Method and apparatus for the adiabatic expansion of liquid anhydrous ammonia

• US 4,385,500 A
• Filed: 11/17/1980
• Issued: 05/31/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Research Corporation
• Original Assignee: Research Corporation
• Inventors: Anderson, Paul M., Kjelgaard, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Capossela, Ronald C.
• Application Number:
  US06/207,771
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 62/51, 62/54, 55/189, 159/2 R, 159/3, 159/6 R, 111/7, 426/69, 71/64 SC
• US Class Current: 62/50.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/024 for ammonia
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 25/16 Arrangements in forage silos
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 30/15 using chemicals or microorganisms for ensilaging
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/15 containing substances which are metabolically converted to proteins, e.g. ammonium salts or urea
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 7/02 Discharging liquefied gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/925 Tank and hopper trailers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 71/903 Soil conditioner

Abstract

Cold anhydrous ammonia, preferably cold liquid anhydrous ammonia at substantially ambient or atmospheric pressure is applied to feed grains, forages and anaerobically fermentable plant material to supply thereto and provide therein non-protein nitrogen (NPN). The cold anhydrous ammonia is obtained by supplying a stream of ambient temperature, pressurized anhydrous liquid ammonia to an expansion chamber for expansion therein to provide the cold anhydrous ammonia. Cold anhydrous ammonia, preferably substantially only cold liquid anhydrous ammonia, is recovered from the expansion chamber operated under substantially adiabatic conditions, at a temperature in the range -30° F. to about -17° F. and at substantially ambient or atmospheric pressure, such as at a pressure in the range 1 pound per square inch below atmospheric pressure up to about 5 pounds per square inch atmospheric pressure.

Claims

1. An expansion chamber useful for the substantially adiabatic expansion of ambient-temperature pressurized anhydrous liquid ammonia to produce separate cold ambient pressure streams of gaseous anhydrous ammonia and liquid anhydrous ammonia and application of said cold ambient pressure liquid anhydrous ammonia to fermentable plant material comprising a closed expansion chamber provided with two outlets, one outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold gaseous anhydrous ammonia and the other outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold anhydrous liquid ammonia and conduit means associated with said expansion chamber for introducing thereinto a stream of ambient-temperature, pressurized liquid anhydrous ammonia for expansion therein to produce therein cold gaseous ammonia and cold liquid ammonia at substantially ambient pressure, and a distribution conduit for uniformly applying the ambient pressure cold liquid anhydrous ammonia withdrawn from the expansion chamber to fermentable plant material.

2. An expansion chamber in accordance with claim 1 wherein said expansion chamber is substantially cylindrical in shape, wherein said one cutlet for the withdrawal of gaseous ammonia is located at one end of said chamber and wherein said other outlet for the withdrawal of liquid ammonia is positioned at the other end of said chamber and wherein pressurized ambient-temperature liquid ammonia introduced into said expansion chamber via said conduit means is introduced into said expansion chamber via an outlet provided by said conduit means positioned intermediate of said gaseous ammonia and liquid ammonia outlets.

3. An expansion chamber useful for the substantially adiabatic expansion of ambient-temperature pressurized anhydrous liquid ammonia to produce separate cold ambient pressure streams of gaseous anhydrous ammonia and liquid anhydrous ammonia and application of said ambient pressure liquid anhydrous ammonia to anaerobically fermentable plant material comprising a closed expansion chamber provided with two outlets, one outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold gaseous anhydrous ammonia and the other outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold anhydrous liquid ammonia and conduit means associated with said expansion chamber for introducing thereinto a stream of ambient temperature, pressurized liquid anhydrous ammonia for expansion therein to produce therein cold gaseous ammonia and cold liquid ammonia at substantially ambient pressure, and means for uniformly mixing the ambient pressure cold liquid anhydrous ammonia withdrawn from the expansion chamber with an anaerobically fermentable plant material.

4. An expansion chamber in accordance with claim 3 wherein said expansion chamber is substantially cylindrical in shape, wherein said one outlet for the withdrawal of gaseous ammonia is located at one end of said chamber and wherein said other outlet for the withdrawal of liquid ammonia is positioned at the other end of said chamber and wherein pressurized ambient-temperature liquid ammonia introduced into said expansion chamber via said conduit means is introduced into said expansion chamber via an outlet provided by said conduit means positioned intermediate of said gaseous ammonia and liquid ammonia outlets.

