US3828564A - Closed refrigerant cycle for the liquefaction of low-boiling gases - Google Patents

Closed refrigerant cycle for the liquefaction of low-boiling gases Download PDF

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US3828564A
US3828564A US00122605A US12260571A US3828564A US 3828564 A US3828564 A US 3828564A US 00122605 A US00122605 A US 00122605A US 12260571 A US12260571 A US 12260571A US 3828564 A US3828564 A US 3828564A
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gas
refrigerant
liquefied
liquefaction
expansion
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A Spies
A Stephan
A Sellmaier
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Linde GmbH
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Linde GmbH
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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
    • 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
    • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0005—Light or noble gases
    • 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
    • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0012—Primary atmospheric gases, e.g. air
    • F25J1/0015—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
    • 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
    • F25J1/0032—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 the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration"
    • F25J1/004—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 the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration" by flash gas 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
    • 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
    • F25J1/007—Primary atmospheric gases, mixtures thereof
    • F25J1/0072—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
    • 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
    • F25J1/0203—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 single-component refrigerant [SCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/0205—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 single-component refrigerant [SCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle as a dual level SCR refrigeration 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
    • F25J1/0203—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 single-component refrigerant [SCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/0208—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 single-component refrigerant [SCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle in combination with an internal quasi-closed refrigeration loop, e.g. with deep flash recycle loop
    • F25J1/0209—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 single-component refrigerant [SCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle in combination with an internal quasi-closed refrigeration loop, e.g. with deep flash recycle loop as at least a three level refrigeration cascade
    • F25J1/021—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 single-component refrigerant [SCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle in combination with an internal quasi-closed refrigeration loop, e.g. with deep flash recycle loop as at least a three level refrigeration cascade using a deep flash recycle 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
    • 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
    • F25J2220/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for the removal of impurities
    • F25J2220/02—Separating impurities in general from the feed 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
    • F25J2240/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for expanding of process streams
    • F25J2240/60—Expansion by ejector or injector, e.g. "Gasstrahlpumpe", "venturi mixing", "jet pumps"
    • 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
    • F25J2270/14—External refrigeration with work-producing gas expansion loop
    • F25J2270/16—External refrigeration with work-producing gas expansion loop with mutliple gas expansion loops of the same refrigerant

