US2011239666A1PendingUtilityA1

Heat transfer processes and equipment for industrial applications

29
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 12, 2010Filed: Mar 14, 2011Published: Oct 6, 2011
Est. expiryMar 12, 2030(~3.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Jack W. AllenHans Alwin
Y02P80/10F25B 29/003
29
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Claims

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention permit the transfer of heat energy from one process fluid to another in an industrial process without the need for an energy field or centralized energy storage. Preferred embodiments include one or more heat transfer modules that draw heat from one process fluid into circulating refrigerant in an evaporator heat exchanger and supply that heat to a different process fluid in a condenser heat exchanger. In some embodiments, adjustments are made to one or more parameters of one or more process fluids to ensure the desired heat transfer is accomplished with the heat transfer module's compressor operating near optimum efficiency.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method of heating and cooling fluids for use in an industrial process, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a first heat transfer module that includes a first condenser heat exchanger and a first evaporator heat exchanger;   (b) circulating a first refrigerant through the first heat transfer module;   (c) circulating a first cooling fluid through the first evaporator heat exchanger, thereby removing heat from the first cooling fluid and preparing the first cooling fluid for a first cooling industrial sub-process;   (d) circulating a first warming fluid through the first condenser heat exchanger, thereby adding heat from the first refrigerant to the first warming fluid and preparing the first warming fluid for a first warming industrial sub-process;   (e) supplying the first cooling fluid from an outlet of the first evaporator heat exchanger to equipment for performing the first cooling industrial sub-process; and   (f) supplying the first warming fluid from an outlet of the first condenser heat exchanger to equipment for performing the first warming industrial sub-process.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (g) providing a second heat transfer module that includes a second condenser heat exchanger and a second evaporator heat exchanger;   (h) circulating a second refrigerant through the second heat transfer module;   (i) circulating a second cooling fluid through the second evaporator heat exchanger, thereby removing heat from the second cooling fluid and preparing the second cooling fluid for the first cooling industrial sub-process; and   (j) supplying the second cooling fluid from an outlet of the second evaporator heat exchanger to the equipment for performing the first cooling industrial sub-process.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 (k) circulating a second warming fluid through the second condenser heat exchanger, thereby adding heat from the second refrigerant to the second warming fluid and preparing the second warming fluid for the first warming industrial sub-process; and   (l) supplying the second warming fluid from an outlet of the second condenser heat exchanger to the equipment for performing the first warming industrial sub-process.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 (k) circulating a second warming fluid through the second condenser heat exchanger, thereby adding heat from the second refrigerant to the second warming fluid and preparing the second warming fluid for a second warming industrial sub-process; and   (l) supplying the second warming fluid from an outlet of the second condenser heat exchanger to the equipment for performing the second warming industrial sub-process.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first warming fluid is a liquid and the second warming fluid is a gas/vapor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (g) providing a second heat transfer module that includes a second condenser heat exchanger and a second evaporator heat exchanger;   (h) circulating a second refrigerant through the second heat transfer module;   (i) circulating a second cooling fluid through the second evaporator heat exchanger, thereby removing heat from the second cooling fluid and preparing the second cooling fluid for a second cooling industrial sub-process; and   (j) supplying the second cooling fluid from an outlet of the second evaporator heat exchanger to equipment for performing the second cooling industrial sub-process.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 (k) circulating a second warming fluid through the second condenser heat exchanger, thereby adding heat from the second refrigerant to the second warming fluid and preparing the second warming fluid for a second warming industrial sub-process; and   (l) supplying the second warming fluid from an outlet of the second condenser heat exchanger to the equipment for performing the second warming industrial sub-process.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 (k) circulating a second warming fluid through the second condenser heat exchanger, thereby adding heat from the second refrigerant to the second warming fluid and preparing the second warming fluid for the first warming industrial sub-process; and   (l) supplying the second warming fluid from an outlet of the second condenser heat exchanger to the equipment for performing the first warming industrial sub-process.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first cooling fluid is a liquid and the second cooling fluid is a gas/vapor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cooling fluid and the first warming fluid are both liquid. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first cooling fluid and the first warming fluid are both water. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cooling fluid is a liquid and the first warming fluid is a gas/vapor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first cooling fluid is water and the first warming fluid is air. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (i) the first heat transfer module includes a compressor and (ii) circulating the first refrigerant through the first heat transfer module includes maintaining an operational pressure differential across the compressor within a predetermined range. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein maintaining the operational pressure differential across the compressor within the predetermined range includes controlling one or more of the following:
 the temperature and/or pressure and/or flow rate of the first cooling fluid entering the first evaporator heat exchanger,   the temperature and/or pressure and/or flow rate of the first warming fluid entering the first condenser heat exchanger.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein maintaining the operational pressure differential across the compressor within the predetermined range includes controlling one or more of the following:
 the pressure and/or flow rate of the first cooling fluid entering the first evaporator heat exchanger,   the pressure and/or flow rate of the first warming fluid entering the first condenser heat exchanger.   
     
