UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES EMDEN-LEER

Department of Chemical Engineering

Semester Project:

C3MR Natural Gas Liquefaction Process Simulation

Student Name: Elisavet Michailidi

Supervisor: Prof. S. Steinegeweg

Emden, February 2014

B.MODEL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction .................................................................. 16
2. Aspen Hysys Simulator .................................................. 16

A. THEORETICAL PART
1.

Introduction ..................................................................... 5

3. Thermodynamic Model Selection ................................... 16

3.1. Peng-Robinson Equation of State .............................. 17

2.

Brief History of Liquefied Natural Gas ............................ 6

4. Feed .............................................................................. 18

3.

Lng Production-Industrial Processes ............................... 7

5. Process Description ...................................................... 18

3.1. Cascade Processes .................................................................. 8

5.1. Purification Section ....................................................... 18

3.1.1.

Linde Process ..................................................................... 8

5.2. Compressor Train Section ............................................. 20

3.2. Mixed Refrigerant Processes ................................................... 9

3.2.1.

SMR (PRICO) Process ....................................................... 9

3.2.2.

DMR Process ....................................................................10

3.2.3.

C3MR Process ...................................................................10

3.2.4.

APX Process .....................................................................11

4.

5.2.1. Mixed Refrigerant Composition ................................ 20

5.3. Propane Pre-Cooling Section ......................................... 20
5.4. Liquefaction Section ...................................................... 21
6. Energy Analysis ............................................................ 24
7. Conclusions................................................................... 26

Gas Purification Processes ............................................ 12

Citations .............................................................................. 27

4.1. Acid Gas Removal .................................................................13

4.2. Dehydration ...........................................................................14
4.3. Mercury Removal ..................................................................15
4.4. Nitrogen Rejection .................................................................15

A.

change. In its naturally occurring vapor state, natural gas is a bulky

energy source, which is difficult to handle. Storage of the vapor
requires huge underground caverns or large telescoping storage
tanks. Transporting natural gas from production sources to points of
consumption necessitates large pipeline networks and a considerably
higher transportation cost (Fig. 1.) Thus, only overland or somewhat
shorter undersea routes can be considered. Finally, natural gas at
atmospheric pressure is too bulky to be considered as a fuel for
transportation purposes. Liquefaction of natural gas serves to
overcome these obstacles, and permits transport over larger
distances and more diverse application of liquefied natural gas
(LNG) as an energy source (Foss, 2007).

THEORETICAL PART

1. INTRODUCTION
Natural gas is a mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons with varying
quantities of nonhydrocarbons, which are normally considered
impurities. Natural gas is composed mainly of methane. In addition,
it usually contains minor quantities of heavier hydrocarbons and
varying amounts of gaseous nonhydrocarbons such as nitrogen,
carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide.
Natural gas is set to become one of the most important primary
energy sources for the 21st century. As the cleanest fossil fuel, it
possesses many advantages such as giving off a great deal of heating
energy when it burns and emits lower levels of potentially harmful
byproducts and thus, it is expected to be one of the most promising
energy resources in the coming decades (Natural Gas Supply
Association, 2010).
Natural gas is transported either in pipelines or in liquefied
natural gas carriers after exploration and treatment. The liquefied
natural gas is produced by the liquefaction process of natural gas,
which refrigerates natural gas sources from ambient temperature to
around 162 oC in atmospheric pressure.

Fig. 1 Natural gas transportation cost

Source: American Institute of Gas Technology

The principal reason for liquefying natural gas is a 600-fold

reduction in volume that occurs with the vapor-to-liquid phase

the distance to England as Venezuela. With the start-up of the 260

million cubic feet per day (MMcfd) Arzew GL4Z or Camel plant in
1964, the United Kingdom became the world's first LNG importer
and Algeria the first LNG exporter. Algeria has since become a
major world supplier of natural gas as LNG.

