Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Multiple pressure mixed refrigerant cooling process and system

Abstract:

Systems and methods described for increasing capacity and efficiency of natural gas liquefaction processes having a mixed refrigerant precooling system with multiple pressure levels comprising cooling the compressed mixed refrigerant stream and separating the cooled compressed mixed refrigerant stream into a vapor and liquid portion. The liquid portion provides refrigeration duty to a first precooling heat exchanger. The vapor portion is further compressed, cooled, and condensed, and used to provide refrigeration duty to a second precooling heat exchanger. Optionally additional precooling heat exchangers, and/or phase separators may be used.