Method and apparatus for vaporizing a liquid stream

摘要

A method for vaporizing a liquid stream includes cycling a heat transfer fluid in a closed circuit; feeding the heat transfer fluid to a first heat transfer zone; feeding a liquid stream to be vaporized to the first heat transfer zone; providing heat from the heat transfer fluid to the liquid stream in the first heat transfer zone thereby vaporizing the liquid stream and at least partially condensing the heat transfer fluid; removing the vaporized liquid stream and the at least partially condensed heat transfer fluid and passing the latter to a second heat transfer zone; providing heat from ambient air to the at least partially condensed heat transfer fluid thereby vaporizing the heat transfer fluid; recycling the vaporized heat transfer fluid to the first heat transfer zone using gravitational force exerted on the heat transfer fluid being cycled in the closed circuit.

主权项

1. A method for vaporizing a liquid stream, the method at least comprising the steps of:
a) feeding a heat transfer fluid to a first heat transfer zone, the heat transfer fluid being cycled in a closed circuit; b) feeding a liquid stream to be vaporized to the first heat transfer zone; c) providing heat from the heat transfer fluid to the liquid stream across a heat transfer surface in the first heat transfer zone thereby vaporizing the liquid stream and at least partially condensing the heat transfer fluid; d) removing the vaporized liquid stream obtained in step c); e) removing the at least partially condensed heat transfer fluid obtained in step c) and passing the at least partially condensed heat transfer fluid to a second heat transfer zone such that the at least partially condensed heat transfer fluid flows from the first heat transfer zone into a downward flowing part, wherein the heat transfer fluid flows downward in the downward flowing part; f) providing heat from ambient air to the at least partially condensed heat transfer fluid across a heat transfer surface in the second heat transfer zone thereby vaporizing the heat transfer fluid; g) recycling the vaporized heat transfer fluid to the first heat transfer zone wherein the vaporized heat transfer fluid flows upward in an upward flowing part and from the upward flowing part into the first heat transfer zone; wherein the upward flowing part is provided with heat transfer improvers and wherein the downward flowing part is not provided with heat transfer improvers, wherein the heat transfer fluid is recycled in step g) using gravitational force exerted on the heat transfer fluid being cycled in the closed circuit; and, wherein the first heat transfer zone is supported by a support frame, said support frame comprising through going holes for indirectly exchanging heat between the heat transfer fluid and the ambient air.