2. BRIEF HISTORY OF LIQUEFIED NATURAL

GAS
Natural gas liquefaction dates back to the 19th century when
British chemist and physicist Michael Faraday experimented with
liquefying different types of gases, including natural gas. German
engineer Karl Von Linde built the first practical compressor
refrigeration machine in Munich in 1873. The first LNG plant was
built in West Virginia in 1912 and began operation in 1917. The first
commercial liquefaction plant was built in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1941.
The LNG was stored in tanks at atmospheric pressure. The
liquefaction of natural gas raised the possibility of its transportation
to distant destinations. In January 1959, the world's first LNG
tanker, The Methane Pioneer, a converted World War ll liberty
freighter containing five, 7,000 barrel equivalent aluminum
prismatic tanks with balsa wood supports and insulation of plywood
and urethane, carried an LNG cargo from Lake Charles, Louisiana to
Canvey Island, United Kingdom. This event demonstrated that large
quantities of liquefied natural gas could be transported safely across
the ocean. Following the successful performance of The Methane
Pioneer, the British Gas Council proceeded with plans to implement
a commercial project to import LNG from Venezuela to Canvey
Island. However, before the commercial agreements could be
finalized, large quantities of natural gas were discovered in Libya
and in the gigantic Hassi R' Mel field in Algeria, which are only half

After the concept was shown to work in the United Kingdom,

additional liquefaction plants and import terminals were constructed
in both the Atlantic and Pacific regions. Four marine terminals were
built in the United States between 1971 and 1980. They are in Lake
Charles (operated by CMS Energy), Everett, Massachusetts
(operated by SUEZ through their Distrigas subsidiary), Elba Island,
Georgia (operated by El Paso Energy), and Cove Point, Maryland
(operated by Dominion Energy). After reaching a peak receipt
volume of 253 BCF (billion cubic feet) in 1979, which represented
1.3 percent of U.S. gas demand, LNG imports declined because a
gas surplus developed in North America and price disputes occurred
with Algeria, the sole LNG provider to the U.S. at that time. The
Elba Island and Cove Point receiving terminals were subsequently
mothballed in 1980 and the Lake Charles and the Everett terminals
suffered from very low utilization.
The first exports of LNG from the U.S. to Asia occurred in 1969
when Alaskan LNG was sent to Japan. Alaskan LNG is derived
from natural gas that is produced by ConocoPhillips and Marathon
from fields in Cook Inlet in the southern portion of the state of
Alaska, liquefied at the Kenai Peninsula LNG plant (one of the

oldest, continuously operated LNG plants in the world) and shipped

to Japan. In 1999, the first Atlantic Basin LNG liquefaction plant in
the western hemisphere came on production in Trinidad. This event,
coupled with an increase in demand for natural gas in the U.S.
particularly for power generation and an increase in U.S. natural gas
prices, resulted in a renewed interest in the U.S. market for LNG. As
a result, the two mothballed LNG receiving terminals have been
reactivated. Elba Island was reactivated in 2001. In October 2002,
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) gave approval
to Dominion Resources for its plans to re-open Cove Point LNG
facility in 2003; first shipments to the reactivated terminal were
received in fall 2006. In April 2005 the world's first offshore, shipbased regasification facility was set in operation in the Gulf of
Mexico by Excelerate Energy. Additionally, a number of approved,
planned, and proposed projects are under development.

However, because of the high critical pressure of methane, LNG

must be produced commercially by refrigeration.
A number of processes have been commercialized for LNG
production (Martin, Pigourier, & Fischer, 2009). Commercial
processes can be distinguished into two categories:
Cascade Processes
Mixed Refrigerant Processes

Cascade
Processes
LNG Processes

With pre-cooling
Mixed
Refrigerant
Processes

Without precooling

3. LNG PRODUCTION-INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES

LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), is natural gas in its liquid form.
Liquefaction of the natural gas is achieved by cooling it down to
approximately -162oC in atmospheric pressure. In these conditions,
it transits from the gaseous to the liquid state, thus reducing its
volume by 600 times. Another way to succeed the phase transition is
increasing the gas pressure up to the gas critical pressure point.

The major liquefaction processes, used in the industry, are the

following:
AP-X Process
Cascade Process developed by Conoco Phillips
DMR Process developed by Shell

 SMR Process (also refered as PRICO)

Linde Process
C3MR Process (also refered as APCI) developed by Air
Products

asnitrogen and methane. Such a recompression penalty cannot be

avoided without a certain degree of separation of the refrigerant
components such as occurs in precooled mixed refrigerant processes
(Hammer, Lubcke, & Kettner, 2012).

