Supersonic LNG Chiller Layout for Cold Box Size Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current LNG production systems are inefficient and costly due to the reliance on large cold boxes for cooling, which can be optimized by separating liquefied natural gas liquid from the gaseous stream before further cooling, reducing the size and cost of the system while enhancing production efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a refrigeration loop, a supersonic chiller for chilling and separating liquefied natural gas liquid from the gaseous stream, and a cold box for further cooling using a cold stream of refrigerant, where the liquefied natural gas liquid is produced and separated before being fed into the cold box, reducing the size and cost of the cold box.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a large cold box is used to cool natural gas for LNG production, then the cooling capacity is sufficient, but the system size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cooling process into two distinct stages: a supersonic chiller stage that performs initial rapid cooling and liquefaction, followed by a cold box stage that performs final cooling. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall size requirements compared to a single large cold box handling the entire cooling load.
Solution Approach 2:
The supersonic chiller performs preliminary cooling and liquefaction of the natural gas stream before it enters the cold box. By pre-liquefying a portion of the gas stream, the cold box only needs to handle the remaining cooling load, significantly reducing its required size and capacity.
2Productivity
If traditional cold box systems are used for LNG production, then the process is straightforward, but production efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The supersonic chiller acts as an intermediary device between the natural gas inlet and the cold box. It processes the gas stream to produce a liquefied portion that is then mixed with the remaining gaseous stream before entering the cold box, enhancing overall liquefaction efficiency without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes supersonic flow conditions and associated thermodynamic parameter changes (temperature, pressure, density) in the chiller to achieve rapid cooling and liquefaction. This parameter-based approach enables higher production efficiency compared to traditional subsonic cooling methods.
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
This approach reduces the size of the cold box by up to 20% and enhances LNG production efficiency, allowing for more liquefied natural gas to be obtained with the same feeding conditions compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
receiving and chilling, via a supersonic chiller, a first gaseous natural gas stream to produce a liquefied natural gas liquid
Implementation Method 2
cooling the second gaseous natural gas stream to obtain a liquefied natural gas by heat exchanging between the second gaseous natural gas stream and the cold stream of refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for producing liquefied natural gas are provided. The system includes a refrigeration loop system for providing a cold stream of refrigerant, a supersonic chiller for receiving and chilling a first gaseous natural gas stream to produce a liquefied natural gas liquid and separating the liquefied natural gas liquid from the first gaseous natural gas stream to obtain a second gaseous natural gas stream, and a cold box for receiving the cold stream of refrigerant and the second gaseous natural gas stream and cooling the second gaseous natural gas stream to obtain a liquefied natural gas by heat exchanging between the second gaseous natural gas stream and the cold stream of refrigerant.