Conocophillips Company

Phillips Petroleum Company

Voith Turbo Gmbh Co. Kg

Ned P Baudat

Paul R Hahn

Rong-Jwyn Lee

Jame Yao

Wesley R Qualls

Bobby D Martinez

Anthony P Eaton

Clarence G Houser

Phillip D Ritchie

Shrikant R Thakkar

Hans P Weyermann

William E Schmidt

Ali I Riche

Natural gas liquefaction system employing an open methane cycle wherein the liquefied natural gas is flashed immediately upstream of the liquefied natural gas storage tank and boil off vapors from the tank are returned to the open methane cycle.

Enhanced methane flash system for natural gas liquefaction

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.

Motor driven compressor system for natural gas liquefaction

The subject invention involves a compressor starting torque converter (CSTC) to enable starting up single-shaft gas turbine driven compressor sets, such as in a liquified natural gas (LNG) plant. The system includes a single-shaft gas turbine with an output shaft coaxially connected to the input shaft of the CSTC's torque converter, in turn whose output shaft drives the process load centrifugal compressor. The CSTC operates as a fluid coupling whereby the gas turbine and the compressor shafts are coupled via the working fluid (oil). Once the process load compressor is up to speed, a lock up device is engaged to mechanically couple the gas turbine directly to the compressor and then the torque converter is drained. The impeller and turbine wheel of the CSTC are undersized with regard to the maximum shaft power requirement of the compressor.

Compressor starting torque converter

This invention concerns a method and an apparatus for improving the efficiency of an open-cycle refrigeration process for LNG production by the employment of a liquid expander to recover energy associated with the flashing of a pressurized liquid stream and employing said recovered energy to compress the flashed vapor streams in the open cycle.

Efficiency improvement of open-cycle cascaded refrigeration process for LNG production

A bottom entry pumping system for liquids, particularly cryogenic liquids, is described which includes a container with an outer wall, which may be concrete and/or metal, and an optional inner metal liner. A line is provided for transporting liquid from a liquid storage tank into the container via a pump connected to the line. The line may be optionally vacuum-jacketed. There is also provided at least one cryogenic valve in the line which can be controlled from outside the container. While pumping liquified natural gas (LNG) is an expected use of the invention, pumping other cryogenic liquids and even other non-cryogenic liquids may be performed with the invention. It is anticipated that the bottom entry pumping system of the invention will meet NFPA 59A requirements in the full containment embodiment.

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Sugar Land, TX, United States of America

Ned P Baudat