Refrigeration – Cryogenic treatment of gas or gas mixture – Liquefaction
Patent
1998-09-18
2000-07-11
Capossela, Ronald
Refrigeration
Cryogenic treatment of gas or gas mixture
Liquefaction
62619, F25J 100
Patent
active
060855452
ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus for an engine driven system having the capability of liquefying 100% of the natural gas entering the system. The apparatus is connected to a source of clean natural gas, and comprises an engine or prime mover, a compressor and an expander, all drivingly connected, at least one cooler, at least one heat exchanger, a restrictor, a liquid natural gas collector and connecting conduits. The clean natural gas is provided to the inlet of the compressor and is compressed. The compressed natural gas is passed through the at least one cooler to remove heat of compression. The natural gas is split into two flow portions. The first flow portion is cooled in the at least one heat exchanger and is passed through the restrictor into the collector. The temperature and pressure of the first flow portion are such that a substantial portion flashes to liquid natural gas. The collector is operatively connected to the compressor to cause any saturated vapor from the collector to recirculate back to the compressor. The second flow portion enters the expander wherein it is lowered both in temperature and pressure and the work of expansion is extracted. The second flow portion from the expander is used in the at least one heat exchanger as the heat exchange cooling medium. Thereafter, the second flow portion is recirculated back to the compressor. In a second embodiment of the system, a second heat exchanger is added. In a third embodiment of the system, the vent return from the collector is modified to permit the vent return gas to be burned in the engine or disposed of through the engine exhaust to prevent those gases having a lower boiling point temperature than methane from poisoning the system. A fourth embodiment is a combination of embodiments two and three.
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