Design Optimization of C3MR Natural Gas Liquefaction Process

Abstract Liquefied Natural Gas plants are energy intensive processes. In order to reduce their energy consumption, optimization is an often-sought step in process design. But it is less common for real existing plants. This is especially laborious for plant operators when they need to work with design simulation software in conjunction myriad of other tools to evaluate equipment adequacy for new HMB or use a dynamic simulation software in steady state mode with an optimizer linked. The novelty of this paper is to showcase how intuitive open modelling with right specifications and in-built optimizers can be the right tool for both Process Designs as well as for re-optimizing/debottlenecking for real plants. This study uses AVEVA SimCentral Simulation Platform to develop the optimized design and real plant model within same simulation. The process design was created with specifications that reflect the process design objectives and then optimized for compressor power by varying refrigerant compositions and compression pressure. This becomes the basis for the real plant studies like similar optimization for a changed natural gas feed. This is where real plant operators can save efforts by working with a steady state pressure solved network simulation which obeys the equipment limitations. Since this is a steady state simulation the transient to steady state is not a concern, hence time/effort is saved when operators can simplify the simulation by simply swapping detailed controls for simple specifications in open modelling environment.