(39d) The Optimized Cascade Process – It Is Not Just for Frame 5’s Anymore

The first six LNG liquefaction facilities built using the Optimized Cascade® process used Frame 5 gas turbine generators as the drivers for the refrigeration compressors. This has given some the mistaken impression that the Optimized Cascade process is a ?Frame 5? process. The Optimized Cascade process using Frame 5 drivers gives a highly reliable, efficient, safe and easy-to-operate liquefaction facility that has been used very successfully at a number of locations. But the Optimized Cascade process can and has been used with similar success with other driver options. The process is well suited, for example, for areoderivative type gas turbines with heat recovery as demonstrated by the Darwin LNG plant. The presentation describes a variety of driver options which will work very well with the Optimized Cascade process, including Frame 6 gas turbines, Frame 7 gas turbines, LM2500 G4+ gas turbines. LM6000 gas turbines, steam turbines and electric motors, and discusses how the process can be adapted to each driver to take advantage of the particular driver characteristics.