System and method for storing gases at low temperature using a cold recovery system

• US 7,024,885 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Consultoria Ss-Soluciones Sociedad Anonima
• Original Assignee: Consultoria Ss-Soluciones Sociedad Anonima
• Inventors: Villalobos, Carlos Eduardo Roldán
• Primary Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US10/778,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20050091991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 626/06, 626/14
• US Class Current: 62/606
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0007 Helium
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/001 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0015 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0017 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0022 Hydrocarbons, e.g. natural gas
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0035 by gas expansion with extraction of work
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0221 using the cold stored in an external cryogenic component in an open refrigeration loop
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0224 in combination with an internal quasi-closed refrigeration loop F25J1/0208, F25J1/0219 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0251 Intermittent or alternating process, so-called batch process, e.g. "peak-shaving"
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0261 Details of cold box insulation, housing and internal structure buildings forming parts of cooling plants E04H5/10
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0275 adapted for special use of the liquefaction unit, e.g. portable or transportable devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2205/24 using regenerators, cold accumulators or reversible heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2210/02 Multiple feed streams, e.g. originating from different sources
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2230/30 Compression of the feed stream
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2250/02 Bath type boiler-condenser using thermo-siphon effect, e.g. with natural or forced circulation or pool boiling, i.e. core-in-kettle heat exchanger
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2290/62 Details of storing a fluid in a tank

Abstract

A system and process for liquefying or storing gases at low temperatures using a cold recovery system. The system and process includes a cold recovery system having at least one cold recovery vessel configured to receive a gas stream and cool the gas stream by passing the gas stream through a cold recovery vessel. The cold recovery vessels includes a cold recovery material configured to cool the cooled gas stream, wherein the gas stream is fed through the cold recovery vessel through a pipe immersed in the cold recovery material to produce a liquefied or low temperature gas. The liquefied or low temperature gas is stored in a liquid or low temperature state in a storage tank. When the liquefied or low temperature gas is released from the storage tank, the gas vaporizes or expands through the pipe and cools the cold recovery material.

Claims

1. A system for storing gases at low temperature, the system comprising:

a compressor configured to receive a gas stream and produce a compressed gas stream;

a heat exchanger configured to receive the compressed gas stream and produce a cooled gas stream; and

an insulated cold recovery system configured to receive the cooled gas stream from the heat exchanger, the insulated cold recovery system comprising;

at least one cold recovery vessel configured to receive the cooled gas stream, the cold recovery vessel comprising a cold recovery material configured to cool the cooled gas stream, wherein the cooled gas stream is fed through the cold recovery vessel in a pipe immersed in the cold recovery material to produce a liquefied or low temperature gas;

a first expansion valve configured to receive the cooled gas stream and reduce a pressure of the cooled gas stream to a storage pressure; and

at least one storage tank configured to receive the liquefied or low temperature gas from the first expansion valve and store the liquefied or low temperature gas in a liquid or low temperature state, wherein when the liquefied or low temperature gas is released from the storage tank, the liquefied vaporizes or low temperature gas expands in the pipe and cools the cold recovery material.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein system includes at least two cold recovery vessels, each of the at least two cold recovery vessels comprising a cold recovery material having different physical properties.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first expansion valve is positioned between a last cold recovery vessel and the storage tank, the first expansion valve configured to receive the cooled gas stream from the last cold recovery vessel and deliver the liquefied or low temperature gas to the storage tank.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first expansion valve is designed to open when a pressure of the cooled gas stream in the pipe reaches about an initial pressure of the gas stream.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a second expansion valve positioned between a last cold recovery vessel and the storage tank, the second expansion valve configured to receive the liquefied or low temperature gas from the storage tank and deliver the liquefied or low temperature gas to the pipe.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the second expansion valve is designed to open when a pressure of the liquefied or low temperature gas in the pipe is slightly lower than a service pressure of the gas stream.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a service valve, the service valve configured to deliver the liquefied or low temperature gas to an end user, wherein the service valve causes a pressure drop in the pipe which closes the first expansion valve and opens the second expansion valve as the stored liquefied or low temperature gas starts leaving the storage tank.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the cold recovery material is selected based on an average operating temperature of the gas exiting to the cold recovery vessel in both storing and consumption stages, and the heat transport properties of the cold recovery material, the heat transport properties of the cold recovery material comprising melting point, latent heat of fusion, and specific heat and thermal conductivity in both liquid and solid state.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the cold recovery material is a pure or a mixture of materials as acetic acid, water, ethylenglicol, n-decane, n-octane, acetone, 1 methyl 4 ethyl benzene, n-pentane, 2 methyl pentane, propylene, argon, nitrogen, ethanol, or any other suitable material for cooling of a gas such as oxygen, nitrogen, ethane, methane, hydrogen, helium or any other pure gas or mixture thereof.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the cold recovery material further comprises an anti-freezing additive to adjust a physical property of the cold recovery material.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the insulated cold recovery system is configured to fit within a vehicle.

