US3722226A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process gas forecooling system
Assignee: Airco Inc
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Filing: 1970-03-25
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1990-03-25
Abstract
Abstract Forecooling system for a pressurized stream of warm, watersaturated process gas comprising a cooling tower wherein the gas stream is water-cooled and then directed to dryers and processing means, a first heat exchanger for cooling the tower water by a fluorocarbon refrigerant, a compressor and receiving tank for supplying the refrigerant, a second heat exchanger for cooling the exhaust refrigerant from the first exchanger by end-process product gas, and an expansion valve in a refrigerant return line between the second exchanger and receiving tank: an alternate method for directly cooling the process gas stream in the first heat exchanger.
Inventors
- 👤 Dermott R Mc
- 👤 S Mueller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:27
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/04; F25J3/04151; F25J3/04163; F25J3/04169; B; B01; B01D; B01D51/00; B01D51/10; F25J3/04157; F25J3/04187; F25J3/04193; F25J3/04248; F25J3/04278; F25J3/04284; F25J3/0429; F25J3/04296; F25J3/04303; F25J3/04375; F25J3/04393; F25J3/04406; F25J3/04412; F25J2205/00; F25J2205/30; F25J2205/32; F25J2270/00; F25J2270/12; F25J2270/60; F28; F28C; F28C1/00; F28C2001/006; F28D; F28D21/00; F28D2021/0019; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S62/00; Y10S62/902; Y10S62/908; Y10S62/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
43 words
The method as specified in claim 1 wherein the source refrigerant is at about 30*F and 43 psia, the pressurized circulating refrigerant is at about 75 psia, and the end-process gases are at about 35*F prior to counterflow heat exchange with the refrigerant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
A gas separation system of the non-reversing type having high product yield of the gas components, wherein a stream of incoming pressurized, water-saturated, warm feed gas is forecooled for materially reducing the temperature and moisture content of the gas stream comprising: a. a refrigeration system including a closed container for pressurized cold refrigerant in liquid and vapor phases with means for removing vapor phase refrigerant compressing, condensing and expanding the refrigerant vapor and means for returning the expanded refrigerant vapor stream to the closed container, b. means providing for flow-confining exterior circulation and further pressurization of liquid refrigerant from the container, c. means for transferring heat from the incoming gas stream to the confined circulating refrigerant to forecool the gas stream, d. a gas dryer and cooling and rectifying means for reducing the gas stream to end-process component gases at subambient temperatures, e. a heat exchanger with respective fluid-confining passes traversed in counterflow by the cold system end-process gases and by the warmed circulating refrigerant for recovery of system refrigeration by the liquid refrigerant, f. and fluid expansion means for returning as vapor the confined stream of cooled refrigerant to the container thereby reducing refrigeration requirements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as specified in claim 3 wherein the means for transferring heat from the incoming gas stream to the refrigerant is a second multi-pass counterflow-type heat exchanger, one pass of which is traversed by a confined stream of incoming gas and a related pass is traverSed by the pressurized circulating refrigerant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus as specified in claim 3 wherein the refrigerant container is connected to a refrigeration compressor and condenser unit for maintaining cold refrigerant in liquid and vapor phases in the container under pressure, the container outlet is connected to a pump for further pressurizing the refrigerant and circulating it in confined flow into heat transfer relation with the gas stream and to the multi-pass heat exchanger, and the recirculated return refrigerant is flashed into the container by an expansion valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as specified in claim 3 wherein the refrigeration system includes a compressor-condenser unit, and a bleed control valve is connected between the outlet of the unit and the inlet of the refrigerant pass of the heat exchanger for maintaining a pre-selected operating temperature differential across said pass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as specified in claim 3 wherein the incoming gas stream is passed through a cooling tower in diffused counterflow with streams of chilled water for direct forecooling of the gas, and a water pump recirculates the now-warmed tower water through a second multi-pass heat exchanger in separated counterflow with the pressurized circulating refrigerant.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |