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US20060196449A1 - Fluid heating system and method - Google Patents

Fluid heating system and method Download PDF

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Publication number
US20060196449A1
US20060196449A1 US11/313,632 US31363205A US2006196449A1 US 20060196449 A1 US20060196449 A1 US 20060196449A1 US 31363205 A US31363205 A US 31363205A US 2006196449 A1 US2006196449 A1 US 2006196449A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
liquid
heat exchanger
tube bundle
heat
exchanging means
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/313,632
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Eldon Mockry
Jidong Yang
Gregory Hentschel
Jason Stratman
Glenn Brenneke
Darrin Clubine
James Randall
Ohler Kinney
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SPX Cooling Technologies Inc
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US10/942,939 external-priority patent/US7137619B2/en
Priority claimed from US10/942,940 external-priority patent/US7137623B2/en
Priority claimed from US10/965,176 external-priority patent/US7296413B2/en
Priority claimed from US11/068,388 external-priority patent/US7275735B2/en
Priority claimed from US11/068,389 external-priority patent/US7232116B2/en
Priority claimed from US11/068,387 external-priority patent/US7364141B2/en
Priority claimed from US11/181,864 external-priority patent/US7431270B2/en
Priority claimed from US11/181,863 external-priority patent/US7320458B2/en
Priority to US11/313,632 priority Critical patent/US20060196449A1/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Assigned to SPX COOLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (DE CORP.) reassignment SPX COOLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (DE CORP.) ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HENTSCHEL, GREGORY P., BRENNEKE, GLENN S., CLUBINE, DARRIN RAY, KINNEY, OHLER L., JR., MOCKRY, ELDON F., STRATMAN, JASON, YANG, JIDONG, RANDALL, JAMES DOUGLAS
Publication of US20060196449A1 publication Critical patent/US20060196449A1/en
Priority to PCT/US2006/049067 priority patent/WO2007076031A2/fr
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28C—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITHOUT CHEMICAL INTERACTION
    • F28C1/00—Direct-contact trickle coolers, e.g. cooling towers
    • F28C1/14—Direct-contact trickle coolers, e.g. cooling towers comprising also a non-direct contact heat exchange
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D3/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium flows in a continuous film, or trickles freely, over the conduits
    • F28D3/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium flows in a continuous film, or trickles freely, over the conduits with tubular conduits
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D3/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium flows in a continuous film, or trickles freely, over the conduits
    • F28D3/04—Distributing arrangements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
    • F28D7/0066—Multi-circuit heat-exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat-exchangers for more than two fluids
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
    • F28D7/08—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being otherwise bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
    • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
    • F17C2221/033—Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
    • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
    • F17C2223/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2225/00—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2225/01—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2225/0107—Single phase
    • F17C2225/0123—Single phase gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2225/00—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2225/03—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2225/035—High pressure, i.e. between 10 and 80 bars
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/0302—Heat exchange with the fluid by heating
    • F17C2227/0309—Heat exchange with the fluid by heating using another fluid
    • F17C2227/0311—Air heating
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/0367—Localisation of heat exchange
    • F17C2227/0388—Localisation of heat exchange separate
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/0367—Localisation of heat exchange
    • F17C2227/0388—Localisation of heat exchange separate
    • F17C2227/0393—Localisation of heat exchange separate using a vaporiser
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2270/00—Applications
    • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
    • F17C2270/0134—Applications for fluid transport or storage placed above the ground
    • F17C2270/0136—Terminals
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
    • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
    • F28D2021/0033—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for cryogenic applications
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B30/00—Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
    • Y02B30/70—Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a system and method for imparting heat to a circulating fluid. More particularly, the present invention relates, for example, to an apparatus and method that can impart heat to a fluid such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) or the like, in some applications, as part of a process of vaporizing the liquid natural gas.
  • LNG liquefied natural gas
  • cryogenic liquefaction of natural gas is routinely practiced as a means for converting natural gas into a more convenient form for transportation. Such liquefaction typically reduces the volume by about 600 fold and results in an end product that can be stored and transported more easily. Also, it is desirable to store excess natural gas so that it may be easily and efficiently supplied when the demand for natural gas increases.