3.1. CASCADE PROCESSES

Each refrigerant is established as a separate closed-loop
refrigerator that supplies refrigeration at discrete temperature levels.
Typically, propane, ethylene, and methane are used to provide a
wide, balanced range of refrigeration. After compression three
temperature levels for each of the three refrigerants form a nine
stage cascade. Each of these temperature levels corresponds to a
preset pressure letdown for evaporating the refrigerant in heat
exchange with the natural gas feed and a separate refrigerant stream
that requires cooling. Heat is removed from the natural gas at
successively lower temperatures; i.e., the refrigerant is boiled at
successively lower pressure. Heat is rejected to ambient air or water
via the warmest refrigerant, generally propane, and compressor
aftercoolers. The methane refrigerant loop is open in that it is
combined with the natural gas feed and after the final pressure
letdown the liquid methane forms part of the LNG product. The
wide range of boiling points for the refrigerant components also
means that some of the heavier components are compressedto higher
pressures than actually requiredfor their condensation to ensure
condensation of the lighter, lower boiling components such

Fig. 2 Cascade Process Simplified Flow Diagram

3.1.1. LINDE PROCESS

This process is a three cycle process, like the cascade process,

but with mixed refrigerant on all cycles (Fig.3.). Compared to the
cascade, the efficiency is better, as mixed refrigerants allows to have

a closer approach. However, the power is not the same on all three
cycles, unlike the new cascade. Plate-fin exchangers are used on the
first cycle, and spiral wound exchangers on the two colder cycles.

temperature trajectory instead of at a constant evaporating point and

this has large benefits for the total process. The refrigeration effect
will be distributed over a range of temperatures and accordingly the
overall temperature difference between the natural gas and mixed
refrigerant is small. Small driving temperature differences give
operation nearer to reversibility; leading to a higher thermodynamic
efficiency. Simultaneously, the power requirement will be lower and
the entire machinery smaller (Finn, 2009 ). Some of MRC
technologies are; Single mixture process (SMR), Mixed refrigerant
with propane pre-cooling (C3/MR), Dual mixed refrigerant process
(DMR), Mixed and AP-X. Most existing natural gas liquefaction
plants operate on the mixed refrigerant processes, with the propane
pre-cooled mixed refrigerant process being the most widely used.
Mixed Refrigerant processes can be divided into (a) Mixed
Refrigerant Processes without pre-cooling and (b) Mixed
Refrigerant Processes with precooling.

Fig. 3 LINDE Process Simplified Process Diagram

3.2.1. SMR (PRICO) PROCESS

3.2.

MIXED REFRIGERANT PROCESSES

The PRICO SMR process is the simplest of the four processes

studied. The process was first used in 1981 at the Skikda LNG plant
in Algeria. Three liquefaction trains using the process have been
built and operated over the last 23 years. Fig. 2 shows a simplified
flow sheet, which consists of a single LNG heat exchanger, a
separate feed/product and refrigerant system, a compressor with an
associated after-cooler, suction scrubbers a separator and pump. The
SMR process has the lowest equipment count compared to the other

The mixed refrigerant cycle (MRC) uses a single mixed

refrigerant instead of multiple pure refrigerants as the cascade cycle.
The mixed refrigerant normally consists of nitrogen, ethane,
propane, butane and pentane. Such a mixture evaporates over a

processes. In the SMR process the feed gas enters the LNG
exchanger at feed conditions and is cooled against the cold
refrigerant stream to the required LNG storage conditions of less
than -155 oC. The cold low-pressure refrigerant stream also acts to
condense the high-pressure refrigerant stream prior to the pressure
let down stage that provides the necessary heat exchanger cold side
temperature differential.

Fig. 5 Shell DMR Process Simplified Flow Sheet

3.2.3. C3MR PROCESS

Fig. 4 PRICO Process Simplified Flow Sheet

3.2.2. DMR PROCESS

In the early 1970s, a third generation of processes, precooled
mixed-refrigerant processes, developed. The most widely used
process employs two separate refrigeration systems, a propane
cascade refrigerant loop in series with a mixed refrigerant cycle that
incorporates propane, ethane, methane, and nitrogen as components.

