EP3759192A1 - Système de refroidissement - Google Patents

Système de refroidissement

Info

Publication number
EP3759192A1
EP3759192A1 EP19707776.1A EP19707776A EP3759192A1 EP 3759192 A1 EP3759192 A1 EP 3759192A1 EP 19707776 A EP19707776 A EP 19707776A EP 3759192 A1 EP3759192 A1 EP 3759192A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
neon
refrigerant
helium
raw mixture
cooling system
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP19707776.1A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Lutz Decker
Alexander Alekseev
Umberto Cardella
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Linde GmbH
Original Assignee
Linde GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Linde GmbH filed Critical Linde GmbH
Publication of EP3759192A1 publication Critical patent/EP3759192A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B9/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point
    • F25B9/002—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the refrigerant
    • F25B9/006—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the refrigerant the refrigerant containing more than one component
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0228—Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes
    • F25J1/0234—Integration with a cryogenic air separation unit
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K5/00—Heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants; Materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion
    • C09K5/02—Materials undergoing a change of physical state when used
    • C09K5/04—Materials undergoing a change of physical state when used the change of state being from liquid to vapour or vice versa
    • C09K5/041—Materials undergoing a change of physical state when used the change of state being from liquid to vapour or vice versa for compression-type refrigeration systems
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K5/00—Heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants; Materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion
    • C09K5/02—Materials undergoing a change of physical state when used
    • C09K5/04—Materials undergoing a change of physical state when used the change of state being from liquid to vapour or vice versa
    • C09K5/041—Materials undergoing a change of physical state when used the change of state being from liquid to vapour or vice versa for compression-type refrigeration systems
    • C09K5/042—Materials undergoing a change of physical state when used the change of state being from liquid to vapour or vice versa for compression-type refrigeration systems comprising compounds containing carbon and hydrogen only
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B40/00—Subcoolers, desuperheaters or superheaters
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B9/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point
    • F25B9/14—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0005—Light or noble gases
    • F25J1/0007—Helium
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0005—Light or noble gases
    • F25J1/001—Hydrogen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
    • F25J1/0047—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/005—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by expansion of a gaseous refrigerant stream with extraction of work
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
    • F25J1/0047—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/0052—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/006—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the refrigerant fluid used
    • F25J1/0062—Light or noble gases, mixtures thereof
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/006—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the refrigerant fluid used
    • F25J1/0062—Light or noble gases, mixtures thereof
    • F25J1/0065—Helium
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0211—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/0212—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle as a single flow MCR cycle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0244—Operation; Control and regulation; Instrumentation
    • F25J1/0245—Different modes, i.e. 'runs', of operation; Process control
    • F25J1/0249—Controlling refrigerant inventory, i.e. composition or quantity
    • F25J1/025—Details related to the refrigerant production or treatment, e.g. make-up supply from feed gas itself
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0257—Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J1/0262—Details of the cold heat exchange system
    • F25J1/0264—Arrangement of heat exchanger cores in parallel with different functions, e.g. different cooling streams
    • F25J1/0265—Arrangement of heat exchanger cores in parallel with different functions, e.g. different cooling streams comprising cores associated exclusively with the cooling of a refrigerant stream, e.g. for auto-refrigeration or economizer
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • 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
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04642—Recovering noble gases from air
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K2205/00—Aspects relating to compounds used in compression type refrigeration systems
    • C09K2205/10—Components
    • C09K2205/13—Inert gases
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • 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
    • F25J2215/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the product stream
    • F25J2215/30—Helium
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • 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
    • F25J2215/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the product stream
    • F25J2215/32—Neon
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • 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
    • F25J2260/00—Coupling of processes or apparatus to other units; Integrated schemes
    • F25J2260/02—Integration in an installation for exchanging heat, e.g. for waste heat recovery
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • 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
    • F25J2260/00—Coupling of processes or apparatus to other units; Integrated schemes
    • F25J2260/20—Integration in an installation for liquefying or solidifying a fluid stream
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • 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
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/12—External refrigeration with liquid vaporising loop

