US3282059A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of purging heat exchangers of solidified impurities in the liquefaction of natural gas
Assignee: Chicago Bridge and Iron Co
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Filing: 1964-01-21
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Granted: 1966-11-01
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Expires: 1984-01-21
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 James B Maher
- 👤 Mair James
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:05
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J1/00; F25J1/0002; F25J1/0022; F25J1/003; F25J1/0032; F25J1/004; F25J1/02; F25J1/0243; F25J1/0244; F25J1/0245; F25J1/0248; F25J1/0257; F25J1/0262; F25J1/0269; F25J1/0271; F25J1/0272; F25J2205/00; F25J2205/20; F25J2220/00; F25J2220/60; F25J2220/64; F25J2220/66; F25J2220/68; F25J2280/00; F25J2280/40; F25J2290/00; F25J2290/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
THE METHOD OF LIQUEFYING NATURAL GAS WHICH COMPRISES SUBJECTING AN INCOMING STREAM OF NATURAL GAS TO REFRIGERATION MEANS TO SUBTANTIALLY COOL THE GAS AND PLACE IT UNDER HIGH PRESSURE, PASSING THE GAS THROUGH THE TUBE SIDE ALTERNATELY THROUGH ONE AND THEN THE OTHER OF TWO SIMILAR FINAL HEAT EXCHANGERS PLACED IN PARALLEL ARRANGEMENT JUST PRIOR TO LIQUEFYING THE GAS AND COOLED ON THE SHELL SIDE TO A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE TEMPERATURE OF INCOMING GAS, FLASHING THE GAS AFTER IT LEAVES SAID FINAL HEAT EXCHANGER TO LIQUEFY THE GAS, CONVEYING THE FLUID GAS TO A STORAGE TANK, CONVEYING COOLED NATURAL GAS ALTERNATELY THROUGH ONE AND THEN THE OTHER OF SAID FINAL HEAT EXCHANGERS COOLED ON THE SHELL SIDE TO A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE TEMPERATURE OF INCOMING GAS ON THE TUBE SIDE SO THAT IMPURITIES NORMALLY PRESENT IN THE NATURAL GAS ARE SOLIDIFIED AND ADHERE TO THE TUBE SIDE SURFACES OF THE HEAT EXCHANGER, CIRCULATING NATURAL GAS FROM THE FEED SOURCE ALTERNATELY THROUGH ONE AND THEN THE OTHER OF SAID FINAL HEAT EXCHANGERS WHEN NOT IN USE IN THE LIQUEFACTION SYSTEM TO VAPORIZE SOLIDS THEREIN, THEREBY REMOVING THE VAPORIZED SOLIDS FROM THE HEAT EXCHANGER, AND CONVEYING THE CIRCULATING NATURAL GAS CONTAINING THE VAPORIZED SOLIDS BACK TO SAID INCOMING STREAM PRECEDING SAID REFRIGERATION MEANS AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE FOR SUBSEQUENT LIQUEFACTION.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
220 words
THE METHOD OF LIQUEFYING NATURAL GAS WHICH COMPRISES SUBJECTING AN INCOMING STREAM OF NATURAL GAS TO REFRIGERATION MEANS TO SUBTANTIALLY COOL THE GAS AND PLACE IT UNDER HIGH PRESSURE, PASSING THE GAS THROUGH THE TUBE SIDE ALTERNATELY THROUGH ONE AND THEN THE OTHER OF TWO SIMILAR FINAL HEAT EXCHANGERS PLACED IN PARALLEL ARRANGEMENT JUST PRIOR TO LIQUEFYING THE GAS AND COOLED ON THE SHELL SIDE TO A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE TEMPERATURE OF INCOMING GAS, FLASHING THE GAS AFTER IT LEAVES SAID FINAL HEAT EXCHANGER TO LIQUEFY THE GAS, CONVEYING THE FLUID GAS TO A STORAGE TANK, CONVEYING COOLED NATURAL GAS ALTERNATELY THROUGH ONE AND THEN THE OTHER OF SAID FINAL HEAT EXCHANGERS COOLED ON THE SHELL SIDE TO A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE TEMPERATURE OF INCOMING GAS ON THE TUBE SIDE SO THAT IMPURITIES NORMALLY PRESENT IN THE NATURAL GAS ARE SOLIDIFIED AND ADHERE TO THE TUBE SIDE SURFACES OF THE HEAT EXCHANGER, CIRCULATING NATURAL GAS FROM THE FEED SOURCE ALTERNATELY THROUGH ONE AND THEN THE OTHER OF SAID FINAL HEAT EXCHANGERS WHEN NOT IN USE IN THE LIQUEFACTION SYSTEM TO VAPORIZE SOLIDS THEREIN, THEREBY REMOVING THE VAPORIZED SOLIDS FROM THE HEAT EXCHANGER, AND CONVEYING THE CIRCULATING NATURAL GAS CONTAINING THE VAPORIZED SOLIDS BACK TO SAID INCOMING STREAM PRECEDING SAID REFRIGERATION MEANS AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE FOR SUBSEQUENT LIQUEFACTION.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1969-10-31 | 1970-05-02 | 1970-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1973-10-31 | 1974-05-02 | 1974-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1977-10-31 | 1978-05-02 | 1978-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |