Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with producing a liquid stream containing predominantly hydrocarbons heavier than methane is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is partially cooled, expanded to an intermediate pressure, and supplied to a distillation column. The bottom product from this distillation column preferentially contains the majority of any hydrocarbons heavier than methane that would otherwise reduce the purity of the liquefied natural gas. The residual gas stream from the distillation column is compressed to a higher intermediate pressure, cooled under pressure to condense it, and then expanded to low pressure to form the liquefied natural gas stream.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for refrigerating liquefied natural gas under pressure (1), comprising a first step wherein the LNG (1) is cooled, expanded and separated (a) in a first base fraction (4) which is collected, and (b) a first top fraction (3) which is heated, compressed in a compressor (K1) and cooled into a first compressed fraction (5) which is collected; a second compressed fraction (6) is drawn from the fuel gas (5), cooled then mixed with the cooled and expanded LNG (1). The invention is characterised in that it comprises a second step wherein the second compressed fraction (6) is compressed and cooled, and a flux is (8) drawn and cooled, expanded and introduced in the compressor (K1). The invention also describes other embodiments.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for exploitation and liquefaction of natural gas in offshore stranded gas reserves. Two ordinary nautical vessels are used to produce, store and unload LPG and LNG. Typical front end processing is performed on the first vessel. The treated inlet gas is transported to the second vessel where the stream goes through liquefaction and storage until it is offloaded to a transport vessel for shipment. The liquefaction process utilizes two refrigerant cycles that utilize two expanded refrigerants, at least one of which is circulated in a gas phase refrigeration cycle. The refrigerants and the inlet gas stream are transported between the two vessels by the use of piping. Electricity can be generated to provide power for the compression sections of the refrigeration cycles. Turbines, engines, or boilers from the vessels can be used for generating electricity since they are no longer needed for locomotion purposes.

Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with processing natural gas to recover natural gas liquids (NGL) is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is taken from one of the streams in the NGL recovery plant and cooled under pressure to condense it. A distillation stream is withdrawn from the NGL recovery plant to provide some of the cooling required to condense the natural gas stream. A portion of the condensed stream is expanded to an intermediate pressure and then used to provide some of the cooling required to condense the natural gas stream, and thereafter routed to the NGL recovery plant so that any heavier hydrocarbons it contains can be recovered in the NGL product. The remaining portion of the condensed stream is expanded to low pressure to form the liquefied natural gas stream.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing liquefied natural gas. A liquefaction plant may be coupled to a source of unpurified natural gas, such as a natural gas pipeline at a pressure letdown station. A portion of the gas is drawn off and split into a process stream and a cooling stream. The cooling stream passes through a turbo expander creating work output. A compressor is driven by the work output and compresses the process stream. The compressed process stream is cooled, such as by the expanded cooling stream. The cooled, compressed process stream is divided into first and second portions with the first portion being expanded to liquefy the natural gas. A gas-liquid separator separates the vapor from the liquid natural gas. The second portion of the cooled, compressed process stream is also expanded and used to cool the compressed process stream. Additional features and techniques may be integrated with the liquefaction process including a water clean-up cycle and a carbon dioxide (CO2) clean-up cycle.

Abstract: Apparatus for recovering vapor during de-pressuring of a vessel, and for those facilities with such a need, for recovering vapor during the liquid filling, or liquid removing, from a vessel. In de-pressuring mode, the vapor and inert gas purging the vessel are processed to recover multiple product vapors with vapor pressures from as low as 0.1 PSIG to about 100 PSIG. Higher values up to 250 PSIG are also processed economically by an optional third-stage, stand-alone system. This system produces overall product recovery rates over 99% and inert gas recovery over 99% at the latter part of the cycle as recycle gas. The system is purged after each use to prevent cross contamination. In the liquid filling mode, displaced vapor and pad gas (inert gas added to maintain pressure in tanks during liquid removing) are processed to recover multiple products and the pad gas.

Abstract: This process includes the following steps:

Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with producing a liquid stream containing predominantly hydrocarbons heavier than methane is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is partially cooled, expanded to an intermediate pressure, and supplied to a distillation column. The bottom product from this distillation column preferentially contains the majority of any hydrocarbons heavier than methane that would otherwise reduce the purity of the liquefied natural gas. The residual gas stream from the distillation column is compressed to a higher intermediate pressure, cooled under pressure to condense it, and then expanded to low pressure to form the liquefied natural gas stream.

Abstract: A cryogenic refrigerator includes a pressure feeding device, a refrigeration device, a high pressure passage, a low pressure passage, and at least one heat exchanger at the high pressure passage for refrigerating the refrigerant introduced at the high pressure passage by heat exchange, the heat exchanger including an active pressure drop type heat exchanger for declining pressure of the refrigerant at the high pressure passage before being introduced into the refrigeration device. The active pressure drop type heat exchanger declines the pressure of the refrigerant with a ratio equal to or greater than 5 percent out of 100 percent and refrigerates the refrigerant when a pressure difference between a pressure of the refrigerant before being introduced into the active pressure drop type heat exchanger and a pressure of the refrigerant before being introduced into the refrigeration device is defined as 100 percent.

Abstract: A pretreatment system for natural gas liquefaction employing heat integration for more efficient and effective natural gas temperature control. The pretreatment system expands the natural gas prior to acid gas removal. After acid gas removal, the natural gas is cooled by indirect heat exchange with the expanded natural gas located upstream of the acid gas removal system.

Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with processing natural gas to recover natural gas liquids (NGL) is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is taken from one of the streams in the NGL recovery plant and cooled under pressure to condense it. A distillation stream is withdrawn from the NGL recovery plant to provide some of the cooling required to condense the natural gas stream. A portion of the condensed stream is expanded to an intermediate pressure and then used to provide some of the cooling required to condense the natural gas stream, and thereafter routed to the NGL recovery plant so that any heavier hydrocarbons it contains can be recovered in the NGL product. The remaining portion of the condensed stream is expanded to low pressure to form the liquefied natural gas stream.

Abstract: A method of separating volatile organic components, so-called VOC, from crude oil, where, as it is loaded onto a ship, the crude oil is passed into a process vessel (2) in which is established a negative pressure adjusted according to the vapour pressure of the oil, from where the liquid phase of the crude oil flows to the ship's cargo tanks, while the gas phase, the VOC, is extracted from the process vessel (2).

Abstract: Natural gas liquefaction method wherein the natural gas is cooled, condensed and subcooled by indirect heat exchange with two cooling mixtures to a temperature such that the natural gas does not remain entirely liquid under pressure after expansion to the atmospheric pressure. The liquid natural gas under pressure is expanded to form a gas phase and a liquid phase. The gas phase can be either compressed and recycled to the process inlet, or used as a fuel. The liquid phase is expanded to form a gas phase and a liquid phase. The gas phase is compressed and recycled to the process inlet. The liquid phase constitutes the liquefied natural gas produced.

Abstract: A reduced carbon dioxide emissions system and method for providing power for refrigerant compression and shared electrical power for a light hydrocarbon gas liquefaction process.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for efficiently and economically designing, constructing, or operating a light hydrocarbon gas liquefaction process for the liquefaction of selected quantities of light hydrocarbon gas. The method includes a light hydrocarbon gas liquefaction launch train to liquefy an initial amount of light hydrocarbon gas and one or more optional subsequent modular expansion phases to said light hydrocarbon gas liquefaction train to liquefy additional selected quantities of light hydrocarbon gas up to a selected maximum quantity of light hydrocarbon gas for the process. The methods employ shared use facilities, such as light hydrocarbon feed gas pretreatment facilities, refrigerant compression facilities, cryogenic heat exchange facilities, access services, other liquefaction equipment, and liquefied product storage and shipping facilities.

Abstract: This invention is a method and apparatus for production of pressurized liquefied gas. First, a gas stream is cooled and expanded to liquefy the gas stream. The liquefied gas stream is then withdrawn as pressurized gas product and a portion is recycled through the heat exchanger to provide at least part of the cooling and is returned to the stream. Recycling the pressurized liquefied gas product helps keep the cooling and compression of the gas stream in the supercritcal region of the phase diagram. J-T valves in parallel with the expander permits running the system until the stream is in the supercritical region of its phase diagram and the hydraulic expander can operate. This process is suitable for natural gas streams containing methane to form a pressurized liquefied natural gas (PLNG) product.

Abstract: Described is a process and a device for liquefying hydrogen, whereby the hydrogen to be liquefied is liquefied against one or more refrigerant (mixture) circuits and/or by means of expansion and is guided over at least one ortho-para conversion catalyst.

