Method for vaporizing liquid propane and vaporizing apparatus used therefor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing naphtha cracking processes inefficiently utilize vaporization heat of liquid propane, leading to high energy consumption for additional vaporization and preheating, as the pressure is not sufficiently lowered during vaporization, limiting the refrigerant's effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A method involving decompression of liquid propane to lower its vaporization point, utilizing vaporization heat as a refrigerant, compressing the vaporized gas to increase pressure, and preheating the compressed gas, which includes a decompressing device, a heat-exchanger, a compressor, and a preheating device, such as using steam, to enhance flowability and reduce energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If liquid propane is decompressed to lower vaporization point, then vaporization heat utilization is improved, but additional compression equipment and process complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the phase transition of propane from liquid to vapor during decompression to generate cooling effect. By reducing pressure to below vaporization point, liquid propane automatically vaporizes and absorbs heat, providing refrigeration without additional energy input. This phase transition mechanism converts the decompression process itself into a heat utilization mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the propane material itself as the refrigerant medium. The decompressed propane vaporization process naturally provides the cooling effect needed, and the subsequent compression step restores the material to its usable state for injection. The material serves both as the process feedstock and as the refrigerant, eliminating the need for separate refrigerant systems.
2Temperature
If pressure is reduced to 1 kg/cm2 gauge or less for maximum refrigerant effect, then refrigerant temperature reaches -20° C. or less, but flowability of the decompressed gas may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The compression step is performed immediately after decompression while the propane is still in a cooled, dense state. This preliminary compression restores pressure and flowability before the propane needs to be injected into the reactor, ensuring that the material maintains proper flow characteristics throughout the process without compromising the refrigeration effect already achieved.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts pressure conditions in two stages: first reducing pressure to enable vaporization and refrigeration, then increasing pressure to restore flowability. This dynamic pressure management allows the propane to exhibit different physical properties at different process stages, optimizing both refrigeration effectiveness and flow characteristics.
3Use of energy by moving object
If decompression is performed to maximize vaporization, then energy consumption for preheating is reduced, but the overall process requires additional decompression and compression steps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the refrigeration function with the material preparation function. The decompression-compression cycle serves dual purposes: it provides the necessary refrigeration to cool the propane while simultaneously preparing the material for injection by controlling its phase and pressure state. This integration eliminates the need for separate refrigeration equipment and preheating systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The propane decompression-compression system performs multiple functions: it acts as a refrigeration system to cool the propane, a phase control system to manage vaporization, and a pressure regulation system to prepare the material for injection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated equipment and processes.
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 method significantly enhances the utilization of vaporization heat as a refrigerant, reducing energy consumption for vaporization and preheating, and maintaining flowability of the decompressed propane gas, thereby improving the overall efficiency of liquid propane vaporization in naphtha cracking processes.
Implementation Method 1
decompressing liquid propane to lower a vaporization point to vaporize at least a portion of the liquid propane
Implementation Method 2
utilizing vaporization heat based on vaporization of the liquid propane
Implementation Method 3
condensing the refrigerant vapor in the heat-exchanger to produce the condensed refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
compressing the vaporized propane gas to increase a pressure of a gas
Implementation Method 5
preheating the compressed propane gas
Data Source
AI summary
A method for vaporizing liquid propane to be supplied as a raw material to a naphtha cracking ractor. The method comprises: decompressing liquid propane to lower a vaporization point and vaporize at least a portion of the liquid propane; utilizing vaporization heat, generated during vaporization of the portion of liquid propane, as a refrigerant; compressing the vaporized propane gas to increase pressure of the propane gas and produce compressed propane gas; and preheating the compressed propane gas. By using this method, it is possible to reduce pressure of liquid propane to a significantly lower pressure than the related art method so that all the vaporization latent heat or vaporization heat included in liquid propane may be utilized as a refrigerant, while also reducing heat energy consumed in a preheat process before it is supplied to the naphtha cracking reactor.