This process (Fig. 5.) is a dual mixed refrigerant process, with

different power on the two cycles, and with two spiral-wound
exchangers. Having mixed refrigerant on the first cycle allows to
have a smaller condenser, and also to remove the propane
compressor bottleneck: For propane compressors, the compressor
size, thus the capacity of the unit is limited by the mach number at
the tip of the blades.

A basic schematic of the C3MR process is shown in Figure 6.

Natural gas is pre-cooled to about -35oC by propane. After
precooling, it passes up through a tube circuit in the main cryogenic
heat exchanger where it is liquefied and sub-cooled to between -

10

150oC to -162oC by mixed refrigerant (MR) flowing down on the

shell-side. To pre-cool the natural gas, propane is compressed to a
high enough pressure such that it can be condensed by ambient air
or cooling water. Liquid propane is then let down in pressure in a
series of stages, further reducing its temperature and allowing it to
provide refrigeration to the natural gas.
The propane is also used to pre-cool the mixed refrigerant which has
been compressed after exiting the bottom of the MCHE. After precooling, the partially condensed mixed refrigerant is separated in a
high pressure separator. The vapor and liquid streams pass through
separate tube circuits in the MCHE where they are further cooled,
liquefied, and sub-cooled. The two sub-cooled streams are let down
in pressure, further reducing their temperatures. As the mixed
refrigerant vaporizes and flows downward on the shell side of the
MCHE, it provides refrigeration for liquefying and sub-cooling the
natural gas. The vaporized mixed refrigerant is then recompressed.
The use of a single component pre-cooling fluid with a staged
pressure let-down provides for an efficient, easy to control precooling step. The use of a mixed refrigerant for liquefaction and
sub-cooling in a single exchanger permits boiling of the refrigerant
over a temperature range, leading to high efficiency when it is most
crucial. In this way, the C3MR cycle minimizes the number of
equipment items and control loops while maintaining the highest
efficiency on the market. These advantages lead to minimal plant
complexity, easier operation, and high availability (M. J. Roberts,
2004).

Fig. 6 C3/MR Process Simplified Flow Diagram

3.2.4. APX PROCESS

In this process (Fig.7), a cycle similar to the precooled mixedrefrigerant process is used to precool and liquefy the LNG.
However, the liquefied LNG is subcooled in a nitrogen refrigeration
closed-loop process cycle. Nitrogen gas is compressed, cooled to
near ambient conditions with cooling water or ambient air, and then
further cooled to cryogenic conditions by expansion to lower
pressure. The gaseous nitrogen is then used to subcool LNG, after
which it is returned to be recompressed, completing the refrigeration

11

cycle. By employing the nitrogen refrigeration cycle to subcool the

LNG, the mixed-refrigerant only has to cool the LNG to about -115
o
C. This allows for a larger production capacity without a substantial
increase in equipment size.

consumer fuel, enhance the calorific value of the natural gas and
avoid pipelines and equipment corrosion.
The technologies that are widely used to treat the natural gas
include absorption processes, adsorption processes, cryogenic
condensation and membranes. The technologies and their
improvement have been developed over the years to treat certain
types of gas with the aim of optimizing capital cost and operating
cost, meet gas specifications and environmental purposes.
The type and desing of purification processes is determined
taking into consideration factors such as nature and amount of
contaminants in the feed gas, the amount of every contaminants
present in feed gas and the targeted removal capacity, amount of
hydrocarbon in the gas, pipeline specification, capital and operating
cost, amount of gas to be processed, desired selectivity, conditions at
which the feed gas is available for processing are the major factors
that should also be considered (Shimekit & Mukhtar, 2006).

Fig. 7 APX Process Simplified Flow Diagram

Especially the liquefaction process, requires the reduction of

certain contaminants, such as H2O and CO2 to sufficiently low levels
to prevent not only their corrosive effects but also the formation of
solids, known as hydrates, which form in low temperature
conditions. (Foss, 2007) As a result, LNG is typically made up
almost only from methane as shown in Fig. 8.