     
         17 . A method of transferring energy from one process fluid to another in an industrial process, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a first heat transfer module that includes a first condenser heat exchanger and a first evaporator heat exchanger;   (b) circulating a first refrigerant through the first heat transfer module; and   (c) transferring energy (i) from a first cooling fluid flowing toward a first cooling industrial sub-process (ii) through the first refrigerant via the first evaporator heat exchanger and the first condenser heat exchanger (iii) to a first warming fluid flowing toward a first warming industrial sub-process.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 (d) providing a second heat transfer module that includes a second condenser heat exchanger and a second evaporator heat exchanger;   (e) circulating a second refrigerant through the second heat transfer module; and   (f) transferring energy (i) from a second cooling fluid flowing toward the first cooling industrial sub-process (ii) through the second refrigerant via the second evaporator heat exchanger and the second condenser heat exchanger (iii) to a second warming fluid flowing toward the first warming industrial sub-process.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 (d) providing a second heat transfer module that includes a second condenser heat exchanger and a second evaporator heat exchanger;   (e) circulating a second refrigerant through the second heat transfer module; and   (f) transferring energy (i) from a second cooling fluid flowing toward the first cooling industrial sub-process (ii) through the second refrigerant via the second evaporator heat exchanger and the second condenser heat exchanger (iii) to a second warming fluid flowing toward a second warming industrial sub-process.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first warming fluid is a liquid and the second warming fluid is a gas/vapor. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 (d) providing a second heat transfer module that includes a second condenser heat exchanger and a second evaporator heat exchanger;   (e) circulating a second refrigerant through the second heat transfer module; and   (f) transferring energy (i) from a second cooling fluid flowing toward a second cooling industrial sub-process (ii) through the second refrigerant via the second evaporator heat exchanger and the second condenser heat exchanger (iii) to a second warming fluid flowing toward a second warming industrial sub-process.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 (d) providing a second heat transfer module that includes a second condenser heat exchanger and a second evaporator heat exchanger;   (e) circulating a second refrigerant through the second heat transfer module; and   (f) transferring energy (i) from a second cooling fluid flowing toward a second cooling industrial sub-process (ii) through the second refrigerant via the second evaporator heat exchanger and the second condenser heat exchanger (iii) to a second warming fluid flowing toward the first warming industrial sub-process.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first cooling fluid is a liquid and the second cooling fluid is a gas/vapor. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first cooling fluid and the first warming fluid are both liquid. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first cooling fluid and the first warming fluid are both water. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first cooling fluid is a liquid and the first warming fluid is a gas/vapor. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first cooling fluid is water and the first warming fluid is air. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein (i) the first heat transfer module includes a compressor and (ii) circulating the first refrigerant through the first heat transfer module includes maintaining an operational pressure differential across the compressor within a predetermined range. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein maintaining the operational pressure differential across the compressor within the predetermined range includes controlling one or more of the following:
 the temperature and/or pressure and/or flow rate of the first cooling fluid entering the first evaporator heat exchanger,   the temperature and/or pressure and/or flow rate of the first warming fluid entering the first condenser heat exchanger.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein maintaining the operational pressure differential across the compressor within the predetermined range includes controlling one or more of the following:
 the pressure and/or flow rate of the first cooling fluid entering the first evaporator heat exchanger,   the pressure and/or flow rate of the first warming fluid entering the first condenser heat exchanger.   
     
     
         31 . A system for transferring energy from one process fluid to another in an industrial process, comprising:
 (a) a heat transfer module that includes a compressor, a condenser heat exchanger, and an evaporator heat exchanger;   (b) a refrigerant sensing mechanism configured to regularly measure a suction pressure value and a discharge pressure value for the compressor during operation of the heat transfer module; and   (c) a compressor controller configured to (i) receive the suction pressure value and the discharge pressure value from the refrigerant sensing mechanism, (ii) compare the suction pressure value to the discharge pressure value to determine an operational pressure differential, (iii) maintain the operational pressure differential within a predetermined range by causing one or more of the following to be adjusted:   the temperature and/or pressure and/or flow rate of a cooling fluid entering the evaporator heat exchanger,   the temperature and/or pressure and/or flow rate of a warming fluid entering the condenser heat exchanger.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising (d) a cooling fluid controller, wherein the compressor controller is configured to cause the pressure and/or the flow rate of the cooling fluid to be adjusted by communicating instructions to the cooling fluid controller, which is configured to cause adjustment to a cooling fluid inlet pump. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising (d) a warming fluid controller, wherein the compressor controller is configured to cause the pressure and/or the flow rate of the warming fluid to be adjusted by communicating instructions to the warming fluid controller, which is configured to cause adjustment to a warming fluid inlet pump. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising (e) a cooling fluid controller, wherein the compressor controller is configured to cause the pressure and/or the flow rate of the cooling fluid to be adjusted by communicating instructions to the cooling fluid controller, which is configured to cause adjustment to a cooling fluid inlet pump. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein
 one of the warming fluid controller or the cooling fluid controller is configured to cause adjustment to the warming fluid inlet pump or the cooling fluid inlet pump, respectively, at a first rate of speed;   the other of the warming fluid controller or the cooling fluid controller is configured to cause adjustment to the warming fluid inlet pump or the cooling fluid inlet pump, respectively, at a second rate of speed, which is slower than the first rate of speed; and   the compressor controller is configured to communicate instructions to the warming fluid controller and/or the cooling fluid controller at a third rate of speed, which is slower than the second regular interval.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the compressor controller is configured to cause the temperature of the cooling fluid and/or the temperature of the warming fluid to be adjusted by communicating instructions to a system controller, which is configured to cause adjustment to one or more portions of the industrial process. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the heat transfer module further includes an expansion valve.

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