Multiphase Pump-Reactor Hydrate Production With Recycle Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas hydrate production systems are inefficient and not easily integrated with energy storage or water/gas purification plants, lacking enhanced hydrate formation capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A multiphase multistage pump system that integrates a reactor and separator to efficiently produce gas hydrate by pumping a liquid and gas mixture to a predetermined pressure, followed by separation and recovery of unreacted substances, with optional integration into LNG plants for energy storage or water/gas purification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If conventional separate pumps and compressors are used to increase pressure of fluids to the reactor, then the system can achieve required pressure for hydrate formation, but the device complexity and integration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate pumps and compressors into a single multiphase multistage pump that can handle both liquid water and gaseous hydrocarbon streams simultaneously. This integration reduces the number of separate devices, simplifies the system architecture, and improves integration with existing energy storage or purification plants while maintaining the required pressure levels for hydrate formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiphase multistage pump is designed to perform multiple functions: it pressurizes both liquid water and gaseous hydrocarbon streams, mixes them in the correct ratio, and delivers the multiphase mixture to the reactor. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate compression and pumping systems, reducing device complexity while achieving the required pressure for hydrate formation.
2Temperature
If conventional vapor-compression refrigeration systems are used, then cooling can be achieved, but the system is not easily integrated with energy storage or water purification plants
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to serve multiple purposes: it produces gas hydrates for energy storage, purifies water by separating brine, and can integrate with existing LNG or gas purification plants. The multiphase pump and reactor system can operate in different modes depending on the application, making it highly adaptable to various energy storage, water treatment, and gas processing scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the cooling function with hydrate formation and separation processes into a single integrated system. The multiphase pump handles both the liquid water and gaseous hydrocarbon streams simultaneously, and the separator efficiently separates the formed hydrates from the brine, enabling easy integration with energy storage or water purification plants.
3Reliability
If high pressure and low temperature conditions are applied to form gas hydrates, then hydrate formation is achieved, but the system efficiency and energy consumption are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes the pressure and temperature parameters dynamically. The multiphase multistage pump delivers the water and hydrocarbon mixture to the reactor at controlled pressure, while the reactor maintains optimal temperature conditions for hydrate formation. By carefully controlling these parameters and using efficient heat exchange, the system achieves reliable hydrate formation while minimizing energy consumption compared to conventional high-pressure low-temperature approaches.
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
Enhances hydrate formation efficiency, allowing easy integration into energy storage or purification plants, and recovers pressure and thermal energy for improved system performance.
Implementation Method 1
a multiphase multistage pump configured to compress a liquid and a gaseous hydrocarbon mixture to a predetermined pressure
Implementation Method 2
a reactor configured to generate gas hydrate from the compressed liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon mixture
Implementation Method 3
a separator configured to separate gas hydrate from unreacted hydrocarbon and water
Data Source
AI summary
A system for producing gas hydrate starting from a flow of unpurified water, comprising a multiphase multistage pump which receives at a main inlet, defining a first stage the flow of unpurified water and at a secondary inlet, defining an intermediate stage, a substance in gas state to form the hydrate. The pump is configured to increase the pressure of fluids and deliver pressurized fluids to a reactor which is configured to generate gas hydrate starting from the pressurized fluids. The reactor is configured to deliver fluid comprising gas hydrate, unreacted substance and/or water to a separator which has at least two outlets: a first (main) outlet which outputs gas hydrate and a second (secondary) outlet fluidly coupled to the secondary inlet and which outputs unreacted substance and/or water.