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a cooling system, preferably for use in or including a refrigeration plant and/or a liquefier plant, having a refrigeration circuit.
  • the invention further relates to a method for producing a refrigerant usable in a refrigeration circuit.
  • Refrigeration plants configured to achieve very low temperatures of 80 K or below, typically use hydrogen or helium as a refrigerant.
  • An industrial hydrogen liquefaction plant is known from EP 3 163 236 A1 , in which a hydrogen gas stream is cooled my means of a plurality of closed-loop cooling cycles to a temperature below a condensation point of hydrogen so as to provide a liquid hydrogen stream.
  • Refrigeration plants adapted for temperatures below 80 K, usually apply a Brayton cycle or a Claude cycle with compression of the refrigerant at ambient temperature, heat exchange and refrigeration via expansion.
  • the refrigerant is compressed via a screw type compressor, piston compressor or turbo-compressor.
  • the turbo-compressor is favorable in view of efficiency, flow rate capacity and reliability.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the conventional process to provide a mixture including helium and neon as a refrigerant for a refrigeration and/or liquefaction plant.
  • a first process line 100 includes an air separation plant 101 configured to separate ambient air into its component parts by cryogenic rectification.
  • a neon rich stream produced from the air separation plant 101 is fed to a neon rectification column 102 to produce a second neon rich stream with a higher concentration of neon. This second neon rich stream is then purified and thereafter stored in a neon-storage 103.
  • Helium is obtained from a different plant via a second process line 110 which is locally separated from the first process line 100.
  • the helium is obtained and separated from natural gas, which contains helium at a proportion of 1 % or more, within a fractionating column 111.
  • Helium is extracted and accumulated within a subsequent process stage 112 and thereafter stored in a helium-storage 113.
  • the pure neon stored in the neon-storage 103 and the pure helium stored in the helium-storage 113 are mixed according to a desired ratio and supplied to a refrigeration plant 120.
  • Helium and neon, as well as mixtures thereof are rather expensive gases. Pure neon is considerably more expensive than helium and not available everywhere. Moreover, refrigeration systems are not completely leak-proof. Considerable quantities of the product may get lost especially during maintenance work. This implies substantial initial, operating and maintenance costs. Moreover, the technology and logistics are complicated. Helium is usually extracted from natural gas. Neon is separated from air by applying a complex process. Thus, both gases are usually extracted, transported and delivered separately and only subsequently mixed to be used in a refrigeration circuit or refrigeration plant.
  • the mixture particularly the ratio of neon and helium, has to be monitored and adjusted, which additionally implies technical challenges and costs regarding the analysis and gas management system.
  • a cooling system including a refrigeration circuit configured to use a refrigerant including a mixture of helium and neon; wherein the refrigerant is based on a raw mixture, preferably the refrigerant comprises the raw mixture, and wherein the raw mixture extracted from air by an air separation plant.
  • the cooling system is preferably adapted for use in or including a refrigeration plant and/or a liquefiers. This for instance includes refrigeration plants for cooling high-temperature
  • the cooling system has a refrigeration circuit configured to use a refrigerant including a mixture of helium and neon.
  • the mixture comprises helium, neon and hydrogen.
  • the refrigerant is based on a raw mixture, preferably is the raw mixture, including helium and neon, extracted from air by an air separation plant.
  • the cooling system has the air separation plant configured to extract from air the raw mixture including helium and neon. In other words, both components - helium and neon - are extracted from the air.
  • the extraction is preferably done by the same process and/or simultaneously such that after the process the raw mixture is present without any further processing.
  • the raw mixture to be used as the refrigerant is provided by extracting it as such from air but not by supplying it by mixing two or more gases which are provided in separate processes or extracted from different raw materials such as air and natural gas.
  • the raw mixture including helium and neon is extracted from air in rectification columns of the (cryogenic) air separation plant.
  • the air separation plant may be locally separated from the refrigeration circuit.
  • the raw mixture may be extracted at any time and stored until usage.
  • the raw mixture ex is directly used as the refrigerant or forms the basis of the refrigerant.
  • the raw mixture including helium and neon (possibly as well as other components) is used as the refrigerant with or without further treatment, such as cleaning.
  • the raw mixture including helium and neon is extracted from the air via the air separation plant. This helps solving the problem of availability and reduces technical complexity and costs as compared to the conventional processes for extracting helium and neon separately and subsequently mixing the two components.
  • the logistics for obtaining the refrigerant is simplified since the desired raw mixture is provided via "one source", i.e. air as the source not for the individual components but the raw mixture itself.
  • the raw mixture further includes nitrogen and/or hydrogen.
  • a certain amount of nitrogen and/or hydrogen is permitted depending on the intended cooling temperatures. Maintaining nitrogen and/or hydrogen in the raw mixture and preferably also in the refrigerant helps further reducing the technical complexity, because the extracted raw mixture may be used without further treatment, particularly without purification, for instance in an adsorber.
  • Hydrogen which is present in ambient air in a concentration of usually 0.4 ppm, may be present in the raw mixture and/or refrigerant corresponding to the amount of 2% or below.
