US4267701A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Helium liquefaction plant
Assignee: PROCESS SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL Inc A CORP OF MASSACHUSETTS
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Filing: 1979-11-09
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Granted: 1981-05-19
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Expires: 1999-11-09
Abstract
Abstract In a helium liquefaction plant, a compressor includes first, second and third stages and a precooling section includes first, second and third turboexpanders in series between high and low pressure lines of a heat exchanger. A portion of the medium pressure gas at the output of the second turboexpander is directed back through the heat exchanger and mixed with the output of the first compressor stage. The third turboexpander is positioned between the medium and low pressure lines.
Inventors
- 👤 William M. Toscano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:01
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J1/00; F25J1/02; F25J1/0243; F25J1/0279; F25J1/0294; F25J1/0002; F25J1/0005; F25J1/0007; F25J1/003; F25J1/0032; F25J1/0035; F25J1/0037; F25J1/004; F25J1/0042; F25J1/0201; F25J1/0202; F25J1/0257; F25J1/0258; F25J2220/00; F25J2220/02; F25J2240/00; F25J2240/40; F25J2270/00; F25J2270/04; F25J2270/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
In a liquefaction plant of the type in which gas in a high pressure line from a compressor section is precooled by gas in medium and low pressure lines and is liquified in a liquifying stage, some high pressure gas is expanded and returned to the compressor section through the medium pressure line, and gas from the liquifying stage is returned to the compressor section through the low pressure line, the improvement of: an expander between the medium and low pressure lines for further cooling a portion of the medium pressure gas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a liquefaction plant of the type in which gas in a high pressure line from a compressor section is precooled by gas in medium and low pressure lines and is liquified in a liquifying stage, some high pressure gas is expanded and returned to the compressor section through the medium pressure line, and gas from the liquifying stage is returned to the compressor section through the low pressure line, the improvement of: an expander between the medium and low pressure lines for further cooling a portion of the medium pressure gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement in a liquefaction plant as claimed in claim 1 wherein the expanders are turboexpanders.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improvement in a liquefaction plant as claimed in claim 1 in which medium pressure gas is further cooled by heat exchange with low pressure gas before it is directed to the expander between the medium and low pressure lines.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
142 words
A helium liquifying plant for continuously providing liquid helium comprising: a heat exchanger for precooling a first stream of compressed helium gas through heat exchange with cooler, lower pressure gas; a helium liquifying expansion element for expanding the precooled gas to form a cold mixture of helium liquid and low pressure gas; a medium pressure gas expander for expanding and cooling a second stream of compressed gas to a medium pressure gas; a low pressure gas expander for further expanding and cooling some of the medium pressure gas to a low pressure; a first compressor stage for compressing the low pressure gas from the first stream of gas and the low pressure gas from the low pressure expander; and a second compressor stage for compressing the output of the first compressor stage and medium pressure gas from the medium pressure gas expander.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
142 words
A helium liquifying plant for continuously providing liquid helium comprising: a heat exchanger for precooling a first stream of compressed helium gas through heat exchange with cooler, lower pressure gas; a helium liquifying expansion element for expanding the precooled gas to form a cold mixture of helium liquid and low pressure gas; a medium pressure gas expander for expanding and cooling a second stream of compressed gas to a medium pressure gas; a low pressure gas expander for further expanding and cooling some of the medium pressure gas to a low pressure; a first compressor stage for compressing the low pressure gas from the first stream of gas and the low pressure gas from the low pressure expander; and a second compressor stage for compressing the output of the first compressor stage and medium pressure gas from the medium pressure gas expander.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A helium liquifying plant as claimed in claim 4 wherein the expanders are turboexpanders.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A helium liquifying plant as claimed in claim 4 further including another expander in series with the medium pressure expander for expanding compressed helium gas and directing that expanded gas to the medium pressure expander.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A helium liquifying plant as claimed in claim 4 wherein the medium pressure gas directed to the low pressure expander is first further cooled by heat exchange with low pressure gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
A helium liquefaction plant with a warm end compressor section, a precooling heat exchanger and expander section and a cold end liquifying section, the improvement of: a compressor comprising first, second and third compressor stages; the precooling section comprising first, second and third turboexpanders positioned in series between high and low pressure lines in the heat exchangers, with a portion of the output from the second stage directed through the heat exchanger toward the warm end and mixed with the output of the first compressor stage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
A helium liquefaction plant with a warm end compressor section, a precooling heat exchanger and expander section and a cold end liquifying section, the improvement of: a compressor comprising first, second and third compressor stages; the precooling section comprising first, second and third turboexpanders positioned in series between high and low pressure lines in the heat exchangers, with a portion of the output from the second stage directed through the heat exchanger toward the warm end and mixed with the output of the first compressor stage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A helium liquefaction plant as claimed in claim 8 wherein the gas directed to the second and third turboexpanders is first cooled in intermediate pressure lines in the heat exchanger.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of refrigerating comprising the steps of: precooling a first stream of compressed helium in a heat exchanger and expanding the precooled gas to form a cold mixture of helium liquid and low pressure gas; cooling a second stream of compressed helium gas in two expansion engines in series to a medium pressure gas; further cooling a portion of the second stream of gas in another expansion engine to a low pressure gas; using medium pressure gas, the further cooled low pressure portion of the second stream and the low pressure gas from the first stream to precool the first stream of compressed helium gas in said heat exchanger; compressing the low pressure gas from the first stream of gas and the low pressure portion of the second stream of gas in a first compressor stage; and compressing the output of the first compressor stage and medium pressure gas from the second stream in a second compressor stage.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of refrigerating comprising the steps of: precooling a first stream of compressed helium in a heat exchanger and expanding the precooled gas to form a cold mixture of helium liquid and low pressure gas; cooling a second stream of compressed helium gas in two expansion engines in series to a medium pressure gas; further cooling a portion of the second stream of gas in another expansion engine to a low pressure gas; using medium pressure gas, the further cooled low pressure portion of the second stream and the low pressure gas from the first stream to precool the first stream of compressed helium gas in said heat exchanger; compressing the low pressure gas from the first stream of gas and the low pressure portion of the second stream of gas in a first compressor stage; and compressing the output of the first compressor stage and medium pressure gas from the second stream in a second compressor stage.
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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) | 1984-05-18 | 1984-11-17 | 1985-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-05-18 | 1988-11-17 | 1989-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-05-18 | 1992-11-17 | 1993-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |