Sensible Heat Exchanger and Dryer

1 . A method for removing a first component from a mixed gas stream comprising:

passing a refrigerant stream through a first channel of an indirect contact heat exchanger;

passing a depleted gas stream through a second channel of the indirect contact heat exchanger;

passing a contact liquid stream through a third channel of the indirect contact heat exchanger such that the contact liquid stream wets at least a portion of a first interior wall and a second interior wall of the third channel, wherein the first interior wall separates the first channel from the third channel and the second interior wall separates the second channel from the third channel;

passing the mixed gas stream through a center of the third channel such that the gas stream and the contact liquid stream engage in heat and mass exchange;

wherein the contact liquid stream:

receives a heat stream from the mixed gas stream;

transmits a first portion of the heat stream through the first interior wall into the refrigerant stream;

transmits a second portion of the heat stream through the second interior wall into the depleted gas stream; and

leaves the third channel while retaining a balance of the heat stream; and

wherein the first component condenses from the mixed gas stream into the contact liquid stream, resulting in a depleted gas stream and an enriched contact liquid stream.

2 . The invention of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the contact liquid stream to the first component in the third channel is sufficiently high that the first component does not freeze in the contact liquid stream.

3 . The invention of claim 2 , wherein the contact liquid stream is hydrophobic.

4 . The invention of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the heat stream and the second portion of the heat stream are all of the heat stream, causing the contact liquid stream to be isothermal throughout the third channel.

5 . The invention of claim 1 , wherein the balance of the heat stream is positive, causing the contact liquid stream to increase in temperature from an inlet of the third channel to an outlet of the third channel.

6 . The invention of claim 1 , wherein the balance of the heat stream is negative, causing the contact liquid stream to decrease in temperature from an inlet of the third channel to an outlet of the third channel.

7 . The invention of claim 1 , wherein the mixed gas stream is selected from a group consisting of flue gas, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and syngas.

8 . The invention of claim 1 , wherein the first component comprises water.

9 . The invention of claim 8 , wherein the mixed gas stream further comprises a second component comprising acid gases selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, mercury, mercury oxides, carbon monoxide, other pollutants, and a combination thereof.

10 . The invention of claim 1 , wherein the contact liquid stream is selected from the group consisting of water, isopentane, methanol, ethanol, and a combination thereof.

11 . The invention of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant stream is counter current to the contact liquid stream.

12 . The invention of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant stream is a liquid and comprises a light component and the method further comprising vaporizing a portion of the light component in the third channel.

13 . A system for removing a first component from a mixed gas stream comprising:

an indirect contact heat exchanger comprising a process channel, one or more refrigerant channels, and one or more depleted gas stream channels, the process channel sharing a first interior wall with the one or more refrigerant channels and a second interior wall with the one or more depleted gas stream channels;

the process channel configured to receive a contact liquid stream through an inlet of the process channel and wet inner surfaces of the first interior wall and the second interior wall of the process channel with the contact liquid stream while leaving a gas space inside the process channel;

the process channel further configured to receive the mixed gas stream through the inlet of the process channel and pass the mixed gas stream through the gas space;

the one or more refrigerant channels configured to each receive one of a group of refrigerant streams from one or more refrigerant controllers;

one or more instruments situated at least on an inlet of the process channel, an outlet of the process channel, or both;

the one or more instruments configured to measure one or more process variables of the process channel and transmit the one or more process variables to a main controller;

the main controller programmed to receive the one or more process variables and send a signal to each of the one or more refrigerant controllers;

the one or more refrigerant controllers configured to control a flow rate of one of the group of refrigerant streams to each of the one or more refrigerant channels to maintain the one or more process variables in the contact liquid stream at a setpoint; and

wherein the contact liquid stream:

receives a heat stream from the mixed gas stream;

transmits a first portion of the heat stream to each of the one of the group of refrigerant streams in each of the one or more refrigerant channels;

transmits a second portion of the heat stream to the depleted gas stream channels; and

leaves the process channel while retaining a balance of the heat stream; and

wherein the first component condenses from the mixed gas stream into the contact liquid stream.

14 . The invention of claim 13 , wherein the first portion of the heat stream and the second portion of the heat stream are all of the heat stream, causing the contact liquid stream to be isothermal throughout the process channel.

15 . The invention of claim 13 , wherein the mixed gas stream is selected from a group consisting of flue gas, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and syngas.

16 . The invention of claim 13 , wherein the first component comprises water.

17 . The invention of claim 16 , wherein the mixed gas stream further comprises a second component comprising acid gases selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, mercury, mercury oxides, carbon monoxide, other pollutants, and a combination thereof.

18 . The invention of claim 13 , wherein the contact liquid stream is selected from the group consisting of water, isopentane, methanol, ethanol, and a combination thereof.

19 . The invention of claim 13 , wherein the refrigerant stream is counter current to the contact liquid stream.

20 . The invention of claim 13 , wherein the refrigerant stream is a liquid and comprises a light component and the method further comprising vaporizing a portion of the light component in the third channel.