Apparatus and method for producing low-temperature compressed gas or liquefied gas
10036589 ยท 2018-07-31
Assignee
- L'air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude (Paris, FR)
Inventors
Cpc classification
F17C2225/0123
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F17C2223/033
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F17C2227/0393
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F17C2227/0323
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25J1/0045
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25J1/004
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25J1/0012
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25J2210/62
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25J1/0281
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25J1/0015
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25J3/04412
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25J1/002
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F17C2223/0161
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F01K25/08
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F17C2265/05
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F17C2225/035
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25J1/0224
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25J1/0285
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F17C2227/0316
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F17C2270/0136
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25J1/0264
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25J1/0292
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F17C2221/033
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F25J1/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F01K25/08
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25J3/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for cooling and compressing a fluid to produce a low-temperature compressed fluid that can efficiently use the cold of LNG and reduce the energy needed, the apparatus using a Rankine cycle system having a first compression device, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, a second heat exchanger, and a first flow passageway for guiding the heat transfer medium from the second heat exchanger to the first compression device; and at least one second compression device that is coupled to the expansion device, wherein at the second heat exchanger, a low-temperature LNG and the heat transfer medium undergo heat transfer, wherein at the first heat exchanger, a fed material gas and the heat transfer medium undergo heat transfer to produce a low-temperature fluid from the material gas, and the low-temperature fluid is compressed at the second compression device to produce a low-temperature compressed fluid.
Claims
1. An apparatus for cooling and compressing a fluid to produce a low-temperature compressed fluid, the apparatus using a first Rankine cycle system and a second Rankine cycle system, the first Rankine cycle system comprising: a first heat transfer medium compression device configured to adiabatically compress a first heat transfer medium thereby forming a compressed first heat transfer medium; a first heat exchanger configured to provide constant-pressure heating to the compressed first heat transfer medium thereby forming a first heated heat transfer medium; a first expansion device configured to adiabatically expand the first heated heat transfer medium thereby forming a first expanded heat transfer medium; a second heat exchanger configured to provide constant-pressure cooling to the first expanded heat transfer medium thereby forming the first heat transfer medium; a first flow passageway configured to guide the first heat transfer medium from the second heat exchanger to the first heat transfer medium compression device; and a first material gas compression device that is coupled to the first expansion device; wherein the second Rankine cycle system comprises: a second heat transfer medium compression device configured to adiabatically compress a second heat transfer medium thereby forming a compressed second heat transfer medium; the first heat exchanger configured to provide constant-pressure heating to the compressed second heat transfer medium thereby forming a second heated heat transfer medium; a second expansion device configured to adiabatically expand the second heated heat transfer medium thereby forming a second expanded heat transfer medium; the second heat exchanger configured to provide constant-pressure cooling to the second expanded heat transfer medium thereby forming the second heat transfer medium; a second flow passageway configured to guide the second heat transfer medium from the second heat exchanger to the second heat transfer medium compression device; and a second material gas compression device that is coupled to the second expansion device, wherein the first heat transfer medium and the second heat transfer medium have different boiling points or heat capacities, wherein, at the second heat exchanger, a low-temperature liquefied natural gas (LNG) transfers heat with the first expanded heat transfer medium and the second expanded heat transfer medium, wherein, at the first heat exchanger, a material gas transfers heat with the compressed first heat transfer medium and the compressed second heat transfer medium to produce a low-temperature fluid from the material gas, wherein the second material gas compression device is configured to compress the low-temperature fluid, wherein the material gas from the first heat exchanger is guided into the first heat exchanger after being compressed by the first material gas compression device and thereafter the material gas from the first heat exchanger is guided into the first heat exchanger after being compressed by the second material gas compression device.
2. A method for cooling and compressing a fluid to produce a low-temperature compressed fluid, the method comprising the steps of: providing the apparatus as claimed in claim 1; heating the low-temperature LNG against the first expanded heat transfer medium and the second expanded heat transfer medium in the second heat exchanger to produce a warmed natural gas stream, the first heat transfer medium and the second heat transfer medium; compressing the first heat transfer medium in the first heat transfer medium compression device to form the compressed first heat transfer medium; compressing the second heat transfer medium in the second heat transfer medium compression device to form the compressed second heat transfer medium; and heating the compressed first heat transfer medium and the compressed second heat transfer medium in the first heat exchanger against the material gas to produce the first heated heat transfer material, the second heated heat transfer material, and the low-temperature fluid from the material gas.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, claims, and accompanying drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only several embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention's scope as it can admit to other equally effective embodiments.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(9) An apparatus for cooling and compressing a fluid to produce a low-temperature compressed fluid according to the present invention (hereafter referred to as present apparatus) using a Rankine cycle system (RC) comprises; a first compression device for adiabatically compressing a heat transfer medium, a first heat exchanger for constant-pressure heating the adiabatically compressed heat transfer medium; an expansion device for adiabatically expanding the heated heat transfer medium; a second heat exchanger for constant-pressure cooling the adiabatically expanded heat transfer medium; a (first) flow passageway for guiding the heat transfer medium from the second heat exchanger to the first compression device; and at least one second compression device that is coupled to the expansion device; wherein, at the second heat exchanger, a low-temperature liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the heat transfer medium undergo heat transfer, wherein, at the first heat exchanger, a fed material gas and the heat transfer medium undergo heat transfer to produce a low-temperature fluid from the material gas, and wherein, the low-temperature fluid is thereafter compressed at the second compression device to produce a low-temperature compressed fluid. Hereafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Here, in the present embodiments, cases in which nitrogen gas is the gas to be liquefied may be exemplified; however, the present invention can be applied similarly to liquefaction of other gases, for example, air, argon, and the like. Also, conditions such as the temperature, the pressure, and the flow rate of each section can be suitably changed in accordance with other conditions such as the type of the gas and the flow rate.
(10) The basic structure of the present apparatus will be schematically exemplified in
(11) The LNG of a predetermined flow rate is supplied to the second heat exchanger 4, whereby a predetermined amount of cold is ensured. By controlling the supply flow rate of the LNG, the cold that is transferred to the material gas can be easily adjusted. A material gas of a desired flow rate is supplied to the first heat exchanger 2 by a feed pump 5, whereby a predetermined amount of cold is transferred to the material gas to cool the material gas to a desired temperature. Further, the material gas is guided into the compressor 6 which is second compression device so as to be compressed to a desired pressure and is extracted as a desired low-temperature compressed fluid. By such a structure, a desired low-temperature compressed fluid can be produced in a stable condition. Also, the energy efficiency can be improved to a great extent as compared with a conventional apparatus in which the cold of LNG and the material gas are subjected to direct heat exchange.
(12) As described above, the low-temperature compressed fluid is produced in such a condition that, in the present apparatus in which a Rankine cycle system (RC) is formed, a liquefied natural gas in a low-temperature liquefied state is guided into the second heat exchanger 4 to transfer the cold thereof to the heat transfer medium, and the material gas that is fed by the feed pump 5 is guided into the first heat exchanger 2 to be cooled by the heat transfer medium and thereafter guided into at least one second compression device (compressor) 6 that is coupled to the expansion device (turbine) 3, so as to be extracted as a low-temperature compressed fluid.
(13) Specifically, an example will be assumed in which a mixture obtained by blending ethane and propane in an equal molar ratio as a major component, for example, is used as the heat transfer medium of the RC; LNG of about 6 MPa is guided into the second heat exchanger 4; and nitrogen gas is fed as a material gas. In the example, the heat transfer medium guided at about 0.05 MPa into the second heat exchanger 4 is guided out after being cooled to about 115 C., adiabatically compressed to about 1.8 MPa by the compression pump 1, guided into the first heat exchanger 2, guided out after being heated by heat exchange with the material gas, adiabatically expanded by the turbine 3, and guided at about 45 C. and under about 0.05 MPa into the second heat exchanger 4. The nitrogen gas guided at about 2.1 MPa into the first heat exchanger 2 is guided out after being cooled to about 90 C., compressed to about 5 MPa by the compressor 6 coupled to the turbine 3, and extracted as a low-temperature compressed nitrogen gas having a temperature of about 90 C. and a pressure of about 5 MPa.
(14) A case in which a low-temperature compressed nitrogen gas was prepared using the present apparatus was compared with a case in which a low-temperature compressed nitrogen gas was prepared using a conventional method, so as to verify the energy efficiency thereof. As will be described below, an improvement of about 50% or more could be achieved by using the present apparatus.
(15) (i) A case in which a low-temperature compressed nitrogen gas was prepared using a conventional method
(16) Assuming that LNG was supplied at 1 ton/h and a compressor was operated at an electric power of 15.7 kWh, a nitrogen gas of 677 Nm.sup.3/h, for example, could be pressurized from 20 bar to 37 bar. During this time, the entrance temperature of the compressor was 40 C., and the exit temperature thereof was 111 C.
