Self-sufficient system for evaporation of lng

{
  "publication_number": "US2026103999A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Self-sufficient system for evaporation of lng",
  "abstract": "A self-sufficient system for evaporation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) comprising an evaporation station which is configured to receive LNG at very low pressure and temperature and to provide natural gas (NG) at high pressure and low temperature, a heat pumping station which is configured to implement a closed-loop refrigeration cycle using a mixed refrigerant as working fluid and a main heat exchanger which is fluidly coupled to the evaporation station and the heat pumping station and is configured to transfer heat from the heat pumping station to the evaporation station in order to evaporate LNG and supply NG downstream the main heat exchanger. The evaporation station comprises a pump and a expander, the expander drives the pump. The heat pumping station comprises a second pump and a second expander, the second expander drives the second pump.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A self-sufficient system for evaporation of liquefied natural gas, comprising: an evaporation station comprising a first pump and a first expander mechanically coupled to each other so that the first expander drives the first pump wherein the evaporation station is configured to receive liquefied natural gas at first pressure and first temperature and to provide natural gas at second pressure and second temperature; a heat pumping station comprising a second pump and a second expander, wherein the heat pumping station is configured to implement a closed-loop refrigeration cycle using a mixed refrigerant as working fluid, wherein the second pump and the second expander are coupled to each other so that the second expander drives the second pump; and, a main heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the evaporation station and the heat pumping station, wherein the main heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from the heat pumping station to the evaporation station in order to evaporate liquefied natural gas and supply natural gas downstream the main heat exchanger, wherein second pressure is higher than first pressure and second temperature is higher than first temperature. 2. The self-sufficient system of claim 1, wherein the first pump has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein the fluid inlet is configured to receive liquefied natural gas at first pressure and first temperature and the fluid outlet is configured to provide liquefied natural gas at third pressure and third temperature, wherein third pressure is higher than second pressure and third temperature is higher than first temperature and lower than second temperature. 3. The self-sufficient system of claim 2, wherein the fluid outlet is fluidly coupled to the main heat exchanger, wherein the main heat exchanger is configured to generate natural gas at fourth pressure and fourth temperature, wherein fourth pressure is lower than third pressure and higher than second pressure. 4. The self-sufficient system of claim 3, wherein the first expander has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein the fluid inlet 24 is configured to receive the natural gas at fourth pressure and fourth temperature and the fluid outlet is configured to provide natural gas (G at second pressure (and second temperature. 5. The self-sufficient system of claim 1, wherein the mixed refrigerant comprises one or more of methane, ethane, ethylene and propane. 6. The self-sufficient system of claim 1, wherein the heat pumping station further comprises a first power generator, wherein the second expander is mechanically coupled to the first power generator, wherein the first power generator is configured to generate electrical power. 7. The self-sufficient system of claim 1, wherein the heat pumping station further comprises a first secondary heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from a first external heat source to the mixed refrigerant in order to supply mixed refrigerant in the form of gas downstream the first secondary heat exchanger, wherein the first external heat source GB is ambient air or sea water or process waste heat. 8. The self-sufficient system of claim 1, wherein the heat pumping station further comprises a second secondary heat exchanger arranged upstream the second expander, wherein the second secondary heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from a second external heat source to the mixed refrigerant to supply mixed refrigerant in the form of superheated gas downstream the second secondary heat exchanger, wherein the second external heat source is process waste heat. 9. The self-sufficient system of claim 1, wherein the evaporation station further comprises a third secondary heat exchanger arranged upstream the first expander, wherein the third secondary heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from a third external heat source to the natural gas to supply natural gas in the form of superheated gas downstream the third secondary heat exchanger, wherein the third external heat source is process waste heat. 10. The self-sufficient system of claim 9, wherein the evaporation station further comprises a second power generator, wherein the first expander is mechanically coupled to the second power generator, wherein the second power generator is configured to generate electrical power."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "F01K 23/18",
    "F01K 23/04",
    "F01K 25/10",
    "F22B 1/167"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2023-10-04",
  "publication_date": "2026-04-16",
  "priority_date": "2022-10-05",
  "application_number": "US-202319117271-A"
}