Apparatus and process for the refrigeration, liquefaction and separation of gases with varying levels of purity

Bingham, Dennis N; Wilding, Bruce M; McKellar, Michael G

Title: Apparatus and process for the refrigeration, liquefaction and separation of gases with varying levels of purity

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Abstract

A process for the separation and liquefaction of component gasses from a pressurized mix gas stream is disclosed. The process involves cooling the pressurized mixed gas stream in a heat exchanger so as to condensing one or more of the gas components having the highest condensation point; separating the condensed components from the remaining mixed gas stream in a gas-liquid separator; cooling the separated condensed component stream by passing it through an expander; and passing the cooled component stream back through the heat exchanger such that the cooled component stream functions as the refrigerant for the heat exchanger. The cycle is then repeated for the remaining mixed gas stream so as to draw off the next component gas and further cool the remaining mixed gas stream. The process continues until all of the component gases are separated from the desired gas stream. The final gas stream is then passed through a final heat exchanger and expander. The expander decreases the pressure on the gas stream, thereby cooling the stream and causing a portion of the gas stream to liquify within a tank. The portion of the gas which is hot liquefied is passed back through each of the heat exchangesmore » where it functions as a refrigerant. « less

Inventors:

Bingham, Dennis N ^[1]; Wilding, Bruce M ^[1]; McKellar, Michael G ^[1]

Idaho Falls, ID

Issue Date:: 2002-01-01

Research Org.:: Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

OSTI Identifier:: 874621

Patent Number(s):: 6425263

Assignee:: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy (Washington, DC)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25J - LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS {OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS} MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT {OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10S - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

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F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25J - LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS {OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS} MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT {OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
F25J1/0201 - {using only internal refrigeration means, i.e. without external refrigeration}
F25J1/0035 - {by gas expansion with extraction of work}
F25J2230/30 - Compression of the feed stream
F25J1/0232 - {integration within a pressure letdown station of a high pressure pipeline system}
F25J1/0037 - {of a return stream}
F25J1/0261 - {Details of cold box insulation, housing and internal structure
F25J2230/08 - Cold compressor, i.e. suction of the gas at cryogenic temperature and generally without afterstage-cooler
F25J1/0275 - {adapted for special use of the liquefaction unit, e.g. portable or transportable devices}
F25J1/0254 - {controlling particular process parameter, e.g. pressure, temperature}
F25J2220/64 - Separating heavy hydrocarbons, e.g. NGL, LPG, C4+ hydrocarbons or heavy condensates in general
F25J2205/10 - using combined expansion and separation, e.g. in a vortex tube, "Ranque tube" or a "cyclonic fluid separator", i.e. combination of an isentropic nozzle and a cyclonic separator
F25J2230/60 - the fluid being hydrocarbons or a mixture of hydrocarbons
F25J2220/62 - Separating low boiling components, e.g. He, H2, N2, Air
F25J1/0202 - {in a quasi-closed internal refrigeration loop
F25J2245/02 - Recycle of a stream in general, e.g. a by-pass stream
F25J1/004 - {by flash gas recovery
F25J2290/62 - Details of storing a fluid in a tank

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10S - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
Y10S62/91 - Expander

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25J - LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS {OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS} MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT {OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
F25J1/0259 - {Modularity and arrangement of parts of the liquefaction unit and in particular of the cold box, e.g. pre-fabrication, assembling and erection, dimensions, horizontal layout "plot"}
F25J1/0025 - {Boil-off gases "BOG" from storages}
F25J1/0022 - {Hydrocarbons, e.g. natural gas}
F25J1/0292 - {Refrigerant compression by cold or cryogenic suction of the refrigerant gas}
F25J1/0045 - {by vaporising a liquid return stream}

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DOE Contract Number:: AC07-94ID13223

Resource Type:: Patent

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: apparatus; process; refrigeration; liquefaction; separation; gases; varying; levels; purity; component; gasses; pressurized; mix; gas; stream; disclosed; involves; cooling; mixed; heat; exchanger; condensing; components; condensation; separating; condensed; remaining; gas-liquid; separator; separated; passing; expander; cooled; functions; refrigerant; cycle; repeated; draw; cool; continues; final; passed; decreases; pressure; causing; portion; liquify; tank; hot; liquefied; exchanges; heat exchanger; gas stream; varying levels; component gas; /62/

Citation Formats


                    Bingham, Dennis N, Wilding, Bruce M, and McKellar, Michael G. Apparatus and process for the refrigeration, liquefaction and separation of gases with varying levels of purity.  United States: N. p., 2002. 
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                    Bingham, Dennis N, Wilding, Bruce M, & McKellar, Michael G. Apparatus and process for the refrigeration, liquefaction and separation of gases with varying levels of purity.  United States.

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                    Bingham, Dennis N, Wilding, Bruce M, and McKellar, Michael G. Tue .  
        "Apparatus and process for the refrigeration, liquefaction and separation of gases with varying levels of purity".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/874621.

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@article{osti_874621,

  title        = {Apparatus and process for the refrigeration, liquefaction and separation of gases with varying levels of purity},

  author       = {Bingham, Dennis N and Wilding, Bruce M and McKellar, Michael G},

  abstractNote = {A process for the separation and liquefaction of component gasses from a pressurized mix gas stream is disclosed. The process involves cooling the pressurized mixed gas stream in a heat exchanger so as to condensing one or more of the gas components having the highest condensation point; separating the condensed components from the remaining mixed gas stream in a gas-liquid separator; cooling the separated condensed component stream by passing it through an expander; and passing the cooled component stream back through the heat exchanger such that the cooled component stream functions as the refrigerant for the heat exchanger. The cycle is then repeated for the remaining mixed gas stream so as to draw off the next component gas and further cool the remaining mixed gas stream. The process continues until all of the component gases are separated from the desired gas stream. The final gas stream is then passed through a final heat exchanger and expander. The expander decreases the pressure on the gas stream, thereby cooling the stream and causing a portion of the gas stream to liquify within a tank. The portion of the gas which is hot liquefied is passed back through each of the heat exchanges where it functions as a refrigerant.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2002},

  month        = {1}

}

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