  • the raw helium-neon mixture produced from the column(s) of the air separation plant (typically consisting of neon, nitrogen, helium and hydrogen) can directly be used without any further treatment in the refrigeration circuit preferably configured for cooling temperatures below 80 K to approximately 63 K (triple point of nitrogen).
  • the cooling system further includes a purification device configured to remove impurities, for example nitrogen, from the raw mixture.
  • a purification device configured to remove impurities, for example nitrogen, from the raw mixture.
  • This provides a refrigerant suitable for lower cooling temperatures such as below 80 K, preferably below 70 K, to approximately 25 K.“Impurities” in this connotation are to be understood to refer to the components not desired in a refrigerant for a particular application but which are inherently included to the raw mixture in the process used to extract the raw mixture.
  • the air separation plant is configured to extract the raw mixture from ambient air, wherein the raw mixture includes a neon/helium-ratio which is approximately equal to the neon/helium-ratio included in the ambient air, preferably of approximately 3.5.
  • a neon/helium-ratio which is approximately equal to the neon/helium-ratio included in the ambient air, preferably of approximately 3.5.
  • the refrigeration circuit is configured to implement a Brayton cycle or a Claude cycle which are particularly suitable for producing cryogenic refrigeration temperatures.
  • the refrigeration circuit includes one or more turbo-compressors.
  • the refrigeration circuit for instance involves the compression, preferably in one or more turbo-compressors, the cooling, expansion and warming-up of the refrigerant mixture.
  • the mixture including neon has a low freezing point and a high molar mass compared to pure helium and hydrogen. The mixture is therefore particularly advantageous with respect to turbo-compressors.
  • the cooling system is configured such that neither helium nor neon included in the raw mixture, preferably also in the refrigerant, is added by a source different from the air separation plant.
  • the helium and neon are preferably extracted from air together as if they were a single component. This further reduces technical complexity and costs and further simplifies the logistics for obtaining the refrigerant.
  • a method for producing a refrigerant usable in a refrigeration circuit for instance as described above, is provided. The method comprises extracting a raw mixture including helium and neon from air and obtaining the refrigerant from the raw mixture.
  • a cooling method according to the invention utilizing the refrigerant as described above comprises: a process or method for producing the refrigerant according to the description above; and circulating the refrigerant in a refrigeration circuit, preferably used in or including a refrigeration plant and/or a condenser.
  • Figure 1 schematically illustrates a conventional process to provide mixtures of neon with helium as a refrigerant for a refrigeration and/or liquefaction plant.
  • Figure 2 schematically illustrates a system and process to obtain and supply a raw helium-neon mixture as a refrigerant for a refrigeration plant and/or a liquefier.
  • Figure 3 schematically illustrates a cooling system having an air separation plant and a refrigeration circuit.
  • Figure 4 schematically illustrates a cooling system according to a further embodiment.
  • Figure 5 schematically illustrates a cooling system according to a further embodiment.
  • Figure 1 illustrates the conventional process to provide a mixture including helium and neon as a refrigerant for a refrigeration and/or liquefaction plant.
  • a first process line 100 includes an air separation plant 101 configured to separate ambient air into its component parts by cryogenic rectification.
  • a neon rich stream produced from the air separation plant 101 is fed to a neon rectification column 102 to produce a second neon rich stream with a higher concentration of neon. This second neon rich stream is then purified and thereafter stored in a neon-storage 103.
  • Helium is obtained via a second process line 1 10 which is locally separated from the first process line 100.
  • the helium is obtained and separated from natural gas (petroleum gas), which contains helium at a proportion of 1 % or more, within a fractionating column 1 1 1 .
  • Helium is extracted and accumulated within a subsequent process stage 1 12 and thereafter stored in a helium-storage 1 13.
  • the pure neon stored in the neon-storage 103 and the pure helium stored in the helium-storage 1 13 are mixed according to a desired ratio and supplied to a refrigeration plant 120.
  • Figure 2 schematically illustrates a system and process according to the present disclosure to obtain and supply a raw helium-neon mixture (nelium) as a refrigerant for a refrigeration plant and/or a condenser including a refrigeration circuit 1.
  • the raw helium-neon mixture is obtained via an air separation plant 2 which includes one or more rectification columns. Thereafter the raw helium-neon mixture may be cleaned or further treated via a purification device 3 (described further below) and is supplied to the refrigeration circuit 1.
  • the mixture of helium and neon as a refrigerant preferably at a ratio as found in the ambient air (approximately 3.5).
  • the mixture is typically regarded as a waste product due to missing applications.
  • the ratio between neon and helium is almost constant due to the natural occurrence in ambient air. Since an enormous technical effort is required to obtain pure neon from air, only a small number of air separation plants worldwide are operated to separate and accumulate neon from air. Thus, directly utilizing the "waste" helium-neon mixture supplied by the air separation plant 2 drastically reduces costs and technical equipment for obtaining the refrigerant.
  • the raw helium-neon mixture may be used as a refrigerant for cooling temperatures below 80 K to approximately 25 K.
  • the cooling system may be equipped with a purification device 3 or absorber stages configured to remove impurities (mainly nitrogen but also other impurities).
