System for converting gaseous fuel into liquid fuel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9309810-B2
Application number	US-201213715536-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2012
Priority date	Dec 14, 2012
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A system for converting gaseous fuel into liquid fuel is provided. The system may have a combustor configured to receive a supply of gaseous fuel. The system may also have a gas compressor configured to direct gaseous fuel from the supply into the combustor. The system may also have an air compressor configured to direct compressed air into the combustor, and a turbine in fluid communication with an outlet of the combustor. The turbine may be connected to drive the gas compressor and the air compressor. The system may also have at least one heat exchanger in fluid communication with an outlet of the gas compressor and an outlet of the air compressor. The system may also have at least one expander in fluid communication with an outlet of the at least one heat exchanger. The system may also have a condenser in fluid communication with an outlet of the at least one expander.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for converting gaseous fuel into liquid fuel, comprising:
a combustor configured to receive a supply of gaseous fuel from a gaseous fuel source;
a gas compressor with a first gaseous fuel outlet configured to direct gaseous fuel from the supply into the combustor;
an air compressor with a first air outlet configured to direct compressed air into the combustor;
a turbine in fluid communication with an outlet of the combustor and connected to drive the gas compressor and the air compressor;
a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with a second gaseous fuel outlet of the gas compressor;
a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with a second air outlet of the air compressor;
at least one expander in fluid communication with an outlet of the first heat exchanger; and
a condenser in fluid communication with an outlet of the at least one expander.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one expander includes a first and a second expander; and
the combustor, gas compressor, air compressor, turbine, first heat exchanger, second heat exchanger, first expander, second expander, and condenser are housed together at a reclamation site.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the turbine is connected to direct a portion of a heated exhaust flow into the combustor.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gas compressor and the air compressor are driven by only the turbine.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one expander includes a first and a second expander;
the combustor, gas compressor, air compressor, turbine, first heat exchanger, second heat exchanger, first expander, second expander, and condenser are housed together at a reclamation site; and
the condenser is in fluid communication with a tender car parked at the reclamation site.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one expander includes a first and a second expander; and an outlet of the condenser is in fluid communication with an inlet of the first heat exchanger.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one expander includes a first and a second expander; and
an outlet of the condenser is in fluid communication with an inlet of the air compressor.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein;
the at least one expander includes a first and a second expander; and
an outlet of the condenser is in fluid communication with an inlet of the second heat exchanger.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gas compressor is in fluid communication with an external engine.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one expander includes a first and a second expander;
the first heat exchanger is configured to cool gaseous fuel from about 8130 C. and 2,300 kpa to about 300 C. and 2,300 kpa;
the second heat exchanger is configured to cool compressed air from about 8420 C. and 10,000 kpa to about 300 C. and 10,000 kpa;
the first expander is configured to cool gaseous fuel from about 300 C. and 2,300kpa to about −190° C. and atmospheric pressure; and
the second expander is configured to cool compressed air from about 300 C. and 10,000 kpa to about −1900 C. and atmospheric pressure.

11. A method of converting gaseous fuel into liquid fuel, comprising:
compressing gaseous fuel with a gas compressor, directing a first portion of compressed gaseous fuel into a combustor, and directing a second portion of compressed gaseous fuel into a heat exchanger;
compressing air and directing compressed air to mix with the first portion of compressed gaseous fuel and create a fuel/air mixture within the combustor;
combusting the fuel/air mixture within the combustor to generate a heated exhaust flow;
converting heat energy from the heated exhaust flow into mechanical work used to compress and direct gaseous fuel and air;
cooling the second portion of the gaseous fuel with the heat exchanger;
expanding the cooled second portion of gaseous fuel; and
condensing the expanded and cooled second portion of gaseous fuel to convert the second portion of gaseous fuel into liquid fuel.

12. The method of claim 11 , further including:
cooling the air;
expanding the cooled air; and
cooling the expanded and cooled portion of gaseous fuel with the expanded and cooled air.

13. The method of claim 11 , further including directing a portion of the heated exhaust flow into the combustor.

14. The method of claim 11 , further including directing a portion of the compressed gaseous fuel to an external engine.

15. The method of claim 11 , further including:
directing a portion of the heated exhaust flow to mix with a portion of the compressed gaseous fuel; and
directing a mixture of compressed gaseous fuel and heated exhaust to an external engine.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein compressing gaseous fuel, directing air, combusting the fuel/air mixture, converting heat energy, cooling, expanding, and condensing are conducted at a reclamation site.

17. The method of claim 16 , further including directing the liquid fuel to a tender car parked at the reclamation site.

18. The method of claim 11 , further including:
cooling the air;
expanding cooled air;
cooling the expanded and cooled portion of gaseous fuel with expanded and cooled air; and
using cooled air in cooling the portion of the gaseous fuel.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein mechanical work converted from the heat energy of the heated exhaust flow is the only work used in compressing the gaseous fuel and directing the air.

20. A method of converting natural gas into LNG, comprising:
compressing natural gas with a gas compressor, directing a first portion of compressed natural gas from a supply into a combustor, and directing a second portion of compressed natural gas into a heat exchanger;
compressing ambient air and directing ambient air to mix with the first portion of compressed natural gas and create a fuel/air mixture within the combustor;
combusting the fuel/air mixture in the combustor to generate a heated exhaust flow;
converting heat energy from the heated exhaust flow into mechanical work used to compress and direct the natural gas and the ambient air;
cooling [a]the second portion of the compressed natural gas from about 8130 C. and 2,300 kpa to about 300 C. and 2,300 kpa;
cooling a portion of the compressed ambient air from about 8420 C. and 10,000 kpa to about 300 C. and 10,000 kpa;
expanding the cooled second portion of natural gas to drop the temperature of the natural gas to about −190° C. and atmospheric pressure;
expanding the cooled portion of ambient air to drop the temperature of the natural gas to about −190° C. and atmospheric pressure; and
using the expanded and cooled portion of ambient air to further cool and condense the expanded and cooled second portion of natural gas to convert the second portion of natural gas into LNG.

Assignees

• Electro Motive Diesel Inc

Inventors

• Foege Aaron

Classifications

• F25J2240/10

  the fluid being air · CPC title

• F25J2230/22

  Compressor driver arrangement, e.g. power supply by motor, gas or steam turbine · CPC title

• F25J1/007

  Primary atmospheric gases, mixtures thereof · CPC title

• F25J1/0275

  adapted for special use of the liquefaction unit, e.g. portable or transportable devices · CPC title

• F02C6/20

  Adaptations of gas-turbine plants for driving vehicles · CPC title