocarbon stream, at the second temperature. An effluent stream having the wet hydrocarbon stream from which the wet disposal stream has been removed, is discharged from the water removal device and passed to a further heat exchanger. A refrigerant stream is also passed to the further heat exchanger, and both the effluent stream and the refrigerant stream are cooled in the further heat exchanger by indirect heat exchanging against an evaporating refrigerant fraction. The effluent stream is heated by indirectly heat exchanging against the wet hydrocarbon stream. The cooling of the wet hydrocarbon stream includes this indirectly heat exchanging.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2011Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Cornelis Buijs, Francois Chantant
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Publication number: 20150000334Abstract: A method and apparatus for liquefying natural gas vapour is provided. Firstly, liquid natural gas is sub-cooled at a first heat exchanger using a liquid coolant such as liquid nitrogen. The sub-cooled liquid natural gas is then used to condense the natural gas vapour at a second heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2013Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventor: David Edwards
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Publication number: 20140352353Abstract: Pipeline natural gas is dried to remove water and carbon dioxide and liquefied. This gas and nitrogen are fed into a first heat exchanger for cooling against colder flash and expanded gases. High pressure nitrogen gas is expanded producing refrigeration to liquefy the natural gas passing through further heat exchangers and throttled via a control valve where the resulting liquid natural gas (LNG) exits into a separator. A portion of the LNG is fed to a nitrogen liquefaction unit with a major portion of LNG stored as product. The LNG portion is vaporized and heated to ambient against a pressurized liquefied nitrogen stream, a portion of which is stored as product. The remaining portion of the liquid nitrogen is optionally sent to an air separation unit (ASU) as “liquid assist” producing liquid and gaseous oxygen, liquid argon and gaseous nitrogen merchant gases. A portion of the natural gas stream selectively regenerates one of two dryers.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Inventor: Robert S. Wissolik
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Patent number: 8899074Abstract: A method of natural gas liquefaction may include cooling a gaseous NG process stream to form a liquid NG process stream. The method may further include directing the first tail gas stream out of a plant at a first pressure and directing a second tail gas stream out of the plant at a second pressure. An additional method of natural gas liquefaction may include separating CO2 from a liquid NG process stream and processing the CO2 to provide a CO2 product stream. Another method of natural gas liquefaction may include combining a marginal gaseous NG process stream with a secondary substantially pure NG stream to provide an improved gaseous NG process stream. Additionally, a NG liquefaction plant may include a first tail gas outlet, and at least a second tail gas outlet, the at least a second tail gas outlet separate from the first tail gas outlet.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2009Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLCInventors: Bruce M. Wilding, Terry D. Turner
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Publication number: 20140318177Abstract: A method for integrating a liquefied natural gas liquefier system with production of liquefied natural gas from a methane-containing gas stream. The liquefied natural gas is produced by feeding a methane-containing gas stream through a heat exchanger to a distillation column and liquefying the natural gas while capturing the gaseous nitrogen. The liquefied natural gas is captured and the nitrogen gas is recovered, fed through the heat exchanger to recover cold.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Rustam H. Sethna, Richard Potthoff, Guillaume Pages