Systems and methods for multi-stage refrigeration

Abstract

Systems and methods for multi-stage refrigeration in mixed refrigerant and cascade refrigeration cycles using one or more liquid motive eductors.

Claims

1. A multi-stage refrigeration system, comprising: an eductor in fluid communication with a first vapor line and one of a liquid source and a supercritical fluid source; a flashdrum in fluid communication with the eductor for receiving a two-phase fluid, the flashdrum connected to a second vapor line and a liquid line, wherein a pressure in the first vapor line is lower than a pressure in the second vapor line; a first expansion valve in fluid communication with the liquid line and connected to a chilled two-phase fluid line; another flashdrum in fluid communication with the chilled two-phase fluid line and connected to the first vapor line; a second expansion valve in fluid communication with another liquid line connected to the another flashdrum and connected to another chilled two-phase fluid line; an accumulator directly connected to a vaporized refrigerant line and a third vapor line; and another accumulator in fluid communication with the first vapor line, the second vapor line, the third vapor line and the eductor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a pressure at the one of the liquid source and the supercritical fluid source is higher than a pressure in the first vapor line.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the pressure at the one of the liquid source and the supercritical fluid source is at least thirty-four times higher than the pressure in the first vapor line.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one of the liquid source and the supercritical fluid source comprise ethylene.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one of the liquid source and the supercritical fluid source comprise ethane.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure in the first vapor line is at least four times lower than the pressure in the second vapor line.

7. A method for multi-stage refrigeration, comprising: introducing one of a first liquid stream and a supercritical fluid stream into an eductor; introducing a first vapor stream into the eductor to achieve partial liquefaction and produce a two-phase fluid stream comprising the first vapor stream and one of the liquid stream and the supercritical fluid stream; flashing the two-phase fluid stream in a flashdrum to produce a second liquid stream and a second vapor stream; expanding the second liquid stream to produce a chilled two-phase fluid stream; flashing the chilled two-phase fluid stream in another flashdrum to produce the first vapor stream and a third liquid stream; processing the third liquid stream to produce a vaporized refrigerant stream; and retaining residual condensation from the vaporized refrigerant stream using an accumulator directly connected to the vaporized refrigerant stream and a third vapor stream.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising expanding the third liquid stream to produce another chilled two-phase fluid stream.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein a pressure of the first vapor stream is lower than a pressure of the second vapor stream.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the pressure of the first vapor stream is at least four times lower than the pressure of the second vapor stream.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein a pressure of the one of the first liquid stream and the supercritical fluid stream is higher than a pressure of the first vapor stream.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the pressure of the one of the first liquid stream and the supercritical fluid stream is at least thirty-four times higher than the pressure of the first vapor stream.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the one of the first liquid stream and the supercritical fluid stream comprise ethylene.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the one of the first liquid stream and the supercritical fluid stream comprise ethane.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising retaining residual condensation from the another chilled two-phase fluid stream and producing a third vapor stream.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present disclosure is described below with references to the accompanying drawings in which like elements are referenced with like reference numerals, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of a conventional cascade refrigeration system for ethylene export.

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of an open multi-stage refrigeration system according to the present disclosure.

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of an open multi-stage refrigeration system for producing ethylene using a preexisting cascade refrigeration cycle that is retrofitted with the system in FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of an open multi-stage refrigeration system for producing ethylene using a cascade refrigeration cycle that is constructed with the system in FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of a closed multi-stage refrigeration system according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) The present disclosure overcomes one or more deficiencies in the prior art by providing systems and methods for multi-stage refrigeration in mixed refrigerant and cascade refrigeration cycles using one or more liquid motive eductors.

