Heat exchanger system and method

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a heat exchanger system and a method of using the heat exchanger system for heating, cooling or condensing a gaseous multiple component process stream comprising at least one hydrocarbon. The heat exchanger system comprises: —a shell having at least one first inlet and at least one first outlet defining a flow path for a first process fluid, and at least one second inlet and at least one second outlet defining a flow path for a second process fluid; —a number of parallel tubes arranged in the shell between the first inlet and the first outlet, each tube having an outer surface being provided with a multitude of plate fins extending radially outward from the outer surface; the first flow path extending along the outer surface of the tubes, and the second flow path extending through the tubes. The multiple component process stream may comprise two or more components selected from the group of methane, ethane, propane, and nitrogen. The heat exchanger may be used to cool or condense a mixed refrigerant, comprising one or more hydrocarbons, in a process for the liquefaction of natural gas.

1 . A method comprising:
 providing a heat exchanger system comprising:   a shell having at least one first inlet and at least one first outlet defining a first flow path for a first process fluid, and at least one second inlet and at least one second outlet defining a second flow path for a second process fluid;   a number of parallel tubes arranged in the shell between the first inlet and the first outlet, each tube having an outer surface being provided with a multitude of high fins extending radially outward from the outer surface;   wherein the first flow path extending along the outer surface of the tubes, and the second flow path extending through the tubes; and   using the heat exchanger system for heating, cooling or condensing a gaseous multiple component process stream comprising at least one hydrocarbon.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger system comprising a distributor plate arranged in the shell between the at least one inlet and the number of parallel tubes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first process fluid being the gaseous multiple component process stream. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple component process stream comprising two or more components selected from the group of methane, ethane, propane, and nitrogen. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple component process stream being a mixed refrigerant comprising two or more components, at least one of the components being a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of using the heat exchanger system for heating, cooling or condensing comprises using the heat exchanger system for cooling and condensing the mixed refrigerant in a process for the liquefaction of natural gas. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of using the heat exchanger system for heating, cooling or condensing comprises using the heat exchanger system for condensing the gaseous multiple component process stream from a fully gaseous state at the first inlet to a fully liquid state at the first outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gaseous multiple component process stream comprises natural gas and the step of using the heat exchanger system for heating, cooling or condensing comprises using the heat exchanger system for heating the natural gas. 
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger system for heating, cooling, or condensing a gaseous multiple component process stream comprising at least one hydrocarbon, the heat exchanger system comprising:
 a shell having at least one first inlet and at least one first outlet defining a first flow path for a first process fluid, and at least one second inlet and at least one second outlet defining a second flow path for a second process fluid;   a number of parallel tubes arranged in the shell between the at least one first inlet and the at least one first outlet, each tube having an outer surface being provided with a multitude of high fins extending radially outward from the outer surface;   the first flow path extending along the outer surface of the tubes, and the second flow path extending through the tubes.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 9  further comprising a distributor plate arranged in the shell between the at least one first inlet and the number of parallel tubes. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 9 , wherein the multiple component process stream being a mixed refrigerant comprising two or more components, at least one of the components being a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 9 , wherein the multiple component process stream comprising two or more components selected from the group of methane, ethane, propane, and nitrogen. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 9 , wherein the parallel tubes has a diameter and wherein the high fins comprise a diameter greater than the diameter of the diameter of the parallel tubes by about 25% to 150%. 
     
     
         14 . The exchanger system of  claim 9 , wherein the high fins has a height of 5 to 40 mm with respect to the outer surface of the parallel tubes. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 9 , wherein the high fins are plate fins. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 9 , wherein the heat exchanger system is a cross flow heat exchanger system with the first flow path being generally perpendicular to the second flow path. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the parallel tubes has a diameter and wherein the high fins comprise a diameter greater than the diameter of the diameter of the parallel tubes by about 25% to 150%. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the high fins has a height of 5 to 40 mm with respect to the outer surface of the parallel tubes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the high fins are plate fins. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger system is a cross flow heat exchanger system with the first flow path being generally perpendicular to the second flow path.