  • One practical means for transporting natural gas and also for storing excess natural gas is to convert the natural gas to a liquefied state for storage and/or transportation and then vaporize the liquid as demand requires.
  • Natural gas often is available in areas remote from where it will ultimately be used, therefore the liquefaction of natural gas is even of greater importance.
  • natural gas is transported via pipeline from the supply source directly to the user market.
  • the natural gas it has become more common that the natural gas be transported from a supply source which is separated by great distances from the user market, where a pipeline is either not available or is impractical. This is particularly true of marine transportation where transport must be made by ocean-going vessels.
  • Ship transportation of natural gas in the gaseous state is generally not practical because of the great volume of the gas in the gaseous state, and because appreciable pressurization is required to significantly reduces the volume of the gas.
  • the volume of the gas is typically reduced by cooling the gas to approximately ⁇ 240° F. to approximately ⁇ 260° F. At this temperature, the natural gas is converted into liquefied natural gas (LNG), which possesses near atmospheric vapor pressure.
  • LNG liquefied natural gas
  • the LNG Upon completion of transportation and/or storage of the LNG, the LNG must be returned to the gaseous state prior to providing the natural gas to the end user for consumption.
  • the re-gasification or vaporization of LNG is achieved through the employment of various heat transfer fluids, systems, and processes.
  • some processes used in the art utilize evaporators that employ hot water or steam to heat the LNG to vaporize it.
  • These heating processes have drawbacks however, because the hot water or steam often times freezes due to the extreme cold temperatures of the LNG, which, in turn, causes the evaporators to clog.
  • alternative evaporators are presently used in the art, such as open rack evaporators, intermediate fluid evaporators, and submerged combustion evaporators.
  • Open rack evaporators typically use seawater or like as a heat source for countercurrent heat exchange with LNG. Similar to the evaporators mentioned above, open rack evaporators tend to “ice up” on the evaporator surface, causing increased resistance to heat transfer. Therefore, open rack evaporators must be designed having evaporators with increased heat transfer area, which entails a higher equipment cost and increased footprint of the evaporator.
  • evaporators of the intermediate type employ an intermediate fluid or refrigerant such as propane, fluorinated hydrocarbons or the like, having a low freezing point.
  • the refrigerant can be heated with hot water or steam, and then the heated refrigerant or refrigerant mixture is passed through the evaporator and used to vaporize the LNG.
  • Evaporators of this type overcome the icing and freezing episodes that are common in the previously described evaporators, however these intermediate fluid evaporators require a means for heating the refrigerant, such as a boiler or heater.
  • These types of evaporators also have drawbacks because they are very costly to operate due to the fuel consumption of the heating means used to heat the refrigerant.
  • an apparatus in some embodiments provides a system and method for warming a circulating fluid.
  • an apparatus for warming a second liquid comprises a tower which comprises a first heat exchanger; a spray head above the tube bundle for spraying a first liquid over the first heat exchanger; a first fluid collection basin disposed below the first heat exchanger; and a pump for recirculating the first liquid from the collection basin to the spray head; and a supply of second liquid to the first heat exchanger which is colder than ambient conditions, whereby the second liquid exiting the first heat exchanger is heated to a warmer temperature than the second liquid entering the first heat exchanger.
  • an apparatus for warming a second liquid comprises a tower comprising a first heat exchanging means; a spraying means above the tube bundle for spraying a first liquid over the first heat exchanging means; a first fluid collecting means disposed below the first heat exchanger; and a means for recirculating the first liquid from the collecting means to the spraying means; and a supply of second liquid to the first heat exchanging means which is colder than ambient conditions, whereby the second liquid exiting the first heat exchanging means is heated to a warmer temperature than the second liquid entering the first heat exchanging means.
  • a method for warming a second liquid using a tower comprising a first heat exchanger, a spray head above the tube bundle for spraying a first liquid over the first heat exchanger a first fluid collection basin disposed below the first heat exchanger; and a pump for recirculating the first liquid from the collection basin to the spray head the method comprising:
  • FIG. 1 is schematic view of a circuit for vaporizing liquefied natural gas in accordance with an embodiment in the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fluid heating tower in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tower of FIG. 2 , with a fan shroud cut away.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tower of FIG. 2 , showing a plurality of tube bundles resting on a support lattice.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a spray module used in the heating tower of FIG. 2 .
