Patent ID: 6962054
Filing Date: 2005-11-08
Classification: F02C,F05D

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a heat exchanger in a power plant comprising the steps of: a. pumping a heat exchange fluid through a first heat exchanger around a first set of tubes; b. injecting compressed heated air into the first set of tubes; c. increasing the temperature of the heat exchange fluid forming a heated heat exchange fluid in the first heat exchanger using the compressed heated air and cooling the compressed heated air; d. removing the compressed cooled air from the first heat exchanger; e. removing the heated heat exchange fluid from the first heat exchanger, splitting heated heat exchange fluid and transmitting a first portion to a second heat exchanger, a second portion to a third heat exchanger, and a third portion to a vessel; f. injecting a hydrocarbon flow into a second set of tubes in the second heat exchanger; g. flowing the heated heat exchange fluid into the second heat exchanger transferring heat from the heated heat exchange fluid to the hydrocarbon flow forming a heated hydrocarbon flow and a cooled heat exchange fluid, and wherein the second heat exchanger increases the hydrocarbon flow temperature between 50% and 900% discharging the heated hydrocarbon flow to a hydrocarbon flow outlet, and flowing the cooled heat exchange fluid to the vessel; h. cooling the second portion of the heat exchanger fluid in the third heat exchanger and, then, flowing the cooled heat exchanger fluid to the vessel; i. using the vessel to accommodate thermal expansion of the fluid from a member of the group consisting the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger, and combinations thereof; and j. pumping the cooled heat exchanger fluid from the vessel to the first heat exchanger.