Abstract: An apparatus for re-liquefying boil-off gas produced by liquid natural gas is described. The apparatus is made up of a collector, wherein the collector contains liquid natural gas, at least one first pump, wherein the first pump is in or adjacent to the liquid natural gas collector, a compressor, wherein the compressor communicates with the liquid natural gas (LNG) collector by a first conduit, at least one mixing device, wherein the mixing device communicates with the compressor by a second conduit, and wherein the mixing device communicates with the first pump by a third conduit, at least one separating device, wherein the separating device communicates with the mixing device by a fourth conduit, and wherein the separating device also communicates with the liquid natural gas (LNG) collector by a fifth conduit.

Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with producing a liquid stream containing predominantly hydrocarbons heavier than methane is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is partially cooled, expanded to an intermediate pressure, and supplied to a distillation column. The bottom product from this distillation column preferentially contains the majority of any hydrocarbons heavier than methane that would otherwise reduce the purity of the liquefied natural gas. The residual gas stream from the distillation column is compressed to a higher intermediate pressure, cooled under pressure to condense it, and then expanded to low pressure to form the liquefied natural gas stream.

Abstract: A process for pretreating a very acid natural gas containing a substantial amount of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), possibly combined with carbon dioxide (CO2), includes at least a stage wherein the initial natural gas is contacted in a distillation column with a liquid condensate itself resulting from cooling of the gaseous fraction obtained during the contacting stage. This solution allows to eventually recover at a lower cost a gas enriched in methane, depleted in hydrogen sulfide and freed from substantially all of the water it contains, and a liquid phase containing most of the hydrogen sulfide, substantially all of the water and depleted in hydrocarbon. Control of the thermodynamic conditions during the stages that characterize the process, according to the water content of the gas during treatment, allows progressive exhaustion of the water contained in the gas while preventing hydrates formation.

Abstract: A system for liquefying natural gas by cooling the natural gas stream in a first refrigeration cycle employing a non-volatile refrigerant, such as carbon dioxide, and subsequently cooling the natural gas stream in a second refrigeration cycle employing a predominately methane refrigerant.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for refrigerating liquefied natural gas under pressure (1), comprising a first step wherein the LNG (1) is cooled, expanded and separated (a) in a first base fraction (4) which is collected, and (b) a first top fraction (3) which is heated, compressed in a compressor (K1) and cooled into a first compressed fraction (5) which is collected; a second compressed fraction (6) is drawn from the fuel gas (5), cooled then mixed with the cooled and expanded LNG (1). The invention is characterised in that it comprises a second step wherein the second compressed fraction (6) is compressed and cooled, and a flux is (8) drawn and cooled, expanded and introduced in the compressor (K1). The invention also describes other embodiments.

Abstract: A plant for producing liquefied natural gas comprises a carbon dioxide recovery apparatus for natural gas absorbing and removing carbon dioxide from natural gas, a liquefying apparatus having a steam turbine, for liquefying the natural gas from which carbon dioxide has been removed by the carbon dioxide recovery apparatus, a boiler equipment for supplying steam to the steam turbine of the liquefying apparatus, and a carbon dioxide recovery apparatus for combustion exhaust gas including an absorption tower for absorbing carbon dioxide from combustion exhaust gas exhausted from the boiler equipment by absorbing liquid, and a regeneration tower for separating and recovering carbon dioxide from the absorbing liquid.

Abstract: A process is provided for converting a boil-off stream comprising methane to a liquid having a preselected bubble point temperature. The boil-off stream is pressurized, then cooled, and then expanded to further cool and at least partially liquefy the boil-off stream. The preselected bubble point temperature of the resulting pressurized liquid is obtained by performing at least one of the following steps: before, during, or after the process of liquefying the boil-off stream, removing from the boil-off stream a predetermined amount of one or more components, such as nitrogen, having a vapor pressure greater than the vapor pressure of methane, and before, during, or after the process of liquefying the boil-off stream, adding to the boil-off stream one or more additives having a molecular weight heavier than the molecular weight of methane and having a vapor pressure less than the vapor pressure of methane.

Abstract: Natural gas liquefaction system employing an open methane cycle wherein the liquefied natural gas is flashed immediately upstream of the liquefied natural gas storage tank and boil off vapors from the tank are returned to the open methane cycle.

