LNG Blending Facility Using Spiking Fluid for Multi-Market Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LNG facilities are optimized to produce LNG for a single market, making it economically unfeasible to serve multiple markets with varying natural gas specifications due to significant operating inefficiencies when producing non-design specifications.
Innovation Solution
A method and facility design that utilizes a cascaded refrigeration process, including multiple refrigeration cycles and fractionation columns, to produce initial LNG and a spiking fluid, which are then combined to create spiked LNG meeting different heating value specifications, allowing a single facility to supply LNG to multiple markets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an LNG facility is optimized to produce LNG for a single market with specific specifications, then production efficiency and economic feasibility are improved, but the facility cannot serve multiple markets with varying natural gas specifications
Solution Approach 1:
The LNG facility is divided into separate functional modules: a refrigeration system that produces initial LNG, a fractionation system that separates hydrocarbon components, and a blending system that combines initial LNG with spiking fluid. This modular segmentation allows each module to operate independently and be adjusted for different market specifications without affecting overall facility efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The facility employs dynamic adjustment capabilities through variable refrigeration capacity, adjustable fractionation separation levels, and flexible blending ratios. The control system can dynamically modify operating parameters such as refrigerant flow rates, distillation column operations, and mixing proportions to produce LNG meeting different market specifications efficiently.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an LNG facility changes operating parameters to produce LNG for non-design specifications, then market versatility is improved, but significant operating inefficiencies occur
Solution Approach 1:
The fractionation system pre-processes the natural gas feedstock by separating hydrocarbon components before the refrigeration stage. This preliminary action creates a spiking fluid rich in heavier hydrocarbons that can be stored and blended later, allowing the main refrigeration system to operate at optimal design conditions while flexibility is achieved through post-processing blending operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The spiking fluid acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the initial LNG production system and the final product requirements. By introducing this intermediate component with adjustable composition, the facility can efficiently produce base LNG and then tailor the final heating value and specifications through controlled blending, avoiding inefficient reconfiguration of the entire production system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single facility serves multiple markets with different specifications, then economic feasibility is improved, but operating inefficiencies increase
Solution Approach 1:
The LNG facility is designed with multi-functional capabilities where the fractionation system can produce spiking fluid for blending, the refrigeration system can operate at optimal conditions for base LNG production, and the blending system can adjust final product specifications. This universal design allows a single facility to efficiently serve multiple markets without requiring separate production lines or complex reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The facility uses its own produced spiking fluid from the fractionation system to adjust the heating value and specifications of the final LNG product. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external additives or complex import/export operations, allowing the facility to autonomously tailor its product to meet different market requirements while maintaining operational simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient production of LNG with varying high heating values, reducing operational inefficiencies and enabling a single facility to meet diverse market specifications, thus enhancing economic feasibility and flexibility in LNG supply.
Implementation Method 1
the gas is liquefied by sequentially passing the gas at an elevated pressure through a plurality of cooling stages whereupon the gas is cooled to successively lower temperatures
Implementation Method 2
the gas is cooled to successively lower temperatures until the liquefaction temperature is reached
Implementation Method 3
a first distillation column for receiving at least a portion of the natural gas cooled by the first refrigeration cycle and separating the cooled natural gas into a first relatively more volatile fraction and a first relatively less volatile fraction
Implementation Method 4
a mixing chamber fluidly coupled to and disposed outside of the first and second tanks, wherein the mixing chamber permits mixing of fluids from the first and second tanks
Data Source
AI summary
A single LNG facility, and operating method therefor, capable of efficiently producing LNG products that meet the varying specifications of different LNG markets.