SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A LIQUEFIED HYDROCARBON STREAM AND METHOD OF OPERATING A COMPRESSOR

摘要

At least part of a fluid is compressed in a compressor driven by an electric motor. The compressor has variable inlet guide vanes of which an angle can be adjusted. The electric motor is powered using a power supply network, and a signal representative of a condition of the power supply network is monitored. From the signal, it is automatically determined whether additional load shedding is needed, by comparing the signal to a predetermined criterion. The variable inlet guide vanes angle is automatically adjusted when the criterion is satisfied and additional load shedding is needed. This automatically reduces the loading of the compressor. The compressor and the method of operating it may be employed as part of a system for producing a liquefied hydrocarbon stream and/or in the course of producing a liquefied hydrocarbon stream, in which case the compressor can be a refrigerant compressor and the fluid a refrigerant fluid.

主权项

1. A method of producing a liquefied hydrocarbon stream, comprising:
circulating a refrigerant fluid through a refrigerant circuit, comprising compressing at least part of the refrigerant fluid in a refrigerant compressor driven by an electric motor wherein the refrigerant compressor comprises variable inlet guide vanes of which an angle compared to a reference position can be adjusted; removing heat from an initially vaporous hydrocarbon stream thereby condensing at least part of the initially vaporous hydrocarbon stream to form the liquefied hydrocarbon stream, said removing heat comprising heat exchanging at least said part of the initially vaporous hydrocarbon stream against at least part of the refrigerant fluid circulating through the refrigerant circuit; powering the electric motor using a power supply network; monitoring a signal representative of a condition of the power supply network; automatically determining from the signal whether additional load shedding is needed by comparing the signal to a predetermined criterion; and, automatically adjusting the variable inlet guide vanes angle thereby reducing the loading of the refrigerant compressor when the criterion is satisfied and additional load shedding is needed.