The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 18, 2019
Filed:
Sep. 27, 2016
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA (US);
Mark Julian Roberts, Kempton, PA (US);
Gowri Krishnamurthy, Sellersville, PA (US);
Adam Adrian Brostow, Emmaus, PA (US);
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to methods of increasing the operability, capacity, and efficiency of natural gas liquefaction processes, with a focus on mixed refrigerant cycles. The present invention also relates to natural gas liquefaction systems in which the above-mentioned methods can be carried out. More specifically, a refrigerant used in a pre-cooling heat exchanger of a natural gas liquefaction plant is withdrawn from the pre-cooling heat exchanger, separated into liquid and vapor streams in a liquid-vapor separator after being cooled and compressed. The vapor portion is further compressed, cooled, and fully condensed, then returned to the liquid-vapor separator. Optionally, the fully condensed stream may be circulated through a heat exchanger before being returned to the liquid-vapor separator for the purpose of cooling other streams, including the liquid stream from the liquid-vapor separator.