US2012204598A1PendingUtilityA1

Integrated waste heat recovery in liquefied natural gas facility

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Assignee: MOCK JON MPriority: Feb 16, 2011Filed: Feb 15, 2012Published: Aug 16, 2012
Est. expiryFeb 16, 2031(~4.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Jon M. MockWeldon L. Ransbarger
F25J 1/004F25J 1/0085F25J 1/0242F25J 1/0022F25J 1/0268F25J 1/021F25J 1/0052F25J 1/0087F25J 2270/906F25J 1/0283F25J 2220/64
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Claims

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for liquefying natural gas. In another aspect the present invention relates to the heat recovery from a turbine in a liquefied natural gas facility.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A process for liquefying natural gas, the process comprising the steps of:
 a. compressing a first refrigerant in a first compressor driven by a first gas turbine;   b. recovering waste heat from the first gas turbine;   c. cooling the natural gas with the first refrigerant in a first chiller;   d. using at least a portion of the waste heat recovered from the first gas turbine to further cool the natural gas with the first refrigerant, wherein the natural gas and the first refrigerant are further cooled by utilizing either a lithium bromide or an ammonia absorption chiller;   e. compressing a second refrigerant in a second compressor driven by a second gas turbine;   f. recovering waste hear from the second turbine;   g. cooling the natural gas with the second refrigerant in a second chiller; and   h. using at least a portion of the waste heat recovered from the second gas turbine to further cool the natural gas with the second refrigerant, wherein the natural gas and the second refrigerant are further cooled by utilizing either a lithium bromide or an ammonia adsorption chiller.   
     
     
         2 . The process according  claim 1 , wherein the first refrigerant comprising in major portion a hydrocarbon selected from a group consisting of propane, propylene, ethane, ethylene, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the first refrigerant comprising in major portion propane or propylene. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the first refrigerant comprises in major portion of ethane or ethylene. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the second refrigerant comprising at least about 75 mole percent methane. 
     
     
         6 . A process for liquefying natural gas, the process comprising the steps of:
 a. compressing a first refrigerant in a first compressor driven by a first gas turbine;   b. recovering waste heat from the first gas turbine;   c. using at least a portion of the waste heat recovered from the first gas turbine to further cool the natural gas with the first refrigerant;   d. compressing a second refrigerant in a second compressor driven by a second gas turbine;   e. recovering waste heat from the second turbine; and   f. using at least a portion of the waste heat recovered from the second gas turbine to further cool the natural gas with the second refrigerant.   
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 6 , wherein cooling step (c) utilizes either a lithium bromide or an ammonia absorption chiller. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 6 , wherein cooling step (f) utilizes either a lithium bromide or an ammonia absorption chiller. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 6 , wherein prior to step (c) cooling the natural gas with the first refrigerant in a first chiller. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 6 , wherein prior to step (d) cooling the natural gas with the second refrigerant in a second chiller. 
     
     
         11 . The process according  claim 6 , wherein the first refrigerant comprising in major portion a hydrocarbon selected from a group consisting of propane, propylene, ethane, ethylene, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 6 , wherein the first refrigerant comprising in major portion propane or propylene. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 6 , wherein the first refrigerant comprising in major portion ethane or ethylene. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 6 , wherein the second refrigerant comprising at least about 75 mole percent methane. 
     
     
         15 . A process for liquefying natural gas, the process comprising the steps of:
 a. compressing a first refrigerant in a first compressor driven by a first gas turbine;   b. recovering waste heat from the first gas turbine;   c. using at least a portion of the waste heat recovered from the first gas turbine to further cool the natural gas;   d. compressing a second refrigerant in a second compressor driven by a second gas turbine;   e. recovering waste heat from the second turbine; and   f. using at least a portion of the waste heat recovered from the second gas turbine to further cool the natural gas.   
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein cooling step (c) utilizes either a lithium bromide or an ammonia absorption chiller. 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein cooling step (f) utilizes either a lithium bromide or an ammonia absorption chiller. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein prior to step (c) cooling the natural gas with the first refrigerant in a first chiller. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein prior to step (d) cooling the natural gas with the second refrigerant in a second chiller. 
     
     
         20 . The process according  claim 15 , wherein the first refrigerant comprising in major portion a hydrocarbon selected from a group consisting of propane, propylene, ethane, ethylene, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the first refrigerant comprising in major portion propane or propylene. 
     
     
         22 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the first refrigerant comprising in major portion ethane or ethylene. 
     
     
         23 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the second refrigerant comprising at least about 75 mole percent methane. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for liquefying natural gas, the apparatus employing multiple refrigerants in multiple refrigeration cycle for cooling the natural gas in multiple stage, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a first compressor for compressing a first refrigerant of a first refrigeration cycle;   b. a first gas turbine for driving the first compressor, wherein waste heat is recovered from the first gas turbine, wherein at least a portion of the waste heat further cools the natural gas and the first refrigerant;   c. a second compressor for compressing a second refrigerant of a second refrigeration cycle; and   d. a second gas turbine for driving the second compressor, wherein waste heat is recovered from the second gas turbine, wherein at least a portion of the waste heat further cools the natural gas and the second refrigerant.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according  claim 24 , wherein the first refrigerant comprising in major portion a hydrocarbon selected from a group consisting of propane, propylene, ethane, ethylene, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the first refrigerant comprising in major portion propane or propylene. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the first refrigerant comprising in major portion ethane or ethylene. 
     
     
         28 . The process according to  claim 24 , wherein the second refrigerant comprising at least about 75 mole percent methane.

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