The operating conditions of natural gas expansion pre-cooling
mixed refrigerant(NGE-MR)natural gas liquefaction process were optimized
and the optimum performance and the energy consumption level of the liquefaction process were obtained to assess the feasibility of the application of the liquefaction process in peak-shaving LNG plants in urban natural gas regulation stations. The simulation and optimization model of the NGE-MR natural gas liquefaction process which considers the specific power and uses the method of constant pressure ratio optimization was established to analyze the inf
luence of the operating conditions on the process performance. The results show that the optimum mixed refrigerant compositions are not significantly related to the pressure ratios(10
9
and 8)and the optimum mole fractions of N
2
CH
4
C
2
H
6
and C
3
H
8
are 2%
32%
60% and 6%
respectively. The optimum specific powers of the NGE-MR liquefaction process decrease slightly with the decrease in pressure ratios
in the range of 0.225-0.230 kW·h/kg. The NGE-MR liquefaction process with great superiority in energy saving is a promising technology selection for peak shaving LNG plants in urban natural gas regulator stations.
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