US4575386A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of liquefying a gas and liquefier for carrying out the method
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1984-09-17
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Granted: 1986-03-11
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Expires: 2004-09-17
Abstract
Abstract A method of liquefying a gas comprises precooling such gas at a first, superatmospheric pressure in a first heat exchanger; and introducing the precooled gas into a cryogenerator to effect condensation thereof. The resulting saturated liquid-wet vapor mixture is passed to a liquid separator and then to a second heat exchanger maintained in a bath of such liquid contained in a thermally isolated reservoir to effect sub-cooling of the saturated liquid and condensation of the wet vapor and sub-cooling of the resulting condensate at a second pressure, such sub-cooling and such condensation resulting in evaporation of a portion of the liquid bath in the reservoir. The sub-cooling is regulated by adjusting the second pressure between a maximum corresponding to the first, superatmospheric pressure and a minimum corresponding to the pressure in the reservoir. The vapor resulting from such evaporation is passed to the first heat exchanger to effect the precooling. Liquid is added from the condensate stream after the liquid separator to the liquid bath to replenish the evaporated liquid.
Inventors
- 👤 Leo J. M. Hamers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:42
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J1/00; F25J1/02; F25J1/0243; F25J1/0257; F25J1/0275; F25J1/0276; F25J1/0002; F25J1/0012; F25J1/0015; F25J1/003; F25J1/0032; F25J1/004; F25J1/0045; F25J1/0225; F25J2205/00; F25J2205/40; F25J2205/60; F25J2210/00; F25J2210/40; F25J2270/00; F25J2270/90; F25J2270/908; F25J2290/00; F25J2290/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of liquefying a gas, which comprises precooling such gas at a first, superatmospheric pressure in a first heat exchanger; introducing the precooled gas into a cryogenerator to effect condensation thereof; passing the resulting saturated liquid-wet vapour mixture to a liquid separator and thence to a second heat exchanger maintained in a bath of such liquid contained in a thermally isolated reservoir to effect sub-cooling of the saturated liquid and condensation of the wet vapour and sub-cooling of the resulting condensate at a second pressure, said sub-cooling and said condensation resulting in evaporation of a portion of the liquid bath in the reservoir; regulating said sub-cooling by adjusting the second pressure between a maximum corresponding to said first, superatmospheric pressure and a minimum corresponding to the pressure in the reservoir; passing the vapour resulting from said evaporation to the first heat exchanger to effect said precooling; and adding liquid from the condensate stream after the liquid separator to the liquid bath to replenish the evaporated liquid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of liquefying a gas, which comprises precooling such gas at a first, superatmospheric pressure in a first heat exchanger; introducing the precooled gas into a cryogenerator to effect condensation thereof; passing the resulting saturated liquid-wet vapour mixture to a liquid separator and thence to a second heat exchanger maintained in a bath of such liquid contained in a thermally isolated reservoir to effect sub-cooling of the saturated liquid and condensation of the wet vapour and sub-cooling of the resulting condensate at a second pressure, said sub-cooling and said condensation resulting in evaporation of a portion of the liquid bath in the reservoir; regulating said sub-cooling by adjusting the second pressure between a maximum corresponding to said first, superatmospheric pressure and a minimum corresponding to the pressure in the reservoir; passing the vapour resulting from said evaporation to the first heat exchanger to effect said precooling; and adding liquid from the condensate stream after the liquid separator to the liquid bath to replenish the evaporated liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, in which liquid from the condensate stream is added to the liquid bath after the second heat exchanger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the pressure in the reservoir is atmospheric pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 1, which includes conducting a gaseous mixture at said first, superatmospheric pressure to a molecular sieve, a first gas fraction passing through said sieve and a second gas fraction being absorbed by said sieve, said first gas fraction constituting the gas precooled in said first heat exchanger.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
284 words
Apparatus for liquefying a gas, which comprises a thermally isolated reservoir containing a bath of liquefied gas; a thermally isolated first heat exchanger, a liquid separator, a second heat exchanger, a pressure controller, and a liquid-level controller positioned in said reservoir, said second heat exchanger being maintained in said liquefied gas bath; a cryogenerator arranged outside the reservoir; means to introduce said gas at a first, superatmospheric pressure into said first heat exchanger to precool such gas; a first lead for passing the precooled gas from the first heat exchanger to the cryogenerator to effect condensation of said gas; a second lead connecting the cryogenerator with the liquid separator and a third lead connecting the liquid separator with the second heat exchanger for passing the resulting saturated liquid-wet vapour mixture through the liquid separator and thence to the second heat exchanger to effect sub-cooling of the saturated liquid and condensation of the wet vapour and sub-cooling of the resulting condensate at a second pressure, said sub-cooling and said condensation resulting in evaporation of a portion of the liquefied gas bath; a fourth lead from the second heat exchanger to the pressure controller and thence to the exterior of the reservoir, said pressure controller regulating the sub-cooling by adjusting the second pressure between a maximum corresponding to said first, superatmospheric pressure and a minimum corresponding to the pressure in the reservoir; means for passing the vapour resulting from said evaporation to the first heat exchanger to effect the precooling and thence to the exterior of the reservoir; and a fifth lead connecting the liquid-level controller with the third lead-fourth lead system to permit supplying liquid to the liquefied gas bath to replenish the evaporated liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
284 words
Apparatus for liquefying a gas, which comprises a thermally isolated reservoir containing a bath of liquefied gas; a thermally isolated first heat exchanger, a liquid separator, a second heat exchanger, a pressure controller, and a liquid-level controller positioned in said reservoir, said second heat exchanger being maintained in said liquefied gas bath; a cryogenerator arranged outside the reservoir; means to introduce said gas at a first, superatmospheric pressure into said first heat exchanger to precool such gas; a first lead for passing the precooled gas from the first heat exchanger to the cryogenerator to effect condensation of said gas; a second lead connecting the cryogenerator with the liquid separator and a third lead connecting the liquid separator with the second heat exchanger for passing the resulting saturated liquid-wet vapour mixture through the liquid separator and thence to the second heat exchanger to effect sub-cooling of the saturated liquid and condensation of the wet vapour and sub-cooling of the resulting condensate at a second pressure, said sub-cooling and said condensation resulting in evaporation of a portion of the liquefied gas bath; a fourth lead from the second heat exchanger to the pressure controller and thence to the exterior of the reservoir, said pressure controller regulating the sub-cooling by adjusting the second pressure between a maximum corresponding to said first, superatmospheric pressure and a minimum corresponding to the pressure in the reservoir; means for passing the vapour resulting from said evaporation to the first heat exchanger to effect the precooling and thence to the exterior of the reservoir; and a fifth lead connecting the liquid-level controller with the third lead-fourth lead system to permit supplying liquid to the liquefied gas bath to replenish the evaporated liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, in which the fifth lead connects the liquid-level controller with the fourth lead after the second heat exchanger.
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) | 1989-03-10 | 1989-09-09 | 1990-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-10 | 1993-09-09 | 1994-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-10 | 1997-09-09 | 1998-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |