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US 10,480,851 B2Granted
Mixed refrigerant system and method
AssigneeChart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
InventorsDouglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided are mixed refrigerant systems and methods and, more particularly, to a mixed refrigerant system and methods that provides greater efficiency and reduced power consumption.
Claims23
A method for cooling a feed fluid, comprising:
- separating, in a high pressure separation device at the same pressure, a high pressure mixed refrigerant stream, said stream comprising two or more C1-C5 hydrocarbons and optionally N2, to form a high pressure vapor stream and a mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream;
- cooling the high pressure vapor stream in a heat exchanger to form a mixed phase stream;
- separating the mixed phase stream with a cold vapor separator, to form a cold separator vapor stream and a cold separator liquid stream;
- condensing the cold separator vapor stream in the heat exchanger and flashing, to form a cold temperature refrigerant stream;
- subcooling at least a portion of the mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream in a first heat exchange passage in the heat exchanger to a subcooled state and temperature, where the first heat exchange passage has a first heat exchange passage length, to form a subcooled mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream;
- subcooling the cold separator liquid stream in a second heat exchange passage in the heat exchanger to a subcooled state and temperature, where the second heat exchange passage has a second heat exchange passage length, prior to combination with the subcooled mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream to form a subcooled cold separator liquid stream, wherein the first heat exchange passage is separate and distinct from the second heat exchange passage and the first heat exchange passage length is greater than the second heat exchange passage length;
- combining the subcooled mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream and the subcooled cold separator liquid stream while the subcooled mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream is at, or colder via expansion than, the temperature of the subcooled mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream in the subcooled state and the subcooled cold separator liquid stream is at, or colder via expansion than, the temperature of the subcooled cold separator liquid stream in the subcooled state to form a middle temperature refrigerant stream;
- combining, in the heat exchanger, the middle temperature refrigerant stream with one of a cold temperature rejoined refrigerant stream and the cold temperature refrigerant stream, after the subcooled mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream and the subcooled cold separator liquid stream are combined to form the middle temperature refrigerant stream, and warming, to form a vapor refrigerant return stream comprising the hydrocarbons and optional N2;
- and
- thermally contacting the feed fluid in the heat exchanger, to form a cooled feed fluid.
7 more elements
A method for cooling a feed fluid, comprising:
- separating, in a high pressure separation device at the same pressure, a high pressure mixed refrigerant stream, said stream comprising two or more C1-C5 hydrocarbons and optionally N2, to form a high pressure vapor stream and a mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream;
- cooling the high pressure vapor stream in a heat exchanger to form a mixed phase stream;
- separating the mixed phase stream with a cold vapor separator, to form a cold separator vapor stream and a cold separator liquid stream;
- condensing the cold separator vapor stream in the heat exchanger and flashing, to form a cold temperature refrigerant stream;
- subcooling at least a portion of the mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream in a first heat exchange passage in the heat exchanger to a subcooled state and temperature, where the first heat exchange passage has a first heat exchange passage length, to form a subcooled mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream;
- subcooling the cold separator liquid stream in a second heat exchange passage in the heat exchanger to a subcooled state and temperature, where the second heat exchange passage has a second heat exchange passage length, prior to combination with the subcooled mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream to form a subcooled cold separator liquid stream, wherein the first heat exchange passage is separate and distinct from the second heat exchange passage and the first heat exchange passage length is greater than the second heat exchange passage length;
- directing the subcooled mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream and the subcooled cold separator liquid stream individually and directly, before or after expansion, to a mixing junction;
- combining the subcooled mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream and the subcooled cold separator liquid stream while the subcooled mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream is at, or colder via expansion than, the temperature of the subcooled mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream in the subcooled state and the subcooled cold separator liquid stream is at, or colder via expansion than, the temperature of the subcooled cold separator liquid stream in the subcooled state at the mixing junction to form a middle temperature refrigerant stream;
- combining the middle temperature refrigerant stream and the cold temperature refrigerant stream in the heat exchanger, after the subcooled mid-boiling refrigerant liquid stream and the subcooled cold separator liquid stream are combined to form the middle temperature refrigerant stream, and warming, to form a vapor refrigerant return stream comprising the hydrocarbons and optional N2;
- and
- thermally contacting the feed fluid in the heat exchanger, to form a cooled feed fluid.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.