Abstract: Natural gas liquefaction systems are provided wherein dependent trains including only cryogenic heat exchanger systems are serviced by common components in the system such that individual components need not be included in each dependent train for servicing that function. Further, the common components are positioned near the LNG storage tanks which, in turn, are typically located a substantial distance from the trains. This significantly reduces capital costs and allows boil-off gas from LNG storage tanks to be used for cooling in addition to being used as a fuel gas.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing gaseous refrigerant for use in a refrigeration circuit of a liquefaction plant, which refrigeration circuit has an inlet, a first outlet for refrigerant at low pressure, a second outlet for refrigerant at intermediate pressure, a third outlet for refrigerant at high pressure and a fourth outlet for refrigerant at high-pressure, which apparatus comprises a first and a second compressor, wherein the first compressor has a main inlet connected to the first outlet, a side-inlet connected to the third outlet and an outlet connected to the inlet of the refrigeration circuit, and wherein the second compressor has a main inlet connected to the second outlet, a side-inlet connected to the fourth outlet and an outlet connected to the inlet of the refrigeration circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing liquefied natural gas. A liquefaction plant may be coupled to a source of unpurified natural gas, such as a natural gas pipeline at a pressure letdown station. A portion of the gas is drawn off and split into a process stream and a cooling stream. The cooling stream passes through a turbo expander creating work output. A compressor is driven by the work output and compresses the process stream. The compressed process stream is cooled, such as by the expanded cooling stream. The cooled, compressed process stream is divided into first and second portions with the first portion being expanded to liquefy the natural gas. A gas-liquid separator separates the vapor from the liquid natural gas. The second portion of the cooled, compressed process stream is also expanded and used to cool the compressed process stream. Additional features and techniques may be integrated with the liquefaction process including a water clean-up cycle and a carbon dioxide (CO2) clean-up cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing liquefied natural gas. A liquefaction plant may be coupled to a source of unpurified natural gas, such as a natural gas pipeline at a pressure letdown station. A portion of the gas is drawn off and split into a process stream and a cooling stream. The cooling stream passes through a turbo expander creating work output. A compressor is driven by the work output and compresses the process stream. The compressed process stream is cooled, such as by the expanded cooling stream. The cooled, compressed process stream is divided into first and second portions with the first portion being expanded to liquefy the natural gas. A gas-liquid separator separates the vapor from the liquid natural gas. The second portion of the cooled, compressed process stream is also expanded and used to cool the compressed process stream. Additional features and techniques may be integrated with the liquefaction process including a water clean-up cycle and a carbon dioxide (CO2) clean-up cycle.

Abstract: A process is provided for converting a boil-off stream comprising methane to a liquid having a preselected bubble point temperature. The boil-off stream is pressurized, then cooled, and then expanded to further cool and at least partially liquefy the boil-off stream. The preselected bubble point temperature of the resulting pressurized liquid is obtained by performing at least one of the following steps: before, during, or after the process of liquefying the boil-off stream, removing from the boil-off stream a predetermined amount of one or more components, such as nitrogen, having a vapor pressure greater than the vapor pressure of methane, and before, during, or after the process of liquefying the boil-off stream, adding to the boil-off stream one or more additives having a molecular weight heavier than the molecular weight of methane and having a vapor pressure less than the vapor pressure of methane.

Abstract: This invention is a method and apparatus for production of pressurized liquefied gas. First, a gas stream is cooled and expanded to liquefy the gas stream. The liquefied gas stream is then withdrawn as pressurized gas product and a portion is recycled through the heat exchanger to provide at least part of the cooling and is returned to the stream. Recycling the pressurized liquefied gas product helps keep the cooling and compression of the gas stream in the supercritcal region of the phase diagram. J-T valves in parallel with the expander permits running the system until the stream is in the supercritical region of its phase diagram and the hydraulic expander can operate. This process is suitable for natural gas streams containing methane to form a pressurized liquefied natural gas (PLNG) product.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for cooling a product in a heat exchanger, the process comprising: flowing a refrigerant through a set of first microchannels in the heat exchanger; flowing a refrigerant through a set of second microchannels in the heat exchanger, the refrigerant flowing through the set of second microchannels being at a lower temperature, a lower pressure or both a lower temperature and a lower pressure than the refrigerant flowing through the set of first microchannels; and flowing a product through a set of third microchannels in the heat exchanger, the product exiting the set of third microchannels having a cooler temperature than the product entering the set of third microchannels. This process is suitable for liquefying gaseous products including natural gas.