4. GAS PURIFICATION PROCESSES

Natural gas consists primarily of methane. However, small
quantities of CO2, H2S, H2O, heavier than CH4 hydrocarbons and N2
can also be found, depending on the natural gas source. Such
compounds are considered as impurities. Thus, the impurities must
be removed to meet the pipe-line quality standard specifications as a

12

and the anticipated type of processing or further use of the separated

components are quite varied. As a result, a choice of many different
processesis available (Kohl & Riesenfeld, 1975).

LNG Typical Composition

Methane

Others

The wet absorption (solvent based) acid gas removal still

remains clearly the most cost effective for base load LNG
applications. Developments in cryogenic and membrane CO2
removal have yet to threaten the position of the solvent based
processes when deep removal of CO2 for LNG production is
required (Klinkenbijl, M.L.Dillon, & Heyman, 1999).

5%

95%

Three basic types of liquid absorption processes are available:

Physical absorption processes, which use a solvent that
physically absorbs CO2, H2S and organic sulphur
components. Examples are the Purisol and Selexol processes.
Physical solvents can be applied advantageously when the
partial pressure of the contaminants are high, the treated gas
specification is moderate and large gas volumes have to be
purified. Physical solvents also absorb significant quantities
of hydrocarbons, which obviously is a disadvantage.

Fig. 8 LNG Typical Composition

A typical purification process for LNG plant includes:

Acid Gas Removal

Dehydration
Mercury Removal
Nitrogen Rejection

4.1.

Chemical absorption processes, which chemically absorb

the H2S, and CO2. Organic sulphur components do not
chemically react with the solvent. Common examples are
amine processes, using aqueous solutions of alkanol amines
such as MEA, DEA, MDEA and DIPA. Chemical solvents
are specifically suitable when contaminants at relatively low

ACID G AS REMOVAL

Removal of the sour gas components is one of the most common

aims of natural gas treating. The quality demands on purified gas

13

partial pressure have to be removed to very low

concentrations. Chemical solvents will not remove
mercaptans down to low levels due to the low solubility of
these components. An advantage however is that there is
minimum co-absorption of hydrocarbons. Due to the
chemical reaction between the solvent and CO2 and H2S, the
regeneration energy requirements are normally higher than
for a physical solvent.

4.2.

DEHYDRATION

The sweet gas leaving the acid gas removal step is still saturated
with water. Especially when the gas will be used as a feed for LNG
production, it is essential that water should be completely removed
in order to prevent hydrates formation.
Cryogenic Dehydration. The wet gas is cooled until the
components to be removed precipitate by condensationor formation
of hydrates

Mixed solvents, are a mixture of a chemical and a physical

solvent. The most widely known process is the Shell Sulfinol
Process, which applies a mixture of sulfolane, water and
DIPA or or MDEA.

Dehydration by Absorption Processes. Standardized

dehydration plants using glycol absorption are employed most
widely. In the absorber, glycol and gas are brought in contact
counter currently. Triethylene glycol (TEG) is used in preference to
other glycols (mono- and diethylene glycols) because of its high
absorption capacity for water vapor, its low vapor pressure (small
losses from evaporation), and its high thermal stability

Adsorption processes for the removal of hydrogen sulfide and

carbon dioxide are used in natural gas treatment when only small
amounts of acidic components must be removed. Activated charcoal
and zeolitic molecular sieves are used as adsorbents. Molecular
sieves are used widely for the purification of natural gas when it is
used as feedstock for a cryogenic plant for production of liquefied
gas. In these plants, even low levels of carbon dioxide cause
problems because the gas freezes in the low-temperature unit and
can lead to blockage.

Adsorptive Dehydration. In adsorptive dehydration the gas is

brought in contact with molecular sieves, silica gel, or SORBEAD
(i.e., Na2O- containing SiO2 ). Dew points < -70 oC are attainable
with adsorption plants. This is particularly necessary for cryogenic
plants and liquid natural gas (LNG) plants, where traces of water
and carbon dioxide can lead to blockage by ice formation.

14

4.3.

