System and apparatus for complete condensation of multi-component working fluids

• US 7,600,394 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2006
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kalina Power Limited
• Original Assignee: Kalex, LLC
• Inventors: Kalina, Alexander I.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US11/399,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20070234750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 625/06, 626/06, 165/DIG.185, 165/DIG.206
• US Class Current: 62/606
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/06 using mixtures of different fluids plants using mixtures of steam and gas F01K21/04
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 43/04 for withdrawing non-condensible gases
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0092 Mixtures of hydrocarbons comprising possibly also minor amounts of nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0097 Others, e.g. F-, Cl-, HF-, HClF-, HCl-hydrocarbons etc. or mixtures thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0279 Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc.
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0296 Removal of the heat of compression, e.g. within an inter- or afterstage-cooler against an ambient heat sink
• CPC Class Codes: F28B 1/02 using water or other liquid as the cooling medium
• CPC Class Codes: F28B 1/06 using air or other gas as the cooling medium
• CPC Class Codes: F28B 9/08 for collecting and removing condensate
• CPC Class Codes: F28B 9/10 for extracting, cooling, and removing non-condensable gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/15 On-site combined power, heat or cool generation or distribution, e.g. combined heat and power [CHP] supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 165/185 having stacked plates forming flow channel therebetween
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 165/206 including coiled heat exchange tube

Abstract

A condensation system is disclosed where a multi-component fluid is condensed to form a condensate, a portion of which is sub-cooled and mixed with non-condensable vapor in the system to reduce the accumulation of non-condensable vapor and to improve the stability and efficiency of the condensation system.

Claims

1. A condensation apparatus for condensing a multi-component fluid comprising:

a first heat exchange unit adapted to condense an in-coming multi-component fluid stream in counter-flow with a first coolant stream to form a condensate and a non-condensable vapor, where the multi-component fluid comprises a lower boiling point component and a higher boiling point component;

a first dividing valve adapted to divide a condensate stream into an out-going fully condensed multi-component fluid stream comprising a major portion of the condensate stream and an absorbent stream comprising a minor portion of the condensate stream;

a second heat exchange unit adapted to sub-cool the absorbent stream with a second coolant stream to form a sub-cooled absorbent stream; and

a pump adapted to pump the sub-cooled absorbent stream into the non-condensable vapor through a first sprayer, where the sub-cooled absorbent stream is sufficient to absorb an amount of non-condensable vapor reducing accumulation of non-condensable vapor in the apparatus and improving condensation stability and efficiency and where the apparatus completely condenses the incoming multi-component fluid to produce the out-going multi-component fluid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sprayer is positioned in the first heat exchanger above a liquid level therein and wherein the condensate stream is withdrawn from a bottom of the first heat exchange unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive the entire condensate stream and a non-condensable vapor stream from the first heat exchange unit, where the receiver includes a vapor section and a liquid section,

wherein the sub-cooled absorbent stream is pumped into the vapor section of the receiver through the first sprayer positioned in the vapor section of the receiver to absorb the amount of the non-condensable vapor in the vapor section of the receiver and

wherein the first dividing valve divides a condensate stream withdrawn from the liquid section of the receiver.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive the entire condensate stream and a non-condensable vapor stream from the first heat exchange unit, where the receiver includes a vapor section and a liquid section,

downstream of the pump, a second dividing valve adapted to divide the sub-cooled absorbent stream into a first sub-cooled absorbent substream and a second sub-cooled absorbent substream and

wherein the first sub-cooled absorbent substream is introduced into the vapor section of the receiver through a second sprayer positioned in the vapor section of the receiver to absorb a first amount of the non-condensable vapor in the vapor section of the receiver,

wherein the second sub-cooled absorbent substream is introduced into the non-condensable vapor in the first heat exchanger unit through the first sprayer positioned in the first heat exchanger above a liquid level therein to absorb a second amount of the non-condensable vapor, and

wherein the first dividing valve divides a condensate stream withdrawn from the liquid section of the receiver.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coolant stream is a liquid and the first heat exchange unit is a condenser and the second heat exchange unit is a sub-cooler.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coolant stream is a gas and the first and second heat exchange unit are radiators.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the coolant stream is a liquid and the first heat exchange unit is a condenser and the second heat exchange unit is a sub-cooler.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the coolant stream is a liquid and the first heat exchange unit is a condenser and the second heat exchange unit is a sub-cooler.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multi-component fluid comprises a lower boiling point component and a higher boiling point component.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the multi-component fluid is selected from the group consisting of a mixture of water and ammonia, a mixture of at least two hydrocarbons, a mixture of at least two freons, and a mixture of at least one hydrocarbon and at least one freon.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a first heat exchanger adapted to condense an in-coming multi-component fluid stream with a first counter-flowing coolant stream to form a condensate and a non-condensable vapor, where the multi-component fluid comprises a lower boiling point component and a higher boiling point component;

a dividing valve adapted to receive a condensate stream withdrawn from the first heat exchanger and split the condensate stream into an out-going fully condensed multi-component fluid stream comprising a major portion of the condensate stream and an absorbent stream comprising a minor portion of the condensate stream;

a second heat exchanger adapted to sub-cool the absorbent stream with a second counter-flowing coolant stream to form a sub-cooled absorbent stream, and

