US 12,460,862 B2
Mixed refrigerant system and method
Peter J. Turner, The Woodlands, TX (US); Michael Malsam, Sugar Land, TX (US); Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., The Woodlands, TX (US); and Timothy P. Gushanas, Pearland, TX (US)
Assigned to Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc., Ball Ground, GA (US)
Filed by Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc., Ball Ground, GA (US)
Filed on Aug. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/364,900.
Application 17/346,623 is a division of application No. 16/138,236, filed on Sep. 21, 2018, granted, now 11,187,457, issued on Nov. 30, 2021.
Application 18/364,900 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/346,623, filed on Jun. 14, 2021, granted, now 11,732,962.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/561,417, filed on Sep. 21, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0375260 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. F25J 1/00 (2006.01); F25J 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC F25J 1/0052 (2013.01) [F25J 1/0022 (2013.01); F25J 1/0055 (2013.01); F25J 1/0212 (2013.01); F25J 1/0258 (2013.01); F25J 1/0262 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for cooling a gas with a mixed refrigerant comprising:
a) a heat exchanger including a cooling passage having an inlet configured to receive a feed of the gas and an outlet through which a product exits said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger also including a primary refrigeration passage, a pre-cool liquid passage, a high pressure vapor passage and a high pressure liquid passage;
b) a first stage compression device having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the primary refrigeration passage;
c) a first stage after-cooler having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the first stage compression device and an outlet;
d) a low pressure accumulator having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the first stage after-cooler and having a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the pre-cool liquid passage of the heat exchanger and a vapor outlet;
e) a second stage compression device having an inlet in fluid communication with the vapor outlet of the low pressure accumulator and an outlet;
f) a second stage after-cooler having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the second stage compression device and an outlet;
g) a high pressure accumulator having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the second stage after-cooler and having a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the high pressure liquid passage of the heat exchanger and a vapor outlet in fluid communication with the high pressure vapor passage of the heat exchanger;
h) a liquid turbine having a liquid turbine inlet in fluid communication with the high pressure vapor passage of the heat exchanger and a liquid turbine outlet;
i) a middle temperature separation device having an inlet, a vapor outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage and a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage;
j) a first expansion device having an inlet in fluid communication with the high pressure liquid passage of the heat exchanger and an outlet in fluid communication with the middle temperature separation device;
k) a second expansion device having an inlet in fluid communication with the pre-cool liquid passage of the heat exchanger and an outlet in fluid communication with the middle temperature separation device;
l) a cold temperature separation device having an inlet in fluid communication with the liquid turbine outlet, a vapor outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage and a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the primary refrigeration passage.