Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Method and System for Cooling a Hydrocarbon Stream Using a Gas Phase Refrigerant

Abstract:

Described herein are methods and systems for the liquefaction of a natural gas stream using a refrigerant comprising methane or a mixture of methane and nitrogen. The methods and systems use a refrigeration circuit and cycle that employs one or more turbo-expanders to expand one or more streams of gaseous refrigerant to provide one or more streams of at least predominantly gaseous refrigerant that are used to provide refrigeration for liquefying and/or precooling the natural gas, and a J-T valve to expand down to a lower pressure a stream of liquid or two-phase refrigerant to provide a vaporizing stream of refrigerant that provides refrigeration for sub-cooling.