Patent US3726085A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3726085A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Preventing thermal pollution of ambient water used as a process cooling medium
Assignee: Back Sivalls & Bryson Inc
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Filing: 1971-06-07
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Granted: 1973-04-10
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Expires: 1991-06-07
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to improvements in processes where a stream of liquefied cryogenic fluid is vaporized and superheated and utilized as fuel or the like, and one or more streams within the process are cooled. By the present invention, the stream of liquefied cryogenic fluid is passed in heat exchange relationship with a stream of ambient water so that the liquefied cryogenic fluid is vaporized and superheated and the water is cooled. The cooled stream of ambient water is then used to cool the one or more streams within the process so that the stream of ambient water is heated. The cooling and heating of the stream of ambient water are controlled so that the temperature of the stream exiting the process is substantially the same as the temperature of the stream entering the process thereby preventing thermal pollution of the ambient water source.
Inventors
- 👤 E Arenson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:14
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C9/00; F17C9/02; F01; F01K; F01K9/00; F01K9/003; F17C2265/00; F17C2265/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said cryogenic fluid is natural gas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
In a process wherein steam is generated by gas fired steam boiler apparatus and utilized to drive steam turbines or the like, the spent steam being condensed and recycled to the steam boiler apparatus and the fuel gas for said steam boiler apparatus being produced by vaporizing and superheating a stream of liquefied natural gas, the improvement in said process comprising: vaporizing and superheating said stream of liquefied natural gas by passing it in heat exchange relationship with a stream of ambient water so that the stream of ambient water is cooled; passing the cooled stream of ambient water in heat exchange relationship with said spent steam from said steam turbines so that said steam is condensed and the ambient water is heated; and controlling the cooling and heating of the stream of ambient water so that the temperature thereof exiting said process is substantially the same as the temperature thereof entering the process thereby preventing the thermal pollution of the ambient water source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the steam turbines are utilized for driving electric power generators.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
166 words
A process for vaporizing and superheating a stream of liquefied natural gas while simultaneously generating electric power, which comprises the steps of: passing the stream of liquefied natural gas in heat exchange relationship with a stream of ambient water so that the stream of liquefied natural gas is vaporized and superheated and the stream of ambient water is cooled; utilizing a portion of the vaporized and superheated natural gas as fuel for one or more steam boilers, said boilers generating steam utilized for driving one or more steam turbines which in turn drive one or more electric generators; condensing the spent steam exiting the steam turbines by passing the steam in heat exchange relationship with said cooled ambient water stream thereby heating the ambient water; and controlling the heating and cooling of the stream of ambient water so that the temperature thereof exiting said process is substantially the same as the temperature thereof entering the process thereby preventing the thermal pollution of the ambient water source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The process of claim 5 which is further characterized to include the steps of: utilizing a portion of the vaporized and superheated natural gas as fuel for one or more gas turbines, which gas turbines drive electric generators; and exchanging heat between the hot exhaust gases generated by said gas turbines and the stream of vaporized and superheated natural gas to further superheat said natural gas to a desired temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 6 which is further characterized to include the steps of: passing a portion of the vaporized and superheated natural gas in heat exchange relationship with the input air to said gas turbine so that the air is cooled thereby increasing the power output of said turbine.
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) | 1976-04-09 | 1976-10-09 | 1977-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-09 | 1980-10-09 | 1981-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-09 | 1984-10-09 | 1985-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |