Linde Aktiengesellschaft

Manfred B&ouml;lt

Manfred Steinbauer

Arne Olav Fredheim

Pentti Paurola

Christian Pfeiffer

Rudolf Stockmann

Oystein Sorensen

Wolfgang F&ouml;rg

In the liquefaction of a hydrocarbon by indirect heat exchange with the refrigerant mixture of a refrigerant mixture cycle, the refrigerant mixture being compressed in multiple stages, the compressed refrigerant mixture ( ) is at least partially condensed (E ) downstream of the penultimate compressor stage and is fractionated (D ) into a higher-boiling liquid fraction ( ) and a lower-boiling gas fraction ( ). The lower-boiling gas fraction ( ) is compressed to the final pressure, partially condensed (E ) and fractionated (D ) into a lower-boiling gas fraction ( ) and a higher-boiling liquid fraction ( ). The higher-boiling liquid fraction ( ) is added to the partially condensed refrigerant mixture stream ( ), and the gas fraction ( ) forms the lower-boiling refrigerant mixture fraction and the liquid fraction ( ) forms the higher boiling refrigerant mixture fraction of the refrigerant mixture cycle. Alternatively, the compressed refrigerant mixture ( ) can be partially condensed (E , E , E ) after each compressor stage and fractionated in each case into a lower-boiling gas fraction ( ) and a higher-boiling liquid fraction ( ). Only the gas fraction ( ) from the partial condensation (E , E ) in each case is further compressed and the liquid fractions ( ) from the second fractionation (D , D ) are added to the partially condensed stream ( ) from the first compressor stage upstream of its fractionation (D ). The gas fraction ( ) from the final fractionation (D ) forms the lower-boiling refrigerant mixture fraction and the liquid fraction ( ) from the first fractionation (D ) forms the higher-boiling refrigerant mixture fraction of the refrigerant mixture cycle.

Process for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich stream

Growing community of inventors

Olching, Germany

Manfred Bölt

Growing community of inventors

Olching, Germany

Manfred B&ouml;lt

Manfred Bölt