Natural gas to liquid fuels, liquid natural gas and compressed natural gas

摘要

A method and apparatus for the liquefaction of natural gas or conversion of other gases to liquids that uses nanosecond or femtosecond pulse laser machined structures on surfaces of heat exchangers. The heat exchanger has metal plate and plate fin surfaces with increased surface area to volume ratio from the nanosecond or femtosecond pulse laser machined structures on its surfaces. Heat transfer and cooling are accelerated by exposing the gas to nanosecond or femtosecond pulse laser nanomachining structures. Fluid refrigerant flows through the structures in the heat exchanger metal plate and plate fins, and exchanges heat with refrigerant flowing through the structures.