(8) In one embodiment, the present disclosure includes a multi-stage refrigeration system, comprising: i) an eductor in fluid communication with a first vapor line and one of a liquid source and a supercritical fluid source; ii) a flashdrum in fluid communication with the eductor for receiving a two-phase fluid, the flashdrum connected to a second vapor line and a liquid line, wherein a pressure in the first vapor line is lower than a pressure in the second vapor line; iii) a first expansion valve in fluid communication with the liquid line and connected to a chilled two-phase fluid line; iv) another flashdrum in fluid communication with the chilled two-phase fluid line and connected to the first vapor line, v) a second expansion valve in fluid communication with another liquid line connected to another flashdrum and connected to another chilled two-phase fluid line; vi) an accumulator connected to the another chilled two-phase fluid line and a third vapor line; and vii) another accumulator in fluid communication with the first vapor line, the second vapor line, the third vapor line and the educator.

(9) In another embodiment, the present disclosure includes a method for multi-stage refrigeration, comprising: i) introducing one of a first liquid stream and a supercritical fluid stream into an eductor; ii) introducing a first vapor stream into the eductor to achieve partial liquefaction and produce a two-phase fluid stream comprising the first vapor stream and one of the liquid stream and the supercritical fluid stream; iii) flashing the two-phase fluid stream in a flashdrum to produce a second liquid stream and a second vapor stream; iv) expanding the second liquid stream to produce a chilled two-phase fluid stream; v) flashing the chilled two-phase fluid stream in another flashdrum to produce the first vapor stream and a third liquid stream, vi) retaining residual from a liquid refrigerant stream; and vii) producing the one of the first liquid stream and the supercritical fluid stream.

(10) The subject matter of the present disclosure is described with specificity, however, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The subject matter thus, might also be embodied in other ways, to include different structures, steps and/or combinations similar to and/or fewer than those described herein, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the term step may be used herein to describe different elements of methods employed, the term should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless otherwise expressly limited by the description to a particular order. The pressures and temperatures described herein are exemplary and only for purposes of illustration. The various streams described herein may be carried in a line. Although the present disclosure may be may be implemented in certain cascade refrigeration cycles described herein, it is not limited thereto and may also be implemented in any other multi-stage refrigeration process including other cascade refrigeration cycles and mixed refrigerant cycles to achieve similar results.

(11) Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic diagram illustrates one embodiment of an open multi-stage refrigeration system 200 according to the present disclosure. A source 202 supplies a liquid stream or a supercritical fluid stream to an eductor 204. A first vapor stream 226 enters the eductor 204 at a lower pressure than a pressure at the source 202 of the liquid stream or a supercritical fluid stream to achieve partial liquefaction and produce a two-phase fluid stream 206 comprising the first vapor stream 226 in a compressed state and one of the liquid stream and the supercritical fluid stream. The two-phase fluid stream 206 from the eductor 204 enters a flash drum 208 where it is flashed to produce a liquid stream 210 and a second vapor stream 212 at a higher pressure than the pressure of the first vapor stream 226. The liquid stream 210 from the flash drum 208 enters a first expansion valve 218 where it is expanded to produce a chilled two-phase fluid stream 220. The chilled two-phase fluid stream 220 enters another flash drum 222 where it is flashed to produce the first vapor stream 226 and another liquid stream 224. The another liquid stream 224 from the another flash drum 222 enters a second expansion valve 228 where it is expanded to produce another chilled two-phase fluid stream 230. The system 200 may be implemented in any multi-stage refrigeration process and utilizes one or more liquid motive eductors to raise the lower stage vapor pressure, lower the feed gas pressure and improve the energy efficiency of any multi-stage refrigeration process.

(12) The following description refers to FIGS. 3-4, which illustrate different embodiments of multi-stage refrigeration systems according to the present disclosure. In each embodiment, the system 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 is used to improve the energy efficiency of producing ethylene in a cascade refrigeration cycle. In FIG. 3, a schematic diagram illustrates one embodiment of an open multi-stage refrigeration system 300 for producing ethylene using a preexisting cascade refrigeration cycle that is retrofitted with the system 200. In FIG. 4, a schematic diagram illustrates one embodiment of an open multi-stage refrigeration system 400 for producing ethylene using a cascade refrigeration cycle that is constructed with the system 200. Each system 300, 400 in FIGS. 3-4, respectively, illustrates new components used in the system 200 with a dashed line to distinguish the components used in the conventional cascade refrigeration system 100 in FIG. 1. The system 200 therefore, may be easily implemented in different preexisting and newly constructed multi-stage refrigeration systems.

