US 9,851,156 B2Granted

Molten-salt-heated indirect screw-type thermal processor

OwnerJohn Potee Whitney, Preston Ochas Whitneyinventors

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Abstract

A body of heat transfer fluid circulates in a first loop through an indirect screw-type thermal processor, a rundown tank, a pump, a heater and a fill tank, continuously heating the processor. With the pump operating, a first vertical distance between the fill tank bottom and the processor under the influence of gravity sets a minimum fluid pressure at the processor; a stem pipe opening in the fill tank at a second vertical distance above the processor sets a maximum pressure. With the pump inactive, the entire body of fluid passively drains to the rundown tank. Supplying the fluid may entail melting a salt, hydrating a salt, or both; such may be done in the rundown tank before circulation through the processor begins. A hydrated salt may be circulated, then heated and dehydrated, to gradually warm the processor. A dehydrated salt may be rehydrated and then stored; this may be done in the rundown tank after ceasing circulation through the processor. Also described: misting hydration and variable-speed-pump pressure regulation.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A method of operating a molten-salt-indirectly heated screw-type thermal processor, the method including the steps of:

providing a molten-salt-indirectly heated screw-type thermal processor, said thermal processor having an operating heat transfer fluid temperature range, an operating heat transfer fluid flow rate range and an operating heat transfer fluid pressure range
providing a body of heat transfer fluid, a heater, and a rundown tank,
said heat transfer fluid being capable of conveying heat from said heater to said thermal processor at a temperature within said operating heat transfer fluid temperature range while flowing into said thermal processor at a heat transfer fluid flow rate within said operating heat transfer fluid flow rate range at a pressure within said operating heat transfer fluid pressure range,
said heater being capable of heating said heat transfer fluid to within said operating heat transfer fluid temperature range at said flow rate and temperature,
said body of heat transfer fluid having volume at least sufficient to operate with said heater and said thermal processor,
said rundown tank having capacity more than sufficient to contain all of said body of heat transfer fluid;
delivering said heat transfer fluid from said heater to said thermal processor at said temperature, said flow rate and said pressure while allowing said heat transfer fluid to return from said thermal processor to said heater;
after said steps of delivering, passively disposing said body of heat transfer fluid in said rundown tank;
before said step of disposing, producing said heat transfer fluid by melting a solid;
during said step of melting a solid, circulating said heat transfer fluid in said rundown tank.

7 more elements

A method of operating a molten-salt-indirectly heated screw-type thermal processor, the method including the steps of:

providing a molten-salt-indirectly heated screw-type thermal processor, said thermal processor having an operating heat transfer fluid temperature range, an operating heat transfer fluid flow rate range and an operating heat transfer fluid pressure range
providing a body of heat transfer fluid, a heater, and a rundown tank,
said heat transfer fluid being capable of conveying heat from said heater to said thermal processor at a temperature within said operating heat transfer fluid temperature range while flowing into said thermal processor at a heat transfer fluid flow rate within said operating heat transfer fluid flow rate range at a pressure within said operating heat transfer fluid pressure range,
said heater being capable of heating said heat transfer fluid to within said operating heat transfer fluid temperature range at said flow rate and temperature,
said body of heat transfer fluid having volume at least sufficient to operate with said heater and said thermal processor,
said rundown tank having capacity more than sufficient to contain all of said body of heat transfer fluid;
delivering said heat transfer fluid from said heater to said thermal processor at said temperature, said flow rate and said pressure while allowing said heat transfer fluid to return from said thermal processor to said heater;
and
after said steps of delivering, passively disposing said body of heat transfer fluid in said rundown tank;
said step of delivering including a step of elevating said heat transfer fluid relative to said thermal processor so as to establish a gravity fluid pressure head with said heat transfer fluid entering said thermal processor at a pressure at least within said operating heat transfer fluid pressure range;
said step of delivering including a step of passively diverting said heat transfer fluid to bypass said thermal processor in an amount sufficient to prevent said pressure exceeding said operating heat transfer fluid pressure range.

8 more elements

A method of operating a molten-salt-indirectly heated screw-type thermal processor, the method including the steps of:

providing a molten-salt-indirectly heated screw-type thermal processor, said thermal processor having an operating heat transfer fluid temperature range, an operating heat transfer fluid flow rate range and an operating heat transfer fluid pressure range
providing a body of heat transfer fluid, a heater, and a rundown tank,
said heat transfer fluid being capable of conveying heat from said heater to said thermal processor at a temperature within said operating heat transfer fluid temperature range while flowing into said thermal processor at a heat transfer fluid flow rate within said operating heat transfer fluid flow rate range at a pressure within said operating heat transfer fluid pressure range,
said heater being capable of heating said heat transfer fluid to within said operating heat transfer fluid temperature range at said flow rate and temperature,
said body of heat transfer fluid having volume at least sufficient to operate with said heater and said thermal processor,
said rundown tank having capacity more than sufficient to contain all of said body of heat transfer fluid;
delivering said heat transfer fluid from said heater to said thermal processor at said temperature, said flow rate and said pressure while allowing said heat transfer fluid to return from said thermal processor to said heater;
and
after said steps of delivering, passively disposing said body of heat transfer fluid in said rundown tank;
wherein:
said thermal processor has a heat transfer fluid inlet and a heat transfer fluid outlet;
said heat transfer fluid inlet is at a lower elevation than said heat transfer fluid outlet;
in said step of delivering, said fluid enters said thermal processor via said heat transfer fluid inlet and exits said thermal processor via said heat transfer fluid outlet;
and
in said step of disposing, said fluid exits said thermal processor via said heat transfer fluid inlet.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/736,266Filed 11 Jun 2015
Published: US 2016/0363384 A115 Dec 2016
Granted: 26 Dec 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

F28D 20/0034
Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00: using liquid heat…
F28D 7/024
The conduits being helically coiled: the conduits of only one medium being helically coiled tubes, the coils having a cylindrical configuration
F28D 2020/0047
Using liquid heat storage material: using molten salts or liquid metals
F28F 2250/08
Arrangements for modifying the flow of the heat exchange media, e.g. flow guiding means; Particular flow patterns: fluid driving means, e.g.…