Abstract: Natural gas liquefaction systems are provided wherein dependent trains including only cryogenic heat exchanger systems are serviced by common components in the system such that individual components need not be included in each dependent train for servicing that function. Further, the common components are positioned near the LNG storage tanks which, in turn, are typically located a substantial distance from the trains. This significantly reduces capital costs and allows boil-off gas from LNG storage tanks to be used for cooling in addition to being used as a fuel gas.

Abstract: An integrated process for producing LNG and GTL products is provided comprising cooling natural gas in at least one cooling step so as to provide a cooled natural gas stream; processing the cooled natural gas stream in at least two expansion/separation cycles, each expansion/separation cycle comprising the Substeps of (a) isentropically or isenthalpically expanding at least a portion of the cooled natural gas steam for producing a natural gas vapor component and a LNG component, (b) separating at least a portion of the natural gas vapor component from the LNG component, and (c) repeating substeps (a) through (b) wherein at least a portion of the LNG component from the previous expansion/separation cycle is directed to each successive Substep (a) and wherein the final LNG product is the LNG component after the final separating step and is substantially liquid at substantially atmospheric pressure; and converting at least a portion of one or more of the expansion/separation cycle natural gas vapor components in

Abstract: A system for chilling and/or liquefying a fluid wherein a multicomponent refrigerant in a circuit is compressed, condensed, expanded and warmed to cool one or more portions of the fluid which are then turboexpanded to generate refrigeration and which are then used to provide refrigeration to a remaining portion of the fluid so as to chill and/or liquefy that remaining portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing liquefied natural gas. A liquefaction plant may be coupled to a source of unpurified natural gas, such as a natural gas pipeline at a pressure letdown station. A portion of the gas is drawn off and split into a process stream and a cooling stream. The cooling stream passes through a turbo expander creating work output. A compressor is driven by the work output and compresses the process stream. The compressed process stream is cooled, such as by the expanded cooling stream. The cooled, compressed process stream is divided into first and second portions with the first portion being expanded to liquefy the natural gas. A gas-liquid separator separates the vapor from the liquid natural gas. The second portion of the cooled, compressed process stream is also expanded and used to cool the compressed process stream. Additional features and techniques may be integrated with the liquefaction process including a water clean-up cycle and a carbon dioxide (CO2) clean-up cycle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for producing LNG by directing a feed stream comprising natural gas to a cooling stage that (a) cools the feed stream in at least one cooling step producing a cooled feed stream, (b) expands the cooled feed stream in at least one expansion step by reducing the pressure of the cooled feed stream producing a refrigerated vapor component and a liquid component, and (c) separates at least a portion of the refrigerated vapor component from the liquid component wherein at least a portion of the cooling for the process is derived from at least a portion of the refrigerated vapor component; and repeating steps (a) through (c) one or more times until at least substantial portion of the feed stream in the first cooling stage is processed into LNG wherein the feed stream in step (a) comprises at least a portion of the liquid component produced from a previous cooling stage.

Abstract: Apparatus for recovering vapor during de-pressuring of a vessel, and for those facilities with such a need, for recovering vapor during the liquid filling, or liquid removing, from a vessel. In de-pressuring mode, the vapor and inert gas purging the vessel are processed to recover multiple product vapors with vapor pressures from as low as 0.1 PSIG to about 100 PSIG. Higher values up to 250 PSIG are also processed economically by an optional third-stage, stand-alone system. This system produces overall product recovery rates over 99% and inert gas recovery over 99% at the latter part of the cycle as recycle gas.

Abstract: A system for generating low temperature refrigeration for use such as cooling superconducting cable wherein a neon based refrigerant fluid is work expanded by a sealed turboexpander/loader to generate refrigeration which is used to cool heat transfer fluid for provision to the use point.

Abstract: A refrigerant mixture for a mixture throttle process contains from 0.06 mol/mol to 0.20 mol/mol propane, from 0.26 mol/mol to 0.36 mol/mol nitrogen and from 0.20 mol/mol to 0.38 mol/mol methane, the remainder being ethane.

Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with producing a liquid stream containing predominantly hydrocarbons heavier than methane is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is partially cooled, expanded to an intermediate pressure, and supplied to a distillation column. The bottom product from this distillation column preferentially contains the majority of any hydrocarbons heavier than methane that would otherwise reduce the purity of the liquefied natural gas. The residual gas stream from the distillation column is compressed to a higher intermediate pressure, cooled under pressure to condense it, and then expanded to low pressure to form the liquefied natural gas stream.

Abstract: A refrigeration system wherein an ammonia refrigerant fluid in a cascade refrigeration circuit provides auxiliary refrigeration to a multicomponent refrigerant fluid which passes from an autorefrigerator to provide refrigeration to a heat load.

Abstract: A process for partial liquefaction of a fluid G at least partially formed from hydrocarbons simultaneously produces: a fraction that is liquid after expansion; a gas fraction representing at least 10% by weight, which can either be re-injected or used to produce electricity; and comprises at least two refrigeration steps during which: in the first step a), the essentially gaseous fluid G is cooled using an external refrigerant M such that at the end of said first step, it is at least partially liquid at the operating pressure; and in the second step b), liquefaction of said fluid G is completed if necessary and said fluid G is sub-cooled, using a portion of the same fluid G, said portion being thus expanded and vaporised to produce the cooling necessary to recover the other portion of said fluid G that is completely liquid at the storage pressure.

Abstract: Liquefied natural gas is stored in an insulated tank, typically forming part of an ocean going tanker. Boiled off vapour is compressed in a compressor and at least partially condensed in a condenser. The resulting condensate is returned to the tank. The vapour is mixed with liquefied natural gas in a mixing chamber upstream of the compressor. The liquefied natural gas so mixed with the vapour in the mixing chamber is taken from the condensate or from the storage tank.

Abstract: A process for liquefaction of and nitrogen extraction from natural gas, an installation for implementation of the process, and gases obtained by this process. In the process, a first top fraction is cooled and liquefied, separated into a second top fraction which is relatively volatile and which provides gaseous nitrogen, and into a second bottom fraction which is withdrawn. The first bottom fraction is cooled in order to provide liquefied natural gas essentially free nitrogen.

Abstract: Apparatus for liquefying natural gas, comprising a series of heat exchangers for cooling the natural gas in countercurrent heat exchange relationship with a refrigerant, compression means for compressing the refrigerant, expansion means for isentropically expanding at least two separate streams of the compressed refrigerant, said expanded streams of refrigerant communicating with a cool end of a respective one of the heat exchangers, and a precooling refrigeration system for precooling the natural gas to a temperature below 0° C. before it is fed to the series of heat exchangers, and for precooling the compressed refrigerant discharged from a warm end of the series of heat exchangers to a temperature below 0° C. before it is fed back into the series of heat exchangers or to the expansion means.

Abstract: A method for generating refrigeration using a turboexpander or reverse Brayton cycle which can more efficiently generate refrigeration especially to cryogenic temperatures using a defined refrigerant mixture containing argon and/or nitrogen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for refrigerating and, if desired, liquefying an industrial gas wherein a multicomponent refrigerant fluid is used to generate refrigeration in a single circuit which includes a single phase separation and recycle after an initial heat exchange stage.

Abstract: A process for the separation and liquefaction of component gasses from a pressurized mix gas stream is disclosed. The process involves cooling the pressurized mixed gas stream in a heat exchanger so as to condensing one or more of the gas components having the highest condensation point; separating the condensed components from the remaining mixed gas stream in a gas-liquid separator; cooling the separated condensed component stream by passing it through an expander; and passing the cooled component stream back through the heat exchanger such that the cooled component stream functions as the refrigerant for the heat exchanger. The cycle is then repeated for the remaining mixed gas stream so as to draw off the next component gas and further cool the remaining mixed gas stream. The process continues until all of the component gases are separated from the desired gas stream. The final gas stream is then passed through a final heat exchanger and expander.

Abstract: A cryogenic refrigeration system wherein refrigeration is provided to a heat load by a warming multicomponent refrigerant fluid recirculating in a refrigeration circuit and by cryogenic liquid separately provided to the heat load in direct or indirect heat exchange with the heat load.