Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
  • F25J1/0005—Light or noble gases
  • F25J1/001—Hydrogen
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
  • F25J1/0005—Light or noble gases
  • F25J1/0007—Helium
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
  • F25J1/0032—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration"
  • F25J1/0035—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration" by gas expansion with extraction of work
  • F25J1/0037—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration" by gas expansion with extraction of work of a return stream
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
  • F25J1/0032—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration"
  • F25J1/0045—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration" by vaporising a liquid return stream
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
  • F25J1/0047—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle
  • F25J1/005—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by expansion of a gaseous refrigerant stream with extraction of work
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
  • F25J1/0047—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle
  • F25J1/0052—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
  • F25J1/0047—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle
  • F25J1/0052—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream
  • F25J1/0057—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream after expansion of the liquid refrigerant stream with extraction of work
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/006—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the refrigerant fluid used
  • F25J1/0062—Light or noble gases, mixtures thereof
  • F25J1/0065—Helium
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/006—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the refrigerant fluid used
  • F25J1/0062—Light or noble gases, mixtures thereof
  • F25J1/0067—Hydrogen
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/006—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the refrigerant fluid used
  • F25J1/007—Primary atmospheric gases, mixtures thereof
  • F25J1/0072—Nitrogen
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
  • F25J1/0203—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a single-component refrigerant [SCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle
  • F25J1/0205—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a single-component refrigerant [SCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle as a dual level SCR refrigeration cascade
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
  • F25J1/0228—Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes
  • F25J1/0235—Heat exchange integration
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
  • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
  • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
  • F25J1/0244—Operation; Control and regulation; Instrumentation
  • F25J1/0245—Different modes, i.e. 'runs', of operation; Process control
  • F25J1/0249—Controlling refrigerant inventory, i.e. composition or quantity
  • F25J1/025—Details related to the refrigerant production or treatment, e.g. make-up supply from feed gas itself
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
  • F25J2205/60—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using adsorption on solid adsorbents, e.g. by temperature-swing adsorption [TSA] at the hot or cold end
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
  • F25J2205/82—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using a reactor with combustion or catalytic reaction
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J2210/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the feed stream
  • F25J2210/04—Mixing or blending of fluids with the feed stream
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J2220/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for the removal of impurities
  • F25J2220/02—Separating impurities in general from the feed stream
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J2245/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams
  • F25J2245/90—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams the recycled stream being boil-off gas from storage
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
  • F25J2270/04—Internal refrigeration with work-producing gas expansion loop
  • F25J2270/06—Internal refrigeration with work-producing gas expansion loop with multiple gas expansion loops
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
  • F25J2270/14—External refrigeration with work-producing gas expansion loop
  • F25J2270/16—External refrigeration with work-producing gas expansion loop with mutliple gas expansion loops of the same refrigerant

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for refrigeration with cryogenic gases or liquefying cryogenic gases and, more particularly, to a system and method that cools cryogenic gases including a cryogenic liquid pre-cooling loop.
• Industrial cryogenic gases such as natural gas, hydrogen, neon or helium
• natural gas for instance is l/600 th the gaseous state.
• the liquified gases are then vaporized back to a gaseous state for use at a site or system.
• the same cryogenic gases are also used for refrigerators, typically for research for particle accelerators, space temperature simulation, particle analysis at reduced speed (cold neutron source) or other scientific applications.
• Such refrigerators typically boil off vaporized nitrogen to atmosphere after the liquid nitrogen is warmed to provide refrigeration and, as such, consume nitrogen.
• Liquefaction of cryogenic gases is often costly.
• gaseous hydrogen is converted to liquefied hydrogen by cooling it to about -253 °C.
• the typical process of cooling utilizes a high amount of energy.
• the process may include multiple refrigeration cycles and involve multiple stages of gas compression.
• a liquefier heat exchanger includes a primary refrigerant cooling passage, a primary refrigerant warming passage and a feed gas cooling passage.
• a primary refrigeration circuit includes a first primary compressor configured to receive and compress a primary refrigerant vapor from the primary refrigerant warming passages of the liquefier heat exchanger and the pre-cool heat exchanger.
• a primary cooling device is configured to receive and cool compressed primary refrigerant from the first primary compressor, where the primary cooling device has an outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigerant cooling passages of the pre-cool heat exchanger and the liquefier heat exchanger.
• a first primary expansion device is configured to receive and expand compressed and cooled primary refrigerant from the primary refrigerant cooling passage of the liquefier heat exchanger, where the first primary expansion device has an outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigerant warming passages of the liquefier heat exchanger and the pre-cool heat exchanger.
• a method for liquefying a cryogenic gas feed stream includes the steps of precooling the cryogenic gas feed stream using a pre-cool refrigerant and a primary refrigerant to form a pre-cooled cryogenic fluid stream and liquefying the precooled cryogenic fluid stream using the primary refrigerant.