(17) (ii) A case in which a low-temperature compressed nitrogen gas was prepared using the present method
(18) The amount of LNG needed to obtain a similar low-temperature compressed nitrogen gas, that is, to pressurize a nitrogen gas of 677 Nm.sup.3/h from 20 bar to 37 bar, was 0.485 ton/h.
(19) (iii) When the two cases were compared, it had been found out that the electric power could be reduced by about 8 kWh, that is, by about 52%, from the following formula 1.
(10.485)0.515=8.09 [kWh]
8.09/15.7=0.52(formula 1)
(20) Apparatus for producing a liquefied fluid using the present apparatus
(21) A basic exemplary structure (first exemplary structure) of an apparatus (hereafter referred to as present liquefaction apparatus) for producing a liquefied fluid using the present apparatus will be schematically shown in
(22) In other words, the low-temperature compressed fluid from the second compression device 6 is cooled in the second heat exchanger 4 and is subjected to pressure adjustment by the adjustment valve 7, and the liquefied component is subjected to gas-liquid separation in the gas-liquid separator 8 and extracted as a low-temperature liquefied component from the gas-liquid separator 8. At this time, when the material gas is, for example, ethane or propane having a comparatively higher boiling point than nitrogen or oxygen, the low-temperature compressed fluid can be liquefied by being guided into the first heat exchanger 2, as is exemplified in
(23) Similarly as the specific example in the above-described present apparatus, a specific example will be assumed in which a mixture obtained by blending ethane and propane in an equal molar ratio as a major component, for example, is used as the heat transfer medium of the RC; LNG of about 6 MPa is guided into the second heat exchanger 4; and nitrogen gas is fed as a material gas. A material gas that has been guided at about 2.1 MPa into the first heat exchanger 2 becomes a low-temperature compressed nitrogen gas of about 90 C. and about 5 MPa by passing through the compressor 6. This low-temperature compressed nitrogen gas is further guided into the second heat exchanger 4 to be cooled to about 153 C. and then is expanded via the adjustment valve 7 to be cooled to about 179 C., whereafter the liquefied nitrogen gas mainly containing a liquefied component is guided into the gas-liquid separator 8. The liquefied component that has been subjected to gas-liquid separation in the gas-liquid separator 8 is extracted as a liquefied nitrogen gas of about 179 C. and about 0.05 MPa.
(24) Similarly as in the verification test in the above-described present apparatus, a case in which a liquefied nitrogen gas was prepared using the present liquefaction apparatus was compared with a case in which a liquefied nitrogen gas was prepared using a conventional method, so as to verify the energy efficiency thereof. As will be described below, an improvement of about 25% or more could be achieved by using the present apparatus.
(25) (i) A case in which a liquefied nitrogen gas was prepared using a conventional method
(26) LNG was supplied at 1 ton/h, and an energy of 0.28 kWh/Nm.sup.3 was needed in preparing a liquefied nitrogen gas of about 0.05 MPa.
(27) (ii) A case in which a liquefied nitrogen gas was prepared using the present method
(28) An energy of 0.21 kWh/Nm.sup.3 was sufficient in preparing a liquefied nitrogen gas of about 0.05 MPa under the conditions of the specific example in the above-described present liquefaction apparatus.
(29) (iii) When the two cases are compared, it has been found out that the electric power could be reduced by about 25%, from the following formula 1.
(0.280.21)/0.28=0.25(formula 1)
(30) Another exemplary structure (second exemplary structure) of the present liquefaction apparatus will be schematically shown in
(31) In other words, in the third heat exchanger 9, the cold of the LNG can be used further more efficiently by using the residual cold of the LNG for cooling the heat transfer medium that has been heated in the first heat exchanger 2 and the low-temperature compressed fluid that has been compressed to have an increased heat quantity. Also, a structure in which cooling water is introduced in the third heat exchanger 9 will be exemplified here. Heat exchange with cold energy having a large heat capacity can be carried out, and quick transfer of hot heat can be achieved to the heat transfer medium, the liquefied natural gas, and the low-temperature compressed fluid. Even to transient fluctuation or the like at the time of starting or at the time of stopping, preliminary or auxiliary transfer of hot energy can be achieved to the heat transfer medium, the liquefied natural gas, and the low-temperature compressed fluid, whereby stable use of the cold of the LNG and stable energy efficiency can be ensured.
