Processes and systems are provided for removing nitrogen from a hydrocarbon-containing gas to thereby recover a liquid natural gas (LNG) stream. In particular, the processes and systems described herein can be used to efficiently separate methane from nitrogen, which is an undesirable byproduct found in many hydrocarbon-containing gases used to produce LNG. The processes and systems described herein can utilize various refrigerant systems to separate and produce the LNG.

Processes and systems are provided for recovering a liquid natural gas (LNG) stream from a hydrocarbon-containing feed gas stream using a single closed-loop mixed refrigerant cycle. In particular, the processes and systems described herein can be used to separate methane from carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which are common components in synthesis gas and other hydrocarbon-containing gases.

A process for producing liquefied natural gas and liquid carbon dioxide from a natural gas feed gas comprising at least the following steps: Separation of a natural gas feed gas into a CO.sub.2-enriched gas stream and a natural gas stream; Cooling of said natural gas in a heat exchanger; Purification of the in step 1 from compounds containing at least six carbon atoms; At least partial condensation of said gas stream resulting from step 3 to form a two-phase stream; Separation of said two-phase stream resulting from step 4 to form a gas stream and a liquid stream; Condensation of the gas stream resulting from step 5 to form a liquefied gas containing less than 5 ppm by volume of compounds containing at least six carbon atoms; Liquefaction of the CO.sub.2-enriched gas stream resulting from step 1 with a portion of the liquid stream resulting from step 5.

The system is provided for generating a mixed methane gas feed stream using at least one source of biogas and an alternate source of methane gas. The system includes a biogas subsystem, a control device for the methane gas from the at least one alternate source of methane gas, and a vertically-extending gas mixing vessel. A method of controlling a methane gas mass flow rate of a mixed methane gas feed stream is also disclosed. The proposed concept is particularly well adapted for situations where an uninterrupted and relatively constant input of methane gas is required to ensure an optimum operation of, for instance, a LMG production plant.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a natural gas liquefaction system (100) is provided. The system comprises an integrally-geared turbo-compressor (150) with a plurality of compressor stages; a prime mover (160) for driving the compressor; a pre-cooling loop (110), through which a first refrigerant is adapted to circulate, wherein one or more first compressor stages (151) of the plurality of compressor stages are adapted to pressurize the first refrigerant; a cooling loop (130), through which a second refrigerant is adapted to circulate, wherein one or more second compressor stages (155) of the plurality of compressor stages are adapted to pressurize the second refrigerant; a first heat exchanger device (170) for transferring heat from a natural gas and/or from the second refrigerant to the first refrigerant; and a second heat exchanger device (180) for transferring heat from the natural gas to the second refrigerant. A further aspect relates to a compressor arrangement for a natural gas liquefaction system. A yet further aspect relates to a method of liquefying natural gas.

A LNG liquefaction plant includes a propane recovery unit including an inlet for a feed gas, a first outlet for a LPG, and a second outlet for an ethane-rich feed gas, an ethane recovery unit including an inlet coupled to the second outlet for the ethane-rich feed gas, a first outlet for an ethane liquid, and a second outlet for a methane-rich feed gas, and a LNG liquefaction unit including an inlet coupled to the second outlet for the methane-rich feed gas, a refrigerant to cool the methane-rich feed gas, and an outlet for a LNG. The LNG plant may also include a stripper, an absorber, and a separator configured to separate the feed gas into a stripper liquid and an absorber vapor. The stripper liquid can be converted to an overhead stream used as a reflux stream to the absorber.

A system and method for liquefaction of a natural gas stream utilizing a plurality of asymmetric parallel pre-cooling circuits. The use of asymmetric parallel cooling circuits allows for greater control over each refrigerant stream during the cooling process and simplifies process control by dedicating heat exchangers to performing similar duties.

A system and method for cooling and liquefying a gas in a heat exchanger that includes compressing and cooling a mixed refrigerant using first and last compression and cooling cycles so that high pressure liquid and vapor streams are formed. The high pressure liquid and vapor streams are cooled in the heat exchanger and then expanded so that a primary refrigeration stream is provided in the heat exchanger. The mixed refrigerant is cooled and equilibrated between the first and last compression and cooling cycles so that a pre-cool liquid stream is formed and subcooled in the heat exchanger. The stream is then expanded and passed through the heat exchanger as a pre-cool refrigeration stream. A stream of gas is passed through the heat exchanger in countercurrent heat exchange with the primary refrigeration stream and the pre-cool refrigeration stream so that the gas is cooled. A resulting vapor stream from the primary refrigeration stream passage and a two-phase stream from the pre-cool refrigeration stream passage exit the warm end of the exchanger and are combined and undergo a simultaneous heat and mass transfer operation prior to the first compression and cooling cycle so that a reduced temperature vapor stream is provided to the first stage compressor so as to lower power consumption by the system. Additionally, the warm end of the cooling curve is nearly closed further reducing power consumption. Heavy components of the refrigerant are also kept out of the cold end of the process, reducing the possibility of refrigerant freezing, as well as facilitating a refrigerant management scheme.

A system for removing freezing components from a feed gas includes a heavy hydrocarbon removal heat exchanger and a scrub device. The scrub device includes a scrub column that receives a cooled feed gas stream from the heat exchanger and a reflux separation device. Vapor from the scrub column is directed to the heat exchanger and cooled to create a reflux stream that includes a liquid component. This reflux stream is directed to the reflux separation device and a resulting liquid component stream is used to reflux the column. Vapor from the reflux separation device is expanded and directed to the heat exchanger, where it provides refrigeration, and a processed feed gas line.

A method for operating a main cryogenic heat exchanger for use in a natural gas liquefaction process, involves monitoring or predicting variations in the flow rate of a feed gas stream provided to the main cryogenic heat exchanger. When a variation of the flow rate exceeding a predetermined threshold value is monitored or predicted, a control scheme is started to control one or more compressor recycle valves in response to the monitored or predicted variation of the flow rate to recycle part of a compressed mixed refrigerant stream in a refrigerant loop.