IP Library Granted Patent US 9,638,367
Granted Patent B2
US 9,638,367 · App. 14/437,076 · Granted May 2, 2017

Saturator and natural gas reforming system provided with same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,638,367
App. No.
14/437,076
Granted
May 2, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A saturator includes: a flow path inside of which a first fluid flows; a first heat exchange unit that causes heat exchange between the first fluid and a second fluid; a second heat exchange unit that causes heat exchange between a third fluid and the first fluid after the first fluid has passed through the first heat exchange unit; a humidifying unit that adds water to the first fluid upstream from the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit; and a conveyance path that conveys the third fluid after heat exchange from the second heat exchange unit to the upstream side of the first heat exchange unit and causes said third fluid to flow into the flow path as the first fluid.

Claims (13)

1. A natural gas reforming system comprising:

A reformer for causing a natural gas constituting a first fluid to react with water vapor to produce a synthetic gas constituting a second fluid and containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide;

a natural gas supply line for supplying a natural gas constituting a third fluid; and a saturator, wherein the saturator comprises:

a flow path through which the first fluid flows;

one or a plurality of first heat exchange units disposed along a flow direction in the flow path of the first fluid, the first heat exchange unit causing heat exchange between the first fluid and the second fluid;

a second heat exchange unit disposed on a downstream side of the first heat exchange unit along the flow direction in the flow path of the first fluid, the second heat exchange unit causing heat exchange between the third fluid and the first fluid after passing through the first heat exchange unit;

a humidifying unit for adding water to the first fluid flowing through the flow path on upstream sides of the first fluid of the first heat exchange unit and second heat exchange unit; and

a conveyance path for conveying the third fluid after being heat-exchanged in the second heat exchange unit from the second heat exchange unit to the upstream side of the first fluid of the first heat exchange unit so as to flow the third fluid into the flow path as the first fluid;

in the first heat exchange unit, the first fluid being heated and humidified, and the second fluid being cooled and discharged outside a system; and

in the second heat exchange unit, the first fluid being heated and humidified to saturation vapor pressure, and discharged outside the system, and the third fluid being cooled.

2. The saturator according to claim 1 , wherein the flow path is one column for accommodating the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit.

3. The saturator according to claim 1 , wherein the flow path is piping for connecting a plurality of vessels with one another; and

wherein the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit are accommodated in the respective vessels.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 14, 2023
From: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINEERING, LTD.
To: MHI ENGINEERING, LTD.
Reel/Frame 066014/0774 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Dec 14, 2023
From: MHI ENGINEERING, LTD.
To: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 066014/0870 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2018
From: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
To: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINEERING, LTD.
Reel/Frame 046581/0430 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2015
From: IIJIMA, MASAKI; MATSUZAWA, MASATO
To: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 035450/0761 →