Refrigerant and nitrogen recovery
OwnerJay C. Schleicher, Christopher Scott Yount +1inventors
InventorsJay C. Schleicher, Christopher Scott Yount, Karl Erhard Beck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, devices, and methods for recovering mixed refrigerant and/or nitrogen within liquefaction systems are provided. The systems, devices, and methods facilitate recovering mixed refrigerant (MR) and/or nitrogen vapor that can leak from a compressor, separating the MR from the nitrogen, and reusing the MR and/or the nitrogen within the liquefaction system. Recovering and reusing MR and/or nitrogen can minimize loss of MR and nitrogen which can lower the total operating cost of a liquefaction system. Additionally, recovering the MR, rather than burning it, can reduce environmental emissions by reducing the amount of MR that is burned.
Claims17
A liquefaction system, the system comprising:
- a first compressor;
- a recovery system in fluid communication with the first compressor, the recovery system comprising
- a first heat exchanger configured to receive a first vapor comprising mixed refrigerant and nitrogen from the first compressor and to convert the first vapor to a mixture of nitrogen rich vapor and a hydrocarbon rich liquid, the first heat exchanger having at least one cooling element configured to receive a cold fluid that provides refrigeration to the first vapor, and
- a separator configured to receive the mixture of hydrocarbon rich liquid and nitrogen rich vapor from the first heat exchanger, and to separate the hydrocarbon rich liquid and the nitrogen rich vapor.
A method of operating a liquefaction system, the method comprising:
- receiving a seal gas including hydrocarbons at a seal assembly of a first compressor;
- receiving a nitrogen vapor at the seal assembly of the first compressor;
- receiving, at a first heat exchanger, a first vapor including at least a portion of the seal gas and at least a portion of the nitrogen vapor;
- transferring a cold fluid to a cooling element of the first heat exchanger;
- transferring heat from the first vapor to the cold fluid, thereby creating a mixture of nitrogen rich vapor and a hydrocarbon rich liquid;
- and
- separating the hydrocarbon rich liquid from the nitrogen rich vapor at a separator positioned downstream of the first heat exchanger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.