Definitions

  • J-T expansion Another disadvantage of J-T expansion is that a high level of compression must be employed. This high pressure is in considerable excess of the pressure required for overcoming resistance to flow. This means, for example, that raw gas to be fed from pressurized storage bottles cannot, by and large, be introduced into the liquefying plant.
  • the gas to be liquefied can be cooled to below the inversion point by a closed refrigeration cycle embodying repeated engine expansion of a cooling medium.
  • the gas to be liquefied, precooled, in this manner is condensed by heat exchange'with another coolant, the latter providing the refrigeration necessary for the final liquefaction and being cooled in a separate closed refrigeration cycle by throttle expansion. Consequently, in this process, there is also a considerably increased cost associated with the additional compression unit required for this separate refrigeration cycle.
  • a principal object of this invention is to provide an improved process and apparatus therefor for the liquefaction of low-boiling gases, and especially a system which is substantially devoid of above-mentioned disadvantages, thereby resulting in relatively minimum investment for the required apparatus. 7
  • the production of refrigerant energy is based on a single refrigeration cycle wherein: (a) in at least one branch, an engine expansion is conducted; and (b) in one or more parallel-connected branches, an at least partially isenthalpic expansion is conducted.
  • an engine expansion is conducted in one branch of the refrigeration cycle, for example by means of an expansion turbine, and an isenthalpic expansion is conducted in a branch connected in parallel therewith. It is also possible though, and in fact advantageous, to provide a plurality of engine expansions in combination with a plurality of isenthalpic expansions.
  • another feature of this invention provides forexpanding the cooling medium by means of an ejector and an expansion valve in a branch disposed in parallel with respect to the other branches.
  • a particularly advantageous feature of this invention is, inter alia, that it is possible to liquefy a cryogenic gas, even helium, with a low expenditure in apparatus and wherein the ratio of the liquefied pure gas to the introduced pure gas reaches unity. Furthermore, because it is possible to do without an isenthalpic expansion of the gas to be liquefied, the selection of the feed pressure is dependent solelyon those pressure conditions determined by the optimum effect of the purifica tion devices, by the given flow resistance, and by the final pressure to be maintained in the liquefied gas collecting tank. In case of only minor impurities in the raw gas, the pressure, which is required mainly for the adsorptive purification, can be very much lower than the pressure used previously in liquefaction processes known heretofore.
  • a further significant advantage of the present invention is that it is possible to conduct the compression required in the refrigeration cycle branches for the engine expansion and/or isenthalpic expansion by means of one single compressor.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a simple embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic embodiment of a liquefaction plant according to this invention exhibiting several expansion stages in the refrigeration cycle.
  • FIG. 3 schematically depicts a liquefaction plant having an ejector stage in addition to the apparatus illus trated in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 4 is also a schematic simplified representation of a liquefaction plant which, as compared to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, permits the gas to be liquefied and to be treated in a different way.
  • helium purified externally of the liquefaction apparatus, is fed under low pressure through liquefaction system and condensed in a collector tank.
  • the liquefaction system contains as the essential elements, the flow systems for the refrigerant and the main section of the flow system for the helium to be liquefied, the latter being designated hereinafter as process helium.
  • the raw process helium passes, for example, from a pressurized cylinder 12, via conventional purification means 13 for the removal of water, oil, and CO and via an air separator 14, in the form of pure gas into the liquefaction system 20.
  • the resultant process gas is then throttled via valve 15, to that necessary to compensate for the fluid flow pressure drop and to yield the desired final pressure in collector tank 10.
  • the pure process helium flows successively through the heat exchangers 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 and finally is condensed in the condensation heat exchanger 7 positioned preferably in the collector tank.
  • the effluent liquid process helium collected in the lower portion of the collector tank 10 is withdrawn via the outlet valve
  • the heat removal necessary for cooling and condensing the process helium is effected by employing circulating helium as the refrigerant in the closed refrigeration cycle.
  • This helium is compressed by the compressor 1 and precooled in the heat exchangers 2, 3, and 4; this precooling step is conducted in heat exchangers 2 and 4 with the recycled expanded helium of the refrigeration cycle, but in heat exchanger 3 disposed between the heat exchangers 2 and 4, for example, by a refrigeration cycle 16 with liquid nitrogen.
  • the helium precooled and compressed in this manner is now in part, about 40 to 80 percent, fed to the expansion machine 9, in order to absorb heat by a substantially isentropic expansion.
  • the helium is passed through heat exchangers 5, 4, and 2, and recycled to the compressor 1.
  • the other portion of the precooled and compressed helium passes into the heat exchanger 5 and is further cooled therein by the helium cooled in the expansion machine 9.
  • the further cooled helium withdrawn from heat exchanger 5 is then passed into the following heat exchanger 6, where the temperature is lowered to a value below the inversion point optimum for the liquefaction.
  • the gas is then subjected to a .I-T expansion by passing through valve 8. This results in partial liquefaction of the refrigerant which is then passed to condensation heat exchanger 7 where it is re-evaporated, providing the necessary heat removal required for the liquefaction of the process helium in the other flow system.
  • the re-evaporated helium of the refrigeration cycle after leaving the condensation heat exchanger 7, traverses heat exchanger 6, and cools the precooled helium introduced therein, as well as the proportion of helium of the respective branch of the refrigeration cycle intended for the Joule-Thomson expansion, to a temperature value below the inversion point. Finally, that helium which either was not liquefied or which was re-evaporated is combined with the engine-expanded proportion and the combined stream is then passed through the heat exchangers 5, 4 and 2 to transfer the refrigerant values therein and then recycled to compressor 1.
  • the liquefied gas is discharged accordingly.
  • the liquefied gas is discharged into storage vessels or transport containers 17, e.g., tank cars or trucks
  • storage tanks are usually employed for the liquefied gases, and where an automatic, unsupervised continuous operation is employed, it is desirable to employ storage tanks having a high capacity.
  • the pressure of the process helium in the liquefaction system downstream of valve 15 is usually more than 1 atmosphere absolute.
  • the pressure of the refrigerant helium derived from compressor 1 is usually more than 18 atmospheres; the pressure after engine expansion in 9 is about 1 to 1.5 atmospheres absolute; the pressure drop through the J-T expansion valve is about 15 to 30 atmospheres and the pressure after J-T isenthalpic expansion in valve 8 is about 1 to 2 atmospheres.
  • temperature of the evaporating refrigerant helium in condenser 7 is about 42 to 5.0 K.
  • any compression device necessary for producing the pressure required for the isenthalpic expansion and for overcoming the flow resistance would only have to compress, also in this case, the amount of process gas actually liquefied in one pass through the liquefaction system, rather than compress additional amounts of recycle unliquefied pure process gas.
  • FIG. 2 also exemplifies a plant provided with two stages of engine expansion, 9a and 9b, and two stages of isenthalpic expansion, 8a and 8b.v From the standpoint of thermodynamic efficiency, this embodiment of the liquefaction plant having several expansion stages can be more advantageous than a liquefaction plant operating with only one-stage expansion of the refrigerant.
  • a further improvement of the process of this invention is obtained by expanding the helium circulating in the refrigeration cycle through an ejector 22, as well as through the simple throttle valve 8.
  • the suction pressure of the compressor 1 can be raised, which permits the use of a smaller compressor
  • the condensation conditions are improved by having the temperature of evaporating helium in the condenser 7 at a temperature of 3.5 to 4.0 K. In this way the liquid helium can be subcooled to such an extent that, wh en being transferred into transport or storage vessels, there are no appreciable evaporation losses of the liquid.
  • re-evaporated refrigerant after traversing heat exchanger 6c and having a temperature of about 3.5 to 4.2 K. and a pressure of about 0.4 to 1.0 atmospheres absolute, is mixed with compressed refrigerant withdrawn from exchanger 6 having a temperature of about 5 to 7.5 K. and a pressure of about 10 to 30 atmospheres absolute, in ejector 22 where the outlet conditions of the latter are 4.4 to 5 K. and 1.2 to 2 atmospheres absolute.
  • the ejected fluid is fed to a phase separator, from where the liquid is vaporized in exchanger 6c, the resultant gas being passed through J-T valve 8.
  • the gas from the phase separator which amounts to about 70 to 90 percent by weight of the helium entering the phase separator is recycled to compressor 1, as in FIG. 1.
  • a liquefaction plant according to this invention is coupled with storage vessels or tanks 17 disposed on the outside, the degree of efficiency of the entire plant can be improved by recycling through the liquefaction system the cold vapor unavoidably produced when discharging the liquid into the tanks or storage vessels 17.
  • the cold vapor flowing back from the tank or storage vessel 17 to the liquefaction apparatus is warmed to ambient temperature in heat exchange with the process gas to be liquefied. Because of the additional cooling energy obtained, a larger amount of gas can be liquefied.
  • the amount of process gas produced by the unavoidable reevaporation and then recycled through the liquefaction system can be fed to a central recovery system 18. If no such system is present, then it is advantageous, in case of expensive gases, to provide a relatively small compressor for compressing said gas to the feed pressure of the gas to be liquefied.
  • step (c) passing resultant partially liquefied refrigerant in further indirect heat exchange with the cryogenic fluid cooled and withdrawn from step (c) to vaporize said partially liquefied refrigerant and to complete the condensation and subcool said cryogenic fluid;
  • cryogenic gas is liquefied without an isenthalpic expansion thereof during its liquefaction.
  • Aprocess according to claim 1 there being conducted a plurality of said engine expansions, and at least two series-connected stages ofsaid isenthalpic expansions.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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US00122605A 1970-02-27 1971-03-01 Closed refrigerant cycle for the liquefaction of low-boiling gases Expired - Lifetime US3828564A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19702009401 DE2009401A1 (de) 1970-02-27 1970-02-27 Verfahren zum Verflüssigen tiefsie dender Gase
US00122605A US3828564A (en) 1970-02-27 1971-03-01 Closed refrigerant cycle for the liquefaction of low-boiling gases

