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US 6,212,891 B1Granted
Process components, containers, and pipes suitable for containing and transporting cryogenic temperature fluids
AssigneeExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
InventorsMoses Minta, Lonny R. Kelley, Bruce T. Kelley, E. Lawrence Kimble, James R. Rigby, Robert E. Steele
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Process components, containers, and pipes are provided that are constructed from ultra-high strength, low alloy steels containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having tensile strengths greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and DBTTs lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.).
Claims16
A heat exchanger system comprising:
- (a) a heat exchanger body suitable for containing a fluid at a pressure higher than about 1035 kPa (150 psia) and a temperature lower than about −40° C. (−40° F.), said heat exchanger body being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized fluid;
- and
- (b) a plurality of baffles.
A heat exchanger system comprising:
- (a) a heat exchanger body suitable for containing pressurized liquefied natural gas at a pressure of about 1035 kPa (150 psia) to about 7590 kPa ( 1100 psia) and at a temperature of about −123° C. (−190° F.) to about −62° C. (−80° F.), said heat exchanger body being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized liquefied natural gas;
- and
- (b) a plurality of baffles.
A condenser system comprising:
- (a) a condenser vessel suitable for containing a fluid at a pressure higher than about 1035 kPa (150 psia) and a temperature lower than about −40° C. (−40° F.), said condenser vessel being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized fluid;
- and
- (b) heat exchange means.
A vaporizer system comprising:
- (a) a vaporizer vessel suitable for containing a fluid at a pressure higher than about 1035 kPa (150 psia) and a temperature lower than about −40° C. (−40° F.), said vaporizer vessel being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized fluid;
- and
- b) heat exchange means.
A separator system comprising:
- (a) a separator vessel suitable for containing a fluid at a pressure higher than about 1035 kPa (150 psia) and a temperature lower than about −40° C. (−40° F.), said separator vessel being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized fluid;
- and
- (b) at least one isolation baffle.
A separator system comprising:
- (a) a separator vessel suitable for containing pressurized liquefied natural gas at a pressure of about 1035 kPa (150 psia) to about 7590 kPa (1100 psia) and at a temperature of about −123° C. (−190° F.) to about −62° C. (−80° F.), said separator vessel being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized liquefied natural gas;
- and
- (b) at least one isolation baffle.
A process column system comprising:
- (a) a process column suitable for containing a fluid at a pressure higher than about 1035 kPa (150 psia) and a temperature lower than about −40° C. (−40° F.), said process column being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized fluid;
- and
- (b) packing.
A process column system comprising:
- (a) a process column suitable for containing pressurized liquefied natural gas at a pressure of about 1035 kPa (150 psia) to about 7590 kPa (1100 psia) and at a temperature of about −123° C. (−190° F.) to about −62° C. (−80° F.), said process column being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized liquefied natural gas;
- and
- (b) packing.
A pump system comprising:
- (a) a pump casing suitable for containing a fluid at a pressure higher than about 1035 kPa (150 psia) and a temperature lower than about −40° C. (−40° F.), said pump casing being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized fluid;
- and
- (b) a drive coupling.
A pump system comprising:
- (a) a pump casing suitable for containing pressurized liquefied natural gas at a pressure of about 1035 kPa (150 psia) to about 7590 kPa (1100 psia) and at a temperature of about −123° C. (−190° F.) to about −62° C. (−80° F.), said pump casing being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized liquefied natural gas;
- and
- (b) a drive coupling.
A flare system comprising:
- (a) a flare line suitable for containing a fluid at a pressure higher than about 1035 kPa (150 psia) and a temperature lower than about −40° C. (−40° F.), said flare line being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized fluid;
- and
- (b) a flare scrubber.
A flare system comprising:
- (a) a flare line suitable for containing pressurized liquefied natural gas at a pressure of about 1035 kPa (150 psia) to about 7590 kPa (1100 psia) and at a temperature of about −123° C. (−190° F.) to about −62° C. (−80° F.), said flare line being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized liquefied natural gas;
- and
- (b) a flare scrubber.
A flowline distribution network system comprising:
- (a) at least one storage container suitable for containing a fluid at a pressure higher than about 1035 kPa (150 psia) and a temperature lower than about −40° C. (−40° F.), said at least one storage container being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized fluid;
- and
- (b) at least one distribution pipe.
A flowline distribution network system comprising:
- (a) at least one distribution pipe suitable for containing a fluid at a pressure higher than about 1035 kPa (150 psia) and a temperature lower than about −40° C. (−40° F.), said at least one distribution pipe being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized fluid;
- and
- (b) at least one storage container.
A flowline distribution network system comprising:
- (a) at least one storage container suitable for containing pressurized liquefied natural gas at a pressure of about 1035 kPa (150 psia) to about 7590 kPa (1100 psia) and at a temperature of about −123° C. (−190° F.) to about −62° C. (−80° F.), said storage container being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized liquefied natural gas;
- and
- (b) at least one distribution pipe.
A flowline distribution network system comprising:
- (a) at least one distribution pipe suitable for containing pressurized liquefied natural gas at a pressure of about 1035 kPa (150 psia) to about 7590 kPa (1100 psia) and at a temperature of about −123° C. (−190° F.) to about −62° C. (−80° F.), said distribution pipe being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized liquefied natural gas;
- and
- (b) at least one storage container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.