Compression
Refrigeration
Gas Processing
Refrigeration
Gas Processing Refrigeration
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Process Refrigeration
Refrigeration is the process of cooling a gas or liquid product stream by using a refrigerant to remove
heat. Refrigerants are fluids that can be evaporated at low pressure and temperature then condensed at moderate pressure
and ambient temperature. The heat absorbed from the product stream evaporates the refrigerant at low pressure, which is then compressed and the
heat rejected at higher pressure to ambient air in the condenser. The refrigerant circulates in a closed loop, undergoing continuous
evaporation-compression-condensation.
A large proportion of refrigeration plant use a compressor to allow condensation
at ambient temperature. This type of plant is generally referred to as mechanical refrigeration.
The compressor is usually screw
or recip, with centrifugals used for large systems.
Refrigeration can be of varying degrees:
- to cool a product a few degrees ("chilling"). Examples are air conditioning or brines for ice making
- to cool a product to -10C to -40C. Examples are to condense heavier hydrocarbons from natural gas or condense a gas such as CO2 or cool brines for ground freezing
- or to provide very low temperatures ("cryogenic", < -60C). Examples are separating oxygen and nitrogen from air
GPE has expertise in the first two categories.
The bulk of process refrigeration falls into the middle category.
