Method for operating a heat exchanger in a power plant

• US 6,962,054 B1
• Filed: 04/15/2003
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnathan W. Linney
• Original Assignee: Johnathan W. Linney
• Inventors: Bauer, Timothy Ray, Linney, Jonathan W., Bibb, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richter, Sheldon J
• Application Number:
  US10/413,834
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 606/49, 606/51, 606/53, 606/71, 606/76, 606/77
• US Class Current: 60/649
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/224 Heating fuel before feeding to the burner
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/211 by intercooling, e.g. during a compression cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/232 characterized by the cooling medium

Abstract

The invention is a method for operating a heat exchanger in a power plant by pumping a heat exchange fluid around a set of tubes in the first heat exchanger; increasing the heat exchange fluid temperature and cooling the compressed heated air; splitting heated fluid flow into a second and third heat exchanger and a vessel; injecting a hydrocarbon flow into the set of tubes in the second heat exchanger; flowing the heated fluid into the second heat exchanger transferring heat from the heated heat exchange fluid to the hydrocarbon flow whose temperature increases between 90% and 500%; flowing the cooled heat exchange fluid to the vessel; flowing the heated fluid from the first heat exchanger to a third heat exchanger and cooling the excess heated heat exchange fluid; and using the vessel to accommodate thermal expansion of the fluid.

Claims

1. A method for operating a heat exchanger in a power plant comprising the steps of:

a. pumping a heat exchange fluid through a first heat exchanger around a first set of tubes;

b. injecting compressed heated air into the first set of tubes;

c. increasing the temperature of the heat exchange fluid forming a heated heat exchange fluid in the first heat exchanger using the compressed heated air and cooling the compressed heated air;

d. removing the compressed cooled air from the first heat exchanger;

e. removing the heated heat exchange fluid from the first heat exchanger, splitting heated heat exchange fluid and transmitting a first portion to a second heat exchanger, a second portion to a third heat exchanger, and a third portion to a vessel;

f. injecting a hydrocarbon flow into a second set of tubes in the second heat exchanger;

g. flowing the heated heat exchange fluid into the second heat exchanger transferring heat from the heated heat exchange fluid to the hydrocarbon flow forming a heated hydrocarbon flow and a cooled heat exchange fluid, and wherein the second heat exchanger increases the hydrocarbon flow temperature between 50% and 900% discharging the heated hydrocarbon flow to a hydrocarbon flow outlet, and flowing the cooled heat exchange fluid to the vessel;

h. cooling the second portion of the heat exchanger fluid in the third heat exchanger and, then, flowing the cooled heat exchanger fluid to the vessel;

i. using the vessel to accommodate thermal expansion of the fluid from a member of the group consisting the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger, and combinations thereof; and

j. pumping the cooled heat exchanger fluid from the vessel to the first heat exchanger.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is used at a refinery or a chemical plant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is used at a power plant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed in a hot mix alphastic concrete plant.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed in a cement plant.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed in a lime production plant.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressed heated air is injected at a pressure between 80 psia and 300 psia.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the compressed heated air is injected at a pressure between 89 psia and 270 psia.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressed cool air is removed from the first heat exchanger at a pressure between 80 psia and 300 psia.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling in the first heat exchanger occurs at a temperature between 300 degrees F. and 500 degrees F.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of using a fin/fan heat exchanger as the third heat exchanger.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling in the third heat exchanger is by a fan that cools the pressurized heat exchange fluid by up to 95%.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of flowing the hydrocarbon flow is by flowing a member consisting of the group oil, natural gas, methane, propane, and combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 13, further wherein the step of flowing the hydrocarbon flow is at a rate between 10 ft/lbs per second and 40 ft/lbs per second.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of using a vessel involves using a vessel adapted to sustain a pressured heat exchange fluid between 15 psia and 300 psia.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein step of pumping the heat exchange fluid is by pumping of a mineral oil or pumping a glycol through the first, second and third heat exchangers.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using a bypass line between the first heat exchanger and the vessel.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using a control panel, at least one sensor, and a central processing unit in communication with the control panel and sensor to monitor and compare the pressurized heat exchange fluid in to a preset value.