USE OF TURBOEXPANDERS IN LNG FACILITIES

摘要

Cryogenic and power recovery turboexpanders have found use in a variety of LNG applications.Flashing liquid expanders are applied in base-load LNG liquefaction plants to improve product recovery.Cryogenic vapor expanders are found in several of the most recent processes for base-load LNG.Expander based processes are considered to have desirable features for off-shore(platform and FPSO)LNG plants due to their smaller footprint,simplified operation,and lower capital cost.Peak shaving plants have used turboexpanders for refrigeration for many years and have proven to be reliable and easy to operate.LNG carriers featuring on-board liquefaction are now being offered.These miniature liquefaction plants use a turboexpander process to liquefy and recover all of the boiloff gas.Finally,in receiving terminals and during regasification,turboexpanders can be used to recover useful power for driving boil-off gas compressors or to generate electricity.