Horace G Winningham

US Patent:

7165423, Jan 23, 2007

Filed:

Dec 15, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/012517

Inventors:

Horace Gary Winningham - Anderson TX, US

Assignee:

AMEC Paragon, Inc. - Houston TX
Pi Technology Associates, Inc. - Anderson TX

International Classification:

F25J 3/00

US Classification:

62620

Abstract:

A process for the extraction and recovery of ethane and heavier hydrocarbons (C2+) from LNG. The process covered by this patent maximizes the utilization of the beneficial cryogenic thermal properties of the LNG to extract and recover C2+ form the LNG using a unique arrangement of heat exchange equipment, a cryogenic fractionation column and processing parameters that essentially eliminates (or greatly reduces) the need for gas compression equipment minimizing capital cost, fuel consumption and electrical power requirements. This invention may be used for one or more of the following purposes:to condition LNG so that send-out gas delivered from an LNG receiving and regasification terminal meets commercial natural gas quality specifications;to condition LNG to make Lean LNG that meets fuel quality specifications and standards required by LNG powered vehicles and other LNG fueled equipment;to condition LNG to make Lean LNG so that it can be used to make CNG meeting specifications and standards for commercial CNG fuel;to recover ethane, propane and/or other hydrocarbons heavier then methane from LNG for revenue enhancement, profit or other commercial reasons.

US Patent:

20020029585, Mar 14, 2002

Filed:

May 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/863191

Inventors:

John Stone - Kingwood TX, US
Horace Winningham - Anderson TX, US

International Classification:

C07C007/00
F25J003/00
F17C013/08

US Classification:

062/620000, 585/800000, 062/053200

Abstract:

A process for removing hydrocarbons less volatile than methane from a pressurized liquid natural gas (PLNG). PLNG is heated in a heat exchanger, thereby vaporizing at least a portion of the PLNG. The partially vaporized PLNG is passed to a fractionation column. A liquid stream enriched with hydrocarbons (C or C) less volatile than methane is withdrawn from a lower portion of the fractionation column and a vapor stream lean in the hydrocarbons less volatile than methane is withdrawn from an upper portion of the fractionation column. The withdrawn vapor stream is passed to the heat exchanger to condense the vapor to produce PLNG lean in hydrocarbons less volatile than methane.