(110e) Design Considerations for Propane Condenser Approach Temperature in An Air Cooled Lng Plant | AIChE

(110e) Design Considerations for Propane Condenser Approach Temperature in An Air Cooled Lng Plant

Authors 

Kuo, J. C. - Presenter, Chevron Energy Technology Company
Shah, P. M. - Presenter, Chevron Energy Technology Company
Martinez, B. - Presenter, Chevron Energy Technology Company


A majority of the existing base load LNG plants use air cooling technology to reject process heat required to liquefy the natural gas. In addition, an increasing number of LNG plants under development plan to use air cooling technology. A 5 MMTPA LNG plant will typically require an air cooler with approximately 75 bays with an equivalent heat duty of about 1000 Million BTU/Hr which equates to an estimated total installation cost of over $55 million dollars in today's dollars.

A question frequently asked during conceptual design phase is how one defines the optimal approach temperature for the propane condenser. In the past, approach temperatures ranging from 13-30 °C have been employed in LNG facilities. A systematic method to determine the optimal approach temperature of the propane condenser during the early conceptual design stage would be very useful in the design of LNG plants.

The purpose of this paper is

1. To identify factors contributing to an optimum propane condenser (air cooler) design

2. Evaluate the following:

? Low approach temperature of propane condenser versus high approach temperature.

? Impact of ambient temperature on both LNG production and fuel consumption

? Propane condenser surface area and number of bays

3. Develop sensitivity analysis on LNG production rate and fuel consumption at four different propane condenser approach temperatures (12C,18C, 24C, 30C) over a range of different average ambient conditions (20C, 25C, 30C). Both instantaneous as well as annual LNG production will be addressed as part of the analysis.

4. Determine surface area and number of bays for all study cases

5. Conduct a preliminary economical analysis of adding propane compression horsepower instead of propane condenser surface area.

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