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US 2024/0252979 A1Published application
Sensible Heat Exchanger and Dryer
OwnerLarry Baxterinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for separation of a component from a mixed gas stream by a combination of direct contact heat and material exchange in an indirect contact heat exchanger are disclosed. A contact liquid stream wets an interior surface of the process channel of the indirect contact heat exchanger and the mixed gas stream passes through the process channel, contacting the contact liquid stream for heat and mass exchange. A refrigerant in the refrigerant channel of the indirect contact heat exchanger and a depleted gas stream in a depleted gas stream channel are used for heat exchange with the contact liquid.
Claims20
A method for removing a first component from a mixed gas stream comprising:
- passing a refrigerant stream through a first channel of an indirect contact heat exchanger;
- passing a depleted gas stream through a second channel of the indirect contact heat exchanger;
- passing a contact liquid stream through a third channel of the indirect contact heat exchanger such that the contact liquid stream wets at least a portion of a first interior wall and a second interior wall of the third channel, wherein the first interior wall separates the first channel from the third channel and the second interior wall separates the second channel from the third channel;
- passing the mixed gas stream through a center of the third channel such that the gas stream and the contact liquid stream engage in heat and mass exchange;
- wherein the contact liquid stream:
- receives a heat stream from the mixed gas stream;
- transmits a first portion of the heat stream through the first interior wall into the refrigerant stream;
- transmits a second portion of the heat stream through the second interior wall into the depleted gas stream;
- and
- leaves the third channel while retaining a balance of the heat stream;
- and
- wherein the first component condenses from the mixed gas stream into the contact liquid stream, resulting in a depleted gas stream and an enriched contact liquid stream.
9 more elements
A system for removing a first component from a mixed gas stream comprising:
- an indirect contact heat exchanger comprising a process channel, one or more refrigerant channels, and one or more depleted gas stream channels, the process channel sharing a first interior wall with the one or more refrigerant channels and a second interior wall with the one or more depleted gas stream channels;
- the process channel configured to receive a contact liquid stream through an inlet of the process channel and wet inner surfaces of the first interior wall and the second interior wall of the process channel with the contact liquid stream while leaving a gas space inside the process channel;
- the process channel further configured to receive the mixed gas stream through the inlet of the process channel and pass the mixed gas stream through the gas space;
- the one or more refrigerant channels configured to each receive one of a group of refrigerant streams from one or more refrigerant controllers;
- one or more instruments situated at least on an inlet of the process channel, an outlet of the process channel, or both;
- the one or more instruments configured to measure one or more process variables of the process channel and transmit the one or more process variables to a main controller;
- the main controller programmed to receive the one or more process variables and send a signal to each of the one or more refrigerant controllers;
- the one or more refrigerant controllers configured to control a flow rate of one of the group of refrigerant streams to each of the one or more refrigerant channels to maintain the one or more process variables in the contact liquid stream at a setpoint;
- and
- wherein the contact liquid stream:
- receives a heat stream from the mixed gas stream;
- transmits a first portion of the heat stream to each of the one of the group of refrigerant streams in each of the one or more refrigerant channels;
- transmits a second portion of the heat stream to the depleted gas stream channels;
- and
- leaves the process channel while retaining a balance of the heat stream;
- and
- wherein the first component condenses from the mixed gas stream into the contact liquid stream.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.