  • the raw helium-neon mixture which is extracted from the column(s) of the air separation plant 2, i.e. typically a mixture of helium, neon, nitrogen and hydrogen, may be directly used as a refrigerant.
  • the helium-neon mixture of neon, nitrogen, helium and hydrogen can be used in a refrigeration circuit 1 of a cooling system adapted for cooling temperatures below 80 K to 63 K (triple point of nitrogen). A small proportion of hydrogen does not interfere with the operation of the cooling system in the proposed temperature range above 25 K.
  • the raw mixture obtained from the rectification column(s) of the air separation plant 2 is used as a refrigerant (or basis for a refrigerant) for instance in a refrigeration circuit of a refrigeration plant and/or a liquefier.
  • the raw mixture may be used in a low-temperature refrigeration circuit including expansion turbine(s) (Brayton circuit) and/or in a low-temperature refrigeration circuit including expansion turbine(s) and at least one further expansion stage for instance including an expansion valve or expansion device (Claude circuit).
  • the main components may comprise: a compressor configured to compress the mixture and/or a purification device or adsorber configured to eliminate impurities and/or a heat exchanger and/or an expansion turbine and/or expansion valve.
  • the mixture used as a refrigerant has a low freezing point and a high molar mass compared to helium and hydrogen. The mixture is therefore particularly advantageous for use with turbo-compressors and expansion turbines. Unlike nitrogen, the helium-neon mixture used for cooling temperatures below 77 K does not have to be operated at a sub-atmospheric pressure.
  • Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary cooling system utilizing a direct application of the raw helium-neon mixture provided by the air separation plant 2 as a refrigerant circulated in the refrigeration circuit 1 which is configured as a Brayton cycle.
  • the refrigerant preferably a mixture of helium, neon, nitrogen and hydrogen
  • compressor 1 1 preferably configured as a turbo-compressor
  • a cooler 12 and heat exchanger 13a preferably configured as a plate heat exchanger.
  • the refrigerant is expanded via an expansion device 14.
  • the expansion device 14 preferably includes a turbine or a number of turbine-stages. The work of the expansion is used to cool and/or liquefy an object 20 or fluid.
  • the refrigerant is then heated in heat exchanger(s) 13a, 13b and supplied to the suction side of the compressor 1 1.
  • the helium-neon mixture as used in a process and refrigeration circuit 1 as illustrated in Figure 3 is applicable for cooling temperatures below 80 K to 63 K (triple point of nitrogen).
  • Figure 4 illustrates a further cooling system using a raw helium-neon mixture provided by the air separation plant 2 as a refrigerant for a refrigeration circuit T which is configured as a Claude cycle.
  • the raw helium-neon mixture is compressed via compressor 1 1 , preferably configured as a turbocompressor, and subsequently pre-cooled in the cooler 12 and heat exchanger 13a, preferably configured as a plate heat exchanger.
  • the raw helium-neon mixture is expanded via an expansion device 14a and expansion valve (Joule-Thomson valve) 14b.
  • the refrigerant expanded in the expansion device 14a is used to further cool a partial flow of the refrigerant.
  • the raw helium-neon mixture is purified in an adsorber tank 15.
  • nitrogen is separated from the raw helium-neon mixture.
  • the refrigerant is cooled down in heat exchangers 13b, 13c and released in the expansion valve 14b.
  • the work of the expansion is used to cool and/or liquefy object 20 or fluid.
  • the refrigerant is then heated in the heat exchanger(s) 13a, 13b, 13c and supplied to the suction side of the compressor 1 1.
  • the exemplary process illustrated in Figure 4 is applicable for cooling temperatures between 80 K and 25 K.
  • the refrigeration plant designed as a Claude circuit including the expansion valve 14b and the adsorber tank 15 allows for lower temperatures as compared to the embodiment of Figure 3.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a further cooling system using a raw helium-neon mixture provided by the air separation plant 2 as a refrigerant for a refrigeration circuit 1 ".
  • the cooling system according to the present embodiment includes a further purification in a purification device 3 and is adapted for cooling temperatures between 80 K and 25 K.
  • the raw helium-neon mixture is purified in the purification device 3 by separating nitrogen.
  • the resulting helium-neon-hydrogen mixture can then be used as a refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit 1 " as illustrated in Figure 5 for very low cooling temperatures up to 25 K.
  • the refrigerant is supplied to the compressor 1 1. Thereafter, the process essentially corresponds to the process illustrated in Figure 4.
  • Possible applications for the helium-neon mixture extracted from the rectification column(s) of the air separation plant 2 include refrigeration plants for cooling of high-temperature superconductors (HTS, High Temperature Superconductor cooling) regarding temperatures below 80 K. Further applications include: precooling in refrigeration plants (e.g. shield cooling in particle accelerators) and liquefiers, particularly helium or hydrogen liquefiers.
  • precooling in refrigeration plants e.g. shield cooling in particle accelerators
  • liquefiers particularly helium or hydrogen liquefiers.
  • the refrigerant and process may be used in refrigeration plants adapted for cooling temperatures between 25 K and 80 K, preferably between 30 K and 75 K.
  • an air separation plant 2 is directly used for producing the refrigerant or a raw mixture including helium and neon. This solves the problem of availability and reduces technical complexity and costs as compared to the conventional processes which are based on separately extracting helium and neon and subsequently mixing the two components.
  • the raw helium-neon mixture produced from the column(s) of the air separation plant (typically consisting of neon, nitrogen, helium and hydrogen) can directly be used without any further treatment in a refrigeration circuit configured for cooling temperatures below 80 K to approximately 63 K (triple point of nitrogen).

