US 2026/0210382 A1 · HARNESSING LOST POWER WITH PRESSURE EXCHANGER

Abstract

A system for recovering energy from steam undergoing a pressure-reducing process in an industrial let-down station includes a rotary pressure exchanger in a steam flow line. Excess steam pressure may be used to directly pressurize another process stream such as a stream of air. The pressure exchanger may be more energy efficient, e.g., than generating electricity with a turbine and using the electricity to run an electric air compressor to compress the air. The rotary pressure exchangers may include a cylindrical rotor with longitudinal ducts extending there through. First and second end covers may be disposed at opposing longitudinal ends of the cylindrical rotor, for permitting entry and discharge of the steam and air into the longitudinal ducts. Boiler feedwater may be introduced to the steam at various locations in the let-down station, e.g., at an exit of the rotary pressure exchanger, to lower a temperature of the steam.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A let-down system for regulating steam pressure in an industrial plant, the system comprising:

a high-pressure steam header fluidly coupled to a steam generator to receive high-pressure steam from the steam generator;
a source of water;
a mixing chamber having a first inlet fluidly coupled to the high-pressure steam header to receive steam therefrom and a second inlet fluidly coupled to the source of water to receive water therefrom such that the water is mixed with the steam to lower a temperature of the steam;
a low-pressure steam header fluidly coupled to the mixing chamber to receive the steam therefrom;
and
a pressure exchanger fluidly coupled between the high-pressure steam header and the mixing chamber, the pressure exchanger being operable to receive the steam from the high-pressure steam header and transfer energy from the steam to an incoming process stream to thereby compress the incoming process stream using the energy from the steam.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Harnessing lost power with pressure exchanger

Life of this patent

Harnessing lost power with pressure exchanger

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18