Combined Heat and Power Technology for Natural Gas Liquefaction Plants

Abstract

Systems and methods for the generation of liquid natural gas (“LNG”) are provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableTHE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT[0003]Not ApplicableINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC[0004]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0005]1. Field of the Invention[0006]This invention relates generally to systems and methods for the generation of liquefied natural gas (“LNG”).[0007]2. Description of the Related Art[0008]Natural gas can be converted to liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) by cooling it to about −161° C., depending on the exact composition of the natural gas, which reduces its volume to about 1 / 600th of its original value. This reduction in volume can make transportation more economical. For example, the LNG can be transferred to a cryogenic storage tank located on an ocean-going ship. Once the ship arrives at its destination, the LNG can be offloaded to a regasification facility, i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a system and method to recover and utilize waste heat generated in LNG facilities, reducing fuel gas consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. A dedicated onsite power unit can generate power to supply all the plant's electrical demand, and the separation of the power facility from the liquefaction area allows for more efficient operation. The waste heat can also be used for process heating, reducing the demand for fuel. Natural gas or other supplemental gas fuel can be burned to provide additional energy for power production and heating services. The method also reduces greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing waste heat from gas turbines to produce steam, which can then be used to power processes used in the production of liquefied natural gas.

Problems solved by technology

Additional compression power is typically supplied through use of gas turbine generators or other external sources, with the help of large synchronous motors with load commutated inverter (“LCI”) drives, which require additional fuel gas consumption leading to higher operating costs and higher plant greenhouse gas emissions.

Synchronous motors are larger, more expensive, less reliable and require more control equipment than induction motors, but large induction motors that can operate at high speeds are not known in the art.

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