  • the circulating fluid is an intermediate fluid such as a refrigerant, that in turn is used to warm an intermediate heat exchanger, to impart heat via the intermediate heat exchanger, to liquefied natural gas, which is to be vaporized by the addition of the heat.
  • the present invention is not limited in its application to liquefied natural gas, but can also be used to heat any suitable circulating fluid, whether via an intermediate heat exchanger or via direct circulation through the tower without an intermediate heat exchanger.
  • a liquefied natural gas vaporization circuit generally designated 12 is illustrated. As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the liquefied natural gas vaporization circuit 12 includes a liquefied natural gas storage tank or vessel 16 that stores the liquefied natural gas to be vaporized.
  • the liquefied natural gas storage vessel 16 is in fluid communication with, or connected to, via a conduit 20 , a heat exchanger assembly 18 , the function of which will be described in more detail below.
  • the liquefied natural gas passes through a side 18 A of the heat exchanger 18 and absorbs heat that is imparted to it from a side 18 B of the heat exchanger 18 .
  • the heated natural gas is output from an output 19 in a vaporized state for subsequent use.
  • the heat exchanger 18 has a side 18 B that interacts with a closed loop circuit that passes an intermediate fluid through a heating tower 22 .
  • the closed loop circuit is filled with a suitable intermediate heat transfer liquid, such as, for example, a refrigerant.
  • a refrigerant is given as an example, it will be appreciated that the heating tower may be used to heat any suitable liquid.
  • the details of a preferred heating tower 22 are illustrated in FIGS. 2-5 and discussed in further detail later below.
  • the heating tower 22 receives the intermediate liquid from the heat exchanger 18 via an input conduit 24 .
  • the heating tower 22 heats the received intermediate fluid, and outputs the relatively warmed intermediate fluid to an output conduit 26 .
  • the output conduit 26 feeds relatively warm intermediate fluid to the side 18 B of the heat exchanger 18 , which is used to heat and vaporize the liquefied natural gas that arrives in conduit 20 , and is output from conduit 19 .
  • heating towers 22 Some examples of types of heating towers 22 that can be used include both so-called “dry” cooling towers, and so-called “wet” cooling towers.
  • the LNG remains in conduits 19 and 20 and one side of the heat exchanger 18 , and a separate intermediate fluid is used in a closed loop circuit including, conduits 24 and 26 .
  • the intermediate heat exchanger 18 can be dispensed with, and the LNG or other liquid to be heated or vaporized could be directly fed through conduits 24 and 26 .
  • the intermediate circuit arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1 may be preferable in many instances, because this avoids the LNG needing to travel all the way to the location of the heating tower 22 , and also avoids the heating tower 22 needing to be designed to handle LNG directly.
  • FIGS. 2-5 illustrate a preferred wet cooling tower that can be used in the circuit illustrated in FIG. 1 .
  • an exemplary closed loop heating tower 22 for heating the intermediate fluid is illustrated.
  • This tower 22 includes a basin 110 that collects a circulating open loop heat exchange liquid, such as, for example, as water with suitable additives.
  • the open loop liquid that is collected in the basin 110 is fed to an inlet (not visible in FIG. 2 ) that leads into an upper distribution assembly 112 illustrated in FIG. 5 .
  • the upper distribution assembly is not visible in FIG. 2 , but is disposed beneath a shroud/cover assembly 113 that provides the fan shroud and also covers the top of the tower 22 .
  • a shrouded top fan 114 is driven by a fan motor 115 and draws air upwards through the tower 22 .
  • a water distribution system 116 is provided near the top of the tower 22 and has spray heads 118 which spray the heat exchange liquid down over intermediate coils (described below) which then falls into the basin 110 .
  • FIG. 5 an example of an upper spray module system 116 is illustrated having a plurality of individual spray heads 118 arranged in an array.
  • the inside of the cooling tower includes, above the basin 110 , a lattice type framework 120 .
