Patent SG-11201803526X-A (SG)
Title: Method and system for separating nitrogen from liquefied natural gas using liquefied nitrogen
Inventor: PIERRE FRITZ
IPC: F25J3/02
Filed: 2016-11-10
Abstract: INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization International Bureau (43) International Publication Date 22 June 2017 (22.06.2017) WIPOIPCT (10) International Publication Number WO 2017/105679 A1 (51) International Patent Classification: F25J3/02 (2006.01) F25J1/02 (2006.01) F25J1/00 (2006.01) (21) International Application Number: (30) (71) (72) (71) (74) (81) PCT/US2016/061243 (22) International Filing Date: (25) Filing Language: (26) Publication Language 10 November 2016 (10.11.2016) English English Priority Data: 62/266,976 14 December 2015 (14.12.2015) US Applicant (for all designated States except US): EXXON­ MOBIL UPSTREAM RESEARCH COMPANY [US/US]; CORP-URC-E2.4A.296, 22777 Springwoods Village Parkway, Spring, TX 77389 (US). Inventors; and Applicants (for US only): PIERRE, Fritz [US/US]; 18011 Bayou Mead Trail, Humble, TX 77346 (US). HUNTINGTON, Richard, A. [US/US]; 5306 Pine Wood Meadows Lane, Spring, TX 77386 (US). Agents: JENSEN, Nathan, O. et al.; Exxonmobile Up­ stream Research Comapny, CORP-URC-E2.4A.296, 22777 Springwoods Village Parkway, Spring, TX 77389 (US). Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DJ, DK, DM, DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IR, IS, JP, KE, KG, KN, KP, KR, KW, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SA, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW. (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH, GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, ST, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, TJ, TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, KM, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). Declarations under Rule 4.17: — as to applicant's entitlement to apply for and be granted a patent (Rule 4.17(H)) — as to the applicant's entitlement to claim the priority of the earlier application (Rule 4.17(iii)) Published: — with international search report (Art. 21(3)) — before the expiration of the time limit for amending the claims and to be republished in the event of receipt of amendments (Rule 48.2(h)) (54) Title: METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SEPARATING NITROGEN FROM LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS USING LIQUE­ FIED NITROGEN ON in n O 430 (57) : A method for separating nitrogen from an LNG stream with a nitrogen concentration of greater than 1 mol%. A pres­ surized LNG stream is produced at a liquefaction facility by liquefying natural gas, where the pressurized LNG stream has a nitrogen concentration of greater than 1 mol%. At least one liquid nitrogen (LIN) stream is received from storage tanks, the at least one LIN stream being produced at a different geographic location from the LNG facility. The pressurized LNG stream is separated in a separ­ ation vessel into a vapor stream and a liquid stream. The vapor stream has a nitrogen concentration greater than the nitrogen concen­ tration of the pressurized LNG stream. The liquid stream has a nitrogen concentration less than the nitrogen concentration of the pressurized LNG stream. At least one of the one or more LIN streams is directed to the separation vessel.