Portable　natural　gas　liquefaction　devices　are　widely　used　to　exploit　unconventional　natural　gas　resources　and　one　of　key　components　is　a　compressor.　In　this　paper,　a　new　natural　gas　liquefaction　process　is　simulated　and　optimized　and　a　single-screw　compressor　with　200　mm　diameter　is　designed　to　be　applied　in　this　process.　To　verify　the　performance　of　the　single-screw　compressor,　an　experimental　system　was　set　up　and　performance　parameters　were　studied,　including　volumetric　efficiency,　specific　power　rate,　shaft　efficiency,　irreversible　loss　rate　and　cooling　efficiency　of　the　lubricating　oil.　The　influence　of　the　lubricating　oil　on　the　volumetric　efficiency　was　also　observed.　Furthermore,　the　impact　of　actual　compressor　performance　on　the　liquefaction　process　was　also　analyzed.　The　results　indicate　that　the　performance　of　the　compressor　changes　greatly　when　it　operates　deviating　from　its　design　condition.　The　maximum　volumetric　efficiency,　shaft　efficiency,　irreversible　loss　rate　and　cooling　efficiency　of　the　lubricating　oil　are　0.91,　0.64,　0.56　and　0.22,　respectively.　The　minimum　specific　power　rate　is　6.5　kW.(m(3).min(-1))(-1).　In　addition,　the　lubricating　oil　has　a　good　effect　of　sealing　so　that　the　volumetric　efficiency　can　be　improved　by　10.5%.　Considering　the　actual　performance　of　the　single-screw　compressor,　specific　power　consumption　of　the　process　increases　by　43.3%.　(C)　2018　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.