# US 10,871,085 B2 · Energy-recovery turbines for gas streams > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,085 B2 - Document ID: US10871085B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/923,936 - Filed: 2018-03-16 - Published: 2019-09-19 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-16 - Assignees: Uop LLC - Applicants: Uop LLC - Inventors: Stanley Joseph Frey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871085B2 ## CPC - F01K 13/02: Controlling, e.g. stopping or starting - C10G 11/18: according to the "fluidised-bed" technique - C10G 45/72: Controlling or regulating - C10G 47/36: Controlling or regulating - F01K 13/006: {Auxiliaries or details not otherwise provided for} - F01K 25/14: using industrial or other waste gases - 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) - 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 ## Abstract Processes for controlling the flowrate of and recovering energy from a gas stream in a processing unit are described. One process comprises directing a portion of the gas stream through one or more variable-resistance power-recovery turbines to control the flowrate of the gas stream and generate electric power therefrom; and controlling the pressure and temperature of the gas stream so that the gas exiting the power-recovery turbine remains in the gas phase. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for controlling a flowrate of and recovering energy from a gas stream in a processing unit comprising: directing at least a portion of the gas stream through one or more variable-resistance power-recovery turbine to control the flowrate of the gas stream and generate electric power therefrom, wherein the flowrate to the one or more power-recovery turbine varies by less than about 10%; controlling a pressure and temperature of the gas stream through the one or more power-recovery turbines so that the gas exiting the one or more power-recovery turbine remains in a gas phase; and measuring the flowrate using turbine revolutions per minute of the one or more power-recovery turbine and a load on a circuit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 further comprising controlling the flowrate by varying one or more of the speed or shaft torque of the one or more power-recovery turbine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 further comprising replacing a control valve with the one or more power-recovery turbine before directing the at least the portion of the gas stream through the one or more power-recovery turbine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the one or more power-recovery turbine is used in conjunction with a control valve, and further comprising directing a second portion of the gas stream through the control valve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The process of claim 4 wherein the portion of the gas stream directed through the one or more power-recovery turbine is greater than the second portion of the gas stream directed though the control valve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the power recovered is displayed on at least one display screen. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 further comprising: receiving information from a plurality of pressure reducing devices, the plurality of pressure reducing devices comprising: the one or more power-recovery turbine; a control valve; or, both; determining a power loss value or a power generated value for each of the pressure reducing devices; determining a total power loss value or a total power generated value based upon the power loss values or the power generated values from each of the pressure reducing devices; and, displaying the total power loss value or the total power generated value on at least one display screen. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7 further comprising adjusting at least one process parameter in the processing unit based upon the total power loss value or the total power generated value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The process of claim 8 further comprising: after the at least one process parameter has been adjusted, determining an updated power loss value or an updated power generated value for each of the pressure reducing devices; determining an updated total power loss value or an updated total power generated value for the processing unit based upon the updated power loss values or the updated power generated values from each of the pressure reducing devices; and, displaying the updated total power loss value or the updated total power generated value on the at least one display screen. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7 further comprising: receiving information associated with conditions outside of the processing unit, wherein a total power loss value target or a total power generated value target is determined based in part upon the information associated with conditions outside of the processing unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7 further comprising: receiving information associated with a throughput of the processing unit, wherein the total power loss value or the total power generated value is determined based in part upon the information associated with the throughput of the processing unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The process of claim 11 further comprising: maintaining the throughput of the processing unit while adjusting at least one process parameter of the processing unit based upon the total power loss value or the total power generated value. ### Claim 13 A process for controlling a flowrate of and recovering energy from a gas stream in a processing unit comprising: directing at least a portion of the gas stream through one or more variable-resistance power-recovery turbines to control the flowrate of the gas stream and generate electric power therefrom, wherein the flowrate to the one or more power-recovery turbine varies by less than about 10%; controlling a pressure and temperature of the gas stream through the one or more power-recovery turbines so that the gas exiting the one or more power-recovery turbine remains in the gas phase; and measuring the flowrate using a position of the variable position inlet guide vanes, turbine revolutions per minute of the one or more power-recovery turbine, and power output; wherein the one or more power-recovery turbine replaces a control valve in the process. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13 further comprising: receiving information from a plurality of pressure reducing devices, the plurality of pressure reducing devices comprising: the one or more power-recovery turbine; a control valve; or, both; determining a power loss value or a power generated value for each of the pressure reducing devices; determining a total power loss value or a total power generated value based upon the power loss values or the power generated values from each of the pressure reducing devices; and, displaying the total power loss value or the total power generated value on at least one display screen. ### Claim 15 A process for controlling a flowrate of and recovering energy from a gas stream in a processing unit comprising: directing at least a portion of the gas stream through one or more variable-resistance power-recovery turbine to control the flowrate of the gas stream and generate electric power therefrom, wherein the flowrate to the one or more power-recovery turbine varies by less than about 10%; controlling a pressure and temperature of the gas stream through the one or more power-recovery turbines so that the gas exiting the one or more power-recovery turbine remains in the gas phase; measuring the flowrate using turbine revolutions per minute of the one or more power-recovery turbine and a load on a circuit; receiving information from a plurality of pressure reducing devices, the plurality of pressure reducing devices comprising: the one or more power-recovery turbine, a control valve, or, both; determining a power loss value or a power generated value for each of the pressure reducing devices; determining a total power loss value or a total power generated value based upon the power loss values or the power generated values from each of the pressure reducing devices; and, displaying the total power loss value or the total power generated value on at least one display screen. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15 further comprising replacing a control valve with the one or more power-recovery turbine before directing the at least the portion of the gas stream through the one or more power-recovery turbine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15 wherein the one or more power-recovery turbine is used in conjunction with a control valve, and further comprising directing a second portion of the gas through the control valve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The process of claim 17 wherein the portion of the gas stream directed through the one or more power-recovery turbine is greater than the second portion of the gas stream directed though the control valve. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15 further comprising controlling the flowrate by varying one or more of the speed or shaft torque of the one or more power-recovery turbine.