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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Electrical power generation by fractionation column reboiler

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6930475
A process is disclosed for driving a turbine, which preferably is connected to an electrical generator, using energy supplied by the reboiler system of a fractionation column. The portion of the bottoms liquid of the column which is to be recycled through the reboiler is pressurized by a pump, and the high pressure liquid is heated and vaporized or brought to a supercritical state in the reboiler. The resultant high temperature stream is then depressurized through the turbine down to the desired pressure and temperature of the vapor stream used to reboil the column. The process is an extremely efficient method of generating electrical energy in a petroleum refinery or petrochemical installation.
Assignee:
UOP Inc.
Patent Number(s):
US 4428202
OSTI ID:
6930475
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English