Looking for breakthrough ideas for innovation challenges? Try Patsnap Eureka!

Downflow knockback condenser

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-08-09
BUTTS PROPERTIES
View PDF9 Cites 45 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] Through use of apparatus and method disclosed herein, one is able to achieve more predictable condenser performance, improved plant flexibility; higher sales gas recoveries, and lower capital costs. Greater predictability in condenser performance is particularly significant for meeting performance guarantees required by gas plant owners, especially for larger plants, where specific component performance plays a significant role in overall plant design.

Problems solved by technology

While this was anticipated in the design of the prior art condensers, Applicant learned from their use that the “falling” liquid creates a film that negatively affects the heat transfer coefficient, requiring more condenser surface area to be installed with each condenser application and adding complexity to the estimation of condenser performance.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Downflow knockback condenser
  • Downflow knockback condenser

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0014] The drawing depicts the upper portion of a fractionation tower 10 in which the upper portion of shell 12 contains a preferred embodiment of downflow, knockback condenser 14 of the invention. Fractionation tower 10 is preferably made of conventional materials capable of operating at the temperatures and pressures needed for a particular application, and has a nominal diameter ranging from about 18 to about 120 inches, depending upon plant size and throughput. Generally speaking, the fractionation section of fractionation tower 10 is disposed below section 60, and is broken away to facilitate enlargement of the upper section of the tower in which condenser 14 resides. As shown in the embodiment depicted in the drawing, section 60 of fractionation tower 10 is separated by liquid distribution plate 54 from the gas and condensed liquid recovery zones disposed between section 60 and condenser 14. Liquid distribution plate 54 allows rich vapor 56 rising upwardly from the fractionati...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

PropertyMeasurementUnit
Fractionaaaaaaaaaa
Flow rateaaaaaaaaaa
Login to View More

Abstract

An apparatus and method useful for partially condensing vapor in the upper section of a fractionation tower to separate and remove a lighter gaseous fraction from a condensed liquid component, such as nitrogen from natural gas. A downflow, knockback condenser is disclosed that utilizes a vapor riser to introduce a flow of vapor into a headspace above a vertical tubular heat exchanger, thereby establishing a downflow of condensed liquid and a lighter gaseous fraction through the heat exchange tubes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus useful for partially condensing vapor in the upper section of a fractionation tower to separate and remove a gaseous fraction from a condensed liquid component, and more particularly, to separate and remove nitrogen from natural gas. [0003] 2. Description of Related Art [0004] Systems and methods for removing nitrogen from natural gas have previously been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,141,544, 5,257,505 and 5,375,422. [0005] A significant part of the process for removing nitrogen from natural gas involves the fractionation of liquid methane from the rejected nitrogen. The liquid methane is sometimes referred to as “LNG,” but in the Nitech™ process invented by Applicant, the liquid is re-vaporized and becomes the sales gas product. The desirable LNG or sales gas exits the fractionation tower at the bottom. The nitrogen vent or waste gas exits th...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
IPC IPC(8): F25J3/00
CPCB01D5/0012B01D5/0063F25J3/0209F25J3/0233F25J3/0257F25J5/007F25J2200/02F25J2200/80
Inventor BUTTS, RAYBURN
Owner BUTTS PROPERTIES
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Patsnap Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Patsnap Eureka Blog
Learn More
PatSnap group products

Browse by: Latest US Patents, China's latest patents, Technical Efficacy Thesaurus, Application Domain, Technology Topic, Popular Technical Reports.

© 2024 PatSnap. All rights reserved.Legal|Privacy policy|Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement|Sitemap|About US| Contact US: help@patsnap.com