Patent US4126700A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4428202A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4428202A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrical power generation by fractionation column reboiler
Assignee: Honeywell UOP LLC
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Filing: 1982-07-01
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Granted: 1984-01-31
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Expires: 2002-07-01
Abstract
Abstract A process is disclosed for driving a turbine, which preferably is connected to an electrical generator, using energy supplied by the reboiler system of a fractionation column. The portion of the bottoms liquid of the column which is to be recycled through the reboiler is pressurized by a pump, and the high pressure liquid is heated and vaporized or brought to a supercritical state in the reboiler. The resultant high temperature stream is then depressurized through the turbine down to the desired pressure and temperature of the vapor stream used to reboil the column. The process is an extremely efficient method of generating electrical energy in a petroleum refinery or petrochemical installation.
Inventors
- 👤 Don B. Carson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:58
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D3/00; B01D3/007; B01D3/14; B01D3/32; B01D3/322; F; F01; F01K; F01K3/00; F01K3/18; F01K3/185; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E20/00; Y02E20/14; Y10; Y10S; Y10S203/00; Y10S203/21; Y10S203/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A process for generating useful mechanical power which comprises the steps of: (a) passing at least a portion of a liquid stream removed from a lower porton of a fractionation column through a reboiler means operated at a significantly higher pressure than the fractionation column and thereby forming a reboiler effluent stream; (b) depressurizing the reboiler effluent stream in a turbine and thereby recovering useful mechanical power and also producing a turbine effluent stream; and, (c) passing the turbine effluent stream into the fractionation column to thereby reboil the fractionation column.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
A process for generating useful mechanical power which comprises the steps of: (a) passing at least a portion of a liquid stream removed from a lower porton of a fractionation column through a reboiler means operated at a significantly higher pressure than the fractionation column and thereby forming a reboiler effluent stream; (b) depressurizing the reboiler effluent stream in a turbine and thereby recovering useful mechanical power and also producing a turbine effluent stream; and, (c) passing the turbine effluent stream into the fractionation column to thereby reboil the fractionation column.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 further characterized in that the mechanical power recovered from the turbine is used to operate an electrical generator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 further characterized in that the bottoms liquid stream is substantially free of any hydrocarbonaceous compound having a boiling point above above about 550° F.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 further characterized in that the bottoms liquid stream is rich in a C 3 to C 8 hydrocarbon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 further characterized in that the reboiler effluent stream has a temperature at least 20 Centigrade degrees above the temperature of the turbine effluent stream.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
A process for driving a turbine which comprises the steps of: (a) pressurizing at least a portion of a liquid stream removed from a lower portion of a fractionation column to a pressure at least 100 psig higher than the operating pressure at the bottom of the fractionation column and thereby forming a high pressure liquid stream; (b) heating the high pressure liquid stream to thereby form a high temperature fluid stream having a temperature at least 20 Centigrade degrees higher than the operating temperature at the bottom of the fractionation column; (c) driving a turbine by depressurizing the high temperature fluid stream through the turbine, and thereby forming a turbine effluent stream; and, (d) passing the turbine effluent stream into a lower portion of the fractionation column.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
A process for driving a turbine which comprises the steps of: (a) pressurizing at least a portion of a liquid stream removed from a lower portion of a fractionation column to a pressure at least 100 psig higher than the operating pressure at the bottom of the fractionation column and thereby forming a high pressure liquid stream; (b) heating the high pressure liquid stream to thereby form a high temperature fluid stream having a temperature at least 20 Centigrade degrees higher than the operating temperature at the bottom of the fractionation column; (c) driving a turbine by depressurizing the high temperature fluid stream through the turbine, and thereby forming a turbine effluent stream; and, (d) passing the turbine effluent stream into a lower portion of the fractionation column.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 6 further characterized in that the liquid stream removed from a lower portion of the fractionation column is substantially free of any hydrocarbonaceous compound having a boiling point above about 550° F.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 6 further characterized in that the bottoms liquid stream is rich in a C 3 to C 8 hydrocarbon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 6 further characterized in that the rotational energy delivered by the turbine is used to generate electricity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The process of claim 6 further characterized in that the high temperature fluid stream has a temperature at least 30 Centigrade degrees above the temperature of the liquid stream removed from the fractionation column and a pressure at least 150 psig above the operating pressure at the bottom of the fractionation column.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 10 further characterized in that the high pressure liquid stream is vaporized and heated in the reboiler of the fractionation column.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 11 further characterized in that the high pressure liquid stream is brought to a supercritical state within the reboiler of the fractionation column.
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) | 1987-01-30 | 1987-08-01 | 1988-01-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-01-30 | 1991-08-01 | 1992-01-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-01-30 | 1995-08-01 | 1996-01-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |