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:
May. 22, 2007
Filed:
May. 05, 2005
Bruce M. Wilding, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
Dennis N. Bingham, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
Michael G. Mckellar, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
Terry D. Turner, Ammon, ID (US);
Kevin T. Raterman, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
Gary L. Palmer, Shelley, ID (US);
Kerry M. Klingler, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
John J. Vranicar, Concord, CA (US);
Bruce M. Wilding, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
Dennis N. Bingham, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
Michael G. McKellar, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
Terry D. Turner, Ammon, ID (US);
Kevin T. Raterman, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
Gary L. Palmer, Shelley, ID (US);
Kerry M. Klingler, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
John J. Vranicar, Concord, CA (US);
Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for producing liquefied natural gas. A liquefaction plant may be coupled to a source of unpurified natural gas, such as a natural gas pipeline at a pressure letdown station. A portion of the gas is drawn off and split into a process stream and a cooling stream. The cooling stream passes through a turbo expander creating work output. A compressor is driven by the work output and compresses the process stream. The compressed process stream is cooled, such as by the expanded cooling stream. The cooled, compressed process stream is divided into first and second portions with the first portion being expanded to liquefy the natural gas. A gas-liquid separator separates the vapor from the liquid natural gas. The second portion of the cooled, compressed process stream is also expanded and used to cool the compressed process stream. Additional features and techniques may be integrated with the liquefaction process including a water clean-up cycle and a carbon dioxide (CO) clean-up cycle.