5. An expansion chamber useful for the substantially adiabatic expansion of ambient-temperature pressurized anhydrous liquid ammonia to produce separate cold ambient pressure streams of gaseous anhydrous ammonia and liquid anhydrous ammonia and application of said cold ambient pressure liquid anhydrous ammonia to feed grains and forages comprising a closed expansion chamber provided with two outlets, one outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold gaseous anhydrous ammonia and the other outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold anhydrous liquid ammonia and conduit means associated with said expansion chamber for introducing thereinto a stream of ambient-temperature, pressurized liquid anhydrous ammonia for expansion therein to produce therein cold gaseous ammonia and cold liquid ammonia at substantially ambient pressure, and a distribution conduit for applying the ambient pressure cold liquid anhydrous ammonia withdrawn from the expansion chamber to feed grains and forages.

6. An expansion chamber in accordance with claim 5 wherein said expansion chamber is substantially cylindrical in shape, wherein said one outlet for the withdrawal of gaseous ammonia is located at one end of said chamber and wherein said other outlet for the withdrawal of liquid ammonia is positioned at the other end of said chamber and wherein pressurized ambient-temperature liquid ammonia introduced into said expansion chamber via said conduit means is introduced into said expansion chamber via an outlet provided by said conduit means positioned intermediate of said gaseous ammonia and liquid ammonia outlets.

7. An expansion chamber useful for the substantially adiabatic expansion of ambient-temperature pressurized anhydrous liquid ammonia to produce separate cold ambient pressure streams of gaseous ammonia and liquid anhydrous ammonia and application of said cold ambient pressure liquid anhydrous ammonia to the soil comprising a closed expansion chamber provided with two outlets, one outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold gaseous anhydrous ammonia and the other outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold anhydrous liquid ammonia and conduit means associated with said expansion chamber for introducing thereinto a stream of ambient-temperature, pressurized liquid anhydrous ammonia for expansion therein to produce therein cold gaseous ammonia and cold liquid ammonia at substantially ambient pressure, and a distribution conduit for applying the ambient pressure cold liquid anhydrous ammonia withdrawn from the expansion chamber to the soil for purposes of fertilization.

8. An expansion chamber in accordance with claim 7 wherein said expansion chamber is substantially cylindrical in shape, wherein said one outlet for the withdrawal of gaseous ammonia is located at one end of said chamber and wherein other outlet for the withdrawal of liquid ammonia is positioned at the other end of said chamber and wherein pressurized ambient-temperature liquid ammonia introduced into said expansion chamber via said conduit means is introduced into said expansion chamber via an outlet provided by said conduit means positioned intermediate of said gaseous ammonia and liquid ammonia outlets.

9. An expansion chamber useful for the substantially adiabatic expansion of ambient temperature pressurized anhydrous liquid ammonia to produce separate cold ambient pressure streams of gaseous anhydrous ammonia and liquid anhydrous ammonia comprising a closed expansion chamber provided with two outlets, one outlet useful for the withdrawal of cold gaseous anhydrous ammonia and the other outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold anhydrous liquid ammonia, said outlet for the withdrawal of the gaseous anhydrous ammonia being located at one end of said chamber and said other outlet for the withdrawal of the anhydrous liquid ammonia being positioned at the other end of said chamber and conduit means associated with said chamber for introducing thereinto a stream of ambient temperature pressurized liquid anhydrous ammonia for expansion therein to produce therein said cold gaseous anhydrous ammonia and said cold anhydrous liquid ammonia at substantially ambient pressure, said conduit means for introducing said ambient temperature pressurized liquid anhydrous ammonia into said expansion chamber being provided with an outlet into said expansion chamber positioned intermediate said one outlet for said gaseous anhydrous ammonia and said other outlet for said anhydrous liquid ammonia for the introduction of said ambient temperature liquid ammonia into said expansion chamber.

10. A process for the substantially adiabatic expansion of ambient-temperature pressurized anhydrous liquid ammonia to produce separate cold ambient pressure streams of gaseous anhydrous ammonia and liquid anhydrous ammonia and application of said cold ambient pressure liquid anhydrous ammonia to fermentable plant material comprising passing said pressurized liquid ammonia into a closed expansion chamber provided with two outlets, one outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold gaseous anhydrous ammonia and the other outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold anhydrous liquid ammonia, for expansion therein to produce therein cold gaseous ammonia and cold liquid ammonia at substantially ambient pressure, and then withdrawing from said chamber and uniformly applying the ambient pressure cold liquid anhydrous ammonia to fermantable plant material.

11. A process in accordance with claim 10 wherein said expansion chamber is substantially cylindrical in shape, wherein said one outlet for the withdrawal of gaseous ammonia is located at one end of said chamber and wherein said other outlet for the withdrawal of liquid ammonia is positioned at the other end of said chamber and wherein pressurized ambient-temperature liquid ammonia introduced into said expansion chamber is introduced into said expansion chamber via an outlet provided by conduit means positioned intermediate of said gaseous ammonia and liquid ammonia outlets.