12. A system for liquefaction of natural gas, the system comprising:

a compressor configured to receive a gas stream and produce a compressed gas stream;

a heat exchanger configured to receive the compressed gas stream and produce a cooled gas stream; and

an insulated cold recovery system configured to receive the cooled gas stream from the heat exchanger, the insulated cold recovery system comprising;

a plurality of cold recovery vessels, each of the plurality of cold recovery vessels comprising a cold recovery material configured to cool the cooled gas stream, wherein the cooled gas stream is fed through the cold recovery vessel in a pipe immersed in the cold recovery material;

a first expansion valve positioned and configured to receive the cooled gas stream from the plurality of cold recovery vessels;

a final cold recovery vessel positioned and configured to receive the cooled gas stream from the first expansion valve and liquefy the cooled gas stream into a liquid state;

a second expansion valve positioned and configured to receive the cooled gas stream from the final cold recovery vessel; and

at least one storage tank configured to receive the liquefied gas and store the liquefied gas in the liquid state, wherein the liquefied gas stream vaporizes through the second expansion valve and passes through the pipe and cools the cold recovery material of each of the plurality of cold recovery vessels.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the insulated cold recovery system includes a third expansion valve positioned and configured to receive the liquefied gas in a gas phase from the storage tank when the pressure of the storage tank reaches a maximum allowable working pressure.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the insulated cold recovery system includes a fourth expansion valve positioned and configured to receive the gas phase from the third expansion valve, wherein the fourth expansion valve expands the gas phase and delivers the gas phase to the last cold recovery vessel.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the natural gas is hydrogen.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the insulated cold recovery system further includes at least one turbine, the at least one turbine configured to reduce a pressure of the liquefied gas during the vaporization of the liquefied gas.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the cold recovery system further includes at least one turbine, the at least one turbine configured to reduce a pressure of the cooled gas stream during liquefaction of the cooled gas stream.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising an automatic control device configured to control the first and the second expansion valves.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the insulated cold recovery system is configured to fit within a vehicle.

20. A system for liquefaction of gases, the system comprising:

a compressor configured to receive a gas stream and produce a compressed gas stream;

a heat exchanger configured to receive the compressed gas stream and produce a cooled gas stream; and

an insulated cold recovery system configured to receive the cooled gas stream from the heat exchanger, the insulated cold recovery system comprising;

a plurality of cold recovery vessels, each of the plurality of cold recovery vessels comprising a cold recovery material configured to cool the cooled gas stream, wherein the cooled gas stream is fed through the cold recovery vessel in a pipe immersed in the cold recovery material to produce a liquefied gas;

at least one by-pass valve configured to route the cooled gas stream through or around a selected cold recovery vessel;

at least one turbine configured to expand and cool the cooled gas stream during the vaporization of the gas stream, the at least one turbine positioned between the plurality of cold recovery vessels;

an independent stationary liquefaction unit positioned between the plurality of cold recovery vessels and at least one storage tank, wherein the liquefaction unit is configured to liquefy the cooled gas stream into a liquefied gas stream; and

