Method of using an indirect heat exchanger and facility for processing liquefied natural gas comprising such heat exchanger

A method of designing a facility comprising an indirect heat exchanger comprising:

• a first inlet for receiving a first fluid flow,
• a first outlet for discharging the first fluid flow,
• a second inlet for receiving a second fluid flow,
• a second outlet for discharging the second fluid flow,
• a first heat exchange module positioned adjacent to a second heat exchange module in a first direction;
• a third heat exchange module positioned adjacent to the first heat exchange module or the second heat exchange module in a second direction;
• a fourth heat exchange module positioned adjacent to the first heat exchange module or the second heat exchange module or the third heat exchange module in a third direction;
• wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular with respect to each other;
• the heat exchange modules each comprising a first module face and a second module face being opposite to each other in the first direction, the heat exchange modules each comprising a third module face and a fourth module face being opposite to each other in the second direction, and the heat exchange modules each comprising a plurality of first fluid flow channels extending between the first module face and the second module face for accommodating the first fluid flow and a plurality of second fluid flow channels extending between the third module face and the fourth module face for accommodating the second fluid flow,
• first manifolds fluidly connecting the plurality of first fluid flow channels of one of the heat exchange modules with the plurality of first fluid flow channels of an adjacent heat exchange module thereby forming one or more first fluid paths connecting the first inlet with the first outlet and running through two or more heat exchange modules, and
• second manifolds fluidly connecting the plurality of second fluid flow channels of one of the heat exchange modules with the plurality of second fluid flow channels of an adjacent heat exchange module thereby forming one or more second fluid paths connecting the second inlet with the second outlet and running through two or more heat exchange modules;
• the first fluid flow channels having a first channel length L1 in the first direction, the first channel length L1 being smaller or equal to the thermal entrance length LTL1 of the first fluid in the first fluid flow channels for predetermined design operating parameters of the indirect heat exchanger,
• the second fluid flow channels having a second channel length L2 in the second direction, the second channel length L2 being smaller or equal to thermal entrance length LTL2 of the second fluid in the second fluid flow channels for predetermined design operating parameters of the indirect heat exchanger,
• the first fluid flow channels being adapted to being the first fluid flow in one of the first fluid flow channels and recollect the first fluid flow in one of the first manifolds several times when traveling through the heat exchanger;
• the second fluid flow channels being adapted to bring the second fluid flow in one of the second fluid flow channels and recollect the second fluid flow in one of the second manifolds several times when traveling through the heat exchanger, and
• the first manifolds being adapted to collect the first fluid from one heat exchange module of the plurality of heat exchange modules, convey at least part of the first fluid to another adjacent heat exchange module of the plurality of heat exchange modules, and feed the first fluid to the first fluid flow channels of this adjacent heat exchange module;
• at least one of the first manifolds and the second manifolds fluidly connecting at least two of the heat exchange modules adjacent one another in the third direction;
• wherein the method of designing comprises:
• determining design operating parameters of the indirect heat exchanger, the design operating parameters comprising one or more of:
• flow rate of the first fluid flow, inlet temperature of the first fluid flow, outlet temperature of the first fluid flow, inlet pressure of the first fluid flow, outlet pressure of the first fluid flow, physical properties of the first fluid, flow rate of the second fluid flow, inlet temperature of the second fluid flow, outlet temperature of the second fluid flow, inlet pressure of the second fluid flow, outlet pressure of the second fluid flow, duty of the indirect heat exchanger, physical properties of the second fluid,
• wherein the method further comprises, based on the design operating parameters,
• i) determining the amount of heat exchange modules to be comprised in the first and second fluid paths,
• ii) determining the amount of first and second fluid flow channels per heat exchange module, as well as the cross-sectional dimensions of the first and second fluid flow channels,
• iii) determining the lengths of the first and second fluid flow channels,
• iv) determining the dimensions of the first and second manifolds,
• v) determining a lay-out of the rectangular grid,
• vi) determining the dimensions of a first distribution header, a first collection header, a second distribution and a second collection header.

A method of manufacturing an indirect heat exchanger comprising:

