Liquefaction and subcooling system and method

Abstract

A liquefaction and subcooling system, comprising a refrigeration device to provide a refrigerant fluid at a first and a second cold temperature that correspond to temperatures of the first and second gases, a subcooling arrangement coupled to the refrigeration device such that the refrigerant fluid is supplied to the subcooling arrangement, the subcooling arrangement having first and second subcoolers for exchanging heat between a gas to be liquefied and/or subcooled and the refrigerant fluid, wherein, when the gas to be liquefied and/or subcooled is the first gas, the refrigeration device is configured to provide the refrigerant fluid and the subcooling arrangement is configured to guide the refrigerant fluid and the gas through the first subcooler; and, when the gas to be liquefied and/or subcooled is the second gas, the refrigeration device is configured to provide the refrigerant fluid.

1 . A liquefaction and subcooling system, in particular for a boil off gas management system, for liquefying and/or subcooling different first and second gases having different saturation temperatures at a given pressure, comprising
 a refrigeration device operable to alternatively provide a refrigerant fluid at a first and a second cold temperature that correspond to different liquefaction temperatures of the first and second gases;   a subcooling arrangement coupled to the refrigeration device such that the refrigerant fluid is supplied to the subcooling arrangement at its cold temperature, the subcooling arrangement having first and second subcoolers for exchanging heat between a gas to be liquefied and/or subcooled and the refrigerant fluid;   wherein, when the gas to be liquefied and/or subcooled is the first gas, the refrigeration device is configured to provide the refrigerant fluid at the first cold temperature and the subcooling arrangement is configured to guide the refrigerant fluid and the gas to be liquefied and/or subcooled through the first subcooler and, when the gas to be liquefied and/or subcooled is the second gas, the refrigeration device is configured to provide the refrigerant fluid at the second cold temperature and the subcooling arrangement is configured to guide the refrigerant fluid and the gas to be liquefied and/or subcooled through the second subcooler.   
     
     
         2 . The liquefaction and subcooling system of  claim 1 , comprising a multi-stream heat exchanger, in which a heat exchanger of the refrigeration device is formed, and in which the first and second subcoolers are formed by separate conduits. 
     
     
         3 . The liquefaction and subcooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the subcooling arrangement includes a combined subcooler formed by a heat exchanger in which the first and second subcoolers are formed by separate conduits. 
     
     
         4 . The liquefaction and subcooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second subcoolers are formed by separate heat exchangers. 
     
     
         5 . The liquefaction and subcooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second subcoolers are formed by plate fin heat exchangers. 
     
     
         6 . The liquefaction and subcooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant fluid is selected from helium, nitrogen, methane, ethane, neon, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The liquefaction and subcooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the difference between the first and second cold temperatures is in the range of 30° C. - 100° C., more preferably in the range of 40° C. - 80° C., most preferably in the range of 50° C. - 70° C. 
     
     
         8 . The liquefaction and subcooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the first cold temperature is in the range of °C to -85° C., preferably - 115° C., and the second cold temperature is in the range of -183° C. to -155° C., preferably -178° C. 
     
     
         9 . The liquefaction and subcooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the first gas is ethane and the second gas is natural gas. 
     
     
         10 . A boil off gas management system comprising a liquefaction and subcooling system according to  claim 1  wherein the liquefaction and subcooling system is arranged to re-liquefy boil off gas. 
     
     
         11 . A method for liquefying and subcooling different first and second gases having different saturation temperatures at a given pressure, comprising
 providing a refrigeration device operable to alternatively provide a refrigerant fluid at a first and a second cold temperature that correspond to different liquefaction temperatures of the first and second gases; and,   when the gas to be liquefied and/or subcooled is the first gas, operating the refrigeration device to provide the refrigerant fluid at the first cold temperature and guiding the gas to be liquefied and/or subcooled through a first subcooler for heat exchange with the refrigerant fluid; and,   when the gas to be liquefied and/or subcooled is the second gas, operating the refrigeration device to provide the refrigerant fluid at the second cold temperature and guiding the gas to be liquefied and/or subcooled through a second subcooler for heat exchange with the refrigerant fluid.