Method and apparatus for regeneratively superheating auxiliary steam

Abstract

A method and apparatus for converting high pressure, high temperature elastic fuild (such as steam) to elastic fluid having a desired relatively low pressure and low temperature. Relatively high pressure, high temperature steam supplied from any point (preferably from a steam drum or equivalent location) in a steam cycle is initially throttled from a high temperature and pressure to a relatively intermediate temperature and pressure. Such intermediate temperature and pressure steam is routed through the tube side of a heat exchanger and subsequently throttled to a relatively low temperature and pressure. The resulting low temperature and pressure steam is then separated into its liquid and vapor phase components wherein the vapor phase is transmitted through the shell side of the heat exchanger and absorbs heat from the intermediate pressure, and temperature steam. The relatively low pressure, low temperature steam exiting the heat exchanger has the desired thermodynamic state. The temperature of the steam exiting the heat exchanger may be regulated by adjusting the high to intermediate pressure throttling device and the pressure of the low pressure steam exiting the heat exchanger may be regulated by adjusting the intermediate to low pressure throttling device. Such temperature and pressure regulation permits maintenance of steam temperature and pressure leaving the heat exchanger for varying temperatures and pressures of the relatively high pressure, high temperature steam supply. Such temperature and pressure maintenance enables elastic fluid utilizing devices to operate efficiently and reliably for fluctuating pressures and temperatures of the supply source.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.