US 12,270,584 B1
Systems and methods for recycling energy from distillation
Charles C. Gallop, Gower, MO (US); Keith Tjaden, Clearwater, KS (US); Christopher Riley William Gerken, Helena, MO (US); and Brandon Emme, Kansas City, MO (US)
Assigned to ICM, Inc.
Filed by ICM, Inc., Colwich, KS (US)
Filed on Feb. 7, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/435,147.
Application 18/435,147 is a continuation of application No. 18/434,983, filed on Feb. 7, 2024.
Int. Cl. F25B 41/40 (2021.01); F25B 9/00 (2006.01); F25B 40/06 (2006.01)
CPC F25B 41/40 (2021.01) [F25B 9/008 (2013.01); F25B 40/06 (2013.01); F25B 2339/047 (2013.01)] 83 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for recycling energy in a production plant, the system comprising:
a distillation device;
a condenser fluidly coupled to the distillation device;
an evaporative cooling tower fluidly coupled to the condenser;
a refrigerant loop comprising a refrigerant evaporator, a refrigerant condenser, an expansion valve, and a compressor fluidly coupled together by one or more fluid lines, the refrigerant evaporator comprising a first evaporator heat exchanger, the refrigerant condenser comprising a first condenser heat exchanger, the first evaporator heat exchanger configured to receive one of a heated vapor from the distillation device or a heated water supplied from the evaporative cooling tower through the condenser;
one or more devices disposed in the production plant;
a fluid supply line extending from an outlet of the first condenser heat exchanger to the one or more devices; and
an array of heat exchangers, wherein the array of heat exchangers is configured to cycle up a temperature of a refrigerant in response to the refrigerant traversing through the refrigerant loop, and wherein the array of heat exchangers includes the first evaporator heat exchanger.