U.S. patent application number 16/615933 was filed with the patent office on 2020-07-16 for gas liquefaction or separation unit.
This patent application is currently assigned to L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude. The applicant listed for this patent is L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour I'Etude et I'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude. Invention is credited to Patrice CAVAGNE, Patrick LE BOT.
Application Number | 20200224444 16/615933 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59325504 |
Filed Date | 2020-07-16 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200224444 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CAVAGNE; Patrice ; et
al. |
July 16, 2020 |
GAS LIQUEFACTION OR SEPARATION UNIT
Abstract
A gas liquefaction and/or separation unit comprising at least
one chamber, optionally insulated, of slender shape, wherein the
chamber is arranged on a first concrete block and the chamber is
anchored to the ground by means of at least three stay cables, each
connected to a second separate concrete block, the second concrete
blocks connected to the stay cables being arranged on the ground at
the corners of a polygon, the first and second blocks having a
depth below the reference level of the ground not exceeding 1
m.
Inventors: |
CAVAGNE; Patrice; (Le
Perreux Sur Marne, FR) ; LE BOT; Patrick; (Vincennes,
FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour I'Etude et I'Exploitation des
Procedes Georges Claude |
Paris |
|
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour
l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Paris
FR
|
Family ID: |
59325504 |
Appl. No.: |
16/615933 |
Filed: |
May 4, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
May 4, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR2018/051135 |
371 Date: |
November 22, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25J 3/04945 20130101;
E04H 9/021 20130101; F25J 2290/42 20130101; F25J 3/04975 20130101;
E04H 12/20 20130101; F25J 3/0489 20130101; E04H 7/02 20130101; F25J
2290/62 20130101; E04H 7/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04H 12/20 20060101
E04H012/20; F25J 3/04 20060101 F25J003/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 24, 2017 |
FR |
1754627 |
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. A unit for separating and/or liquefying a gas, the unit
comprising at least one chamber, wherein the chamber is disposed on
a first concrete block and the chamber is anchored to the ground by
means of at least three guy wires, with each guy wire connected to
a separate second concrete block, the second concrete blocks
connected to the guy wires being disposed on the ground at the
corners of a polygon, the first and the second blocks having a
depth below the reference level of the ground that does not exceed
1 m.
15. The unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the depth below the
reference level of the ground does not exceed 0.7 m.
16. The unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the depth below the
reference level of the ground does not exceed 0.5 m.
17. The unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at least one
chamber is insulated.
18. The unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the polygon is a
regular polygon.
19. The unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the polygon is a
triangle or a quadrilateral.
20. The unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the chamber has a
height H above the reference level of the ground and the guy wires
are connected to points of the chamber that are situated at a
height above the reference level of the ground of between 0.5H and
1H, preferably between 0.5H and 0.7H.
21. The unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the maximum size of
each of the first and second blocks is less than the height of the
chamber and the weight of each of the first and second blocks is
less than the weight of the chamber.
22. The unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one of the
second blocks acts as a support for at least one element of the
separation and/or liquefaction unit other than the chamber.
23. The unit as claimed in claim 22, wherein the element is another
chamber, a compressor for a gas intended for or coming from the
chamber, a storage tank, a turbine for a gas intended for or coming
from the chamber, a motor, a purification unit for a gas intended
for or coming from the chamber, a heat exchanger for modifying the
temperature of a gas intended for or coming from the chamber, a
weather station or an office.
24. The unit as claimed in claim 22, further comprising position
references for at least one of the first and second blocks
indicating the relative disposition of the chamber and/or of the
guy wires and/or of an element of the unit.
25. The unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first block is
prefabricated and/or the second blocks are prefabricated.
26. The unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the chamber
is/contains a distillation or washing column, optionally capable of
working at a cryogenic temperature.
27. A method for transporting and reassembling a chamber of a unit
for separating or liquefying a gas as claimed in claim 14, wherein
the chamber is transported from one site to another and the chamber
is reassembled on the first block, using guy wires attached to the
second blocks in order to keep the chamber in position.
28. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein at least one of the
second blocks acts as a support for at least one element of the
separation and/or liquefaction unit other than the chamber, wherein
the references are used so as to have the same disposition of the
connection of pipes between the elements and/or between a chamber
and an element of the unit at the two sites.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a .sctn. 371 of International PCT
Application PCT/FR2018/051135, filed May 4, 2018, which claims the
benefit of FR1754627, filed May 24, 2017, both of which are herein
incorporated by reference in their entireties.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a unit for separating or
liquefying a gas, which may optionally be movable, and to a method
for transporting and reassembling the unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Some units for separating or liquefying a gas, and in
particular small cryogenic nitrogen generators are used to supply
gas for a short period of time (several years, for example less
than 10 years).
[0004] At the end of the gas supply period, the unit is, if
possible, relocated to serve another customer, in a different
location.
[0005] The current design thereof is based on the use of
conventional foundations, which are made up of deeply buried
concrete foundation blocks of suitable dimensions for withstanding
local seismic and weather-related stresses (for example the load
applied by a wind speed).
[0006] These foundation blocks are generally cast in place, after
excavation of the ground, this requiring digging operations, and
casing, and the different pieces of equipment that make up the
production unit are placed on these foundation blocks and connected
to the various foundation blocks by different types of system
(bolts, anchor rods, chemical anchors, etc.).
[0007] WO 05028340 discloses the use of prefabricated concrete
blocks placed on the ground for placing industrial equipment, such
as small storage tanks and the accessories thereof (cryogenic
pumps, vaporizers, enclosure), thereon. It is also known to place
low-power (<1 MW) air compressors on concrete pedestals.
However, these different systems have proven ineffective for
insulated chambers known as cold boxes, which incorporate in
particular the distillation columns.
[0008] Specifically, the latter, which have slender shapes (being
very tall with a small cross section at the ground) are subjected
to very high overturning forces (moments) in high winds or during
earthquakes. Only the solution involving a large buried concrete
foundation block, thereby creating ballast, has hitherto ensured
the stability of this type of equipment.
[0009] The drawback of such a system resides in the lack of
mobility thereof. Specifically, when the unit is relocated at the
end of the period of production, these buried concrete foundation
blocks remain in the ground and new ones are constructed at the new
site. This therefore constitutes a deadweight loss since it is
necessary to pay for and build new foundation blocks.
[0010] In order to avoid these massive buried foundations, the
critical equipment (cold box) will be placed on a prefabricated
concrete block that is placed on the ground. Its only function will
be to statically take up the load of the equipment placed on top
depending on the nature and the load-bearing capacity of the
ground. Resistance to seismic or weather-related attack will be
ensured by the presence of at least three guy wires, which will
each connect the cold box to at least one prefabricated concrete
block that is itself placed on the ground. Each of the N guy wires
making up the system will be disposed such that they form an angle
more or less equal to 360/N degrees between one another.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] According to one subject of the invention, a unit for
separating and/or liquefying a gas is provided, comprising at least
one chamber, optionally insulated, of slender shape, characterized
in that the chamber is disposed on a first concrete block and the
chamber is anchored to the ground by means of at least three guy
wires, each connected to a separate second concrete block, the
second concrete blocks connected to the guy wires being disposed on
the ground at the corners of a polygon, the first and the second
blocks having a depth below the reference level of the ground that
does not exceed 1 m, preferably 0.7 m, typically 0.5 m.
