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US 12,460,862 B2Granted
Mixed refrigerant system and method
AssigneeChart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
InventorsPeter J. Turner, Michael Malsam, Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for cooling a gas with a mixed refrigerant includes a heat exchanger that receives and cools a feed of the gas so that a product is produced. The system includes a mixed refrigerant processing system having compression devices and aftercoolers as well as a low pressure accumulator and a high pressure accumulator. Liquid from the low pressure accumulator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage. Liquid from the high pressure accumulator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage. Vapor from the high pressure accumulator is liquefied, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage.
Claims23
A system for cooling a gas with a mixed refrigerant comprising:
- a) a heat exchanger including a cooling passage having an inlet configured to receive a feed of the gas and an outlet through which a product exits said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger also including a primary refrigeration passage, a pre-cool liquid passage, a high pressure vapor passage and a high pressure liquid passage;
- b) a first stage compression device having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the primary refrigeration passage;
- c) a first stage after-cooler having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the first stage compression device and an outlet;
- d) a low pressure accumulator having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the first stage after-cooler and having a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the pre-cool liquid passage of the heat exchanger and a vapor outlet;
- e) a second stage compression device having an inlet in fluid communication with the vapor outlet of the low pressure accumulator and an outlet;
- f) a second stage after-cooler having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the second stage compression device and an outlet;
- g) a high pressure accumulator having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the second stage after-cooler and having a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the high pressure liquid passage of the heat exchanger and a vapor outlet in fluid communication with the high pressure vapor passage of the heat exchanger;
- h) a liquid turbine having a liquid turbine inlet in fluid communication with the high pressure vapor passage of the heat exchanger and a liquid turbine outlet;
- i) a middle temperature separation device having an inlet, a vapor outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage and a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage;
- j) a first expansion device having an inlet in fluid communication with the high pressure liquid passage of the heat exchanger and an outlet in fluid communication with the middle temperature separation device;
- k) a second expansion device having an inlet in fluid communication with the pre-cool liquid passage of the heat exchanger and an outlet in fluid communication with the middle temperature separation device;
- l) a cold temperature separation device having an inlet in fluid communication with the liquid turbine outlet, a vapor outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage and a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage.
9 more elements
A system for cooling a gas with a mixed refrigerant comprising:
- a) a heat exchanger including a cooling passage having an inlet configured to receive a feed of the gas and an outlet through which a product exits said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger also including a primary refrigeration passage, a pre-cool liquid passage, a high pressure vapor passage and a high pressure liquid passage;
- b) a first stage compression device having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the primary refrigeration passage;
- c) a first stage after-cooler having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the first stage compression device and an outlet;
- d) a low pressure accumulator having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the first stage after-cooler and having a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the pre-cool liquid passage of the heat exchanger and a vapor outlet;
- e) a second stage compression device having an inlet in fluid communication with the vapor outlet of the low pressure accumulator and an outlet;
- f) a second stage after-cooler having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the second stage compression device and an outlet;
- g) a high pressure accumulator having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the second stage after-cooler and having a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the high pressure liquid passage of the heat exchanger and a vapor outlet in fluid communication with the high pressure vapor passage of the heat exchanger;
- h) a liquid turbine having a liquid turbine inlet in fluid communication with the high pressure vapor passage of the heat exchanger and a liquid turbine outlet;
- i) a middle temperature separation device having an inlet in fluid communication with the pre-cool liquid passage of the heat exchanger, a vapor outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage and a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage;
- j) a first expansion device having an inlet in fluid communication with the high pressure liquid passage of the heat exchanger and an outlet in fluid communication with the middle temperature separation device;
- k) a cold temperature separation device having an inlet in fluid communication with the liquid turbine outlet, a vapor outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage and a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage.
8 more elements
A system for cooling a gas with a mixed refrigerant comprising:
- a) a heat exchanger including a cooling passage having an inlet configured to receive a feed of the gas and an outlet through which a product exits said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger also including a primary refrigeration passage, a pre-cool liquid passage, a high pressure vapor passage and a high pressure liquid passage;
- b) a first stage compression device having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the primary refrigeration passage;
- c) a first stage after-cooler having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the first stage compression device and an outlet;
- d) a low pressure accumulator having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the first stage after-cooler and having a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the pre-cool liquid passage of the heat exchanger and a vapor outlet;
- e) a second stage compression device having an inlet in fluid communication with the vapor outlet of the low pressure accumulator and an outlet;
- f) a second stage after-cooler having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the second stage compression device and an outlet;
- g) a high pressure accumulator having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the second stage after-cooler and having a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the high pressure liquid passage of the heat exchanger and a vapor outlet in fluid communication with the high pressure vapor passage of the heat exchanger;
- h) a middle temperature separation device having an inlet, a vapor outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage and a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage;
- i) a first expansion device having an inlet in fluid communication with the high pressure liquid passage of the heat exchanger and an outlet in fluid communication with the middle temperature separation device;
- j) a second expansion device having an inlet in fluid communication with the pre-cool liquid passage of the heat exchanger and an outlet in fluid communication with the middle temperature separation device;
- k) a cold temperature separation device having an inlet in fluid communication with the high pressure vapor passage, a vapor outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage and a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.