(32) The third exemplary structure of the present liquefaction apparatus will be schematically shown in
(33) In the third exemplary structure, a structure will be exemplified in which a second adjustment valve 12 is disposed in the third branching flow passageway S3, and part of the liquefied fluid from the fourth heat exchanger 11 is again guided into the fourth heat exchanger 11 via the second adjustment valve 12. Though having a low pressure, a liquefied fluid having a further lower temperature is prepared by adiabatically expanding the low-temperature liquefied fluid with the second adjustment valve 12 and can be allowed to function as the cold in the fourth heat exchanger 11.
(34) The temperature and the pressure of the gas or liquid in each flow passageway in the case in which liquefied nitrogen gas was prepared using the liquefaction apparatus according to the third exemplary structure were verified. The verification results are exemplified in Table 1.
(35) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Flow passageway No. L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 L6 Pressure 65.50 61.00 1.10 4.95 21.00 20.80 (Bar) Temperature 156 1 6 40 40 91 ( C.) Flow passageway No. L7 L8 L10 L11 L12 L13 Pressure 51.67 5.10 5.10 5.00 1.23 1.60 (Bar) Temperature 20 179 192 192 190 45 ( C.) Flow passageway No. L14 L15 L16 S2 S1 Pressure 1.50 19.00 18.50 1.10 4.95 (Bar) Temperature 115 114 30 31 88 ( C.)
(36) The fourth exemplary structure of the present liquefaction apparatus will be schematically shown in
(37) The plurality of heat transfer media having different boiling points or heat capacities as referred to herein include not only a case in which the substances themselves are different and a case in which the substances constituting the mixtures or compounds are different but also a case in which the composition of the mixture of a plurality of substances is different. For example, two Rankine cycle systems having different characteristics can be constructed by forming one heat transfer medium with a mixture of 20% of methane, 40% of ethane, and 40% of propane and forming the other heat transfer medium with a mixture of 2% of methane, 49% of ethane, and 49% of propane. By a combination thereof, transfer of the cold or the cold energy that matches with various fluctuating elements can be achieved, and efficient transfer of energy to the compression device coupled with the expansion device can be achieved.
(38) Also, when heat transfer media having different components are used, a heat transfer function of a further wider range can be formed. In other words, there is a restriction on the temperature band in which the cold of the LNG can be used because of the relationship between the temperature of the cold of the LNG and the boiling point of the material gas or the temperature of the compressed gas (fluid) as described above, so that the cold of the LNG can be used in a plurality of temperature bands by arranging one Rankine cycle system RCa and another Rankine cycle system RCb in series as in the fourth exemplary structure. For example, the cold energy of the LNG can be thermally transferred in a plurality of temperature bands by using a mixture of methane+ethane+propane in one Rankine cycle system RCa and using a mixture of ethane+propane+butane in another Rankine cycle system RCb. The cold energy of the LNG can be efficiently used by arranging one Rankine cycle system RCa and another Rankine cycle system RCb in series as in the fourth exemplary structure and by using the cold energy of the LNG, for example, in a range of 150 to 100 C. in the one Rankine cycle system RCa and using the cold energy of the LNG, for example, in a range of 150 to 100 C. in the other Rankine cycle system RCb. Also, when this is used as an energy for compressing the nitrogen gas, the energy (consumed electric power) needed per liquefied nitrogen production amount can be greatly reduced.
(39) As shown above, each exemplary structure has been described on the basis of each descriptive view; however, the present apparatus or the present liquefaction apparatus is not limited to these but is constructed with a wider concept including a combination of the constituent elements thereof or a combination with other related known constituent elements.
(40) While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. The present invention may suitably comprise, consist or consist essentially of the elements disclosed and may be practiced in the absence of an element not disclosed. Furthermore, if there is language referring to order, such as first and second, it should be understood in an exemplary sense and not in a limiting sense. For example, it can be recognized by those skilled in the art that certain steps can be combined into a single step.
(41) The singular forms a, an and the include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
(42) Comprising in a claim is an open transitional term which means the subsequently identified claim elements are a nonexclusive listing (i.e., anything else may be additionally included and remain within the scope of comprising). Comprising as used herein may be replaced by the more limited transitional terms consisting essentially of and consisting of unless otherwise indicated herein.
(43) Providing in a claim is defined to mean furnishing, supplying, making available, or preparing something. The step may be performed by any actor in the absence of express language in the claim to the contrary.
(44) Optional or optionally means that the subsequently described event or circumstances may or may not occur. The description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not occur.
(45) Ranges may be expressed herein as from about one particular value, and/or to about another particular value. When such a range is expressed, it is to be understood that another embodiment is from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value, along with all combinations within said range.
(46) All references identified herein are each hereby incorporated by reference into this application in their entireties, as well as for the specific information for which each is cited.