a pump adapted to inject the sub-cooled absorbent stream in the first heat exchanger through a sprayer positioned above a liquid level in the first heat exchanger, where the sub-cooled absorbent stream is sufficient to absorb an amount of non-condensable vapor reducing accumulation of non-condensable vapor in the apparatus and improving condensation stability and efficiency and where the apparatus completely condenses the incoming multi-component fluid to produce the out-going multi-component fluid.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the coolant stream is a liquid and the first heat exchanger is a condenser and the second heat exchanger is a sub-cooler.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the coolant stream is a gas and the first and second heat exchangers are radiators.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the multi-component fluid comprises a lower boiling point component and a higher boiling point component.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the multi-component fluid is selected from the group consisting of a mixture of water and ammonia, a mixture of at least two hydrocarbons, a mixture of at least two freons, and a mixture of at least one hydrocarbon and at least one freon.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a first heat exchanger adapted to condense an in-coming multi-component fluid stream with a first counter-flowing coolant stream to form a condensate and a non-condensable vapor,

a receiver including a vapor section and a liquid section, where the receiver is adapted to receive a condensate stream withdrawn from the first heat exchanger and a non-condensable vapor stream withdrawn from the first heat exchanger above a liquid level therein,

a dividing valve adapted to receive a receiver condensate stream withdrawn from the receiver and to split the condensate stream into an out-going fully condensed multi-component fluid stream comprising a major portion of the condensate stream and an absorbent stream comprising a minor portion of the condensate stream;

a second heat exchanger adapted to sub-cool the absorbent stream with a second counter-flowing coolant stream to form a sub-cooled absorbent stream, and

a pump adapted to inject the sub-cooled absorbent stream in the vapor section of the receiver through a sprayer positioned above a liquid level in the first heat exchanger, where the sub-cooled absorbent stream is sufficient to absorb an amount of non-condensable vapor reducing accumulation of non-condensable vapor in the apparatus and improving condensation stability and efficiency.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the coolant stream is a liquid and the first heat exchange unit is a condenser and the second heat exchange unit is a sub-cooler.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the coolant stream is a liquid and the first heat exchange unit is a condenser and the second heat exchange unit is a sub-cooler.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the multi-component fluid comprises a lower boiling point component and a higher boiling point component.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the multi-component fluid is selected from the group consisting of a mixture of water and ammonia, a mixture of at least two hydrocarbons, a mixture of at least two freons, and a mixture of at least one hydrocarbon and at least one freon.

21. A method for condensing a multi-component fluid comprising the steps of:

condensing an in-coming multi-component fluid stream with a first coolant stream to form a condensate and a non-condensable vapor, where the multi-component fluid comprises a lower boiling point component and a higher boiling point component;

splitting a condensate stream into an out-going fully condensed multi-component fluid stream and an absorbent stream, where the out-going stream comprises a major portion of the condensate stream and the absorbent stream comprises a minor portion of the condensate stream;

sub-cooling the absorbent stream with a second coolant stream to form a sub-cooled absorbent stream; and

contacting the sub-cooled absorbent stream with the non-condensable vapor, where the sub-cooled absorbent stream is sufficient to absorb an amount of non-condensable vapor reducing its accumulation and improving condensation stability and efficiency and where the apparatus completely condenses the incoming multi-component fluid to produce the out-going multi-component fluid.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the condensing occurs in a condenser, the condensate stream is withdrawn from the condenser, and the contacting occurs in the condenser above a liquid level therein.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

prior to splitting, transferring the condensate stream and a stream of non-condensable vapor into a receiver having a vapor section and a liquid section, and

wherein the contacting occurs in the vapor section of the receiver and the condensate stream is withdrawn from the liquid section of the receiver.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the multi-component fluid comprises a lower boiling point component and a higher boiling point component.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the multi-component fluid is selected from the group consisting of a mixture of water and ammonia, a mixture of at least two hydrocarbons, a mixture of at least two freons, and a mixture of at least one hydrocarbon and at least one freon.

26. A method for condensing a multi-component fluid comprising the steps of:

condensing an in-coming multi-component fluid stream with a first coolant stream in a first heat exchange unit to form a condensate and a non-condensable vapor,

forwarding a condensate and a vapor to a receiver including a vapor section and a liquid section,

splitting a condensate stream from the liquid section of the receiver in a dividing valve into an out-going fully condensed multi-component fluid stream and an absorbent stream, where the out-going stream comprises a major portion of the condensate stream and the absorbent stream comprises a minor portion of the condensate stream;

sub-cooling the absorbent stream with a second coolant stream in a second heat exchange unit to form a sub-cooled absorbent stream; and

contacting the sub-cooled absorbent stream with the non-condensable vapor in the vapor section of the receiver, where the sub-cooled absorbent stream is sufficient to absorb an amount of non-condensable vapor reducing its accumulation and improving condensation stability and efficiency.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the multi-component fluid comprises a lower boiling point component and a higher boiling point component.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the multi-component fluid is selected from the group consisting of a mixture of water and ammonia, a mixture of at least two hydrocarbons, a mixture of at least two freons, and a mixture of at least one hydrocarbon and at least one freon.