  • the lattice type framework supports a plurality of tube bundles 122 .
  • Each of the tube bundles has an inlet 124 and an outlet 126 .
  • the inlet and outlet may be reversed depending on application. For example, with direct vaporization of LNG, the liquid would be inserted at the bottom and the vaporized gas exited at the top.
  • the placement of inlet(s) and outlet(s) is by way of example only.
  • the intermediate fluid arriving via conduit 24 in FIG. 1 is fed into the inlets 124 .
  • the incoming intermediate fluid is relatively cool due to its having interacted with the heat exchanger 18 in order to vaporize the liquefied natural gas.
  • the cool intermediate fluid that enters ports 124 will generally be much colder than ambient atmospheric conditions.
  • the fluid entering at port 124 flows through a serpentine path in the tube bundles 122 and exits in a warmer temperature at outlet 126 .
  • the tube bundles 122 warm the intermediate fluid in several ways.
  • the tube bundles 122 are typically made of a heat conductive material, so that mere contact with the surrounding air tends to warm the intermediate fluid.
  • the illustrated example involves a heating tower 22 having spray modules 116 which are circulating open loop heat exchange fluid from the basin 110 so it is sprayed over the tube bundles 122 .
  • the open loop heat exchange fluid As the open loop heat exchange fluid is sprayed over the tube bundles 122 , it imparts some heat which it has picked up from the basin 110 and the ambient air.
  • the open loop heat exchange fluid that is sprayed is warmer than the intermediate fluid in the tube bundles 122 , and heats the tube bundles 122 further.
  • As the water drops off of the tube bundles 122 into the basin 110 it is relatively cool but it picks up heat by being in the basin 110 and also from contact with air around the basin 110 .
  • the fan 114 draws ambient air upwards, which enters the tower 22 under the tube bundles (the region supported by lattice framework 120 ) and above the basin 110 .
  • the air drawn in this space flows upward through the tube bundles 122 , thereby further adding heat to the tube bundles 122 .
  • This air becomes relatively cool and is exhausted out of the plenum by the fan 114 .
  • a heating tower 22 having an open loop heat exchange liquid sprayed onto a tube bundle 122 can be advantageously used to warm the fluid in the tube bundle 122 .
  • the fluid in the tube bundle 122 can be an intermediate liquid that is used then to provide warmth to a heat exchanger 18 that warms liquefied natural gas for vaporization.
  • the illustrated embodiment has two fluid loops, a first fluid loop on the LNG side, which passes the LNG through a side of the heat exchanger 18 A, and a second fluid loop using a warming fluid such as example a refrigerant or other fluid that passes through the heat exchanger side 18 B.
  • a warming fluid such as example a refrigerant or other fluid that passes through the heat exchanger side 18 B.
  • Heat is transferred from the relatively warmer side 18 B to the LNG side 18 A in order to vaporize the LNG.
  • the refrigerant in the second loop passes through the tube bundles 122 in the heating tower 22 .
  • the heating tower 22 itself has its own spray fluid, which may be water with chemical additives, which is being sprayed in an open loop fashion, so that it falls into a basin 110 and is recirculated. During this process, in many instances, some of the spray liquid may evaporate into the atmosphere, and thus a supply of make-up spray fluid is often required.
  • the invention may be utilized without the intermediate heat exchanger 18 .
  • any liquid or gas that is to be heated could be passed directly into the tube bundles 122 in the tower 22 , and a spray fluid can be applied over the tube bundles 122 in order to warm the liquid or gas that is in the tower 22 .
  • the described system including a spray type-warming tower utilized with closed circuit tube bundles 122 can be implemented in other applications, such as for example in the system described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/965,176, entitled “Power Generating System and Method.”
  • the extremely cold temperature of the LNG can cause freezing of the open loop fluid as the outside of the tubes forming the bundles.
  • some or all of the tubes can be insulated.
  • One example of such is to form the tubes to be a tube-within-a-tube with the liquid to be warmed traveling, therefore the central tube and the area between the tubes filled with a material such as for example a gas.