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19702009401 DE2009401A1 (de) 1970-02-27 1970-02-27 Verfahren zum Verflüssigen tiefsie dender Gase
US00122605A US3828564A (en) 1970-02-27 1971-03-01 Closed refrigerant cycle for the liquefaction of low-boiling gases

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US3828564A true US3828564A (en) 1974-08-13

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US4474592A (en) * 1982-10-20 1984-10-02 Sulzer Brothers Ltd. Apparatus for producing liquid para-hydrogen
US4637216A (en) * 1986-01-27 1987-01-20 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Method of reliquefying cryogenic gas boiloff from heat loss in storage or transfer system
US20050262872A1 (en) * 2004-05-26 2005-12-01 Carrier Corporation Two-phase refrigerant distribution system for parallel tube evaporator coils
US20150013379A1 (en) * 2012-03-30 2015-01-15 Russell H. Oelfke LNG Formation
WO2020156754A1 (en) * 2019-01-30 2020-08-06 Linde Gmbh Cooling method for liquefying a feed gas
EP3553435A4 (de) * 2016-12-08 2020-08-19 Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Rohmaterialgasverflüssigungsvorrichtung und steuerungsverfahren dafür
US11243026B2 (en) * 2014-05-14 2022-02-08 Cryo Pur Method and device for liquefaction of methane

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FR2288956A1 (fr) * 1973-03-27 1976-05-21 Commissariat Energie Atomique Procede de reduction de la consommation d'un cryostat et dispositif correspondant
US4846862A (en) * 1988-09-06 1989-07-11 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Reliquefaction of boil-off from liquefied natural gas
US4843829A (en) * 1988-11-03 1989-07-04 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Reliquefaction of boil-off from liquefied natural gas

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US4474592A (en) * 1982-10-20 1984-10-02 Sulzer Brothers Ltd. Apparatus for producing liquid para-hydrogen
US4637216A (en) * 1986-01-27 1987-01-20 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Method of reliquefying cryogenic gas boiloff from heat loss in storage or transfer system
US20050262872A1 (en) * 2004-05-26 2005-12-01 Carrier Corporation Two-phase refrigerant distribution system for parallel tube evaporator coils
US20150013379A1 (en) * 2012-03-30 2015-01-15 Russell H. Oelfke LNG Formation
US11243026B2 (en) * 2014-05-14 2022-02-08 Cryo Pur Method and device for liquefaction of methane
EP3553435A4 (de) * 2016-12-08 2020-08-19 Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Rohmaterialgasverflüssigungsvorrichtung und steuerungsverfahren dafür
WO2020156754A1 (en) * 2019-01-30 2020-08-06 Linde Gmbh Cooling method for liquefying a feed gas
CN113286977A (zh) * 2019-01-30 2021-08-20 林德有限责任公司 用于液化原料气的冷却方法
CN113286977B (zh) * 2019-01-30 2024-01-30 林德有限责任公司 用于液化原料气的冷却方法

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