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Small-scale natural gas liquefaction plants.

Author(s) : NEKSÅ P., BRENDENG E.

Summary

A new concept for small-scale liquefaction of natural gas has been developed. Typical production capacity can be in the range 5-20 tonnes of LNG per day. The main idea has been to develop a concept with low cost and high robustness, at the same time achieving relatively high energy efficiency. The need to make the unit modularized, and thereby movable in only a few skids, has also been emphasized. Important elements of the concept are covered by patents. Standard refrigeration components, easily available off-shelf, are used in the system design as far as possible in combination with a mixed component refrigerant. This contributes to low cost, fast manufacturing and a concept with high efficiency. Copper brazed plate heat exchangers and lubricated screw compressor are among the key components. A laboratory prototype with a production capacity of 1 ton LNG per day has been built and fully instrumented. Until now more than 1000 hours of operation has been performed with success. A period of more than 500 hours continuous operation has also been performed in order to verify that the lubricant management concept is working successfully. There is a growing interest in small natural gas liquefaction plants. These plants are intended for utilization of natural gas in areas without pipeline infrastructure and for the use of LNG for instance as vehicle fuel and fuel for ferries and small ships. The local gas utilization is industrial, domestic or for district heating systems. Local combined heat and power production is also a possible application. The plants can utilize different sources of natural gas, such as liquefaction of smaller quantities of LNG from an existing gas pipeline or collection of natural gas from smaller remote sources, such as small gas wells, associated gas from oil fields, landfill gas, reliquefaction of natural gas from storage, etc. The small-scale LNG plants are now being commercialized in cooperation with industrial partners. The first full scale unit will be installed during 2007/08.

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Pages: ICR07-A2-1248

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Details

  • Original title: Small-scale natural gas liquefaction plants.
  • Record ID : 2007-1859
  • Languages: English
  • Source: ICR 2007. Refrigeration Creates the Future. Proceedings of the 22nd IIR International Congress of Refrigeration.
  • Publication date: 2007/08/21

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