Efficient gas hydrate production system using flue gas waste heat / solar absorption heat pump to compensate reservoir heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods lack effective reservoir heat compensation during marine natural gas hydrate exploitation, leading to inefficient decomposition and production due to temperature-related challenges.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a flue gas waste heat/solar absorption heat pump to generate high-grade heat, utilizing a heat source absorption system, heat pump heating system, and reservoir heat compensation system to maintain reservoir temperature through a network of heat exchangers, solar collectors, and injection wells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If natural gas hydrate decomposition is performed in the reservoir, then natural gas is produced, but the reservoir temperature decreases due to the endothermic reaction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the waste heat from offshore generator exhaust gas, which would otherwise be discarded, into a useful resource for heating the reservoir. The absorption heat pump system uses this low-grade waste heat to generate high-temperature heated water that compensates for the temperature drop caused by hydrate decomposition, thereby maintaining production efficiency while utilizing previously wasted energy
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the reservoir by introducing an external heat compensation system. The absorption heat pump raises the temperature of circulating water using waste heat, then injects this heated water into the reservoir to maintain the temperature required for continuous and efficient hydrate decomposition
2Loss of energy
If flue gas waste heat is used directly for heating, then energy is saved, but the temperature is insufficient for effective hydrate decomposition
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an absorption heat pump as an intermediary device between the waste heat source and the reservoir. This heat pump uses a working fluid pair (absorbent and refrigerant) to transfer and amplify thermal energy, converting low-temperature waste heat into high-temperature heated water suitable for reservoir heating, thereby bridging the temperature gap
Solution Approach 2:
The absorption heat pump utilizes phase transitions of the working fluid (evaporation, condensation, absorption, and desorption) to transfer and concentrate thermal energy. The refrigerant evaporates at low temperature absorbing heat from waste gas, then condenses at higher temperature to release heat to the circulating water, effectively upgrading the thermal energy temperature level
3Use of energy by moving object
If solar energy is used for heating, then renewable energy is utilized, but the energy grade is low and unstable due to weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges two heat sources - flue gas waste heat and solar energy - into a unified heating system. The absorption heat pump can utilize either or both sources depending on availability, creating a hybrid system that combines the stability of waste heat with the renewable nature of solar energy, thereby improving overall system reliability while maintaining sustainability
Solution Approach 2:
The heat source absorption system is designed with multi-functionality to accept different types of low-grade heat sources. The system can switch between utilizing flue gas waste heat, solar energy, or both simultaneously, making the system adaptable to varying operational conditions and ensuring continuous heat supply for reservoir compensation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the efficiency of natural gas hydrate decomposition by providing consistent reservoir heat, facilitating rapid and continuous production while utilizing low-grade heat energy from offshore platforms and solar energy.
Implementation Method 1
the circulating water heated by the hot flue gas in the flue gas heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
the circulating water heated by the hot flue gas in the flue gas heat exchanger flows through the first flow regulating valve
Implementation Method 3
The solar heat collector 6 is used for heating the low-temperature circulating water
Implementation Method 4
solar energy is rich in marine environment
Implementation Method 5
Absorption heat pump is a kind of equipment which can transfer heat from low temperature to high temperature with thermal energy as compensation
Implementation Method 6
heat pump heating system 2 is mainly composed of a generator module, condenser module, absorber module and evaporator module
Implementation Method 7
injection well module comprises a hot water storage tank 21, injection pump 22, injection well 27
Data Source
AI summary
An efficient gas hydrate production system using flue gas waste heat/solar absorption heat pump to compensate reservoir heat, includes a heat source absorption system, heat pump heating system and reservoir heat compensation system. The invention uses the low-grade heat energy of offshore platform to solve the problems of heat source and energy consumption in the process of natural gas hydrate exploitation. It provides a commercial feasible scheme for large-scale exploitation of natural gas hydrate. The condenser module, evaporator module and injection well module of the invention can be flexibly increased or decreased, and can adapt to a variety of actual hydrate reservoir distribution; the injection well module adopts ball-nozzle, which can disperse and evenly inject the hot injected water into the reservoir, which is convenient for the rapid and effective transfer of reservoir heat and improves the speed of reservoir heat compensation.