Combined multi-stream heat exchanger and conditioner/control unit

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for heating and cooling portions of a fluid are provided. The method may include flowing a stream of a fluid through a heat exchanger, separating a liquid component from the stream of the fluid, flowing the liquid component through the heat exchanger, and redirecting the flow of the stream back through the heat exchanger, thereby cooling the initial stream of fluid flowing through the heat exchanger and heating the liquid component flowing through the heat exchanger. The apparatus may include a housing, a heat exchanger disposed within the housing, a refrigeration system in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, and a control system in fluid communication with the heat exchanger.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 186,361, which was filed on Jun. 11, 2009, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 372,604, which was filed on Feb. 17, 2009, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]Embodiments of the invention relate to methods and apparatus for treating a fluid, and in particular to heating and cooling portions of the fluid. Embodiments of the invention also relate to a fuel gas conditioning unit. Embodiments of the invention further relate to a dew point control unit. In addition, embodiments of the invention relate to a combination of a multi-stream heat exchanger and a fuel gas conditioning unit or a dew point control unit.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Modern lean burn gas fueled engines are sensitive to the gas heating value. Hi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]In one embodiment, a method of treating a fluid comprises flowing a stream of a fluid through a first coil of a heat exchanger, separating a liquid component from the stream of fluid, flowing the liquid component through a second coil of the heat exchanger, and flowing the stream of the fluid leaving the first coil over the first coil and the second coil, thereby cooling the stream of fluid flowing through the first coil and heating the liquid component flowing through the second coil.

[0015]In one embodiment, a method of reducing a heating value of a natural gas stream comprises flowing the natural gas stream through a first coil of a heat exchanger, cooling the natural gas stream, thereby separating a liquid portion of the natural gas stream having a greater heat value than the rest of the cooled natural gas stream, flowing the liquid portion through a second coil of the heat exchanger, flowing the cooled natural gas stream over the first and second coils, heating the cooled natural gas stream flowing over the first and second coils using the natural gas stream flowing through the first coil, and heating the liquid portion flowing through the second coil using the heated natural gas stream flowing over the first and second coils.

[0018]In one embodiment, a method of treating a fluid comprises flowing the fluid through a first coil of a heat exchanger, flowing a refrigerant stream through a refrigeration coil of a refrigeration system, flowing the fluid across the refrigeration coil, thereby separating the fluid into a gas component and a liquid component, flowing the liquid component through a second coil of the heat exchanger, and flowing the gas component over the first coil and the second coil, thereby cooling the stream of the fluid flowing through the first coil and heating the liquid component flowing through the second coil.

Problems solved by technology

High BTU gas can quickly damage major engine components and dramatically increase maintenance cost.

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