Developments in the mixed fluid cascade process (MFCP) for LNG baseload plants

摘要

The Statoil Linde LNC Technology Alliance was established to develop alternative LNG baseload plants particularly suitable for the North Sea environment. Besides other innovative procedures and concepts this work resulted in a new LNG baseload process, the so-called "Mixed Fluid Cascade Process" (MFCP). Within this proprietary process the purified natural gas is pre-cooled, liquefied and sub-cooled by means of three separate mixed refrigerant cycles. The cold of the pre-cooling cycle is transferred to the natural gas via plate fin heat exchangers, whereas the cold of the liquefaction and sub-cooling cycle is transferred via spiral wound heat exchangers. Both types of heat exchangers are manufactured at Linde's own workshops. This paper describes the highlights of the MFCP and summarizes the main technical and manufacturing features of the plate fin as well as spiral wound heat exchangers. The paper also outlines the operation results of the spiral wound heat exchangers at the LNG plant in Mossel Bay, South Africa.