Mark A Brandon

US Patent:

7716947, May 18, 2010

Filed:

Oct 6, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/544249

Inventors:

Mark A. Brandon - Whitehouse TX, US
Calvin Cain - Whitehouse TX, US
Bruce Primrose - Tyler TX, US

Assignee:

Gas-Chill, Inc. - Tyler TX

International Classification:

F25J 3/00
B01D 50/00
F28D 7/00

US Classification:

62620, 62617, 165159, 55325

Abstract:

Apparatus for condensing hydrocarbons, such as but not limited to butane and propane, from a stream of natural gas includes as its primary components a pre-cooler assembly, a chiller assembly, a refrigerant compressor/condenser assembly, and separator assembly. In the pre-cooler assembly warm gas entering the apparatus is cooled by counter-current flow heat exchange with cooled natural gas exiting the apparatus. The chiller assembly of the apparatus the hydrocarbon stream is cooled in co-current flow heat exchange with a first refrigerant tube, carrying a first refrigerant which is itself cooled in co-current heat exchange with a second refrigerant tube disposed in coaxial relationship with the first refrigerant tube. Both first and second refrigerant tubes are disposed in coaxial relationship with an outer jacket conveying the gas stream through the chiller assembly. Condensed hydrocarbons are separated from the gas stream in the separator assembly.