• a warmed pre-cool refrigerant is formed by the pre-cool step and the pre-cool and liquefaction steps form a warmed primary refrigerant.
• the method further includes the use of a liquefied gas fed into the phase separator
• a vacuum pump (or ejector) 124 is required to obtain a reduced pressure.
• a system for cooling a cryogenic gas feed stream includes a precool heat exchanger including a pre-cool refrigerant warming passage, a primary refrigerant cooling passage a primary refrigerant warming passage and a feed gas cooling passage.
• a cooling heat exchanger includes a primary refrigerant cooling passage, a primary refrigerant warming passage and a feed gas cooling passage.
• a primary refrigeration circuit includes a first primary compressor configured to receive and compress a primary refrigerant vapor from the primary refrigerant warming passages of the cooling heat exchanger and the pre-cool heat exchanger.
• a primary cooling device is configured to receive and cool compressed primary refrigerant from the first primary compressor, where the primary cooling device has an outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigerant cooling passages of the pre-cool heat exchanger and the cooling heat exchanger.
• a first primary expansion device is configured to receive and expand compressed and cooled primary refrigerant from the primary refrigerant cooling passage of the cooling heat exchanger, where the first primary expansion device has an outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigerant warming passages of the cooling heat exchanger and the pre-cool heat exchanger.
• the pre-cool heat exchanger is configured so that primary refrigerant in the primary refrigerant cooling passage of the pre-cool heat exchanger and cryogenic gas in the feed gas cooling passage are cooled by pre-cool refrigerant in the pre-cool refrigerant warming passage and primary refrigerant in the primary refrigerant warming passage.
• the cooling heat exchanger is configured so that primary refrigerant in the primary refrigerant cooling passage is cooled and cryogenic fluid in the feed gas cooling passage is cooled by primary refrigerant in the primary refrigerant warming passage.
• the method further includes the steps of compressing the warmed pre-cool refrigerant to form a compressed pre-cool refrigerant, cooling the compressed pre-cool refrigerant to form a cooled pre-cool refrigerant, expanding the cooled pre-cool refrigerant to form an expanded pre-cool refrigerant; reducing the pressure of the expanded pre-cool refrigerant so as to lower a boiling point of the pre-cool refrigerant, separating the pre-cool refrigerant into a pre-cool refrigerant vapor stream and a pre-cool refrigerant liquid stream, vaporizing the pre-cool refrigerant liquid stream during the precooling and warming the pre-cool refrigerant vapor stream during the pre-cooling.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the cryogenic gas cooling system of the disclosure.
• a gaseous hydrogen feed stream 8 enters a pre-cool cold box 12 and passes through passages 13a and 13b of pre-cool heat exchangers 14a and 14b, respectively where, as explained in greater detail below, it is cooled.
• the cooled stream then passes through one or more adsorbers 16a and 16b.
• the adsorber(s) functions to remove any type of impurity from the hydrogen fluid stream.
• the adsorber includes a specific material in which the impurities will be bonded to or absorbed into the material.
• the adsorber can be comprised of a carbon, specifically an activated carbon material, but also zeolites are used.
• the purified hydrogen gas stream exiting the adsorbers 16a and 16b then travels again through heat exchanger 14a as a second pass where it is further cooled to approximately 80°K or less (as an example only).
• the cooled second pass stream then flows through heat exchanger 14b.
• Passages 13a and 13b of heat exchangers 14a and 14b are refrigerated by the streams 74, 98 and 52.
• the heat of evaporation of the liquid in vessel 136 ensures a maximal heat removal in the first precooling cycle.
• Heat exchanger 14b may contain an ortho-para conversion catalyst 18 that converts ortho-hydrogen to para-hydrogen to reduce volatilization. In the case of hydrogen liquefaction, maximal conversion of ortho to para hydrogen is achieved in this first reactor segment 18.
• the catalyst 18 may also be provided in heat exchanger 14a or provided solely in heat exchanger 14a instead.
• the pre-cool cold box 12 may be constructed with perlite with or without vacuum insulation. Alternatively, for example with smaller plant sizes, the pre-cool cold box may be integrated into the liquefier coldbox.
• the pre-cooled hydrogen gas stream 22 exits the pre-cool cold box 12, at approximately 80 K (for example) in the case of traditional operation with the precool refrigerant evaporated at atmospheric pressure, and is directed to liquefier cold box 24 where it is refrigerated as a supercritical fluid in heat exchangers 26a-26f.
• a pre-cool separation device 136 By evaporating the pre-cool refrigerant at a pressure below atmospheric pressure, as described in greater detail below with regard to a pre-cool separation device 136, the temperature of pre-cooled hydrogen gas stream 22 can be lowered even below 70 K.
• the ortho-para conversion catalyst is also provided in each of the heat exchangers 26a-26f for stream 22 so that ortho-para conversion is performed in parallel to the refrigeration, in order to minimize exergy losses.