• a first inlet for receiving a first fluid flow,
• a first outlet for discharging the first fluid flow,
• second inlet for receiving a second fluid flow,
• a second outlet for discharging the second fluid flow,
• a first heat exchange module positioned adjacent to a second heat exchange module in a first direction;
• a third heat exchange module positioned adjacent to the first heat exchange module or the second heat exchange module in a second direction;
• a fourth heat exchange module positioned adjacent to the first heat exchange module or the second heat exchange module or the third heat exchange module in a third direction;
• wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular with respect to each other;
• the heat exchange modules each comprising a first module face and a second module face being opposite to each other in the first direction, the heat exchange modules each comprising a third module face and a fourth module face being opposite to each other in the second direction, and the heat exchange modules each comprising a plurality of first fluid flow channels extending between the first module face and the second module face for accommodating the first fluid flow and a plurality of second fluid flow channels extending between the third module face and the fourth module face for accommodating the second fluid flow,
• first manifolds fluidly connecting the plurality of first fluid flow channels of one of the heat exchange modules with the plurality of first fluid flow channels of an adjacent heat exchange module thereby forming one or more first fluid paths connecting the first inlet with the first outlet and running through two or more heat exchange modules, and
• second manifolds fluidly connecting the plurality of second fluid flow channels of one of the heat exchange modules with the plurality of second fluid flow channels of an adjacent heat exchange module thereby forming one or more second fluid paths connecting the second inlet with the second outlet and running through two or more heat exchange modules,
• the first fluid flow channels having a first channel length L1 in the first direction, the first channel length L1 being smaller or equal to the thermal entrance length LTL1 of the first fluid in the first fluid flow channels for predetermined design operating parameters of the indirect heat exchange,
• the second fluid flow channels having a second channel length L2 in the second direction, the second channel length L2 being smaller or equal to the thermal entrance length LTL2 of the second fluid in the second fluid flow channels for predetermined design operating parameters of the indirect heat exchange,
• the first fluid flow channels being adapted to bring the first fluid flow in one of the first fluid flow channels and recollect the first fluid flow in one of the first manifolds several times when traveling through the heat exchanger;
• the second fluid flow channels being adapted to bring the second fluid flow in one of the second fluid flow channels and recollect the second fluid flow in one of the second manifolds several times when traveling through the heat exchanger, and
• the first manifolds being adapted to collect the first fluid from one heat exchange module of the plurality of heat exchange modules, convey at least part of the first fluid to an adjacent heat exchange module of the plurality of heat exchange modules, and feed the first fluid to and adjacent heat exchange module of the plurality of heat exchange modules, and feed the first fluid to the first fluid flow channels of the adjacent heat exchange module,
• at least one of the first manifolds and the second manifolds fluidly connecting at least two of the heat exchange modules adjacent one another in the third direction;
• wherein the method comprises manufacturing the plurality of heat exchange modules with the use of 3D printing techniques or chemical etching techniques.

A facility for the processing of liquefied natural gas, the facility comprising at least one indirect heat exchanger comprising:

• a first inlet for receiving a first fluid flow,
• a first outlet for discharging the first fluid flow,
• a second inlet for receiving a second fluid flow,
• a second outlet for discharging the second fluid flow,
• a first heat exchange module positioned adjacent to a second heat exchange module in a first direction;
• a third heat exchange module positioned adjacent to the first heat exchange module or the second heat exchange module in a second direction;
• a fourth heat exchange module positioned adjacent to the first heat exchange module or the second heat exchange module or the third heat exchange module in a third direction;
• wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular with respect to each other;
• the heat exchange modules each comprising a first module face and a second module face being opposite to each other in the first direction, the heat exchange modules each comprising a third module face and a fourth module face being opposite to each other in the second direction, and the heat exchange modules each comprising a plurality of first fluid flow channels extending between the first module face and the second module face for accommodating the first fluid flow and a plurality of second fluid flow channels extending between the third module face and the fourth module face for accommodating the second fluid flow,
• first manifolds fluidly connecting the plurality of first fluid flow channels of one of the heat exchange modules with the plurality of first fluid flow channels of an adjacent heat exchange module thereby forming one or more first fluid paths connecting the first inlet with the first outlet and running through two or more heat exchange modules, and
• second manifolds fluidly connecting the plurality of second fluid flow channels of one of the heat exchange modules with the plurality of second fluid flow channels of an adjacent heat exchange module thereby forming one or more second fluid paths connecting the second inlet with the second outlet and running through two or more heat exchange modules;
• the first fluid flow channels having a first channel length L1 in the first direction, the first channel length L1 being smaller or equal to the thermal entrance length LTL1 of the first fluid in the first fluid flow channels for predetermined design operating parameters of the indirect heat exchanger,
• the second fluid flow channels having a second channel length L2 in the second direction, the second channel length L2 being smaller or equal to the thermal entrance length LTL2 of the second fluid in the second fluid flow channels for predetermined design operating parameters of the indirect heat exchanger,
• the first fluid flow channels being adapted to bring the first fluid flow in one of the first fluid flow channels and recollect the first fluid flow in one of the first manifolds several times when traveling through the heat exchanger;
• the second fluid flow channels being adapted to bring the second fluid flow in one of the second fluid flow channels and recollect the second fluid flow in one of the first manifolds several times when traveling through the heat exchanger, and
• the first manifolds being adapted to collect the first fluid from one heat exchange module of the plurality of heat exchange modules, convey at least part of the first fluid to an adjacent heat exchange module of the plurality of heat exchange modules, and feed the first fluid to the first fluid flow channels of the adjacent heat exchange module;
• wherein at least one of the first manifolds and the second manifolds fluidly connecting at least two of the heat exchange modules adjacent one another in the third direction.