Use of liquified compressed gases as a refrigerant to suppress cavitation and compressibility when pumping liquified compressed gases
AssigneeUnion Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
InventorsKenneth L. Hoy, Kenneth A. Nielsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for economically and effectively using a portion of a liquified compressed gas feedstock, such as liquid carbon dioxide, as a refrigerant to cool said liquified compressed gas feedstock so as to prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility when pumping such feedstock are disclosed.
Claims56
A method for helping to prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility when pumping at least one liquified compressed gas which is a gas at standard temperature and pressure conditions (STP) of 1 atmosphere and 0.degree. C. comprising:
- a) supplying a first at least one liquified compressed gas which is to be pumped, said liquified compressed gas being a gas at STP conditions;
- and
- b) sufficiently cooling the first at least one liquified compressed gas so as to substantially prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility of such first liquified compressed gas by the adiabatic direct expansion of a second at least one liquified compressed gas which is a gas at STP conditions and which is in indirect heat exchange relationship with the first at least one liquified compressed gas, said adiabatic direct expansion being such that the temperature and pressure of the second at least one liquified compressed gas are not below its triple point.
A method for helping to prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility when pumping at least one liquified compressed gas which is a gas at standard temperature and pressure conditions (STP) of 1 atmosphere and 0.degree. C. comprising:
- a) supplying the at least one liquified compressed gas which is to be pumped, said liquified compressed gas being a gas at STP conditions;
- and
- b) sufficiently cooling the at least one liquified compressed gas so as to substantially prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility of such liquified compressed gas by allowing a portion of such liquified compressed gas to undergo adiabatic direct expansion while it is in indirect heat exchange relationship with the remaining liquified compressed gas, said adiabatic direct expansion being such that the temperature and pressure of the at least one liquified compressed gas are not below its triple point.
A method for helping to prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility when pumping at least one liquified compressed gas which is a gas at standard temperature and pressure conditions (STP) of 1 atmosphere and 0.degree. C. comprising:
- a) supplying a first at least one liquified compressed gas which is to be pumped, said liquified compressed gas being a gas at STP conditions;
- b) cooling the first at least one liquified compressed gas by the adiabatic direct expansion of a second at least one liquified compressed gas which is a gas at STP conditions and which is in indirect heat exchange relationship with the first at least one liquified compressed gas;
- c) measuring the temperature of the cooled first at least one liquified compressed gas and generating at least one signal in response to such measurement;
- d) supplying the second at least one liquified compressed gas as the refrigerant for cooling step (b) in response to the at least one signal generated in step (c) such that the first at least one liquified compressed gas is sufficiently cooled to help prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility and the temperature and pressure of the second at least one liquified compressed gas is maintained above its triple point during the adiabatic direct expansion thereof;
- and
- e) pumping the cooled first at least one liquified compressed gas.
A method for helping to prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility when pumping at least one liquified compressed gas which is a gas at standard temperature and pressure conditions (STP) of 1 atmosphere and 0.degree. C. comprising:
- a) supplying a first at least one liquified compressed gas which is to be pumped, said liquified compressed gas being a gas at STP conditions;
- b) cooling the first at least one liquified compressed gas by the adiabatic direct expansion of a second at least one liquified compressed gas which is a gas at STP conditions and which is in indirect heat exchange relationship with the first at least one liquified compressed gas;
- c) pumping the cooled first at least one liquified compressed gas at a pumping flow rate;
- d) measuring the pumping flow rate of the first at least one liquified compressed gas and generating at least one signal in response to such measurement;
- e) supplying the second at least one liquified compressed gas as the refrigerant for cooling step (b) in response to the at least one signal generated in step (d) such that the first at least one liquified compressed gas is sufficiently cooled to help prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility and the temperature and pressure of the second at least one liquified compressed gas is maintained above its triple point during the adiabatic direct expansion thereof;
- and
- f) pumping the sufficiently cooled first at least one liquified compressed gas.
A method for helping to prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility when pumping at least one liquified compressed gas which is a gas at standard temperature and pressure conditions (STP) of 1 atmosphere and 0.degree. C. comprising:
- a) supplying a first at least one liquified compressed gas which is to be pumped, said liquified compressed gas being a gas at STP conditions;
- b) cooling the first at least one liquified compressed gas by the adiabatic direct expansion of a second at least one liquified compressed gas which is a gas at STP conditions and which is in indirect heat exchange relationship with the first at least one liquified compressed gas;
- c) pumping the cooled first at least one liquified compressed gas to at least one spray gun that sprays the at least one liquified compressed gas;
- d) spraying the first at least one liquified compressed gas and generating at least one signal in response to such spraying;
- e) supplying the second at least one liquified compressed gas as the refrigerant for cooling step (b) in response to the at least one signal generated in step (d) such that the first at least one liquified compressed gas is sufficiently cooled to help prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility and the temperature and pressure of the second at least one liquified compressed gas is maintained above its triple point during the adiabatic direct expansion thereof.
An apparatus for helping to prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility when pumping liquified compressed gases comprising:
- a) means for supplying a first at least one liquified compressed gas which is to be pumped, said liquified compressed gas being a gas at standard temperature and pressure conditions (STP) of 1 atmosphere and 0.degree. C.;
- b) means for sufficiently cooling the first at least one liquified compressed gas so as to substantially prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility of such first liquified compressed gas by the adiabatic direct expansion of a second at least one liquid compressed gas which is a gas at STP conditions and which is in indirect heat exchange relationship with the first at least one liquified compressed gas;
- c) means for controlling the adiabatic direct expansion of the second at least one liquified compressed gas such that its temperature and pressure are maintained above its triple point;
- and
- d) means for pumping the cooled first at least one liquified compressed gas.
An apparatus for helping to prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility when pumping liquified compressed gases comprising:
- a) means for supplying a first at least one liquified compressed gas which is a gas at standard temperature and pressure conditions (STP) of 1 atmosphere and 0.degree. C.;
- b) means for supplying a second at least one liquified compressed gas which is a gas at STP conditions;
- c) heat exchange means for cooling the first at least one liquified compressed gas by the adiabatic direct expansion of the second at least one liquified compressed gas which is in indirect heat exchange relationship with the first at least one liquified compressed gas;
- d) means for pumping the first at least one liquified compressed gas cooled in step (c);
- e) means for generating at least one signal indicative of the further cooling required of the cooled first at least one liquified compressed gas so as to substantially prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility of such cooled first liquified compressed gas;
- f) means for regulating the supply of the second at least one liquified compressed gas as the refrigerant for cooling step (c) in response to the at least one signal generated in step (e) such that the first at least one liquified compressed gas is sufficiently cooled to help prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility and to maintain the temperature and pressure of the second at least one liquified compressed gas above its triple point during the adiabatic direct expansion thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.