US 12,152,737 B2
System and method for cryogenic vaporization using circulating cooling loop
Hanfei Tuo, East Amherst, NY (US); Chao Liang, East Amherst, NY (US); Maulik R. Shelat, Williamsville, NY (US); Sang Muk Kwark, Holly Springs, NC (US); and Seth A. Potratz, Grand Island, NY (US)
Assigned to Praxair Technology, Inc., Danbury, CT (US)
Filed by Hanfei Tuo, East Amherst, NY (US); Chao Liang, East Amherst, NY (US); Maulik R. Shelat, Williamsville, NY (US); Sang Muk Kwark, Holly Springs, NC (US); and Seth A. Potratz, Grand Island, NY (US)
Filed on Nov. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/516,984.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/159,585, filed on Mar. 11, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0290815 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. F17C 9/02 (2006.01)
CPC F17C 9/02 (2013.01) 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for cryogenic vaporization comprising the steps of:
receiving a sub-cooled liquid cryogen from an air separation plant;
heating the sub-cooled liquid cryogen from the air separation plant via direct heat exchange in a thermal storage unit to produce a liquid cryogen;
receiving the liquid cryogen at a first heat exchanger;
vaporizing the liquid cryogen via indirect heat exchange in the first heat exchanger against a superheated cryogenic vapor to output a cryogenic vapor at a first temperature;
receiving the cryogenic vapor at the first temperature at a second heat exchanger;
heating the cryogenic vapor at the first temperature via indirect heat exchange in the second heat exchanger to yield the superheated cryogenic vapor at a second temperature;
recirculating the superheated cryogenic vapor at the second temperature to the first heat exchanger;
cooling the superheated cryogenic vapor at the second temperature in the first heat exchanger to yield a cryogenic vapor at a third temperature that is colder than the superheated cryogenic vapor at the second temperature;
receiving the cryogenic vapor at the third temperature at a third heat exchanger;
heating the cryogenic vapor at the third temperature via indirect heat exchange in the third heat exchanger to yield a cryogenic vapor at a fourth temperature; and
outputting, from the third heat exchanger, the cryogenic vapor at the fourth temperature to an end-user and wherein the cryogenic vapor at the fourth temperature originated from the air separation plant;
wherein the second heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger are substantially free of ice formation.