(13) Referring now to FIG. 3, the system 300 includes a source 302 that supplies a liquid stream or a supercritical fluid stream to an eductor 304. In this embodiment, the source 302 is a portion of the chilled dehydrated ethylene stream 115. An ethylene vapor stream 326 enters the eductor 304 at a pressure about thirty-four times lower than a pressure at the source 302 of the liquid stream or a supercritical fluid stream to achieve partial liquefaction and produce a two-phase ethylene fluid stream 306 comprising the ethylene vapor stream 326 in a compressed state and one of the liquid stream and the supercritical fluid stream. The two-phase ethylene fluid stream 306 from the eductor 304 enters the flash drum 120 where it is flashed to produce a liquid ethylene stream 136 and a flashed ethylene vapor stream 122 at a pressure about four times higher than the pressure of the ethylene vapor stream 326. The liquid ethylene stream 136 from the flash drum 120 enters an expansion valve 138 where it is expanded to produce a chilled two-phase fluid ethylene stream 140. The chilled two-phase fluid ethylene stream 140 enters another flash drum 142 where it is flashed to produce the flashed vapor ethylene stream 144 and another liquid ethylene stream 146. A portion of the flashed vapor ethylene stream 144 is expanded in a new expansion valve 308 to produce the ethylene vapor stream 326. The another liquid ethylene stream 146 from the flash drum 142 enters another expansion valve 148 where it is expanded to produce another chilled two-phase fluid ethylene stream 150.

(14) Referring now to FIG. 4, the system 400 includes a source that supplies a liquid stream or a supercritical fluid stream to an eductor 404. In this embodiment, the source is the flashed ethylene stream 118. An ethylene vapor stream 426 enters the eductor 404 at a pressure about thirty-four times lower than a pressure at the source of the liquid stream or a supercritical fluid stream to achieve partial liquefaction and produce a two-phase ethylene fluid stream 406 comprising the ethylene vapor stream 426 in a compressed state and one of the liquid stream and the supercritical fluid stream. The two-phase ethylene fluid stream 406 from the eductor 404 enters the flash drum 120 where it is flashed to produce a liquid ethylene stream 136 and a flashed ethylene vapor stream 122 at a pressure about four times higher than the pressure of the ethylene vapor stream 426. The liquid ethylene stream 136 from the flash drum 120 enters an expansion valve 138 where it is expanded to produce a chilled two-phase fluid ethylene stream 140. The chilled two-phase fluid ethylene stream 140 enters another flash drum 142 where it is flashed to produce the ethylene vapor stream 426 and another liquid ethylene stream 146. The another liquid ethylene stream 146 from the flash drum 142 enters another expansion valve 148 where it is expanded to produce another chilled two-phase fluid ethylene stream 150. The chilled two-phase fluid ethylene stream 150 enters another flash drum 152 where it is flashed. A flashed vapor ethylene stream 408 is mixed with a compressed ethylene boil-off-gas stream 163 and then compressed in a compressor 410 to produce a compressed ethylene stream 412. The flashed ethylene vapor stream 122 mixes with the lower pressure compressed ethylene stream 412, which is then compressed in a compressor 125 to produce a higher pressure vapor ethylene stream 126.

