초록 ▼

An LNG plant is configured to receive rich LNG and to produce LPG, lean LNG, and power using at least one fractionation column, wherein the fractionation portion of the plant can be optionally thermally coupled to a power cycle utilizing residual refrigeration from the processed lean LNG. Most prefe

An LNG plant is configured to receive rich LNG and to produce LPG, lean LNG, and power using at least one fractionation column, wherein the fractionation portion of the plant can be optionally thermally coupled to a power cycle utilizing residual refrigeration from the processed lean LNG. Most preferably, a liquid portion of the rich LNG is pumped to pressure and heated, and the pressurized and superheated portion is expanded to produce electric energy before being fed into the column. The column overhead vapor is partially condensed, providing column reflux for high NGL recoveries, and the residual vapor is further condensed using refrigeration content of the rich LNG forming the lean LNG product, that is further pumped to pipeline pressure and subsequently vaporized using heated working fluid of the power cycle.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An LNG fractionation plant for production of lean LNG and at least one of ethane and LPG, comprising:a heat exchanger that is coupled to a fractionator column and configured to employ refrigeration content of a rich LNG to allow (I) partial condensation of a fractionator colum

What is claimed is: 1. An LNG fractionation plant for production of lean LNG and at least one of ethane and LPG, comprising:a heat exchanger that is coupled to a fractionator column and configured to employ refrigeration content of a rich LNG to allow (I) partial condensation of a fractionator column overhead to thereby allow production of a fractionator reflux stream, (II) full condensation of a lean vapor to thereby allow formation of a lean LNG condensate, and (III) allow formation of a heated rich LNG from the rich LNG;a separation vessel that is configured to allow separation of the heated rich LNG into a vapor portion and a liquid portion;a second separation vessel that is configured to allow separation of the partially condensed fractionator column overhead into the fractionator reflux stream and the lean vapor;a pump that pumps the liquid portion of heated rich LNG to thereby form a pressurized supercritical liquid portion;a heater that is configured to allow heating of the pressurized supercritical liquid portion to thereby allow formation of a pressurized supercritical and superheated vapor;a power generator driven by an expander, wherein the expander is configured to be driven by the superheated vapor to thereby allow production of power and a stripping vapor; andwherein the fractionator column is further configured to receive the fractionator reflux stream, the vapor portion, and the stripping vapor stream.