Refrigeration cycle using a mixed refrigerant

摘要

A refrigeration cycle utilizing a multi-component refrigerant and including at least one step of partially condensing compressed vapour in a vapour/liquid separator (62), forming a condensate stream by separating condensate so formed from uncondensed vapour (line 68) and thereafter expanding said condensate stream through valves (106, 108) and injecting said expanded condensate stream into returning low pressure refrigerant (line 40), characterised in that said expanded condensate stream is injected into said returning low pressure refrigerant in the form of at least two sub-streams (102, 104) formed by division of said condensate, at least two of said sub-streams being injected into the returning low pressure refrigerant (40) at different temperatures of the returning low pressure refrigerant. In use of the refrigeration cycle for liquefying natural gas, the mixed refrigerant preferably comprises a mixture of nitrogen and C 1 to C 5 hydrocarbons.