Closed-loop thermal servicing of solvent-refining columns

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9827602-B2
Application number	US-201514867604-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2015
Priority date	Sep 28, 2015
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A method of thermally servicing a solvent-refining column comprises: running a closed-loop water-steam system past a top and bottom of a first column, the first column containing at least a solvent and impurities; boiling pressurized water in the closed-loop water-steam system to steam using first heat from the top of the first column; compressing the steam in the closed-loop water-steam system to a higher temperature; and providing second heat to the first column by condensing the steam at the bottom of the first column after compression.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system that thermally services a solvent-refining column, the system comprising:
a column wherein impurities are removed from a solvent, the column having a top and a bottom;
a first heat exchanger;
a second heat exchanger;
a compressor;
an expansion valve;
a closed-loop water-steam system having water-steam therein and connecting the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, the compressor, and the expansion valve wherein:
the compressor is arranged between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger;
the expansion value is arranged between the second heat exchanger and the first heat exchanger;
the first heat exchanger transfers heat to the water-steam from the top of the column;
the compressor increases a temperature of the water-steam received from the first heat exchanger;
the second heat exchanger transfers heat from the water-steam to the bottom of the column; and
the expansion valve reduces the temperature of the water-steam.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising another column including the solvent, the impurities and water wherein the water is separated from the solvent and the impurities and a third heat exchanger arranged between the compressor and the second heat exchanger, wherein the third heat exchanger transfers heat from the water-steam to the bottom of the another column.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a first bypass in the closed-loop water-steam system for selectively bypassing, at least partially, the first heat exchanger.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a heater positioned between the compressor and the second heat exchanger wherein the heater heats the water-steam.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second bypass in the closed-loop water-steam system wherein the second bypass selectively bypasses, at least partially, the second heat exchanger.

6. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a heater positioned between the compressor and the third heat exchanger wherein the heater heats the water-steam.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the impurities have a boiling point that is less than about 2% lower or higher than a boiling point of the solvent.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the solvent is n-methyl pyrrolidone and wherein the impurities are partial oxides of the n-methyl pyrrolidone.

9. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a third bypass in the closed-loop water-steam system wherein the third bypass selectively bypasses, at least partially, the third heat exchanger.

Assignees

• Tesla Motors Inc
• Tesla Inc

Inventors

• Melsert Ryan

Classifications

• B08B9/08 Primary

  Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks · CPC title

• B01D3/007

  Energy recuperation; Heat pumps · CPC title

• B01D1/28

  with vapour compression · CPC title

• B01D5/0039

  Recuperation of heat, e.g. use of heat pump(s), compression · CPC title

• B01D3/00

  Distillation or related exchange processes in which liquids are contacted with gaseous media, e.g. stripping ({evaporation in general, e.g. of liquids for gas phase reactions B01B1/005;} gas chromatography B01D15/08; destructive distillation C10B; preparation of alcoholic beverages by distillation C12H6/02) · CPC title