A method for transferring heat between two independent processes

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for transferring heat to a target process in a chemical production plant, the method comprising (i) providing a first process stream ( 1 ) having a temperature T1; (ii) transferring heat from a chemical conversion process, from a physicochemical process, from ambient heat, or from a combination of two or more thereof, to the first process stream provided in (i), for obtaining a heated first process stream ( 3 ) having a temperature T2, wherein T2>T1; (iii) conducting the target process with the heated first process stream obtained in (ii); wherein the target process is different from the chemical conversion process, from the physicochemical process, or from the combination of the chemical conversion process and the physicochemical process from which heat is transferred according to (ii). According to the method of the present invention, a coefficient of performance of greater than 1 can be achieved.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for transferring heat to a target process in a chemical production plant, the method comprising:
 (i) providing a first process stream ( 1 ) having a temperature T1;   (ii) transferring heat from a chemical conversion process, from a physicochemical process, or from ambient heat, or from a combination of two or more thereof, to the first process stream provided in (i), for obtaining a heated first process stream ( 3 ) having a temperature T2, wherein T2>T1;   (iii) conducting the target process with the heated first process stream obtained in (ii);   wherein the target process is different from the chemical conversion process, from the physicochemical process, or from the combination of the chemical conversion process and the physicochemical process from which heat is transferred according to (ii).   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein heat is transferred in (ii) from a chemical conversion process and/or from a physicochemical process, and wherein the heat which is transferred according to (ii) is obtained from an exothermic reaction or wherein the heat which is transferred according to (ii) is excess heat of the heat employed for performing an autothermal reaction or an endothermic reaction. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the heat transferred according to (ii) does not comprise energy from nuclear fission, solar thermal energy, geothermal energy, hydro energy, and wind energy. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein transferring heat in (ii) comprises use of a heat pump, wherein the heat pump is selected from the group consisting of a compression heat pump, an absorption heat pump, and a chemisorption heat pump. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the target process comprises the heating of one or more compounds. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein T1 is in the range of from 20 to 1,150° C. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein T2 is in the range of from 350 to 1,225° C. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein transferring heat in (ii) comprises:
 (ii.a) providing heat from a chemical conversion process, from a physicochemical process, or providing ambient heat, or providing a combination of two or more thereof, having a temperature T3;   (ii.b) transferring the heat provided in (ii.a) to the first process stream provided in (i), for obtaining a heated first process stream having a temperature T2,   wherein T3<T1.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein transferring heat in (ii) comprises:
 (ii.1) providing heat from a chemical conversion process, from a physicochemical process, or providing ambient heat, or providing a combination of two or more thereof, having a temperature in the range of from 255° C. to 700° C.;   (ii.2) providing a stream comprising a heat transfer medium, wherein the stream has a pressure in the range of from 0.001 to 100 bar (abs) and a temperature equal to or greater than 250° C.;   (ii.3) transferring the heat provided in (ii. 1) to the stream provided in (ii.2), for obtaining a heated stream;   (ii.4) increasing the pressure of the heated stream obtained in (ii.3), for obtaining a compressed heated stream having a temperature in the range of from 400° C. to 1,400° C.;   (ii.5) transferring heat from the compressed heated stream obtained in (ii.4) to the first process stream provided in (i), for obtaining a heated first process stream having a temperature T2 and a compressed stream.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising
 (ii.6) expanding the compressed stream obtained in (ii.5);   (ii.7) optionally recycling at least a portion of the stream obtained in (ii.6) to (ii.2).   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the heat transfer medium is selected from the group consisting of mercury, cesium, rubidium, potassium, sodium, chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, hydrocarbons, ammonia, water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, air, noble gases, tetraphenyl-compounds, and mixtures of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the heat transfer medium in the stream provided in (ii.2) is in the liquid state, or wherein the heat transfer medium in the stream provided in (ii.2) is a two phase fluid with a vapor phase and a liquid phase, or wherein the heat transfer medium in the stream provided in (ii.2) is in a supercritical state. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the stream obtained in (vii) is entirely recycled to (ii.2) according to (ii.7). 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein steps (ii.2) to (ii.7) are conducted in a closed system in which the stream comprising a heat transfer medium is circulated. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises (iii) feeding the heated first process stream obtained in (ii.5) into a first reactor, for obtaining a first product stream. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein transferring heat in (ii) comprises:
 (ii.1′) providing heat from a chemical conversion process, from a physicochemical process, or providing ambient heat, or providing a combination of two or more thereof, having a temperature in the range of from 255° C. to 700° C.;   (ii.2′) providing a stream comprising a first heat transfer medium, wherein the stream has a pressure in the range of from 0.001 to 100 bar (abs) and a temperature equal to or greater than 250° C.;   (ii.3′) transferring heat from the heat provided in (ii. 1′) to the stream provided in (ii.2), for obtaining a heated stream;   (ii.4′) increasing the pressure of the heated stream obtained in (ii.3′), for obtaining a compressed heated stream having a temperature in the range of from 400° C. to 1,400° C.;   (ii.5′) providing a stream comprising a second heat transfer medium, wherein the stream has a pressure in the range of from 0.001 to 100 bar (abs) and a temperature equal to or greater than 275° C.;   (ii.6′) transferring heat from the compressed heated stream obtained in (ii.4′) to the stream provided in (ii.5′), for obtaining a heated stream and a compressed stream;   (ii.7′) expanding the compressed stream obtained in (ii.6′);   (ii.8′) recycling at least a portion of the stream obtained in (ii.7′) to (ii.2′)   (ii.9′) increasing the pressure of the heated stream obtained in (ii.6′), for obtaining a compressed heated stream having a temperature in the range of from 400° C. to 1,400° C.;   (ii.10′) transferring heat from the compressed heated stream obtained in (ii.9′) to the first process stream provided in (i), for obtaining a heated first process stream having a temperature T2 and a compressed stream;   (ii.11′) expanding the compressed stream obtained in (ii.10′);   (ii.12′) recycling at least a portion of the stream obtained in (ii.11′) to (ii.5′).   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the heated first process stream obtained in (ii) is used as feed or co-feed for an endothermic reaction.