Numerical Modeling of the Operation of a Packaged Heat Exchanger in Obtaining Liquefied Natural Gas at Gas Distribution Stations

The article presents the results of a study on optimization of the natural gas purification and drying process for obtaining liquefied natural gas (LNG) at gas distribution stations (GDS). The aim of the work is to reduce energy costs at a small-scale natural gas liquefaction plant. To achieve this goal, the following tasks were solved: analysis of existing process flow charts for obtaining LNG at GDS and formulation of their disadvantages and advantages, description of a mathematical model of a regenerative heat exchanger. A numerical experiment was conducted to assess the performance of a mathematical model of a packed heat and mass transfer apparatus, as a result of which a conclusion was formulated on the possibility of using a regenerative heat exchanger to obtain liquefied natural gas at GDS due to the latent heat removal capacity of main natural gas.