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US 2026/0194293 A1Published application
System and method for precooling in hydrogen or helium liquefaction processing
AssigneeAir Water Gas Solutions, Inc.
InventorRobert A. Mostello
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein are systems and processes for precooling hydrogen or helium gas streams for liquefaction using liquid nitrogen having reduced energy consumption and amount of liquid nitrogen usage. The systems include a stream of pressurized liquid nitrogen, at least one turboexpander, and at least one heat exchanger.
Claims30
A method for precooling hydrogen or helium gas using a liquid nitrogen stream, the method comprising:
- a. providing a pressurized liquid nitrogen stream containing liquid nitrogen at a pressure between about 15 bar (a) and about 70 bar (a);
- b. passing the pressurized liquid nitrogen stream and a partially-cooled hydrogen or helium gas stream through a first heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the pressurized liquid nitrogen stream and the partially-cooled hydrogen or helium gas stream to provide a first partially-warmed nitrogen stream and a precooled hydrogen or helium gas stream;
- c. passing the first partially-warmed nitrogen stream through one or more turboexpanders that lowers the temperature and pressure of the partially-warmed nitrogen stream to provide a cold nitrogen stream;
- and
- d. passing the cold nitrogen stream through the first heat exchanger and through a second heat exchanger to provide the precooled hydrogen or helium gas stream, and a fully-warmed nitrogen gas stream.
2 more elements
A method for precooling hydrogen or helium gas using a liquid nitrogen stream, the method comprising:
- a. supplying a liquid nitrogen stream produced at a saturation pressure of less than about 10 bar (a);
- b. directing a first portion of the liquid nitrogen stream to a first heat exchanger to provide a first partially-warmed nitrogen stream;
- c. directing the first partially-warmed nitrogen stream to a second heat exchanger to provide a first fully-warmed nitrogen gas stream;
- d. increasing a pressure of a second portion of the liquid nitrogen stream to provide a pressurized liquid nitrogen stream at a pressure between about 15 bar (a) and about 70 bar (a);
- e. passing the pressurized liquid nitrogen stream and a partially-cooled hydrogen or helium gas stream through the first heat exchanger in countercurrent to provide a second partially-warmed nitrogen gas stream and a precooled hydrogen or helium gas stream;
- f. passing the second partially-warmed nitrogen gas stream through the second heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the second partially-warmed nitrogen gas stream and a warm hydrogen or helium gas stream to provide a second fully-warmed nitrogen gas stream and the partially-cooled hydrogen or helium gas stream;
- g. passing the second fully-warmed nitrogen gas stream through one or more turboexpanders that lower the temperature and pressure of the second fully-warmed nitrogen gas stream to provide a cold nitrogen stream;
- h. passing the cold nitrogen stream through the first heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the cold nitrogen stream and the partially-cooled hydrogen or helium gas stream to provide a third partially-warmed nitrogen gas stream and the precooled hydrogen or helium gas stream;
- and
- i. passing the third partially-warmed nitrogen gas stream through the second heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the third partially-warmed nitrogen gas stream and a warm hydrogen or helium gas stream to provide a third fully-warmed warm nitrogen gas stream and the partially-cooled hydrogen or helium gas stream.
7 more elements
A precooling system using liquid nitrogen for hydrogen or helium liquefaction, the system comprising:
- a warm hydrogen or helium gas stream;
- a pressurized liquefied nitrogen stream from a supply of liquefied nitrogen;
- a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the pressurized liquefied nitrogen stream and a warm hydrogen or helium gas stream to increase a temperature of the pressurized liquefied nitrogen stream to provide a warm nitrogen gas stream, and decrease a temperature of the warm hydrogen or helium gas stream to provide a precooled nitrogen gas stream;
- and
- at least one turboexpander coupled to the heat exchanger and configured to lower a temperature of a partially-warmed nitrogen gas stream discharged from the heat exchanger.
2 more elements
A precooling system using liquid nitrogen for hydrogen or helium liquefaction, the system comprising:
- a warm hydrogen gas stream or helium gas stream;
- a pressurized liquefied nitrogen stream from a supply of liquefied nitrogen;
- a first heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the pressurized liquefied nitrogen stream and a partially-cooled hydrogen or helium gas stream to increase a temperature of the pressurized liquefied nitrogen stream to provide a partially-warmed nitrogen gas stream, and decrease a temperature of the partially-cooled hydrogen or helium gas stream;
- at least one turboexpander configured to lower the temperature of the partially-warmed nitrogen gas stream;
- and
- a second heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the partially-warmed nitrogen gas stream and the warm hydrogen or helium gas stream to increase a temperature of the partially-warmed nitrogen gas stream to provide a fully-warmed nitrogen gas stream, and to decrease a temperature of the warm hydrogen or helium gas stream.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.