Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures

FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING LIGHTING HEATING WEAPONS BLASTING ENGINES OR PUMPS F25Refrigeration F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE

F25J1/00Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures

F25J1/0002characterised by the fluid to be liquefied F25J1/0005Light or noble gases F25J1/0007Helium F25J1/001Hydrogen F25J1/0012Primary atmospheric gases F25J1/0015Nitrogen F25J1/0017Oxygen F25J1/002Argon F25J1/0022Hydrocarbons F25J1/0025Boil-off gases "BOG" from storages F25J1/0027Oxides of carbon F25J1/003characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production F25J1/0032using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it F25J1/0035by gas expansion with extraction of work F25J1/0037of a return stream F25J1/004by flash gas recovery F25J1/0042by liquid expansion with extraction of work F25J1/0045by vaporising a liquid return stream F25J1/0047using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle F25J1/005by expansion of a gaseous refrigerant stream with extraction of work F25J1/0052by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream F25J1/0055originating from an incorporated cascade F25J1/0057after expansion of the liquid refrigerant stream with extraction of work F25J1/006characterised by the refrigerant fluid used F25J1/0062Light or noble gases, mixtures thereof F25J1/0065Helium F25J1/0067Hydrogen F25J1/007Primary atmospheric gases, mixtures thereof F25J1/0072Nitrogen F25J1/0075Oxygen F25J1/0077Argon F25J1/008Hydrocarbons F25J1/0082Methane F25J1/0085Ethane; Ethylene F25J1/0087Propane; Propylene F25J1/009Hydrocarbons with four or more carbon atoms F25J1/0092Mixtures of hydrocarbons comprising possibly also minor amounts of nitrogen F25J1/0095Oxides of carbon F25J1/0097Others F25J1/02requiring the use of refrigeration F25J1/0201using only internal refrigeration means F25J1/0202in a quasi-closed internal refrigeration loop F25J1/0203using a single-component refrigerant [SCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle (not used) F25J1/0204as a single flow SCR cycle F25J1/0205as a dual level SCR refrigeration cascade F25J1/0207as at least a three level SCR refrigeration cascade F25J1/0208in combination with an internal quasi-closed refrigeration loop F25J1/0209as at least a three level refrigeration cascade F25J1/021using a deep flash recycle loop F25J1/0211using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle F25J1/0212as a single flow MCR cycle F25J1/0214as a dual level refrigeration cascade with at least one MCR cycle F25J1/0215with one SCR cycle F25J1/0216using a C3 pre-cooling cycle F25J1/0217as at least a three level refrigeration cascade with at least one MCR cycle F25J1/0218with one or more SCR cycles F25J1/0219in combination with an internal quasi-closed refrigeration loop F25J1/0221using the cold stored in an external cryogenic component in an open refrigeration loop F25J1/0222in combination with an intermediate heat exchange fluid between the cryogenic component and the fluid to be liquefied F25J1/0223in combination with the subsequent re-vaporisation of the originally liquefied gas at a second location to produce the external cryogenic component F25J1/0224in combination with an internal quasi-closed refrigeration loop F25J1/0225using other external refrigeration means not provided before F25J1/0227within a refrigeration cascade F25J1/0228Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes F25J1/0229Integration with a unit for using hydrocarbons F25J1/023for the combustion as fuels F25J1/0231for the working-up of the hydrocarbon feed F25J1/0232integration within a pressure letdown station of a high pressure pipeline system F25J1/0234Integration with a cryogenic air separation unit F25J1/0235Heat exchange integration F25J1/0236providing refrigeration for different processes treating not the same feed stream F25J1/0237integrating refrigeration provided for liquefaction and purification/treatment of the gas to be liquefied F25J1/0238Purification or treatment step is integrated within one refrigeration cycle only F25J1/0239Purification or treatment step being integrated between two refrigeration cycles of a refrigeration cascade F25J1/0241wherein the overhead cooling comprises providing reflux for a fractionation step F25J1/0242Waste heat recovery F25J1/0243Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used F25J1/0244Operation; Control and regulation; Instrumentation F25J1/0245Different modes F25J1/0247start-up of the process F25J1/0248Stopping of the process F25J1/0249Controlling refrigerant inventory F25J1/025Details related to the refrigerant production or treatment F25J1/0251Intermittent or alternating process, so-called batch process F25J1/0252Control strategy F25J1/0254controlling particular process parameter F25J1/0255controlling the composition of the feed or liquefied gas F25J1/0256Safety aspects of operation F25J1/0257Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments F25J1/0258vertical layout of the equipments within in the cold box F25J1/0259Modularity and arrangement of parts of the liquefaction unit and in particular of the cold box F25J1/0261Details of cold box insulation, housing and internal structure F25J1/0262Details of the cold heat exchange system F25J1/0263using different types of heat exchangers F25J1/0264Arrangement of heat exchanger cores in parallel with different functions F25J1/0265comprising cores associated exclusively with the cooling of a refrigerant stream F25J1/0267using flash gas as heat sink F25J1/0268using a dedicated refrigeration means F25J1/0269Arrangement of liquefaction units or equipments fulfilling the same process step F25J1/027Inter-connecting multiple hot equipments upstream of the cold box F25J1/0271Inter-connecting multiple cold equipments within or downstream of the cold box F25J1/0272Multiple identical heat exchangers in parallel F25J1/0274Retrofitting or revamping of an existing liquefaction unit F25J1/0275adapted for special use of the liquefaction unit F25J1/0276Laboratory or other miniature devices F25J1/0277Offshore use F25J1/0278Unit being stationary F25J1/0279Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid F25J1/0281characterised by the type of prime driver F25J1/0282Steam turbine as the prime mechanical driver F25J1/0283Gas turbine as the prime mechanical driver F25J1/0284Electrical motor as the prime mechanical driver F25J1/0285Combination of different types of drivers mechanically coupled to the same refrigerant compressor, possibly split on multiple compressor casings F25J1/0287including an electrical motor F25J1/0288using work extraction by mechanical coupling of compression and expansion of the refrigerant, so-called companders F25J1/0289Use of different types of prime drivers of at least two refrigerant compressors in a cascade refrigeration system F25J1/029Mechanically coupling of different refrigerant compressors in a cascade refrigeration system to a common driver F25J1/0291Refrigerant compression by combined gas compression and liquid pumping F25J1/0292Refrigerant compression by cold or cryogenic suction of the refrigerant gas F25J1/0294Multiple compressor casings/strings in parallel F25J1/0295Shifting of the compression load between different cooling stages within a refrigerant cycle or within a cascade refrigeration system F25J1/0296Removal of the heat of compression F25J1/0297using an externally chilled fluid F25J1/0298Safety aspects and control of the refrigerant compression system