MERCURY REMOVAL

Membrane Processes (under development)

Mercury removal is normally done with a fixed bed adsorption

step. Commonly used adsorbents are sulphur impregnated carbons,
in which the mercury reacts with sulphur to form the stable mercuric
sulphide. A standard molecular sieve will also absorb Hg but
regeneration is impossible. An alternative approach is the silverimpregnated molecular sieve (UOP HgSIV). In principle this
molecular sieve can be regenerated, however the release of mercury
from the molecular sieve bed would require dedicated material
selections in the regeneration gas treating section.

4.4.

NITROGEN REJECTION

Although not common, nitrogen is sometimes removed and

rejected using one of the three processes (Gas Processes,
Hydrocarbon Processing, 2002):
Cryogenic process (Nitrogen Rejection Unit), using low
temperature distillation.
Absorption process, using lean oil or a special solvent as the
absorbent.
Adsorption process, using activated carbon or molecular
sieves as the adsorbent.

15

B.

diagram. Computer-aided process design programs, often referred to

as process simulators, flow sheet simulators, or flow sheeting
packages, are widely used in process design.

MODEL

1. INTRODUCTION

Aspen HYSYS by Aspen Technology is one of the major

process simulators that are widely used in chemical and
thermodynamic process industries today. Aspen HYSYS is the
industry leading simulation software for oil & gas, refining, and
engineering processes. With an extensive array of unit operations,
specialized work environments, and a robust solver, modeling in
Aspen HYSYS V8 enables the user to (Sittler & Ajikutira, 2013):

Propane precooling mixed component refrigerant process

(C3/MR) represents 80% of the commercial used processes. The
process has proven to be efficient, flexible, reliable, and cost
competitive (M. J. Roberts, 2004).
For these reasons the a C3MR process, using synthetic natural
gas (SNG) from the methanisation process, was selected to be
simulated. Simulation of the process has been conducted using
Aspen Hysys version V.8. process simulation software. The PR
equation of state is used for thermodynamic properties calculations
both for the natural gas and the refrigerants.

Improve equipment design and performance

Monitor safety and operational issues in the plant
Optimize processing capacity and operating conditions
Identify energy savings opportunities and reduce GHG
emissions
Perform economic evaluation to realize savings in the
process design

2. ASPEN HYSYS SIMULATOR

3. THERMODYNAMIC MODEL SELECTION
Chemical process modeling is a computer modeling technique
used in chemical engineering process design. It typically involves
using purpose-built software to define a system of interconnected
components, which are then solved so that the steady-state or
dynamic behavior of the system can be predicted. The system
components and connections are represented as a Process Flow

An equation of state (EOS) is a functional relationship between

state variables usually a complete set of such variables. Most
EOS are written to express functional relationships between P, T and
V. For simulation of a LNG production process, a reliable equation

16

of state (EoS) is needed for thermodynamic data predictions.

literature.
In the petroleum industry, two cubic EoS are generally used: the
SRK and the PR EoS (Ahmed, 1997):

Where:

they are simple and capable of fast calculations

they apply in both liquid and vapour phases
they are applicable over wide ranges of pressures and
temperatures
they estimate accurate densities
The generalized expression for the temperature-dependant
parameter is given by:

However, a slightly better performance around critical

conditions makes the PR EOS more preferred to gas/condensate
systems (Firoozabadi, 1989)
3.1.

PENG-ROBINSON EQUATION OF STATE

Where:

The Peng-Robinson EOS has become the most popular equation

of state for natural gas systems in the petroleum industry. During the
decade of the 1970s, D. Peng was a PhD student of Prof. D.B.
Robinson at the University of University of Alberta (Edmonton,
Canada).
With:
Peng and Robinson introduced the following modified vdW
EOS:

17

4. FEED
In the current process, synthetic natural gas (SNG) from the
methanisation process is used as a feed to the unit. The composition
of the feed is shown in Table 1.

Purification
Section

Propane
precooling
Section

Natural Gas pre-cooling

Mixed Refrigerant cooling

Compressor
Train Section

Increasing the pressure of

the refrigerant mixture

Liquefaction
Section

Cooling the gas down to its

liquefaction temperature

Mole Fractions
CH4

0.5960

N2

0.01

H2O

0.3510

H2

0.0260

CO2

0.0170
Table 1 SNG Feed Composition

5. PROCESS DESCRIPTION

Water Separation
CO2 Removal
Dehydration
Nitrogen Rejection

Fig. 9 Process Description Overview

The model, simulated in this project is based on the C3MR process.