[0012] According to other optional subjects, which can each be
combined with one another within the limit of logically possible
combinations: [0013] the first and/or the second block(s) is/are
prefabricated. [0014] the polygon is a regular polygon. [0015] the
polygon is an irregular polygon. [0016] the polygon is a triangle
or a quadrilateral. [0017] the polygon is an isosceles triangle, an
equilateral triangle, a square, a rectangle, a pentagon. [0018] the
chamber is/contains a distillation or washing column, optionally
capable of working at a cryogenic temperature. [0019] the chamber
has a height H above the reference level of the ground and the guy
wires are connected to points of the chamber that are situated at a
height above the reference level of the ground of between 0.5H and
1H, preferably between 0.5H and 0.7H. [0020] the chamber has a
height H above the reference level of the ground and a perimeter P
about the chamber, following a direction perpendicular to the
height, the ratio between H and P being greater than 1.5, or even
greater than 2. [0021] the maximum dimension of each of the first
and second blocks is less than the height of the chamber. [0022]
the weight of each of the first and second blocks is less than the
weight of the chamber. [0023] at least one of the second blocks
acts as a support for at least one element of the separation and/or
liquefaction unit other than the chamber. [0024] the at least one
element of the separation and/or liquefaction unit other than the
chamber is another chamber, a compressor for a gas intended for or
coming from the chamber, a storage tank, a turbine for a gas
intended for or coming from the chamber, a motor, a purification
unit for a gas intended for or coming from the chamber, a heat
exchanger for modifying the temperature of a gas intended for or
coming from the chamber, a weather station or an office. [0025] the
unit comprises position references for at least one of the first
and second blocks indicating the relative disposition of the
chamber and/or of the guy wires and/or of an element of the
unit.
[0026] According to another subject of the invention, a method for
transporting and reassembling a chamber of a unit for separating or
liquefying a gas as described above is provided, wherein the
chamber and optionally the first and/or at least one of the second
concrete blocks is/are transported from one site to another and the
chamber is reassembled on a/the first block, using guy wires
attached to second blocks/the second blocks in order to keep the
chamber in position.
[0027] Therefore, it is possible to transport at least one block
from one site to the other or otherwise to use existing blocks at a
site for reassembly.
[0028] By using the abovementioned references, it is possible to
have the same disposition of the connection of pipes between the
elements and/or between a chamber and an element of the unit at the
two sites.
[0029] According to another subject of the invention, a method for
separating and/or liquefying a gas in a unit as claimed in one of
claims 1 and 10 is provided, the separation and/or liquefaction
taking place in the chamber containing a separation and/or
liquefaction apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] The present invention will be clearly understood and its
advantages will arise from the description which follows, given
merely as a non-limitative example, and with reference to the
attached drawings in which:
[0031] FIG. 1 provides a schematic top view of an apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 2 provides a schematic side view of an apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] The invention will be described in more detail with
reference to the figures, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic top view
of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention and
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an apparatus according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0034] In FIG. 1, the chamber E is disposed on a concrete
foundation block 1, illustrated here with a square cross section
(although any other geometry would be suitable, for example a
rectangle or an octagon), which is placed on the ground and the
depth of which below the reference level of the ground does not
exceed 1 m, preferably 0.7 m, typically 0.5 m. The block 1 is
preferably prefabricated. The chamber E can be a distillation or
washing column or a liquefaction apparatus. It can be insulated by
a space under vacuum around the column or be held inside a cold box
filled with pulverulent insulation. The chamber is held in place by
three guy wires 3 attached to three points of the chamber at
preferably the same height but at an angle of 120.degree. around
the perimeter of the chamber, if the latter is cylindrical. The
chamber has a height H above the reference level of the ground and
a perimeter P about the chamber, following a direction
perpendicular to the height, the ratio between H and P being
greater than 1.5, or even greater than 2.
[0035] The guy wires are attached to three concrete foundation
blocks 2 placed on the ground, each at substantially the same
distance from the foundation block 1. Nevertheless, in order to
take into account the disposition of a site or prevailing winds,
the guy wires can have different lengths and the foundation blocks
2 can be at different distances from the foundation block 1. The
blocks 2 are preferably prefabricated.
[0036] Other elements 4 of the separation or liquefaction apparatus
are disposed in the vicinity of the blocks 1, 2, these being able
to be a compression unit for a gas intended for or coming from the
chamber, a purification unit for a gas intended for or coming from
the chamber, a heat exchanger for modifying the temperature of a
gas intended for or coming from the chamber.
