US20100126215A1 - Method For Cooling A Cryogenic Exchange Line - Google Patents

Method For Cooling A Cryogenic Exchange Line Download PDF

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Publication number
US20100126215A1
US20100126215A1 US12/595,644 US59564408A US2010126215A1 US 20100126215 A1 US20100126215 A1 US 20100126215A1 US 59564408 A US59564408 A US 59564408A US 2010126215 A1 US2010126215 A1 US 2010126215A1
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Prior art keywords
expansion means
fraction
exchange line
heat exchange
fluid
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US12/595,644
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Inventor
Philippe Court
Antoine Hernandez
Christian Monereau
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LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
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LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
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Assigned to L'AIR LIQUIDE, SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE reassignment L'AIR LIQUIDE, SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: COURT, PHILIPPE, HERNANDEZ, ANTOINE, MONEREAU, CHRISTIAN
Publication of US20100126215A1 publication Critical patent/US20100126215A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • F25J3/06—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation
    • F25J3/0695—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
    • 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
    • F25J1/0022—Hydrocarbons, e.g. natural gas
    • 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
    • F25J1/0055—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 originating from an incorporated cascade
    • 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
    • F25J1/0247—Different modes, i.e. 'runs', of operation; Process control start-up of the process
    • 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
    • F25J3/0295—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used, e.g. sieve plates, packings
    • 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
    • F25J3/06—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation
    • F25J3/0605—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation characterised by the feed stream
    • F25J3/062—Refinery gas, cracking gas, coke oven gas, gaseous mixtures containing aliphatic unsaturated CnHm or gaseous mixtures of undefined nature
    • 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
    • F25J3/06—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation
    • F25J3/063—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation characterised by the separated product stream
    • F25J3/0635—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation characterised by the separated product stream separation of CnHm with 1 carbon atom or more
    • 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
    • F25J3/06—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation
    • F25J3/063—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation characterised by the separated product stream
    • F25J3/064—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation characterised by the separated product stream separation of CnHm with 2 carbon atoms or more
    • 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
    • F25J3/06—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation
    • F25J3/063—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation characterised by the separated product stream
    • F25J3/0655—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation characterised by the separated product stream separation of 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
    • F25J2210/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the feed stream
    • F25J2210/42—Nitrogen
    • 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
    • F25J2240/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for expanding of process streams
    • F25J2240/40—Expansion without extracting work, i.e. isenthalpic throttling, e.g. JT valve, regulating valve or venturi, or isentropic nozzle, e.g. Laval
    • 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
    • F25J2245/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams
    • F25J2245/02—Recycle of a stream in general, e.g. a by-pass 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
    • F25J2270/04—Internal refrigeration with work-producing gas expansion loop
    • 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
    • F25J2270/18—External refrigeration with incorporated cascade loop
    • 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
    • F25J2270/90—External refrigeration, e.g. conventional closed-loop mechanical refrigeration unit using Freon or NH3, unspecified external refrigeration
    • F25J2270/904—External refrigeration, e.g. conventional closed-loop mechanical refrigeration unit using Freon or NH3, unspecified external refrigeration by liquid or gaseous cryogen in an open loop
    • 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
    • F25J2280/00—Control of the process or apparatus
    • F25J2280/10—Control for or during start-up and cooling down of the installation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a heat exchange line and to a method of cooling down such a heat exchange line.
  • cryogenics to fractionate a gas stream into at least two fluids of different composition, generally into what is called a light fluid, i.e. one essentially composed of the more volatile constituents, and what is called a heavy fluid essentially consisting of the more easily condensable constituents.
  • the mixture to be fractionated is cooled in a heat exchanger or in a number of heat exchangers, called a heat exchange line, until a liquid/vapor two-phase mixture extracted from said heat exchange line and separated in a liquid/vapor separator is obtained.
  • the vapor may be further cooled until a new two-phase state is obtained and fractionated a second time.
  • a stream of hydrocarbons (C 1 , C 2 , . . . , C i , C i+1 , . . . C n ) is fractionated into a fluid essentially consisting of the lighter hydrocarbons (methane C 1 , ethane C 2 , . . . , C i ) and a second fluid essentially consisting of the heavier hydrocarbons (C i+1 , . . . C n ).
  • the term “essentially” is used to indicate that a small fraction of the lighter compounds will in general be found in the heavy fraction, and conversely a small portion of the heavier compounds will in general be found in the vapor fraction.
  • This separation may be improved by inserting trays into the two-phase separation system and by adding a reboiling section and/or a stripping section in order to remove the light components from the liquid fraction and/or a condenser and/or by increasing the reflux in order to remove the heavy components from the vapor fraction.
  • liquid/vapor separator will be used to cover all equipment generating at least one liquid output and at least one gaseous output from at least one two-phase feed.
  • Such equipment may be of the horizontal or vertical gravity separator type, whether or not equipped with a devesiculator, of the cyclone or distillation column type, etc.
  • the liquid output may contain a small amount of bubbles entrained by the speed of the liquid, likewise the vapor output may contain liquid aerosols or droplets, without in any way departing from the scope of the invention.
  • This fractionation may not be an objective per se, but only a means of delivering the refrigerating power intended for liquefying another fluid, such a natural gas.