at least one storage tank configured to receive the liquefied gas stream from the independent liquefaction unit and store the liquefied gas stream in a liquid state, and wherein the liquefied gas stream vaporizes through a pipe and cools the cold recovery material of the cold recovery vessel before expanding in the at least one turbine and cooling the cold recovery material of the plurality of cold recovery vessels.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the liquefaction unit comprises a condenser configured to receive the gas from a first connection and condense the cooled gas stream into the liquefied gas stream.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the liquefaction unit comprises at least one recycle compressor configured to receive a recycle gas stream and produce a compressed recycled gas stream.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the at least one recycle compressor is a single or multistage recycle compressor.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the liquefaction unit comprises at least three heat exchangers configured to receive the recycle gas stream and reduce a temperature of the recycle gas stream.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the liquefaction unit comprises at least one expansion valve, the at least one expansion valve configured to reduce a temperature and a pressure of the recycle gas stream after a turbine.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the liquefaction unit comprises at least one recycle gas turbine configured to receive the recycle gas stream from at least one of the at least three heat exchangers and expand the recycle gas stream which reduces a temperature of the recycle gas stream.

27. The system of claim 20, further comprising an automatic control device configured to control the at least one expansion valve.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein the insulated cold recovery system is configured to fit within a vehicle.

29. A process for storing gases at low temperatures using a cold recovery system comprising:

compressing a gas stream in a compressor to form a compressed gas;

passing the compressed gas stream through a heat exchanger to form a cooled gas stream;

cooling the cooled gas stream in an insulated cold recovery system, the insulated cold recovery system comprising;

at least one cold recovery vessel configured to receive the cooled gas stream, the cold recovery vessel comprising a cold recovery material configured to liquefy the cooled gas stream, wherein the cooled gas stream is fed through the cold recovery vessel in a pipe immersed in the cold recovery material to produce a liquefied gas;

at least one expansion valve, the at least one expansion valve configured to reduce a pressure of the cooled gas stream; and

at least one storage tank configured to receive and store the liquefied gas;

storing the liquefied gas in a liquid state in the at least one storage tank; and

vaporizing the liquefied gas from the storage tank of the cold recovery system through the at least one cold recovery vessel, wherein the vaporization of the gas stream cools the cold recovery material.

30. The process of claim 29, further comprising injecting a cryogenic liquid such as helium, nitrogen, argon or refrigerants such as ammonia, Freon, carbon dioxide into the cold recovery vessels to cool the cold recovery material before cooling the cooled gas stream in the insulated cold recovery system.

31. An insulated cold recovery system used to recover the refrigeration existing when a gas is stored at low temperature comprising:

at least one cold recovery vessel configured to receive a gas stream from a gas source, the cold recovery vessel comprising a cold recovery material configured to reduce the temperature of the gas stream, wherein the gas stream is fed through the cold recovery vessel in a pipe immersed in the cold recovery material to produce a liquefied or low temperature gas;

an expansion valve configured to receive the gas stream and reduce a pressure of the gas stream to a storage pressure; and

at least one storage tank configured to receive the liquefied or low temperature gas from the expansion valve and store the liquefied or low temperature gas in a liquid or low temperature state, wherein when the liquefied or low temperature gas is released from the insulated cold recovery system, the liquefied or low temperature gas vaporizes or expands through the pipe and cools the cold recovery material.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein system includes at least two cold recovery vessels, each of the at least two cold recovery vessels comprising a cold recovery material having different physical properties.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the first expansion valve is positioned between a last cold recovery vessel and the storage tank, the first expansion valve configured to receive the cooled gas stream from the last cold recovery vessel and deliver the liquefied or low temperature gas to the storage tank.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising a second expansion valve positioned between a last cold recovery vessel and the storage tank, the second expansion valve configured to receive the liquefied or low temperature gas from the storage tank and deliver the liquefied or low temperature gas to the pipe.