(15) Referring now to FIG. 5, a schematic diagram illustrates one embodiment of a closed multi-stage refrigeration system 500 according to the present disclosure. The system 500 includes a source 502 of a liquid stream or a supercritical fluid stream from an accumulator 562 that is supplied to an eductor 504. A first vapor stream 526 enters the eductor 504 at a lower pressure than a pressure at the source 502 of the liquid stream or a supercritical fluid stream to achieve partial liquefaction and produce a two-phase fluid stream 506 comprising the first vapor stream 526 in a compressed state and one of the liquid stream and the supercritical fluid stream. A portion of the two-phase fluid stream 506 from the eductor 504 enters a first heat exchanger 507a where it is vaporized to produce a vaporized refrigerant 507c and another portion of the two-phase fluid stream 506 from the eductor 504 enters a first expansion valve 507b where it is expanded to produce a partially expanded refrigerant 507d. The vaporized refrigerant 507c and the partially expanded refrigerant 507d enter a flash drum 508 where they are mixed and flashed to produce a liquid stream 510 and a second vapor stream 512 at a higher pressure than the pressure of the first vapor stream 526. The liquid stream 510 from the flash drum 508 enters a second expansion valve 518 where it is expanded to produce a chilled two-phase fluid stream 520. A portion of the chilled two-phase fluid stream 520 from the second expansion valve 518 enters a second heat exchanger 521a where it is vaporized to produce another vaporized refrigerant 521c and another portion of the chilled two-phase fluid stream 520 from the second expansion valve 518 enters a third expansion valve 521b where it is expanded to produce another partially expanded refrigerant 521d. The another vaporized refrigerant 521c and the another partially expanded refrigerant 521d enter another flash drum 522 where they are mixed and flashed to produce a third vapor stream 526 and another liquid stream 524. The another liquid stream 524 from the another flash drum 522 enters a fourth expansion valve 528 where it is expanded to produce another chilled two-phase fluid stream 530. The another chilled two-phase fluid stream 530 enters a third heat exchanger 534 where it is vaporized to produce another vaporized refrigerant 536. The another vaporized refrigerant 536 enters another accumulator 538 where any residual condensation is retained to produce a completely vaporized refrigerant 540. The completely vaporized refrigerant 540 enters a first compressor 542 and is compressed to produce a compressed refrigerant 544. The compressed refrigerant 544 is mixed with all or a portion of the third vapor stream 526 before entering a second compressor 548 to produce another compressed refrigerant 550 at a higher pressure. A portion of the third vapor stream 526 may be directed to pass through control valve 546 where it is directed to enter the eductor 504. The another compressed refrigerant 550 is mixed with the second vapor stream 512 before entering a third compressor 552 where it is compressed to produce another compressed refrigerant 554. The another compressed refrigerant 554 enters a fourth heat exchanger 558 where it is condensed to produce a liquid refrigerant 560. The liquid refrigerant 560 enters the accumulator 562 where any residual vapor is retained to produce the source 502 of a liquid stream or a supercritical fluid stream. The system 500 may be implemented in any multi-stage refrigeration process and utilizes one or more liquid motive eductors to raise the lower stage vapor pressure, lower the feed gas pressure and improve the energy efficiency of any multi-stage refrigeration process.

EXAMPLES

(16) As demonstrated by the comparison of simulated data in Table 1 below, the power consumption in holding mode for producing ethylene is noticeably less using the open multi-stage refrigeration system illustrated in FIG. 3 compared to the conventional cascade refrigeration system illustrated in FIG. 1. The holding mode represents the cryogenic tank when the process is producing ethylene and filling the tank in preparation for ship loading. Likewise, the comparison of simulated data in Table 2 below demonstrates the power consumption in holding mode for producing ethane is noticeably less using the open multi-stage refrigeration system illustrated in FIG. 2 for producing ethane compared to a conventional cascade refrigeration system for producing ethane.

(17) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 FIG. 1 FIG. 3 Feed Rate t/hr 60 60 Inlet pressure Psig 950 950 Refrigerant Cooling MMBtu/hr 17.4 17.2 Duty Power Consumption Hp 8993 8060 (Holding Mode)

(18) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Conventional Cascade Refrigeration Cycle FIG. 2 Feed Rate t/hr 57 57 Inlet pressure psig 1200 1200 Power Consumption hp 7,682 7,013 (Holding Mode)

(19) While the present disclosure has been described in connection with presently preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to those embodiments. It is therefore, contemplated that various alternative embodiments and modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.