PROCESS OF LIQUEFACTION OF MULTICOMPONENT GAS MIXTURE AND FACILITY FOR ITS REALIZATION Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: liquefaction of natural gas. SUBSTANCE: process of liquefaction of multicomponent gas mixture, for instance, natural gas, includes preliminary cleaning, drying and cooling of multicomponent gas mixture, its deep cooling in heat exchanger and delivery of liquid phase to consumer. If values of temperature and pressure of multicomponent gas mixture after heat exchanger are below their critical values mixture is directed for preliminary separation into additional separator with formation of gaseous and liquid phases. Gaseous phase is expanded to values of temperature and pressure required for recuperation of cold and is returned into return flow. Liquid phase is divided into two flows. First flow is choked and is returned into return flow. Second flow is fed through choke into main separator. If values of temperature and pressure of multicomponent gas mixture after heat exchanger are above critical values mixture is divided into two parts. First part is expanded to values of temperature and pressure required for recuperation of cold and is returned to return flow. Second part is directed through choke into main separator. Return flow after heat exchanger is fed into operational system. EFFECT: potential to increase concentration of low-boiling components in liquefied gas directly in process of liquefaction and widened functional capabilities of facility with simultaneous simplification of its design. 2 cl, 2 dwg