• the liquid hydrogen product stream 32 exits the system following expansion into mixed phase flow using Joule-Thompson (JT) valve 34.
• JT Joule-Thompson
• Liquefier cold box 24 is insulated in order to minimize heat leaks according to the technical requirements, and preferably is vacuum insulated which may be accomplished, as an example only, via vacuum pump 36.
• Cooling is provided in the liquefier cold box 24 by a primary refrigerant including hydrogen in a primary refrigeration circuit, indicated in general at 40. Cooling is provided in the pre-cool cold box 12 primarily by a pre-cool refrigerant cryogenic liquid in a precool refrigeration circuit, indicated in general at 42, with supplemental cooling provided by the primary refrigerant circuit 40.
• the pre-cool refrigerant used in the pre-cool refrigeration circuit 42 is nitrogen, possibly liquefied, and/or mixtures of nitrogen, carbohydrates or rare gases.
• Stream 56 enters the liquefier cold box 24 and is further cooled in heat exchanger 26a.
• the hydrogen refrigerant stream exiting heat exchanger 26a is split into streams 58 and 62.
• Stream 62 is fed into an expansion device, such as expansion turbine 64, where it is expanded to a lower pressure and exits at a lower temperature as stream 65.
• Stream 65 is directed through heat exchanger 26c where it is further cooled.
• Stream 66 exits heat exchanger 26c and is fed into an additional expansion device, such as expansion turbine 68, where it is expanded to a lower pressure and exits at a lower temperature as stream 72.
• expansion turbines 64 and 68 are illustrated in Fig. 1, a single turbine pass or additional turbine passes, with intervening heat exchanger passes, may be used instead.
• alternative types of expansion devices including, but not limited to, expansion valves may be used in place of turbines 64 and 68.
• Stream 72 is directed through heat exchangers 26a-26d of the liquefier cold box to provide refrigeration therein.
• the warmed hydrogen stream 74 then proceeds into the precool cold box 12 to provide a portion of the refrigeration within pre-cool heat exchanger 14a.
• the resulting hydrogen gas stream 76 exits the pre-cool cold box 12.
• Streams 72 and 96 cooperate to provide the refrigeration required to liquefy precooled hydrogen stream 22 in the liquefier cold box 24.
• the temperature of the hydrogen gas stream 22 may be reduced to approximately 20°K-22°K in the cold end of the liquefier cold box 24.
• Hydrogen refrigerant vapor stream 102 travels to a first primary compressor 104 of the primary refrigeration circuit and is pressurized to form medium pressure vapor stream 106. Hydrogen refrigerant vapor stream 76 joins medium pressure vapor stream 106 to form combined hydrogen refrigerant vapor stream 108, which is pressurized in second primary compressor 112 to form high pressure vapor stream 114. Stream 102 requires the additional compression/pressurization provided by compressor 104 to compensate for the additional pressure drops experienced by stream 58 as it travels through the additional heat exchangers of the liquefier cold box 24, turbine 80, JT valve 84 and separation device 88.
• the pressure in vessel 88 may be minimized to have the lowest possible temperature of evaporation. For this reason, in such an embodiment and as an example only, the small partial stream 82 is boiling in the 20 K range providing a heat sink to the 1,3-1.5 bara operated liquefier.
• High pressure vapor stream 114 is directed through a primary cooling device, such as heat exchanger 116, where it is cooled by direct/indirect heat exchange with water stream 118 and/or air coolers in locations with lack of enough cooling water. As a result, hydrogen refrigerant stream 44 is formed.
• a primary cooling device such as heat exchanger 116
• Alternative cooling fluids including, but not limited to, ambient air, may be used in place of water 118.
• nitrogen refrigerant vapor 122 enters precool compressor 124.
• the resulting compressed stream is cooled in a pre-cool cooling device, such as heat exchanger 126, by indirect heat exchange with water stream 128.
• a pre-cool cooling device such as heat exchanger 126
• Alternative cooling fluids including, but not limited to, ambient air, may be used in place of water stream 128.
• the resulting cooled nitrogen vapor stream is expanded in a pre-cool expansion device, such as expansion turbine 132 and/or a combination of expansion turbines and compressors.
• the resulting mixed phase nitrogen stream 134 is directed to pre-cool refrigeration circuit separation device 136.
• the compressors 104 and 112 of the primary refrigeration circuit 40 of Fig. 1 require more energy to operate than the compressor 124 of the pre-cool refrigeration circuit 42.
• the pre-cool refrigeration circuit 42 reduces the cooling requirements, and thus compression requirements, of the primary refrigeration circuit 40.
• the embodiment of Fig. 1 effectively permits a portion of the cooling power of the system to be shifted from the primary refrigeration circuit 40 to the pre-cool refrigeration circuit 42 so that the overall energy usage and power requirements of the

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• 2023
  • 2023-06-05 EP EP23735571.4A patent/EP4537034A1/de active Pending
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