As shown at the figure below, the process can be divided in four
sections,

5.1.

P URIFICATION SECTION

At first step, SNG, with the composition shown in Table 1,

enters the purification where the bulk of water is separated with a

18

phase separator. After this step, the gas appears the following
composition (Table 2):
Mole Fractions
CH4

0.9162

N2

0.0154

H2O

0.0024

H2

0.0400

CO2

0.0261
Table 2 SNG Composition after H2O Separation

Subsequently, CO2, H2O traces and nitrogen are removed by

absorption in MEA, adsorption in molecular sieves and membrane
separation respectively. Finally, the purified natural gas with the
composition shown on Table 3, enters the propane pre-cooling
section at temperature of 20 oC and 10 bar pressure.
% composition
CH4

95,82

H2

4,18
Table 3 SNG Composition after Purification
Fig. 10 Purification Section

19

5.2.

temperature enthalpy warming curve of the mixed refrigerant

closely tracks the natural gas cooling curve in the main heat
exchangers This reduces the energy demand of the process. The
mole fraction of refrigerants' composition were obtained either by
trial and error method based on cooling curves appeared in the main
heat exchangers.

COMPRESSOR TRAIN SECTION

In this section, a train of two compressors is used to increase in

two steps the pressure of the refrigerant mixture up to 17 bars.

The mole fraction of refrigerants' composition were obtained

either by trial and error method based on cooling curves appeared in
the main heat exchangers
The composition of the refrigerant mixture selected for the
current process is shown below (Table 4).
Mole Fraction

Fig. 11 Compressor Train Section

5.2.1. MIXED REFRIGERANT COMPOSITION

Methane

0.32

Ethane

0.33

Butane

0.1

Nitrogen

0.25
Table 4 Mixed Refrigerant Composition

A mixture of hydrocarbons and N2 is used to achieve the

desired refrigerant characteristics in liquefaction. The refrigerant
mixture evaporates over a temperature range similar to that of the
process cooling demand. The desired result is that the the

5.3.

PROPANE PRE-COOLING SECTION

In this section, the SNG from the purification section enters a

heat exchanger where it is cooled, by propane, to -35 oC. A simple

20

refrigerant cycle is used. Furthermore, propane is also used to cool

down the refrigerant mixture to -12 oC. Then, the cool refrigerant
mixture enters a separator where it is separated to gas and liquid
phase. Finally, the two streams along with the pre-cooled SNG enter
the liquefaction section.

Although refrigerant cooling can take place in several cooling

stages, only one stage is shown in the model for simplicity.

5.4.

LIQUEFACTION SECTION

In this section, three fin plate cryogenic heat exchangers are used
to cool down the SNG to -165 oC which is the liquefaction
temperature.
The pre-cooled natural gas, along with the two streams of
refrigerant mixture, enters the first heat exchanger (LNG-101) where
it is cooled down to -90 oC. Then, it enters the LNG-102 heat
exchanger where it is further cooled down to -140 oC.
Subsequently, gas liquefaction is achieved in the third heat
exchanger (LNG-103) which cools the SNG down to -165 oC.
Fig. 12 Natural Gas C3 Pre-Cooling Section

Finally, the stream, coming out from LNG-103 is expanded,

through a valve, from 10 bar to 1 bar, which is the pressure of LNG
storage. The expanded stream enters a flashing drum, where it is
separated to gas and liquid phases. The liquid phase, which is the
final LNG product is leaded to storage tanks, while the gaseous
phase is leaded to the flare.
The flow diagram of this section is shown on figure 14.

Fig. 13 Refrigerant Mixture C3 Pre-Cooling Section

21

Fig. 14 SNG Liquefaction Section

22

As mentioned above, the desired result is that the the

temperature enthalpy warming curve of the mixed refrigerant
closely tracks the natural gas cooling curve in the main heat
exchangers This reduces the energy demand of the process. The hotcold composite curves for the three heat exchangers are shown
below.