35. The system of claim 31, further comprising a service valve, the service valve configured to deliver the liquefied or low temperature gas to an end user, wherein the service valve causes a pressure drop in the pipe which closes the first expansion valve and opens the second expansion valve as the stored liquefied or low temperature gas starts leaving the storage tank.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the cold recovery material is selected based on an average operating temperature of the gas exiting to the cold recovery vessel in both storing and consumption stages, and the heat transport properties of the cold recovery material, the heat transport properties of the cold recovery material comprising melting point, latent heat of fusion, and specific heat and thermal conductivity in both liquid and solid state.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the insulated cold recovery system is configured to fit within a vehicle.

38. A system for liquefaction of natural gas, the system comprising:

a compressor configured to receive a gas stream and produce a compressed gas stream;

a heat exchanger configured to receive the compressed gas stream and produce a cooled gas stream; and

an insulated cold recovery system configured to receive the cooled gas stream from the heat exchanger, the insulated cold recovery system comprising;

a plurality of cold recovery vessels, each of the plurality of cold recovery vessels comprising a cold recovery material configured to cool the cooled gas stream, wherein the cooled gas stream is fed through the cold recovery vessel in a pipe immersed in the cold recovery material to produce a liquefied gas;

at least one contamination removal apparatus configured to remove contaminants from the cooled gas stream, wherein the at least one contaminant removal apparatus is positioned between two of the plurality of cold recovery vessels;

a first expansion valve positioned and configured to receive the cooled gas stream from the plurality of cold recovery vessels;

a final cold recovery vessel positioned and configured to receive the cooled gas stream from the first expansion valve;

a second expansion valve positioned and configured to receive the cooled gas stream from the final cold recovery vessel and liquefy the cooled gas stream into a liquid state; and

at least one storage tank configured to receive the liquefied gas and store the gas in the liquid state, wherein the liquefied gas vaporizes through the second expansion valve and passes through the pipe and cools the cold recovery material of each of the plurality of cold recovery vessels.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein system includes at least two cold recovery vessels, each of the at least two cold recovery vessels comprising a cold recovery material having different physical properties.

40. The system of claim 38, further comprising a service valve, the service valve configured to deliver the liquefied gas to an end user, wherein the service valve causes a pressure drop in the pipe which closes the first expansion valve and opens the second expansion valve as the stored liquefied gas starts leaving the storage tank.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the cold recovery material is selected based on an average operating temperature of the gas exiting to the cold recovery vessel in both storing and consumption stages, and the heat transport properties of the cold recovery material, the heat transport properties of the cold recovery material comprising melting point, latent heat of fusion, and specific heat, and thermal conductivity in both liquid and solid state.

42. A system for liquefaction of gases, the system comprising:

a compressor configured to receive a gas stream and produce a compressed gas stream;

a heat exchanger configured to receive the compressed gas stream and produce a cooled gas stream; and

an insulated cold recovery system configured to receive the cooled gas stream from the heat exchanger, the insulated cold recovery system comprising;

a plurality of cold recovery vessels, each of the plurality of cold recovery vessels comprising a cold recovery material configured to cool the cooled gas stream, wherein the cooled gas stream is fed through the cold recovery vessel in a pipe immersed in the cold recovery material to produce a liquefied gas;

at least one by-pass valve configured to route the cooled gas stream through or around a selected cold recovery vessel;

at least one turbine configured to expand and cool the cooled gas stream during the liquefaction of the gas stream, the at least one turbine positioned between the plurality of cold recovery vessels;

an independent stationary liquefaction unit position between the plurality of cold recovery vessels and at least one storage tank, wherein the liquefaction unit is configured to liquefy the cooled gas stream into a liquefied gas stream; and

at least one storage tank configured to receive the liquefied gas stream from the independent liquefaction unit and store the liquefied gas stream in a liquid state, and wherein the liquefied gas stream vaporizes through a pipe and cools the cold recovery material of the plurality of cold recovery vessels.