Heat exchanger column

Abstract

Plate-and-fin core-type heat exchangers are installed within pressure vessels in a manner which eliminates the need for distributors, collectors, headers, nozzles, and manifolds at the feed inlet, the processed gas outlet, or both the feed inlet and the processed gas outlet of each exchanger core. The heat exchangers can be installed in parallel or in series within a single pressure vessel. Alternatively, the heat exchangers can be installed in pressure vessels which are arranged in series such that multiple liquid product streams can be obtained. The heat exchangers preferably are operated in the condensing mode in which feed gas is cooled and partially condensed. The operation of the heat exchangers is characterized by the cocurrent flow of the condensate and uncondensed feed gas, preferably in the vertical or near-vertical direction. In an alternative embodiment, the heat exchangers are operated such that a feed fluid is cooled without phase change.

1 . A system for cooling a fluid feed stream which comprises: 
 (a) a pressure vessel having an interior and an exterior;    (b) a heat exchanger installed in the interior of the pressure vessel, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a group of flow passageways which has a first end and a second end, wherein at least one of the first end and the second end is open and in flow communication with the interior of the pressure vessel;    (c) inlet piping means for introducing the fluid feed stream into the interior of the pressure vessel;    (d) outlet piping means for withdrawing from the interior of the pressure vessel at least a portion of the cooled fluid stream;    (e) cooling means for indirectly cooling the group of flow passageways to cool the fluid feed stream therein to form a cooled fluid stream; and    (f) fluid transfer means for transferring the fluid feed stream from the inlet piping means into the group of flow passageways at one end thereof or for transferring a cooled fluid stream from one end of the group of flow passageways to the outlet piping means.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the heat exchanger is constructed in a plate-and-fin configuration.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cooling means of (e) comprises 
 (1) one or more additional groups of flow passageways in the heat exchanger wherein each additional group of flow passageways has a first end and a second end, and wherein each additional group of flow passageways is in indirect heat transfer communication with the group of flow passageways of (b);  
 (2) inlet piping means for introducing refrigerant into the interior of the pressure vessel;  
 (3) outlet piping means for withdrawing warmed refrigerant from the interior of the pressure vessel;  
 (4) inlet distributor means for distributing the refrigerant from the inlet piping into the first end of the additional group of flow passageways; and  
 (5) outlet collector means for collecting the warmed refrigerant from the second end of the additional group of flow passageways and directing warmed refrigerant into the outlet piping means.  
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  which further comprises 
 (g) an additional pressure vessel having an interior and an exterior;  
 (h) a heat exchanger installed in the interior of the additional pressure vessel, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a group of flow passageways which has a first end and a second end, wherein at least one of the first end and the second end is open and in flow communication with the interior of the additional pressure vessel;  
 (i) inlet piping means for introducing an intermediate fluid stream into the interior of the additional pressure vessel;  
 (j) cooling means for indirectly cooling the group of flow passageways to cool the intermediate fluid stream therein to form an additional cooled fluid stream;  
 (k) outlet piping means for withdrawing from the interior of the additional pressure vessel at least a portion of the additional cooled fluid stream; and  
 (l) fluid transfer means for transferring the fluid feed stream from the inlet piping means into the group of flow passageways at one end thereof or for transferring a cooled fluid stream from one end of the group of flow passageways to the outlet piping means.  
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  which further comprises piping means connecting the outlet piping means of (d) with the inlet piping means of (i) such that at least a portion of the cooled fluid stream withdrawn from the pressure vessel can provide the intermediate fluid stream to the additional pressure vessel.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first end of the flow passageways is an upper end and the second end of the flow passageways is a lower end, and wherein the lower end is open and in flow communication with a lower region in the interior of the pressure vessel.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the heat exchanger is constructed in a plate-and-fin configuration.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the fluid transfer means comprises outlet manifold means and outlet header means for transferring a cooled fluid stream from the upper end of the group of flow passageways to the outlet piping.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the inlet piping means is connected to a lower end of the pressure vessel and the outlet piping means is connected to an upper end of the pressure vessel such that fluid can flow through the group of flow passageways in a generally upward direction.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the fluid transfer means comprises inlet manifold means and inlet header means for transferring the fluid feed stream from the inlet piping into the upper end of the group of flow passageways.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the inlet piping means is connected to an upper end of the pressure vessel and the outlet piping means is connected to a lower end of the pressure vessel such that fluid can flow through the group of flow passageways in a generally downward direction.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the fluid flowing generally downward through the group of flow passageways is a gas which can condense therein to form a vapor and a liquid which flow into the lower end of the pressure vessel, wherein the outlet piping means of (d) is used for withdrawing vapor from the lower end of the pressure vessel, and wherein the system includes additional outlet piping means used for withdrawing liquid from the lower end of the pressure vessel.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 6  which further comprises 
 (g) an additional pressure vessel having an interior and an exterior;  
 (h) a heat exchanger installed in the interior of the additional pressure vessel, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a group of flow passageways which has a first end and a second end, wherein at least one of the first end and the second end is open and in flow communication with the interior of the additional pressure vessel;  
 (i) inlet piping means for introducing an intermediate fluid stream into the interior of the additional pressure vessel;  
 (j) inlet fluid transfer means for transferring the intermediate fluid stream from the inlet piping means into the group of flow passageways at one end thereof;  
 (k) cooling means for indirectly cooling the group of flow passageways to cool the intermediate fluid stream therein to form an additional cooled fluid stream; and  
 (l) outlet piping means for withdrawing from the interior of the pressure vessel at least a portion of the additional cooled fluid stream.  
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  which further comprises piping means connecting the outlet piping means of (d) with the inlet piping means of (i) such that at least a portion of the vapor withdrawn from the pressure vessel can provide the intermediate fluid stream to the additional pressure vessel.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the heat exchanger in the additional pressure vessel is constructed in a plate-and-fin configuration.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the inlet piping means is connected to an upper end of the additional pressure vessel and the outlet piping means is connected to a lower end of the additional pressure vessel such that vapor can flow through the group of flow passageways in a generally downward direction.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the vapor flowing generally downward through the group of flow passageways can condense therein to form an uncondensed vapor and a liquid which flow into the lower end of the additional pressure vessel, wherein the outlet piping means of (I) is used for withdrawing the uncondensed vapor from the lower end of the additional pressure vessel, and wherein the system includes additional outlet piping means used for withdrawing liquid from the lower end of the additional pressure vessel.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first end of the flow passageways is an upper end and the second end of the flow passageways is a lower end, and wherein the upper end is open and in flow communication with an upper region in the interior of the pressure vessel.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the heat exchanger is constructed in a plate-and-fin configuration.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the fluid transfer means comprises inlet manifold means and inlet header means for transferring the fluid feed stream from the inlet piping into the lower end of the group of flow passageways.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the inlet piping means is connected to a lower end of the pressure vessel and the outlet piping means is connected to an upper end of the pressure vessel such that fluid can flow through the group of flow passageways in a generally upward direction.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the fluid transfer means comprises outlet manifold means and outlet header means for transferring the cooled fluid stream from the lower end of the group of flow passageways to the outlet piping means.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the inlet piping means is connected to an upper end of the pressure vessel and the outlet piping means is connected to a lower end of the pressure vessel such that fluid can flow through the group of flow passageways in a generally downward direction.  
     
