Conocophillips Company

Bobby D Martinez

Anthony P Eaton

Wesley R Qualls

Weldon L Ransbarger

Paul R Hahn

Ned P Baudat

John R Wolflick

Jaleel Valappil

Jame Yao

Attilio Jose Praderio

Megan Victoria Evans

Marc Thomas Bellomy

Michael Christian

Shrikant R Thakkar

Hans P Weyermann

An improved system and methodology for starting up a gas-turbine driven multi-stage compressor. The improvement involves isolating individual compression stages and creating positive pressure in each stage prior to initiating rotation of the compressor/driver system. The isolation of individual compression stages allows the turbine to reach normal operating speeds with substantially no supplemental power from an auxiliary source.

Multi-stage compressor/driver system and method of operation

An anti-bogdown control system monitors and regulates operation of a turbine and a compressor to prevent underspeed trip of the turbine while avoiding surge of the compressor. A turbine speed controller receives a turbine speed signal and a turbine temperature signal, generates a surge margin setpoint, and regulates overfiring of the turbine. A surge margin controller associated with the compressor receives the surge margin setpoint from the turbine speed controller and receives a load signal from one or more sensors and modulates a compressor throttle valve so that the compressor operates at a surge margin that is approximately equal to the surge margin setpoint. In a system with multiple compressors driven by a single turbine, a surge margin controller is associated with each compressor.

Anti-bogdown control system for turbine/compressor systems

A process and apparatus for the liquefaction of natural gas including an improved heavy hydrocarbon removal column with overhead condensing and refluxing. Particularly, a methane-rich stream exiting a propane refrigerant cycle is delivered to a heavies removal column, and the heavies depleted vapor from the column is at least partially condensed and the liquid portion provided as reflux to the heavies removal column.

LNG system employing refluxed heavies removal column with overhead condensing

Cascade-type natural gas liquefaction methods and apparatus are provided, having enhanced thermodynamic efficiencies, through the use of added refrigeration levels in one or both of the ethylene and methane refrigeration systems thereof.

LNG system with enhanced refrigeration efficiency

A system employing a torque converter and a synchronizing motor to start up a large rotational driver/load combination. The torque converter is employed to increase the rotational speed of the load to the maximum speed permitted by the torque converter. The synchronizing motor is then employed to further increase the rotational speed of the load to substantially match the rotational speed of the driver.

Rotation coupling employing torque converter and synchronization motor

LNG facility employing one or more vertical core-in-kettle heat exchangers to cool natural gas via indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant. The vertical core-in-kettle heat exchangers save plot space and can be use to reduce the size of cold boxes employed in the LNG facility. In addition, vertical core-in-kettle heat exchangers can exhibit enhanced heat transfer efficiency due to improved refrigerant access to the core, improved refrigerant circulation around the core, and/or improved vapor/liquid disengagement above the core.

Vertical heat exchanger configuration for LNG facility

A system for liquefying natural gas by cooling the natural gas stream in a first refrigeration cycle employing a non-volatile refrigerant, such as carbon dioxide, and subsequently cooling the natural gas stream in a second refrigeration cycle employing a predominately methane refrigerant.

Non-volatile natural gas liquefaction system

Natural gas liquefaction system having an optimum configuration of mechanical drivers and compressors. A heat recovery system can be employed with the liquefaction system to enhance thermal efficiency. A unique start-up system can also be employed.

Driver and compressor system for natural gas liquefaction

Natural gas liquefaction system employing electric motors as compressor drivers. A combination of motors and steam turbines can be powered by a cogeneration plant and employed as drivers.

Growing community of inventors

Missouri City, TX, United States of America

Bobby D Martinez