12. A process useful for the substantially adiabatic expansion of ambient-temperature, pressurized liquid anhydrous ammonia to produce separate cold ambient pressure streams of gaseous anhydrous ammonia and liquid anhydrous ammonia and application of said ambient pressure liquid anhydrous ammonia to anerobically fermentable plant material comprising introducing said pressurized liquid ammonia into a closed expansion chamber provided with two outlets, one outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold gaseous anhydrous ammonia and the other outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold anhydrous liquid ammonia, for expansion therein to produce therein cold gaseous ammonia and cold liquid ammonia at substantially ambient pressure, and then withdrawing from said chamber and uniformly mixing said ambient pressure cold liquid anhydrous ammonia with an anaerobically fermentable plant material.

13. A process in accordance with claim 12 wherein said expansion chamber is substantially cylindrical in shape, wherein said one outlet for the withdrawal of gaseous ammonia is located at one end of said chamber and wherein said other outlet for the withdrawal of liquid ammonia is positioned at the other end of said chamber and wherein pressurized ambient-temperature liquid ammonia introduced into said expansion chamber is introduced into said expansion chamber via an outlet provided by conduit means positioned intermediate of said gaseous ammonia and liquid ammonia outlets.

14. A process useful for the substantially adiabatic expansion of ambient-temperature pressurized liquid anhydrous ammonia to produce separate cold ambient pressure streams of gaseous anhydrous ammonia and liquid anhydrous ammonia and application of said cold ambient pressure liquid anhydrous ammonia to feed grains and forages comprising introducing said pressurized liquid ammonia into a closed expansion chamber provided with two outlets, one outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold gaseous anhydrous ammonia and the other outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold liquid anhydrous ammonia, for expansion therein to produce therein cold gaseous ammonia and cold liquid ammonia at substantially ambient pressure, and then withdrawing from said chamber and applying said ambient pressure cold liquid anhydrous ammonia to feed grains and forages.

15. A process in accordance with claim 14 wherein said expansion chamber is substantially cylindrical in shape, wherein said one outlet for the withdrawal of gaseous ammonia is located at one end of said chamber and wherein said other outlet for the withdrawal of liquid ammonia is positioned at the other end of said chamber and wherein pressurized ambient-temperature liquid ammonia introduced into said expansion chamber is introduced into said expansion chamber via an outlet provided by conduit means positioned intermediate of said gaseous ammonia and liquid ammonia outlets.

16. A process useful for the substantially adiabatic expansion of ambient-temperature pressurized anhydrous liquid ammonia to produce separate cold ambient pressure streams of gaseous ammonia and liquid anhydrous ammonia and application of said cold ambient pressure liquid anhydrous ammonia to the soil comprising introducing said pressurized liquid into a closed expansion chamber provided with two outlets, one outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold gaseous anhydrous ammonia and the other outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold anhydrous liquid ammonia, for expansion therein to produce cold gaseous ammonia and cold liquid ammonia at substantially ambient pressure, and then withdrawing from said chamber and applying said ambient pressure cold liquid anhydrous ammonia to the soil for purposes of fertilization.

17. A process in accordance with claim 16 wherein said expansion chamber is substantially cylindrical in shape, wherein said one outlet for the withdrawal of gaseous ammonia is located at one end of said chamber and wherein said other outlet for the withdrawal of lqiuid ammonia is positioned at the other end of said chamber and wherein pressurized ambient-temperature liquid ammonia introduced into said expansion chamber is introduced into said expansion chamber via an outlet provided by conduit means positioned intermediate of said gaseous ammonia and liquid ammonia outlets.

18. A process useful for the substantially adiabatic expansion of ambient temperature, pressurized liquid anhydrous ammonia to produce separate cold ambient pressure streams of gaseous anhydrous ammonia and liquid anhydrous ammonia comprising introducing said pressurized liquid ammonia into a closed expansion chamber provided with two outlets, one outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold gaseous anhydrous ammonia and the other outlet being useful for the withdrawal of cold liquid anhydrous ammonia, said outlet for the withdrawal of gaseous anhydrous ammonia being located at one end of said chamber and said other outlet for the withdrawal of the anhydrous liquid ammonia being positioned at the other end of said chamber, for expansion therein to produce therein said cold gaseous anhydrous ammonia and said cold liquid anhydrous ammonia at substantially ambient pressure, and introducing said ambient temperature, pressurized liquid anhydrous ammonia into said expansion chamber by means of an outlet into said expansion chamber positioned intermediate said one outlet for said gaseous anhydrous ammonia and said other outlet for said anhydrous liquid ammonia, and then withdrawing the cold ambient pressure liquid anhydrous ammonia from said chamber.