Quench system for a refrigeration cycle of a liquefied natural gas facility and method of quenching
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Solution Overview
Problem
LNG facilities face instability and risk of damage due to two-phase flow in quench systems, requiring manual operator intervention and reducing the system's ability to respond automatically to changing conditions.
Innovation Solution
A quench system that maintains the quench fluid in a liquid state throughout the quench fluid line, using a quench fluid supply structure, cooler vessel, and control valve to route the fluid to a refrigerant suction drum, eliminating two-phase flow and enhancing automatic control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If two-phase quench fluid is routed to quench injection nozzles, then cooling effect is provided, but system instability occurs and operator intervention is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling of the quench fluid in a cooler vessel before it reaches the injection nozzles, ensuring the fluid is fully condensed into liquid phase before injection. This preliminary action prevents two-phase flow instability at the nozzles while maintaining effective cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
A cooler vessel is introduced as an intermediary component between the quench fluid source and the injection nozzles. This intermediary ensures phase homogenization by completely condensing the quench fluid before it enters the injection system, eliminating instability caused by two-phase flow.
2Use of energy by moving object
If two-phase flow is used in quench system, then cooling capacity is maintained, but risk of damage to compressors and mechanical seals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The quench fluid is pre-cooled and fully condensed in the cooler vessel before reaching the compressors and injection nozzles. This preliminary phase transformation ensures that only liquid quench fluid contacts the mechanical components, eliminating the damaging effects of two-phase flow while preserving cooling capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooler vessel serves as an intermediary that transforms the quench fluid from a two-phase state to a single liquid phase before it interacts with critical components. This mediation protects compressors and mechanical seals from the harmful effects of two-phase flow while maintaining the necessary cooling function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual operator intervention is required for quench control, then system can handle complex conditions, but automatic response capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The quench system is designed to automatically maintain proper fluid phase through the cooler vessel and controlled distribution network. The system self-regulates to prevent two-phase flow conditions without requiring manual intervention, enabling fully automatic operation while maintaining adaptability to changing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates automatic control mechanisms that monitor quench fluid conditions and adjust flow accordingly. The cooler vessel and control valve work together to automatically maintain liquid phase quench fluid, providing both automatic response capability and adaptability to operational changes.
4Ease of operation
If quench control is operated in manual mode, then operator can respond to conditions, but response time is insufficient for rapidly changing conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The quench system automatically maintains proper fluid phase and controls distribution through the cooler vessel and controlled network. This self-regulating capability eliminates response time delays associated with manual operation while maintaining full control capability for handling changing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cooling and phase stabilization of the quench fluid before distribution, allowing automatic control systems to rapidly respond to changing conditions without the time delays inherent in manual operation. The pre-conditioned fluid is ready for immediate controlled distribution.
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
The solution stabilizes the quench system, reducing operator intervention and preventing damage by maintaining the quench fluid in a liquid state, thus ensuring consistent and automatic operation.
Implementation Method 1
a cooler vessel... for cooling therein, the quench fluid maintained in a liquid state through the entirety of the quench fluid line
Data Source
AI summary
A quench system for a refrigeration cycle of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility includes at least one compressor for compressing a refrigerant that cools a natural gas stream. Also included is a quench fluid supply structure containing a quench fluid. Further included is a cooler vessel and a quench fluid line extending from the quench fluid supply structure and through the cooler vessel for cooling therein, the quench fluid maintained in a liquid state through the entirety of the quench fluid line. Yet further included is a quench control valve disposed downstream of the cooler vessel to control a flow rate of the quench fluid routed therein. Also included is a refrigerant suction drum located downstream of the quench control valve and configured to receive the quench fluid from the quench fluid line, the refrigerant suction drum in fluid communication with at least one component for cooling.