US3892103A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquefying refrigerant for water desalination with liquefied natural gas and an intermediate energy cycle
Assignee: Nuovo Pignone SpA
•
Filing: 1973-06-12
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Granted: 1975-07-01
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Expires: 1993-06-12
Abstract
Abstract Desalted water is produced through a process in which liquified natural gas is converted to the vapor state with the release therefrom of refrigeration units which are transferred, through a closed refrigerant fluid circuit, to a higher hydrocarbon in the vapor state, which hydrocarbon is converted to the liquid state and delivers to the water to be desalted, in a desalination plant, the refrigeration units necessary for desalination. The closed refrigerant fluid circuit includes a heat exchanger for the absorption of refrigeration units from the liquified natural gas, a boiler for the absorption of heat from the higher hydrocarbons, a superheater for the transfer of heat from a source such as water to the refrigerant fluid, and a turbine through which energy in the heated refrigerant fluid may be delivered to a compressor for the higher hydrocarbon.
Inventors
- 👤 Attilio Antonelli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:49
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/22; F; F17; F17C; F17C9/00; F17C9/02; F17C9/04; C02F2103/00; C02F2103/08; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/03; F17C2221/032; F17C2221/033; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/0161; F17C2227/00; F17C2227/03; F17C2227/0302; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/124
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
IN A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING DESALTED WATER WHEREIN LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS IS CONVERTED TO THE VAPOR STATE AND REFRIGERATION UNITS ARE RELEASED THEREFROM AND TRANSFERRED TO A HIGHER HYDROCARBON IN THE VAPOR STATE WHICH IS CONVERTED TO THE LIQUID STATE AND THEN DELIVERS TO WATER TO BE DESALINATED AND REFRIGERATION UNITS NECESSARY FOR DESALINATION, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES TRANSFERRING SAID REFRIGERATION UNITS FROM THE LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS TO SAID HIGHER HYDROCARBON BY MEANS OF AT LEAST ONE CLOSED ENERGY FLUID CIRCUIT WHICH IN-
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
IN A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING DESALTED WATER WHEREIN LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS IS CONVERTED TO THE VAPOR STATE AND REFRIGERATION UNITS ARE RELEASED THEREFROM AND TRANSFERRED TO A HIGHER HYDROCARBON IN THE VAPOR STATE WHICH IS CONVERTED TO THE LIQUID STATE AND THEN DELIVERS TO WATER TO BE DESALINATED AND REFRIGERATION UNITS NECESSARY FOR DESALINATION, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES TRANSFERRING SAID REFRIGERATION UNITS FROM THE LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS TO SAID HIGHER HYDROCARBON BY MEANS OF AT LEAST ONE CLOSED ENERGY FLUID CIRCUIT WHICH IN-
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process for producing desalted water as claimed in claim 1 wheein the higher hydrocarbon is butane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Process for producing desalted water, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of closed circuits transfer refrigeration units from liquified natural gas to a higher hydrocarbon and also exchange thermally among themselves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Process as claimed in claim 3 wherein the thermal exchange between said closed circuits is realized in parallel current.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Process as claimed in claim 4, wherein said water is obtained for melting of the ice produced by the plant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Process as in claim 3, wherein the closed circuits also exchange thermally with water available in the plant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
Process as claimed in claim 6, wherein the thermal exchange with water is in countercurrent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
Process for producing desalted water as claimed in claim 1, wherein in addition to the transfer of refrigeration units from liquified natural gas to a higher hydrocarbon through a closed energy refrigerant fluid circuit, a simple exchange of refrigeration units from the liquified natural gas to the higher hydrocarbon is effected through a heat exchanger so that the total quantity of refrigeration units delivered to the higher hydrocarbons is a multiple of that delivered by simple transfer thereto from the liquified natural gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
Process for providing desalted water as claimed in claim 8, wherein a plurality of closed energy fluid circuits transferring refrigeration units from liquified natural gas to the higher hydrocarbon are connected in heat exchange relationship with each other and with said heat exchanger in series so that the temperature of the liquified natural gas is progressively raised to a temperature near the ambient temperature.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
Process for providing desalted water as claimed in claim 9, wherein the turbines contained in all of said closed energy fluid circuits are connected to a shaft driving a compressor for said higher hydrocarbon.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-30 | 1978-12-30 | 1979-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-30 | 1982-12-30 | 1983-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-30 | 1986-12-30 | 1987-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |