Nitrogen Vaporization System Using Waste Steam
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for providing inert nitrogen gas to large volume containers, such as reactor vessels, require auxiliary power sources like diesel or gasoline engines, which are inefficient, add carbon emissions, and occupy valuable space in refinery settings.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a liquid nitrogen tank, multiple vaporizers, a heat exchanger, and a pressure build line to vaporize and pressurize nitrogen gas without external power sources, using ambient temperatures and waste steam from refineries for heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If auxiliary power sources (diesel or gasoline engines) are used to vaporize and pressurize nitrogen gas, then nitrogen gas can be provided to large volume containers, but carbon emissions increase and valuable space is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes waste steam from refinery processes, which would otherwise be discarded, to heat and vaporize the nitrogen in the tank. This converts a waste resource into a useful heating source, eliminating the need for auxiliary power sources and their associated carbon emissions while maintaining nitrogen gas provision capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the waste steam from the refinery's own processes to serve the nitrogen vaporization needs, making the system self-sufficient without external power sources. The waste steam effectively serves dual purposes: its original function plus heating the nitrogen tank
2Productivity
If auxiliary power sources are used for nitrogen vaporization and pressurization, then nitrogen gas can be provided to large volume containers, but valuable refinery space is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The nitrogen tank serves its own vaporization and pressurization needs by utilizing the waste steam environment already present in the refinery. The tank is positioned to directly receive waste steam, eliminating the need for separate engines or power sources that would occupy additional space
Solution Approach 2:
The waste steam serves multiple functions: it provides the original refinery process function and simultaneously acts as the heating source for nitrogen vaporization and the pressurization medium, consolidating multiple functions into a single resource
3Productivity
If waste steam is used to heat the nitrogen tank, then nitrogen vaporization efficiency increases, but system pressure control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a pressure build line that returns a portion of the pressurized nitrogen from the top of the tank back to the liquid nitrogen. This creates a feedback mechanism that automatically maintains pressure balance and simplifies pressure control by using the system's own output to regulate its own operation
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 system efficiently provides inert nitrogen gas at moderate temperatures, reducing carbon emissions, conserving space, and eliminating the need for auxiliary power sources, while maintaining high system pressure and flow rates.
Implementation Method 1
The first vaporizer is configured to expose an outlet of the liquid nitrogen tank to ambient temperatures to vaporize liquid nitrogen into gaseous nitrogen
Implementation Method 2
The second vaporizer is configured to expose an outlet of the liquid nitrogen tank and the first vaporizer to ambient temperatures to further vaporize remaining liquid nitrogen
Implementation Method 3
The heat exchanger comprises a coil configured to contain the gaseous nitrogen, a water bath, and a steam stream from a refinery for heating the water bath
Data Source
AI summary
A system for supplying inert nitrogen gas into a large volume container such as a reactor. The system operates without auxiliary power sources for vaporizing and pressurizing the nitrogen gas. Components include a liquid nitrogen tank, first and second vaporizers, and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may include a coil which is coated with hydrophilic material and include spargers. The system is suited for refinery settings, where it can fit into operational environments and reduce carbon emissions. Optional features such as a turboexpander/generator can be incorporated for additional pressurization capabilities and a tempering heat exchanger that can be used to provide fine adjustments to temperature.