Abstract

La présente invention concerne u système de refroidissement, de préférence conçu pour être utilisé dans ou comprenant une installation de réfrigération et/ou une installation de liquéfaction, qui comprend un circuit de réfrigération (1) configuré pour utiliser un fluide frigorigène comprenant un mélange d'hélium et de néon ; le fluide frigorigène étant basé sur un mélange brut, de préférence est le mélange brut, comprenant de l'hélium et du néon, extraits de l'air par une installation de séparation d'air (2). L'invention concerne également un procédé de production d'un fluide frigorigène utilisable dans un circuit de réfrigération (1), comprenant : l'extraction d'un mélange brut comprenant de l'hélium et du néon à partir de l'air, le mélange brut comprenant de préférence en outre de l'azote et de l'hydrogène ; et l'utilisation du mélange brut comme fluide frigorigène ou l'obtention du fluide frigorigène à partir du mélange brut.
EP19707776.1A 2018-03-02 2019-02-25 Système de refroidissement Pending EP3759192A1 (fr)

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GB1803389.4A GB2571569A (en) 2018-03-02 2018-03-02 Cooling system
PCT/EP2019/054634 WO2019166383A1 (fr) 2018-03-02 2019-02-25 Système de refroidissement

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EP (1) EP3759192A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2021515169A (fr)
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CN (1) CN111819264A (fr)
GB (1) GB2571569A (fr)
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KR20200130252A (ko) 2020-11-18
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US20200400371A1 (en) 2020-12-24
WO2019166383A1 (fr) 2019-09-06
CN111819264A (zh) 2020-10-23
GB2571569A8 (en) 2019-10-09
JP2021515169A (ja) 2021-06-17

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