Storage of natural gas in liquid solvents and methods to absorb and segregate natural gas

摘要

Bulk storage of natural gas or methane is facilitated by absorbing gas in a liquefied medium. Systems and processes are provided that facilitate the absorption of natural gas or methane into a liquid or liquid vapor medium for storage and transport, and back into a gas for delivery to market. In a preferred embodiment, the absorptive properties of ethane, propane and butane under moderate conditions of temperature and pressure are utilized to store natural gas or methane at more efficient levels of compressed volume ratio. The preferred mixing process efficiently combines natural gas or methane with a solvent medium such as liquid ethane, propane, butane, or other suitable fluid, to form a concentrated liquid or liquid vapor mixture suited for storage and transport. The solvent medium is preferably recycled in the conveyance vessel on unloading of the natural gas.