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US 4,677,827 AGranted
Natural gas depressurization power recovery and reheat
AssigneeAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.
InventorsThirthahalli A. Shenoy, John C. Tao
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Abstract
A process is described for the recovery of net power during the depressurization of natural gas from high pressure pipeline conditions to low pressure end user conditions wherein the natural gas is rewarmed to a relatively warm temperature greater than 35.degree. F. using renewable energy and ambient atmosphere.
Claims13
A process for reduction in pressure of natural gas with the recovery of net power and the control of the temperature of the low pressure natural gas product by heat exchange with ambient atmosphere comprising the step of:
- (a) introducing high pressure natural gas at a pressure in the range of 100 to 2000 psia into an expansion turbine;
- (b) expanding the natural gas to a low pressure in the range of 40 to 100 psia and a resulting low temperature in the expansion turbine and recovering power from said turbine;
- (c) rewarming the low pressure, low temperature natural gas in at least two stages by heat exchange with an ambient atmosphere comprising:
- (1) indirect heat exchange of said natural gas with a refrigerant in a thermosiphon cycle which indirectly heat exchanges with said ambient atmosphere;
- (2) indirect heat exchange of the natural gas of substep (1) with a refrigerant in a heat pump cycle which indirectly heat exchanges with said ambient atmosphere;
- (d) recovering the natural gas at a low pressure and at a relatively warm temperature of at least 35.degree. F.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.