ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION OF NATURAL GAS LIQUEFACTION UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF A GAS DISTRIBUTION STATION

Theoretical aspects of natural gas liquefaction at a high-pressure gas distribution station using the open Claude cycle are considered. The thermodynamic analysis of the cycle is used to show that there are two gas liquefaction modes. The first mode: if the initial gas pressure is higher than the critical one, then liquefaction via throttling the production flow can be considered as isenthalpic. The second mode: if the initial gas pressure is below the critical one, the gas throttling and liquefaction process should be considered as a set of processes of isentropic expansion and subsequent adiabatic expansion and deceleration of the production flow. For both modes, mathematical models and algorithms for numerically calculating the natural gas liquefaction process are developed. The maximum yield of liquefied gas is estimated with account for its real properties and existing restrictions. It is shown that computational results are in good agreement with known experimental data.