The UK-based LNG liquefaction technology licensor, Gasconsult filed a patent application for a variant of its liquefaction technology that eliminates CO2 removal unit as part of the feed gas pre-treatment train.
LNG liquefaction schemes typically incorporate an upstream amine scrubbing system to remove CO2 to below 50 mol ppm and prevent it solidifying in the main cryogenic heat exchanger, Gasconsult said in its statement.
The size, weight and cost of the amine unit are all very significant in the context of the overall liquefaction plant.
The feasibility of the new Gasconsult scheme termed ICR (Integrated CO2 Removal) facilitates a simple CO2 removal step within its ZR-LNG (Zero Refrigerant LNG) configuration, eliminating the need for an amine unit.
The process is applicable to feed gasses containing at least up to 5 percent CO2. To accommodate higher CO2 feeds the new technology can be combined with a bulk CO2 pre-removal process such as a membrane system.
Commenting on the development Bill Howe , CEO of Gasconsult said that in the current energy price environment, the LNG industry needs lower cost solutions which would contribute to reducing plant capital and operating costs, both onshore and for FLNG.