Patent ID: 8065890

Claim:
An LNG fractionation plant for production of lean LNG and at least one of ethane and LPG, comprising: a heat exchanger that is coupled to a fractionator column and configured to employ refrigeration content of a rich LNG to allow (I) partial condensation of a fractionator column overhead to thereby allow production of a fractionator reflux stream, (II) full condensation of a lean vapor to thereby allow formation of a lean LNG condensate, and (III) allow formation of a heated rich LNG from the rich LNG; a separation vessel that is configured to allow separation of the heated rich LNG into a vapor portion and a liquid portion; a second separation vessel that is configured to allow separation of the partially condensed fractionator column overhead into the fractionator reflux stream and the lean vapor; a pump that pumps the liquid portion of heated rich LNG to thereby form a pressurized supercritical liquid portion; a heater that is configured to allow heating of the pressurized supercritical liquid portion to thereby allow formation of a pressurized supercritical and superheated vapor; a power generator driven by an expander, wherein the expander is configured to be driven by the superheated vapor to thereby allow production of power and a stripping vapor; and wherein the fractionator column is further configured to receive the fractionator reflux stream, the vapor portion, and the stripping vapor stream.