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US 7,600,394 B2Granted
System and apparatus for complete condensation of multi-component working fluids
AssigneeKalex, LLC
InventorAlexander I. Kalina
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A condensation system is disclosed where a multi-component fluid is condensed to form a condensate, a portion of which is sub-cooled and mixed with non-condensable vapor in the system to reduce the accumulation of non-condensable vapor and to improve the stability and efficiency of the condensation system.
Claims28
A condensation apparatus for condensing a multi-component fluid comprising:
- a first heat exchange unit adapted to condense an in-coming multi-component fluid stream in counter-flow with a first coolant stream to form a condensate and a non-condensable vapor, where the multi-component fluid comprises a lower boiling point component and a higher boiling point component;
- a first dividing valve adapted to divide a condensate stream into an out-going fully condensed multi-component fluid stream comprising a major portion of the condensate stream and an absorbent stream comprising a minor portion of the condensate stream;
- a second heat exchange unit adapted to sub-cool the absorbent stream with a second coolant stream to form a sub-cooled absorbent stream;
- and
- a pump adapted to pump the sub-cooled absorbent stream into the non-condensable vapor through a first sprayer, where the sub-cooled absorbent stream is sufficient to absorb an amount of non-condensable vapor reducing accumulation of non-condensable vapor in the apparatus and improving condensation stability and efficiency and where the apparatus completely condenses the incoming multi-component fluid to produce the out-going multi-component fluid.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a first heat exchanger adapted to condense an in-coming multi-component fluid stream with a first counter-flowing coolant stream to form a condensate and a non-condensable vapor, where the multi-component fluid comprises a lower boiling point component and a higher boiling point component;
- a dividing valve adapted to receive a condensate stream withdrawn from the first heat exchanger and split the condensate stream into an out-going fully condensed multi-component fluid stream comprising a major portion of the condensate stream and an absorbent stream comprising a minor portion of the condensate stream;
- a second heat exchanger adapted to sub-cool the absorbent stream with a second counter-flowing coolant stream to form a sub-cooled absorbent stream, and
- a pump adapted to inject the sub-cooled absorbent stream in the first heat exchanger through a sprayer positioned above a liquid level in the first heat exchanger, where the sub-cooled absorbent stream is sufficient to absorb an amount of non-condensable vapor reducing accumulation of non-condensable vapor in the apparatus and improving condensation stability and efficiency and where the apparatus completely condenses the incoming multi-component fluid to produce the out-going multi-component fluid.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a first heat exchanger adapted to condense an in-coming multi-component fluid stream with a first counter-flowing coolant stream to form a condensate and a non-condensable vapor,
- a receiver including a vapor section and a liquid section, where the receiver is adapted to receive a condensate stream withdrawn from the first heat exchanger and a non-condensable vapor stream withdrawn from the first heat exchanger above a liquid level therein,
- a dividing valve adapted to receive a receiver condensate stream withdrawn from the receiver and to split the condensate stream into an out-going fully condensed multi-component fluid stream comprising a major portion of the condensate stream and an absorbent stream comprising a minor portion of the condensate stream;
- a second heat exchanger adapted to sub-cool the absorbent stream with a second counter-flowing coolant stream to form a sub-cooled absorbent stream, and
- a pump adapted to inject the sub-cooled absorbent stream in the vapor section of the receiver through a sprayer positioned above a liquid level in the first heat exchanger, where the sub-cooled absorbent stream is sufficient to absorb an amount of non-condensable vapor reducing accumulation of non-condensable vapor in the apparatus and improving condensation stability and efficiency.
2 more elements
A method for condensing a multi-component fluid comprising the steps of:
- condensing an in-coming multi-component fluid stream with a first coolant stream to form a condensate and a non-condensable vapor, where the multi-component fluid comprises a lower boiling point component and a higher boiling point component;
- splitting a condensate stream into an out-going fully condensed multi-component fluid stream and an absorbent stream, where the out-going stream comprises a major portion of the condensate stream and the absorbent stream comprises a minor portion of the condensate stream;
- sub-cooling the absorbent stream with a second coolant stream to form a sub-cooled absorbent stream;
- and
- contacting the sub-cooled absorbent stream with the non-condensable vapor, where the sub-cooled absorbent stream is sufficient to absorb an amount of non-condensable vapor reducing its accumulation and improving condensation stability and efficiency and where the apparatus completely condenses the incoming multi-component fluid to produce the out-going multi-component fluid.
2 more elements
A method for condensing a multi-component fluid comprising the steps of:
- condensing an in-coming multi-component fluid stream with a first coolant stream in a first heat exchange unit to form a condensate and a non-condensable vapor,
- forwarding a condensate and a vapor to a receiver including a vapor section and a liquid section,
- splitting a condensate stream from the liquid section of the receiver in a dividing valve into an out-going fully condensed multi-component fluid stream and an absorbent stream, where the out-going stream comprises a major portion of the condensate stream and the absorbent stream comprises a minor portion of the condensate stream;
- sub-cooling the absorbent stream with a second coolant stream in a second heat exchange unit to form a sub-cooled absorbent stream;
- and
- contacting the sub-cooled absorbent stream with the non-condensable vapor in the vapor section of the receiver, where the sub-cooled absorbent stream is sufficient to absorb an amount of non-condensable vapor reducing its accumulation and improving condensation stability and efficiency.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.