  • a gas for some applications is nitrogen
  • other methods to avoid freezing can include centralizing the amount of open loop water flow to be sufficient to replace or present icing, if the temperature gradient amount permits this.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
  • Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
US11/313,632 2004-09-17 2005-12-22 Fluid heating system and method Abandoned US20060196449A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/313,632 US20060196449A1 (en) 2004-09-17 2005-12-22 Fluid heating system and method
PCT/US2006/049067 WO2007076031A2 (fr) 2005-12-22 2006-12-21 Systeme de chauffage de fluide

Applications Claiming Priority (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/942,939 US7137619B2 (en) 2004-09-17 2004-09-17 Heating tower apparatus and method with wind direction adaptation
US10/942,940 US7137623B2 (en) 2004-09-17 2004-09-17 Heating tower apparatus and method with isolation of outlet and inlet air
US10/965,176 US7296413B2 (en) 2004-10-15 2004-10-15 Power generating system and method
US11/068,389 US7232116B2 (en) 2005-03-01 2005-03-01 Fluid cooler with evaporative heat exchanger and intermediate distribution
US11/068,387 US7364141B2 (en) 2005-03-01 2005-03-01 Fluid cooler with evaporative heat exchanger
US11/068,388 US7275735B2 (en) 2005-03-01 2005-03-01 Fan drive for fluid cooler with evaporative heat exchanger
US11/181,864 US7431270B2 (en) 2004-09-17 2005-07-15 Heating tower apparatus and method with wind direction adaptation
US11/181,863 US7320458B2 (en) 2004-09-17 2005-07-15 Heating tower apparatus and method with isolation of outlet and inlet air
US11/313,632 US20060196449A1 (en) 2004-09-17 2005-12-22 Fluid heating system and method

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US10/942,939 Continuation-In-Part US7137619B2 (en) 2004-09-17 2004-09-17 Heating tower apparatus and method with wind direction adaptation
US10/942,940 Continuation-In-Part US7137623B2 (en) 2004-09-17 2004-09-17 Heating tower apparatus and method with isolation of outlet and inlet air
US10/965,176 Continuation-In-Part US7296413B2 (en) 2004-09-17 2004-10-15 Power generating system and method
US11/068,387 Continuation-In-Part US7364141B2 (en) 2004-09-17 2005-03-01 Fluid cooler with evaporative heat exchanger
US11/068,388 Continuation-In-Part US7275735B2 (en) 2004-09-17 2005-03-01 Fan drive for fluid cooler with evaporative heat exchanger
US11/068,389 Continuation-In-Part US7232116B2 (en) 2004-09-17 2005-03-01 Fluid cooler with evaporative heat exchanger and intermediate distribution
US11/181,864 Continuation-In-Part US7431270B2 (en) 2004-09-17 2005-07-15 Heating tower apparatus and method with wind direction adaptation
US11/181,863 Continuation-In-Part US7320458B2 (en) 2004-09-17 2005-07-15 Heating tower apparatus and method with isolation of outlet and inlet air

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US20130291567A1 (en) * 2011-01-28 2013-11-07 Lalit Kumar Bohra Regasification Plant
US10088180B2 (en) 2013-11-26 2018-10-02 Dri-Steem Corporation Steam dispersion system
US10174960B2 (en) 2015-09-23 2019-01-08 Dri-Steem Corporation Steam dispersion system
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US9841200B2 (en) 2007-11-13 2017-12-12 Dri-Steem Corporation Heat exchanger for removal of condensate from a steam dispersion system
US20130291567A1 (en) * 2011-01-28 2013-11-07 Lalit Kumar Bohra Regasification Plant
US10088180B2 (en) 2013-11-26 2018-10-02 Dri-Steem Corporation Steam dispersion system
US10174960B2 (en) 2015-09-23 2019-01-08 Dri-Steem Corporation Steam dispersion system
US11199362B2 (en) * 2018-10-03 2021-12-14 Evapco, Inc. Modular counterflow cooling tower
US20220276007A1 (en) * 2018-10-03 2022-09-01 Evapco, Inc. Modular counterflow cooling tower
US11674756B2 (en) * 2018-10-03 2023-06-13 Evapco, Inc. Modular counterflow cooling tower
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