Fig. 16 T-Q LNG-102

Fig. 15 T-Q LNG-101

Fig. 17 T-Q LNG-103

23

6. ENERGY ANALYSIS
It is known that the main energy demand for liquefaction
processes is the energy consumed at the compressors. In the current
process four compressors exist:
K-100 and K-101, both used at MR Compressor train
section
K-102 used for compressing propane at MR propane
cooling cycle and
K-103 used at propane pre-cooling section of SNG

kgmole/h

Mass Flow

961,4

kg/h

HHV Mass

55,61

MJ/kg

50,42

MJ/kg

LHV Mass
(Low Heating Value of
Stream Natural Gas to
LNG Section)

Energy Demand for Compression

Table 6 Properties of SNG Entering the Liquefaction Section

Compressor
K-100

334,1

kW

K-101

301,3

kW

K-102

22,55

kW

K-103

275,6

kW

Energy 933,55

62,2

(High Heating Value of

Stream Natural Gas to
LNG Section )

The power consumption for all the compressors is shown below:

Total
Demand

Molar Flow

kW

Table 5 Energy Demand for Compression

24

Fig. 18 C3MR Process Flow Sheet

25

Simple shell-and-tube heat exchangers are used instead of fin

plate cryogenic heat exchangers, in order to solve the case with the
Dynamic Assistant tool, provided by Hysys.

7. DYNAMIC MODELING
As a final step, an effort to simulate the current process in
Dynamic Mode was made.

It is vital that the LNG product has a certain temperature

( about -162 oC) at atmospheric pressure and the mixed refrigerant
enters the system at a constant pressure. Thus, three IC controllers
(PIC 100, PIC 101 and TIC 100) are used to control the pressure of
the reftrigerant mixture, the pressure of the LNG Product and the
temperature of the LNG Product respectively.

A simplified model of the C3MR process was built with Aspen

Hysys in Dynamic Mode (Fig. 19).

Fig. 19 Simplified C3MR Process- Dynamic Simulation

26

8. CONCLUSIONS

Firoozabadi. (1989). Thermodynamics of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs.

McGraw-Hill.

As expected to happen, by closing of two curves in cooling

curve diagrams, we could reduce total duty and increase the
efficiency of LNG production.
The mole fraction of refrigerants' composition were obtained
either by trial and error method based on cooling curves
appeared in the main heat exchangers. It can be realized that
while the curves for the LNG-101 and LNG-102 heat
exchangers are good, the curves for LNG-103 needs further
optimization.

Foss, M. M. (2007). Introduction to LNG- An overview of LNG, its

properties, organization of LNG industry and safety consideration.
Houston, Texas: Center for Energy Economics.
Gas Processes, Hydrocarbon Processing. (2002).
Hammer, G., Lubcke, T., & Kettner, R. (2012). Ullman's
Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry- Natural Gas. Wiley-VCH
Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
Klinkenbijl, J., M.L.Dillon, & Heyman, E. (1999). Gas Pretreatment
and their Impact on Liquefaction Processes. GPA Nashville TE
meeting. Nashville.

CITATIONS

Kohl, A. L., & Riesenfeld, F. C. (1975). Gas Purification. Gulf

Publ.: Houston.

A., F. (1989). Thermodynamics of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs.

McGraw-Hill.

M. J. Roberts, Y. N. (2004). Reducing LNG Capital Cost in Today's

Competitive. 14th International Conference & Exhibition on
Liquefied Natural Gas . Doha, Qatar.

Adewumi, M. (n.d.). Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved 02

20,
2014,
from
https://www.eeducation.psu.edu/png520/m11_p3.html

Martin, P.-Y., Pigourier, J., & Fischer, B. (2009). Natural Gas

Liquefaction Processes Comparison. France.

Ahmed, T. (1997). Hydrocarbon Phase behavior. London: Gulf

publishing Company.

Shimekit, B., & Mukhtar, H. (2006). Natural Gas Purification

Technologies . Malaysia: University of Technology PETRONAS.

Finn, A. J. (2009 ). LNG Plants- scale-up of familiar technologies.

GPA 88th Anual Convention . San Antonio Mariott River Center.

27

Sittler, L., & Ajikutira, D. (2013). Jump Start: Aspen HYSYS V8.0.
AspenTech.

28