Patent GB-1530628-A (GB)
Title: Process and apparatus for evaporating and heating liquefied gaseous hydrocarbon materials
IPC: F01K25/10
Filed: 1975-11-24
Abstract: 1530628 Gas turbine plant; gas turbine and vapour turbine plant SULZER BROS Ltd 24 Nov 1975 [22 Nov 1974] 48199/75 Headings F1G and F1Q [ Also in Division F4] The invention relates to a process for evaporating and heating a liquefied gaseous hydrocarbon material by utilizing heat in the air passing to a gas turbine plant and heat in the exhaust gases discharging from the gas turbine plant. In the embodiment, liquefied natural gas is delivered through line 2 by pump 1 and is first evaporated in heat-exchanger 3 and is then heated in further heat-exchangers 4, 5, 6 before passing to the point of use. The gas turbine plant comprises an air compressor 19, combustion equipment 22, an HP turbine 20 which drives the compressor and an LP turbine 21 which drives a generator 25. The air intake duct 11 of the compressor comprises a first heat-exchanger 13, a water separator 16, a methanol injector 17, a second heatexchanger 9 and a water/methanol extractor 18. The second heat-exchanger 9 is connected by a circuit 7 to the heat-exchanger 3 in the LNG line 2 and a heat-transfer fluid is circulated therebetween by a pump 8, whereby the LNG is evaporated by heat taken from the intake air. The first heatexchanger 13 is connected by a circuit 14 to the heat-exchanger 5 in the LNG line and a heat-transfer fluid, such as a refrigerant CHF 2 Cl, is circulated therebetween by a pump 15. Thus the evaporated LNG in line 2 is heated. A heat-transfer fluid such as propane is contained in a circuit 34 and is delivered by a pump 35 through a heat-exchanger 36 where it is heated by heat-transfer from propane flowing in the circuit; it is further heated in heat exchanger 37 by heat in the turbine exhaust gases discharging through duct 26, a heat exchanger 30 in the duct 26 being connected to the heat exchanger 37 by circuit 44 in which a heat transfer fluid such as water is circulated by pump 45. The propane is further heated in heat exchanger 38 by means of heat contained in the turbine exhaust gases in duct 26, methanol contained in circuit 54 being heated in heat exchanger 28 and circulated by pump 55 to a rectifying column 47; water/methanol from the separator 18 is delivered by pump 51 in line 52 to heat exchanger 29 where it is evaporated then passed to the rectifying column 47; the methanol separated out is passed through line 46 to the heat exchanger 38 whereby the propane in line 34 is heated, the methanol returning through line 46 to the tank 48 which is connected by line 53 to the rectifying column and by the line 50 and pump 49 to the methanol injector 17 disposed in the air  intake duct 11. The propane in line 34 then passes to a further heat exchanger 39 where it is further heated by heat contained in the turbine exhaust gases; the heat exchanger 39 is connected by circuit 42 to a heat exchanger 27 disposed in the turbine exhaust gas duct 26, heat transfer fluid being circulated therebetween by means of pump 43. The heated propane is-then expanded in a turbine 40 which drives an electric generator 41, the exhaust propane discharging to the heat exchanger 36 where it serves to pre-heat propane passing to the heat exchangers 37, 38, 39; the propane which is still in vapour form then passes to heat exchanger 4 where it serves to further heat the vaporised LNG, the propane now in liquid form being re-circulated by pump 35 back to the heat exchanger 36. The vaporised LNG in line 2 is further heated in heat exchanger 6 utilising heat contained in the turbine exhaust gases, a heat exchanger 31 disposed in the turbine exhaust duct 26 being connected to the heat exchanger 6 by circuit 58, a heat transfer fluid such as water containing salt being circulated therebetween by pump 59. The turbine exhaust gases may be reheated by burning fuel supplied to the exhaust duct 26 through injectors 32.