MaximaLabs

LNG liquefaction, the real C3MR cascade

Natural gas precooled by a closed propane loop, then liquefied against a closed mixed-refrigerant loop in a multi-stream cryogenic exchanger.

Multi-stream enthalpy-based exchanger closureClosed propane precool + mixed-refrigerant loopsReal C3MR cascade — the dominant world LNG process

The actual dark-mode canvas (simplified for this preview — the real flowsheet's exact refrigerant charges are set via tear specs): natural gas precooled by a closed propane loop, then liquefied to ~120 K against a closed mixed-refrigerant loop.

Multi-stream exchanger, not a simple two-stream HX

Every hot and cold stream in the cryogenic bundle closes one shared enthalpy balance — the same free-stream closure a real APCI C3MR main exchanger runs, not a chain of two-stream heat exchangers.

in˙i,hot(hi,hot,inhi,hot,out)=jn˙j,cold(hj,cold,outhj,cold,in)\sum_i \dot n_{i,hot}\bigl(h_{i,hot,in} - h_{i,hot,out}\bigr) = \sum_j \dot n_{j,cold}\bigl(h_{j,cold,out} - h_{j,cold,in}\bigr)
hin=hout(isenthalpic JT throttle, every refrigerant letdown valve)h_{in} = h_{out} \quad \text{(isenthalpic JT throttle, every refrigerant letdown valve)}
TNG,out120 K,TLNG115 K at storage pressureT_{NG,\,out} \approx 120\text{ K}, \qquad T_{LNG} \approx 115\text{ K at storage pressure}

Unit ops shipped for this vertical

Multi-stream LNG exchanger

Enthalpy-based free-stream closure across every hot/cold stream in one cryogenic bundle.

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Throttle valve

Isenthalpic Joule-Thomson expansion — the same relation cryogenic JT liquefaction relies on.

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Compressor

Polytropic compression to pipeline/process pressure.

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Heater / cooler

Duty- or outlet-condition-specified energy-balance stage.

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Flash drum

Single-stage vapor-liquid equilibrium split at a fixed temperature/pressure.

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Live plant integration

Stream MCHE approach temperatures and refrigerant compressor discharge from your train's OPC-UA server into this flowsheet's twin comparison — deviations from the solved exchanger duty are flagged automatically.

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