  • the various separated fluids are recombined after being warmed, recompressed and reinjected into the heat exchange line. This is then referred to as a refrigeration cycle.
  • the heat exchangers may be of the coiled type, such as a tube/shell heat exchanger, or preferably of the plate heat exchanger type.
  • many improvements have been named regarding heat exchange corrugations and regarding the injection of the fluids, in particular two-phase fluids, into these heat exchangers so as to optimize the heat transfer.
  • This example relates to the production of pressurized hydrogen with a purity of 95% from a pressurized gas mixture containing about 70% hydrogen, 18% methane and 12% heavier hydrocarbons.
  • the mixture 1 to be separated is injected at ambient temperature and under a pressure of 40 bar absolute into the plate heat exchanger 10 to be cooled therein via the heat exchange passages 11 .
  • the fluid 1 At a first temperature level dependent on the composition of the heaviest hydrocarbons and on the pressure, generally between ⁇ 40 and ⁇ 120° C., the fluid 1 , then a two-phase fluid, is extracted from the heat exchanger and separated into its vapor fraction 2 and its liquid fraction 3 in the liquid/gas separator 30 .
  • the liquid fraction 3 is expanded via the expansion valve 50 down to a low pressure and revaporized in the heat exchange line via the heat exchange passages 13 .
  • the vapor phase 2 enriched in hydrogen and in methane is again cooled in the heat exchanger 20 via the passages 22 , partially condensed and extracted at around ⁇ 160° C.
  • the vapor fraction 4 coming from the separator 40 constitutes the production of hydrogen with a 95 mol % content. It is then warmed in the passages 24 then 14 of the heat exchangers 20 and 10 .
  • the liquid fraction 5 mainly consisting of methane is expanded down to a low pressure in the valve 60 , revaporized in the heat exchanger 20 (passages 24 ) and warmed in the heat exchanger 10 (passages 14 ).
  • the fluids 6 and 7 associated with heat exchangers 20 and 10 respectively may optionally be used as refrigeration top-up. They may be external fluids, such as for example liquid nitrogen coming from a storage tank or from a neighboring air separation unit, or a fluid internal to the process, such as for example a fraction of hydrogen produced, which is partially warmed, then expanded in an expansion turbine and reinjected into the cold end of the heat exchanger 20 .
  • external fluids such as for example liquid nitrogen coming from a storage tank or from a neighboring air separation unit
  • a fluid internal to the process such as for example a fraction of hydrogen produced, which is partially warmed, then expanded in an expansion turbine and reinjected into the cold end of the heat exchanger 20 .
  • expansion valves 50 and 60 are used to expand liquids from a high pressure, here 40 bar abs, down to a low pressure. They are therefore small valves.
  • such a separation unit is cooled down either by free expansion of the gas to be treated or, more generally, using an external refrigeration top-up.
  • the cooling-down of the heat exchange line is the procedure for obtaining the normal operating conditions, here a first cut-off temperature between the heat exchangers 10 and 20 , for example ⁇ 80° C., and a temperature at the cold end of ⁇ 160° C. in order to obtain the required purity from equipment operating at ambient of sub-ambient temperature if the heat exchange line has not had the time to reach the ambient temperature.
  • the cooling-down problem using just the free expansion of the gas to be treated in the expansion valves 50 , 60 and optionally 70 is that the total expanded flow is very small and therefore the refrigeration power obtained is itself very low.
  • this refrigeration power is intended to cool the heat exchange line and the ancillary equipment, such as the separators, and to compensate for the thermal losses, such as the heat exchange with the external medium.
  • Such a cooling-down procedure may take several tens of hours and may even possibly not reach the desired operating point.
  • the refrigeration top-up circuit 6 and 7 in order to hasten the cooling-down.
  • the passages 26 and 17 may be used permanently or only temporarily during the cooling-down phases.
  • low-pressure or preferably medium-pressure liquid nitrogen to speed up the process for obtaining the intended temperature levels.
  • a process for the cryogenic separation, refrigeration or liquefaction of a fluid by means of a heat exchange line comprising:
  • This figure shows the modifications made to the cold end of the heat exchange line described above. These modifications may also be made at the first separator pot 30 and more generally at each point of expansion of a liquid fraction.
  • the invention consists in adding, to the scheme corresponding to the normal steady-state operation, an expansion valve, called here a cool-down expansion valve, which is used only (or mainly) when starting up the unit.
  • an expansion valve called here a cool-down expansion valve, which is used only (or mainly) when starting up the unit.
  • this valve is twofold. Firstly, it allows a large flow of gas to be expanded, thus considerably increasing the refrigeration power produced by the unit itself, that is to say it enables the cool-down time to be reduced and normally makes it possible by itself to reach the required temperature levels.
  • this valve firstly allows the equipment to be partially cooled and correspondingly to limit the thermal shocks, but in particular to rebalance the heat exchange line by making large volumes flow through the revaporization passages 25 and 13 .
  • This new valve must therefore allow a large fraction of the high-pressure gas, here the fluid 2 , to be expanded and enable this expanded fluid to be introduced into the passages 25 normally reserved for the liquid fraction 5 .
  • This valve will preferably be installed as a by-pass for the expansion valve 60 and will therefore be about 10 times larger—this the valve 61 shown in FIG. 2 .
  • valve 81 it is also possible to add instead a valve between the fluid 2 , i.e. between the outlet of the heat exchanger and the separator pot 40 , and the inlet of the passages 25 —this is then the valve 81 .
  • a fraction 4 of the stream may also be expanded via a valve 71 .
  • the additional expansion valves 61 , 71 , or 81 may pass a flow of an order of magnitude at least 10 times higher than that which can be expanded in the valve 60 or 70 .
  • This additional valve will be gradually closed as the cooling-down progresses, in particular as liquid appears at the exchanger outlet.
  • HIC human operator controlled
  • PIC high pressure
  • the additional valve ( 61 , 71 or 81 ) may thus be in parallel with the expansion valve 60 .
  • valves for passing a large flow of gas, i.e. one having an HP when fully opened of 10 or more, and then to regulate with an opening corresponding to an HP of about 0.3. It is conventional to use a valve in an opening range with a factor of 5, preferably 3, i.e. for example with an HP of 0.1 to 0.5 or from 0.1 to 0.3, but not beyond this. A factor of 5 (or 3) usually makes it possible to carry out nominal operation or reduced operation (with a reduced flow rate) without any particular regulation problem. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 in normal operation, the expansion valve 60 makes it possible to maintain the liquid level in the separator pot 40 .

