Patent classifications
F25J1/0289
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LNG REFRIGERATION AND LIQUEFACTION
A LNG liquefaction plant system includes concurrent power production, wherein the refrigeration content of the refrigerant or SMR is used to liquefy and sub-cool a natural gas stream in a cold box or cryogenic exchanger. For concurrent power production, the system uses waste heat from refrigerant compression to vaporize and superheat a waste heat working fluid that in turn drives a compressor for refrigerant compression. The refrigerant may be an external SMR or an internal LNG refrigerant working fluid expanded and compressed by a twin compander arrangement.
Device and method for refrigerating or liquefying a fluid
Disclosed is a device for refrigerating or liquefying a fluid such as natural gas or hydrogen, comprising a fluid circuit that is to be cooled and has an upstream end for connection to a source of gaseous fluid as well as a downstream end for connection to a member for collecting the cooled or liquefied fluid, the device comprising a heat exchanger assembly in heat exchange with the fluid circuit to be cooled, the device comprising a refrigerator in heat exchange with at least a portion of the exchanger assembly, the refrigerator being of the type that has a cycle for refrigerating a cycle gas containing at least one of: helium, hydrogen, nitrogen or neon; said refrigerator comprising in series in a cycle circuit: a mechanism for compressing the cycle gas, at least one member for cooling the cycle gas, a mechanism for expanding the cycle gas, and at least one member for reheating the expanded cycle gas, wherein the compression mechanism comprises a plurality of compression stages in series composed of a centrifugal compressor assembly, the compression stages being mounted on a set of shafts that are rotationally driven by a motor assembly, the at least one member for cooling the cycle gas comprising at least one heat exchanger at the outlet of at least one compression stage in heat exchange with the cycle circuit, said heat exchanger being cooled by a heat transfer fluid, characterized in that the compression mechanism comprises at least two compression stages that are arranged successively in series and do not include any member for cooling the cycle gas such as a heat exchanger therebetween.
Device and method for liquefying a fluid such as hydrogen and/or helium
Disclosed is a device for liquefying a fluid, comprising a fluid circuit to be cooled, the device comprising a heat exchanger assembly in heat exchange with the fluid circuit to be cooled, at least one first cooling system in heat exchange with at least a portion of the heat exchanger assembly, the first cooling system being a refrigerator having a cycle for refrigerating a cycle gas mainly comprising helium, said refrigerator comprising in series in a cycle circuit: a mechanism for compressing the cycle gas, at least one member for cooling the cycle gas, a mechanism for expanding the cycle gas, and at least one member for reheating the expanded cycle gas, wherein the compression mechanism includes at least four compression stages in series composed of a centrifugal compressor assembly, the compression stages being mounted on shafts that are rotationally driven by a motor assembly, the expansion mechanism comprising at least three expansion stages in series composed of a set of centripetal turbines, the at least one member for cooling the cycle gas being configured to cool the cycle gas at the outlet of at least one of the turbines, and wherein at least one of the turbines is coupled to the same shaft as at least one compression stage so as to feed the mechanical work produced during the expansion to the compression stage.
Device and method for liquefying a fluid such as hydrogen and/or helium
Disclosed is a device for liquefying a fluid, comprising a fluid circuit to be cooled, the device comprising a heat exchanger assembly in heat exchange with the fluid circuit to be cooled, at least one first cooling system in heat exchange with at least a portion of the heat exchanger assembly, the first cooling system being a refrigerator having a cycle for refrigerating a cycle gas mainly comprising helium, said refrigerator comprising in series in a cycle circuit: a mechanism for compressing the cycle gas, at least one member for cooling the cycle gas, a mechanism for expanding the cycle gas, and at least one member for reheating the expanded cycle gas, wherein the compression mechanism includes at least four compression stages in series composed of a centrifugal compressor assembly, the compression stages being mounted on shafts that are rotationally driven by a motor assembly, the expansion mechanism comprising at least three expansion stages in series composed of a set of centripetal turbines, the at least one member for cooling the cycle gas being configured to cool the cycle gas at the outlet of at least one of the turbines, and wherein at least one of the turbines is coupled to the same shaft as at least one compression stage so as to feed the mechanical work produced during the expansion to the compression stage.
Device and method for liquefying a fluid such as hydrogen and/or helium
Disclosed is a device for liquefying a fluid, comprising a fluid circuit to be cooled, the device comprising a heat exchanger assembly in heat exchange with the fluid circuit to be cooled, at least one first cooling system in heat exchange with at least a portion of the heat exchanger assembly, the first cooling system being a refrigerator having a cycle for refrigerating a cycle gas mainly comprising helium, said refrigerator comprising in series in a cycle circuit: a mechanism for compressing the cycle gas, at least one member for cooling the cycle gas, a mechanism for expanding the cycle gas, and at least one member for reheating the expanded cycle gas, wherein the compression mechanism includes at least four compression stages in series composed of a centrifugal compressor assembly, the compression stages being mounted on shafts that are rotationally driven by a motor assembly, the expansion mechanism comprising at least three expansion stages in series composed of a set of centripetal turbines, the at least one member for cooling the cycle gas being configured to cool the cycle gas at the outlet of at least one of the turbines, and wherein at least one of the turbines is coupled to the same shaft as at least one compression stage so as to feed mechanical work produced during the expansion to the compression stage.