[0037] As can be seen in FIG. 2, if the chamber has a height H
above the ground, the guy wires 3 are connected to points of the
chamber E that are situated at a height above the ground of between
0.5H and 1H.
[0038] In this case, the blocks 2 are disposed on the ground in a
manner forming the points of an equilateral triangle, but more
generally, the second concrete blocks connected to the guy wires
are disposed on the ground at the corners of a regular or irregular
polygon. This polygon may be for example an isosceles triangle, a
square, a rectangle, a pentagon, etc.
[0039] In this case, the guy wires 3 form angles of 120.degree.
between one another on the horizontal plane.
[0040] The maximum size of each of the first and second blocks 1, 2
is less than the height of the chamber E and the weight of each of
the first and second blocks 1, 2 is less than the weight of the
chamber E.
[0041] At least one of the second blocks 2 acts as a support for an
element of the separation and/or liquefaction unit other than the
chamber E.
[0042] For example, it is possible to dispose a compressor for a
gas intended for or coming from the chamber, a storage tank, a
turbine for a gas intended for or coming from the chamber, a
purification unit for a gas intended for or coming from the
chamber, a heat exchanger for modifying the temperature of a gas
intended for or coming from the chamber, a weather station, an
office, etc. therein.
[0043] It is possible to transport a chamber from one site to
another and reassemble the chamber using the same foundation blocks
likewise transported to the other site. Otherwise, the foundation
blocks can be available at one or more sites and the chamber
arrives and is anchored using the foundation blocks available on
site.
[0044] If at least one foundation block is transported, it is
conceivable to choose the dimensions thereof so as to be able to
transport it/them with the chamber, for example in the same
container.
[0045] Position referencing systems will then be used to be able to
position the different pieces of equipment, including mainly the
chamber E, the compressor(s), the gas purification system, on their
respective concrete blocks such that the concrete blocks are
disposed in exactly the same way at both sites. The connection of
pipes between the pieces of equipment is thus identical from one
site to another.
[0046] This facilitates the connection between the elements of the
unit and/or between a chamber and an element of the unit on
site.
[0047] Among the different possible position referencing systems,
the use of installation templates may be noted.
[0048] The manner of anchoring the chamber is particularly
advantageous for a mobile unit but may also form an inexpensive
technique for keeping a chamber permanently at a single site.
[0049] The chamber may work at a temperature below 0.degree. C.,
for example at a cryogenic temperature.
[0050] While the invention has been described in conjunction with
specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives,
modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in
the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is
intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and
variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the
appended claims. The present invention may suitably comprise,
consist or consist essentially of the elements disclosed and may be
practiced in the absence of an element not disclosed. Furthermore,
if there is language referring to order, such as first and second,
it should be understood in an exemplary sense and not in a limiting
sense. For example, it can be recognized by those skilled in the
art that certain steps can be combined into a single step.
[0051] The singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural
referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0052] "Comprising" in a claim is an open transitional term which
means the subsequently identified claim elements are a nonexclusive
listing (i.e., anything else may be additionally included and
remain within the scope of "comprising"). "Comprising" as used
herein may be replaced by the more limited transitional terms
"consisting essentially of" and "consisting of" unless otherwise
indicated herein.
[0053] "Providing" in a claim is defined to mean furnishing,
supplying, making available, or preparing something. The step may
be performed by any actor in the absence of express language in the
claim to the contrary.
[0054] Optional or optionally means that the subsequently described
event or circumstances may or may not occur. The description
includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and
instances where it does not occur.
[0055] Ranges may be expressed herein as from about one particular
value, and/or to about another particular value. When such a range
is expressed, it is to be understood that another embodiment is
from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value,
along with all combinations within said range.
[0056] All references identified herein are each hereby
incorporated by reference into this application in their
entireties, as well as for the specific information for which each
is cited.
* * * * *