METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE VAPORIZATION OF A LIQUID HYDROCARBON STREAM

摘要

The present invention relates to a method for the vaporization of a liquid hydrocarbon stream (110) such as LNG, the method at least comprising the steps of: (a) supplying a partly condensed hydrocarbon feed stream (10) to a first gas/liquid separator (2); (b) separating the hydrocarbon feed stream (10) in the first gas/liquid separator (2) into a gaseous stream (20) and a liquid stream (30); (c) expanding the liquid stream (30) and feeding it (40) into a second gas/liquid separator (3); (d) expanding the gaseous stream (20) and feeding it into the second gas/liquid separator (3); (e) removing from the second gas/liquid separator (3) a gaseous stream (60) and feeding it (70) into a third gas/liquid separator (4); (f) separating the stream (70) thereby obtaining a liquid stream (80) and a gaseous stream (90); (g) feeding the liquid stream (80) into the second gas/liquid separator (3); and (h) removing from the second gas/liquid separator (3) a liquid stream (100, 100a); wherein the gaseous stream (60) is partially condensed by heat exchanging against a liquid hydrocarbon stream (110) to be vaporized.