IP Library Granted Patent US 10,533,793
Granted Patent B2
US 10,533,793 · App. 15/504,693 · Granted Jan 14, 2020

Systems and methods for multi-stage refrigeration

Inventor: David Ladd (Sugarland, TX)
Assignee: Bechtel Hydrocarbon Technology Solutions, Inc.
F25J1/0205F25B9/08F25B2309/023F25J2200/38F25J2240/60
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,533,793
App. No.
15/504,693
Granted
Jan 14, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for multi-stage refrigeration in mixed refrigerant and cascade refrigeration cycles using one or more liquid motive eductors.

Claims (29)

1. A multi-stage refrigeration system, comprising:

an eductor in fluid communication with a first vapor line and one of a liquid source and a supercritical fluid source;

a flashdrum in fluid communication with the eductor for receiving a two-phase fluid, the flashdrum connected to a second vapor line and a liquid line, wherein a pressure in the first vapor line is lower than a pressure in the second vapor line;

a first expansion valve in fluid communication with the liquid line and connected to a chilled two-phase fluid line;

another flashdrum in fluid communication with the chilled two-phase fluid line and connected to the first vapor line;

a second expansion valve in fluid communication with another liquid line connected to the another flashdrum and connected to another chilled two-phase fluid line;

an accumulator directly connected to a vaporized refrigerant line and a third vapor line; and

another accumulator in fluid communication with the first vapor line, the second vapor line, the third vapor line and the eductor.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a pressure at the one of the liquid source and the supercritical fluid source is higher than a pressure in the first vapor line.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the pressure at the one of the liquid source and the supercritical fluid source is at least thirty-four times higher than the pressure in the first vapor line.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one of the liquid source and the supercritical fluid source comprise ethylene.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one of the liquid source and the supercritical fluid source comprise ethane.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure in the first vapor line is at least four times lower than the pressure in the second vapor line.

7. A method for multi-stage refrigeration, comprising:

introducing one of a first liquid stream and a supercritical fluid stream into an eductor;

introducing a first vapor stream into the eductor to achieve partial liquefaction and produce a two-phase fluid stream comprising the first vapor stream and one of the liquid stream and the supercritical fluid stream;

flashing the two-phase fluid stream in a flashdrum to produce a second liquid stream and a second vapor stream;

expanding the second liquid stream to produce a chilled two-phase fluid stream;

flashing the chilled two-phase fluid stream in another flashdrum to produce the first vapor stream and a third liquid stream;

processing the third liquid stream to produce a vaporized refrigerant stream; and

retaining residual condensation from the vaporized refrigerant stream using an accumulator directly connected to the vaporized refrigerant stream and a third vapor stream.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising expanding the third liquid stream to produce another chilled two-phase fluid stream.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein a pressure of the first vapor stream is lower than a pressure of the second vapor stream.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the pressure of the first vapor stream is at least four times lower than the pressure of the second vapor stream.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein a pressure of the one of the first liquid stream and the supercritical fluid stream is higher than a pressure of the first vapor stream.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pressure of the one of the first liquid stream and the supercritical fluid stream is at least thirty-four times higher than the pressure of the first vapor stream.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one of the first liquid stream and the supercritical fluid stream comprise ethylene.

14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one of the first liquid stream and the supercritical fluid stream comprise ethane.

15. The method of claim 8 , further comprising retaining residual condensation from the another chilled two-phase fluid stream and producing a third vapor stream.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 24, 2021
From: BECHTEL HYDROCARBON TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: BECHTEL ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES & SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 057282/0092 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2017
From: LADD, DAVID
To: BECHTEL HYDROCARBON TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 041823/0365 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,467,669