     
         24 . A system for cooling a fluid feed stream which comprises: 
 (a) a pressure vessel having an interior and an exterior;    (b) a heat exchanger installed in the interior of the pressure vessel, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a group of flow passageways having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is open and in flow communication with a first end of the interior of the pressure vessel and the second end is open and in flow communication with a second end of the interior of the pressure vessel;    (c) cooling means for indirectly cooling the group of flow passageways to cool the fluid feed stream therein to form a cooled fluid stream;    (d) inlet piping means for introducing the fluid feed stream into the first end of the interior of the pressure vessel;    (e) outlet piping means for withdrawing at least a portion of the cooled fluid stream from the second end of the interior of the pressure vessel; and    (f) seal means disposed in the pressure vessel at an axial location between the first and second ends of the group of flow passageways, which seal means isolates the first end of the interior of the pressure vessel from the second end of the interior of the pressure vessel such that the first and second ends of the interior of the pressure vessel are not in flow communication.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the heat exchanger is constructed in a plate-and-fin configuration.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the inlet piping means is connected to a lower end of the pressure vessel and the outlet piping means is connected to an upper end of the pressure vessel such that fluid can flow through the group of flow passageways in a generally upward direction.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the inlet piping means is connected to an upper end of the pressure vessel and the outlet piping means is connected to a lower end of the pressure vessel such that fluid can flow through the group of flow passageways in a generally downward direction.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the fluid flowing generally downward through the group of flow passageways is a gas which can condense therein to form a vapor and a liquid which flow into the lower end of the pressure vessel, wherein the outlet piping means of (e) is used for withdrawing vapor from the lower end of the pressure vessel, and wherein the system includes additional outlet piping means used for withdrawing liquid from the lower end of the pressure vessel.