Open Access

ARTICLE

Effect of Refrigerant on the Performance of a C3/MRC Liquefaction Process

Xiao Wu^*, Zhaoting Wang, Longfei Dong, Yanping Xin, Tianshu Yu
Shandong Institute of Petroleum and Chemical Technology, Dongying, 257061, China
* Corresponding Author: Xiao Wu. Email:
(This article belongs to this Special Issue: Advanced Oil and Gas Transportation and Treatment Technologies)

Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing 2023, 19(1), 25-36. https://doi.org/10.32604/fdmp.2023.020953

Received 11 December 2021; Accepted 24 January 2022; Issue published 02 August 2022

Abstract

The Mixed Refrigerant (MR) component is an important factor influencing the performances of natural gas liquefaction processes. However, there is a lack of systematic research about the utilization of propane pre-cooled (C3/MRC). In this paper, this mixed refrigerant cycle liquefaction process is simulated using the HYSYS software and the main influential parameters involved in the process are varied to analyze their influence on the liquefaction rate and power consumption. The results show that an effective way for lowering the power consumption of the compressor consists of reducing the flow through the compressor through optimization of the percentage of mixed refrigerant. The power consumption of the compressor in the hybrid refrigeration process is affected by both flow and pressure ratios. Its specific power consumption can be reduced by increasing the flow and decreasing the pressure ratio at the same time. The increase in refrigerant pressure at the high-pressure end can significantly mitigate the energy loss of the heat exchanger and compressor.

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Keywords

Refrigerant; C3/MRC process; liquefaction performance; power consumption; pressure ratio; hybrid refrigeration process

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