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
US12/595,644 2007-04-13 2008-04-02 Method For Cooling A Cryogenic Exchange Line Abandoned US20100126215A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0754462 2007-04-13
FR0754462A FR2914990B1 (fr) 2007-04-13 2007-04-13 Procede de mise en froid d'une ligne d'echange cryogenique.
PCT/FR2008/050575 WO2008139085A2 (fr) 2007-04-13 2008-04-02 Procédé de mise en froid d'une ligne d'échange cryogénique

Publications (1)

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US20100126215A1 true US20100126215A1 (en) 2010-05-27

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US12/595,644 Abandoned US20100126215A1 (en) 2007-04-13 2008-04-02 Method For Cooling A Cryogenic Exchange Line

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Country Link
US (1) US20100126215A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2137475B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN102099647A (fr)
FR (1) FR2914990B1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2008139085A2 (fr)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20100313598A1 (en) * 2009-06-16 2010-12-16 Daly Phillip F Separation of a Fluid Mixture Using Self-Cooling of the Mixture
US20140144177A1 (en) * 2010-07-14 2014-05-29 Alstom Technology Ltd Energy efficient production of co2 using single stage expansion and pumps for elevated evaporation
WO2016107822A1 (fr) * 2014-12-29 2016-07-07 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Procédé et appareil pour le refroidissement d'un échangeur de chaleur cryogénique et procédé de liquéfaction d'un flux d'hydrocarbures
US20180038644A1 (en) * 2016-08-05 2018-02-08 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Method for liquefaction of industrial gas by integration of methanol plant and air separation unit
US20180038641A1 (en) * 2016-08-05 2018-02-08 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Method for liquefaction of industrial gas by integration of methanol plant and air separation unit
US11175075B2 (en) * 2011-07-01 2021-11-16 Edwards Vacuum Llc Systems and methods for warming a cryogenic heat exchanger array, for compact and efficient refrigeration, and for adaptive power management
WO2022003128A1 (fr) * 2020-07-02 2022-01-06 Christian Blank Appareil de séparation de mélange gazeux et procédé pour séparer au moins un fluide principal à partir d'un mélange gazeux
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US11175075B2 (en) * 2011-07-01 2021-11-16 Edwards Vacuum Llc Systems and methods for warming a cryogenic heat exchanger array, for compact and efficient refrigeration, and for adaptive power management
US11428463B2 (en) * 2013-03-15 2022-08-30 Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc. Mixed refrigerant system and method
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WO2022003128A1 (fr) * 2020-07-02 2022-01-06 Christian Blank Appareil de séparation de mélange gazeux et procédé pour séparer au moins un fluide principal à partir d'un mélange gazeux

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FR2914990B1 (fr) 2010-02-26
EP2137475A2 (fr) 2009-12-30
WO2008139085A3 (fr) 2013-02-28
CN102099647A (zh) 2011-06-15
EP2137475B1 (fr) 2018-06-27
WO2008139085A2 (fr) 2008-11-20

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