# US 10,480,354 B2 · Natural gas liquid fractionation plant waste heat conversion to simultaneous power and potable water using Kalina cycle and modified multi-effect-distillation system

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,480,354 B2
- Document ID: US10480354B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/842,205
- Filed: 2017-12-14
- Published: 2019-02-14
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-08-08
- Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Inventors: Mahmoud Bahy Mahmoud Noureldin; Akram Hamed Mohamed Kamel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480354B2

## CPC

- F01K 25/06: using mixtures of different fluids (plants using mixtures of steam and gas F01K21/04)
- B01D 1/0058: {Use of waste energy from other processes or sources, e.g. combustion gas (for water treatment C02F1/16)}
- B01D 1/26: Multiple-effect evaporating
- B01D 3/007: {Energy recuperation; Heat pumps}
- B01D 3/065: {Multiple-effect flash distillation (more than two traps)}
- B01D 3/146: {Multiple effect distillation}
- B01D 3/4211: {of columns}
- C02F 1/008: {Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F}
- C02F 1/16: using waste heat from other processes
- C10G 5/06: by cooling or compressing
- C10G 7/00: Distillation of hydrocarbon oils
- C10L 3/101: {Removal of contaminants}
- F22B 1/1892: {Systems therefor not provided for in F22B1/1807 - F22B1/1861}
- F22B 3/02: involving the use of working media other than water
- F25J 3/0209: {Natural gas or substitute natural gas}
- F25J 3/0214: {Liquefied natural gas}
- F25J 3/0233: {separation of CnHm with 1 carbon atom or more}
- F25J 3/0238: {separation of CnHm with 2 carbon atoms or more}
- F25J 3/0242: {separation of CnHm with 3 carbon atoms or more}
- F25J 3/0247: {separation of CnHm with 4 carbon atoms or more}
- C02F 2103/08: Seawater, e.g. for desalination
- C02F 2303/10: Energy recovery
- C10L 2290/06: Heat exchange, direct or indirect
- C10L 2290/543: Distillation, fractionation or rectification for separating fractions, components or impurities during preparation or upgrading of a fuel
- C10L 2290/56: Specific details of the apparatus for preparation or upgrading of a fuel
- F01K 25/10: the vapours being cold, e.g. ammonia, carbon dioxide, ether
- F01K 27/02: Plants modified to use their waste heat, other than that of exhaust, e.g. engine-friction heat
- F25J 2200/02: in a single pressure main column system
- F25J 2200/70: Refluxing the column with a condensed part of the feed stream, i.e. fractionator top is stripped or self-rectified
- F25J 2200/74: Refluxing the column with at least a part of the partially condensed overhead gas
- F25J 2205/70: Heating the adsorption vessel
- F25J 2215/62: Ethane or ethylene
- F25J 2220/66: Separating acid gases, e.g. CO2, SO2, H2S or RSH
- F25J 2220/68: Separating water or hydrates
- F25J 2240/70: Steam turbine, e.g. used in a Rankine cycle
- F25J 2260/02: Integration in an installation for exchanging heat, e.g. for waste heat recovery
- F25J 2270/12: External refrigeration with liquid vaporising loop
- F25J 2270/60: Closed external refrigeration cycle with single component refrigerant [SCR], e.g. C1-, C2- or C3-hydrocarbons
- Y02P 70/10: Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working
- F01K: STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES (gas-turbine or jet-propulsion plants F02; nuclear power plants, engine arrangements therein G21D)
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
- C10L: FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS
- F22B: METHODS OF STEAM GENERATION; STEAM BOILERS
- F25J: LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS {OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS} MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT {OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE (cryogenic pumps F04B37/08; gas storage vessels, gas holders F17; filing vessels with, or discharging from vessels, compressed, liquefied or solidified gases F17C; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B)}
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

Certain aspects of natural gas liquid fractionation plant waste heat conversion to simultaneous power and potable water using Kalina Cycle and modified multi-effect-distillation system can be implemented as a system. The system includes a waste heat recovery heat exchanger network coupled to multiple heat sources of a Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) fractionation plant. The heat exchanger network is configured to transfer at least a portion of heat generated at the multiple heat sources to a first buffer fluid and a second buffer fluid flowed through the first heat exchanger network. The system includes a first sub-system configured to generate power. The first sub-system is thermally coupled to the waste heat recovery heat exchanger. The system includes a second sub-system configured to generate potable water from brackish water. The second sub-system is thermally coupled to the waste heat recovery heat exchanger.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a waste heat recovery heat exchanger network coupled to a plurality of heat sources of a Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) fractionation plant, the heat exchanger network configured to transfer at least a portion of heat generated at the plurality of heat sources to a first buffer fluid and a second buffer fluid flowed through the first heat exchanger network;
a first sub-system configured to generate power, the first sub-system thermally coupled to the waste heat recovery heat exchanger; and
a second sub-system configured to generate potable water from brackish water, the second sub-system thermally coupled to the waste heat recovery heat exchanger, and
a flow control system connected to the heat exchanger network and the first sub-system or the heat exchanger network and the second subsystem or the heat exchanger network, the first sub-system and the second sub-system, the control system configured to flow fluids between the NGL fractionation plant, the heat exchanger network one or both of the first sub-system or the second sub-system.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fluids comprise one or more of a NGL fractionation plant stream or a buffer fluid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of heat sources comprise:
a first plurality of sub-units of the NGL fractionation plant, the first plurality of sub-units comprising a de-ethanizer section, a propane dehydration section, a de-propanizer section, a butane de-hydrator section, and a de-butanizer section;
a second plurality of sub-units of the NGL fractionation plant, the second plurality of sub-units comprising a de-pentanizer section, an Amine-Di-Iso-Propanol (ADIP) regeneration section, a natural gas de-colorizing section, a propane vapor recovery section and a propane product refrigeration section; and
a third plurality of sub-units of the NGL fractionation a propane product sub-cooling section, a butane product refrigeration section, an ethane production section and a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) control section.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger network comprises:
a first subset comprising one or more of the plurality of heat exchangers thermally coupled to the first plurality of sub-units of the NGL fractionation plant.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, further comprising a first subset comprises:
a first heat exchanger thermally coupled to the de-ethanizer section, the first heat exchanger configured to heat a first buffer stream using heat carried by a de-ethanizer refrigeration compressor outlet stream from the de-ethanizer section;
a second heat exchanger thermally coupled to the propane dehydration section, the second heat exchanger configured to heat a second buffer stream using heat carried by a propane de-hydration outlet stream from the propane de-hydration section;
a fourth heat exchanger thermally coupled to the de-propanizer section, the fourth heat exchanger configured to heat a third buffer stream using heat carried by a de-propanizer overhead outlet stream from the de-propanizer section;
a fifth heat exchanger thermally coupled to the butane de-hydrator section, the fifth heat exchanger configured to heat a fourth buffer stream using heat carried by a butane de-hydrator outlet stream;
a sixth heat exchanger thermally coupled to the de-butanizer section, the sixth heat exchanger configured to heat a fifth buffer stream using heat carried by a de-butanizer overhead outlet stream from the de-butanizer section; and
a seventh heat exchanger thermally coupled to the de-butanizer section, the seventh heat exchanger configured to heat a sixth buffer stream using heat carried by a de-butanizer bottoms outlet stream from the de-butanizer section.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger network comprises:
a second subset comprising one or more of the plurality of heat exchangers thermally coupled to the second plurality of sub-units of the NGL fractionation plant.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, further comprising a second subset comprises:
an eighth heat exchanger thermally coupled to the de-pentanizer section, the eighth heat exchanger configured to heat a seventh buffer stream using heat carried by a de-pentanizer overhead outlet stream from the de-pentanizer section;
a ninth heat exchanger thermally coupled to the ADIP regeneration section, the ninth heat exchanger configured to heat an eighth buffer stream using heat carried by an ADIP regeneration section overhead outlet stream;
a tenth heat exchanger thermally coupled to the ADIP regeneration section, the tenth heat exchanger configured to heat a ninth buffer stream using heat carried by an ADIP regeneration section bottoms outlet stream;
an eleventh heat exchanger thermally coupled to the natural gas de-colorizing section, the eleventh heat exchanger configured to heat a tenth buffer stream using heat carried by a natural gas de-colorizing section pre-flash drum overhead outlet stream;
a twelfth heat exchanger thermally coupled to the natural gas de-colorizing section, the twelfth heat exchanger configured to heat an eleventh buffer stream using heat carried by a natural gas de-colorizer overhead outlet stream;
a thirteenth heat exchanger thermally coupled to the propane vapor recovery section, the thirteenth heat exchanger configured to heat a twelfth buffer stream using heat carried by a propane vapor recovery compressor outlet stream; and
a fourteenth heat exchanger thermally coupled to the propane product refrigeration section, the fourteenth heat exchanger configured to heat a thirteenth buffer stream using heat carried by a propane refrigeration compressor outlet stream from the propane product refrigeration section.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger network comprises:
a third subset comprising one or more of the plurality of heat exchangers thermally coupled to the third plurality of sub-units of the NGL fractionation plant.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a third subset comprises:
a fifteenth heat exchanger thermally coupled to the propane product sub-cooling, the fifteenth heat exchanger configured to heat a fourteenth buffer stream using heat carried by a propane main compressor outlet stream from the propane product sub-cooling section;
a sixteenth heat exchanger thermally coupled to the butane product refrigeration section, the sixteenth heat exchanger configured to heat a fifteenth buffer stream using heat carried by a butane refrigeration compressor outlet stream from the butane product refrigeration section;
a seventeenth heat exchanger thermally coupled to the ethane production section, the seventeenth heat exchanger configured to heat a sixteenth buffer stream using heat carried by an ethane dryer outlet stream; and
an eighteenth heat exchanger thermally coupled to the RVP control section, the eighteenth heat exchanger configured to heat a seventeenth buffer stream using heat carried by a RVP control column overhead outlet stream.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, further comprising a buffer stream which is a first buffer stream of a first type, wherein heat exchanger network comprise a third heat exchanger thermally coupled to the de-pentanizer section, the third heat exchanger configured to heat a second buffer stream of a second type different from the first type using heat carried by the de-propanizer overhead outlet stream.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the first buffer stream of the first type comprises oil and the second buffer stream of the second type comprises water.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, further comprising:
a first storage tank to store the first buffer stream; and
a second storage tank to store the second buffer stream.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the flow control system is configured to flow the first buffer stream or the second buffer stream or both from the respective storage tank to the heat exchanger network.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first sub-system comprises a Kalina cycle system configured to produce power using at least a portion of heat carried by the first buffer stream.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second sub-system comprises a modified multi-effect-distillation (MED) system configured to produce potable water using at least a portion of heat carried by the third heat exchanger.