User:Milton Beychok/Sandbox: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:ExpansionTurbine.png|right|thumb|350px|{{#ifexist:Template:ExpansionTurbine.png/credit|{{ExpansionTurbine.png/credit}}<br/>|}}Schematic diagram of an expansion turbine driving a compressor.]]  
[[Image:ExpansionTurbine.png|right|thumb|350px|{{#ifexist:Template:ExpansionTurbine.png/credit|{{ExpansionTurbine.png/credit}}<br/>|}}Fig. 1: Schematic diagram of an expansion turbine driving a compressor.]]  


An '''expansion turbine''', also referred to as a '''turboexpander''' or '''turbo-expander''', is a centrifugal or axial flow [[turbine]] through which a high [[pressure]] [[gas]] is expanded to produce work that is often used to drive a [[gas compressor]].   
An '''expansion turbine''', also referred to as a '''turboexpander''' or '''turbo-expander''', is a centrifugal or axial flow [[turbine]] through which a high [[pressure]] [[gas]] is expanded to produce work that is often used to drive a [[gas compressor]].   


Because work is extracted from the expanding high pressure gas, the expansion is an [[isentropic]] process (i.e., a constant [[entropy]] process) and the low pressure exhaust gas from the turbine is at a very low [[temperature]], often  as low as 200 K (-100 °F) or less. Expansion turbines are very widely used as sources of [[refrigeration]] in industrial processes such as the extraction of [[ethane]] and [[Natural gas processing|natural gas liquids]] (NGLs) from [[natural gas]],<ref>[http://freepatentsonline.com/US6915662.html Demethanzer]</ref> the [[liquefaction of gases]]<ref>[http://www.nzic.org.nz/ChemProcesses/production/1K.pdf BOC (NZ) publication]: use search function for keyword "expansion"</ref><ref>[http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/progress05/v_e_1_shimko.pdf US Department of Energy Hydrogen Program]</ref> and other low-temperature processes.
Because work is extracted from the expanding high pressure gas, the expansion is an [[isentropic]] process (i.e., a constant [[entropy]] process) and the low pressure exhaust gas from the turbine is at a very low [[temperature]], as low as 200 K (-73 °C) or less. Expansion turbines are very widely used as sources of [[refrigeration]] in industrial processes such as the extraction of [[ethane]] and [[Natural gas processing|natural gas liquids]] (NGLs) from [[natural gas]],<ref>[http://freepatentsonline.com/US6915662.html Demethanzer]</ref> the [[liquefaction of gases]]<ref>[http://www.nzic.org.nz/ChemProcesses/production/1K.pdf BOC (NZ) publication]: use search function for keyword "expansion"</ref><ref>[http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/progress05/v_e_1_shimko.pdf US Department of Energy Hydrogen Program]</ref> and other low-temperature processes.


In 1939, [[Pyotr Kapitza]] of [[Russia]] suggested the use of a centrifugal turbine for the isentropic expansion of gases to produce refrigeration. Since then, centrifugal expansion turbines have taken over almost 100 percent of the gas liquefaction and other low-temperature industrial requirements.
In 1939, [[Pyotr Kapitza]] of [[Russia]] suggested the use of a centrifugal turbine for the isentropic expansion of gases to produce refrigeration. Since then, centrifugal expansion turbines have taken over almost 100 percent of the gas liquefaction and other low-temperature industrial requirements.
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[[Image:Demethanizer.PNG|right|thumb|350px|{{#ifexist:Template:Demethanizer.PNG/credit|{{Demethanizer.PNG/credit}}<br/>|}}A schematic diagram of a demethanizer extracting hydrocarbon liquids from natural gas.]]
[[Image:Demethanizer.PNG|right|thumb|350px|{{#ifexist:Template:Demethanizer.PNG/credit|{{Demethanizer.PNG/credit}}<br/>|}}Fig. 2: A schematic diagram of a demethanizer extracting hydrocarbon liquids from natural gas.]]


===Extracting hydrocarbon liquids from natural gas===  
===Extracting hydrocarbon liquids from natural gas===  
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[[Image:Fluid catalytic cracker power recovery.png|right|thumb|350px|{{#ifexist:Template:Fluid catalytic cracker power recovery.png/credit|{{Fluid catalytic cracker power recovery.png/credit}}<br/>|}}A schematic diagram of the power recovery system in a fluid catalytic cracking unit.]]
[[Image:Fluid catalytic cracker power recovery.png|right|thumb|350px|{{#ifexist:Template:Fluid catalytic cracker power recovery.png/credit|{{Fluid catalytic cracker power recovery.png/credit}}<br/>|}}Fig. 3: A schematic diagram of the power recovery system in a fluid catalytic cracking unit.]]
   
   
=== Power recovery in fluid catalytic cracker ===
=== Power recovery in fluid catalytic cracker ===
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[[Image:Expansion turbine+compressor refrigeration system.png|right|thumb|350px|{{#ifexist:Template:Expansion turbine+compressor refrigeration system.png/credit|{{Expansion turbine+compressor refrigeration system.png/credit}}<br/>|}}Schematic diagram of a refrigeration system using an expansion turbine and a compressor.]]  
[[Image:Expansion turbine+compressor refrigeration system.png|right|thumb|350px|{{#ifexist:Template:Expansion turbine+compressor refrigeration system.png/credit|{{Expansion turbine+compressor refrigeration system.png/credit}}<br/>|}}Fig. 4: Schematic diagram of a refrigeration system using an expansion turbine and a compressor.]]  


=== Refrigeration system ===
=== Refrigeration system ===

Revision as of 01:08, 10 July 2008

(PD) Image: MiltonBeychok
Fig. 1: Schematic diagram of an expansion turbine driving a compressor.

An expansion turbine, also referred to as a turboexpander or turbo-expander, is a centrifugal or axial flow turbine through which a high pressure gas is expanded to produce work that is often used to drive a gas compressor.

Because work is extracted from the expanding high pressure gas, the expansion is an isentropic process (i.e., a constant entropy process) and the low pressure exhaust gas from the turbine is at a very low temperature, as low as 200 K (-73 °C) or less. Expansion turbines are very widely used as sources of refrigeration in industrial processes such as the extraction of ethane and natural gas liquids (NGLs) from natural gas,[1] the liquefaction of gases[2][3] and other low-temperature processes.

In 1939, Pyotr Kapitza of Russia suggested the use of a centrifugal turbine for the isentropic expansion of gases to produce refrigeration. Since then, centrifugal expansion turbines have taken over almost 100 percent of the gas liquefaction and other low-temperature industrial requirements.

Applications

© Image: John D. Wilkinson et al, U.S. Patent 6915662
Fig. 2: A schematic diagram of a demethanizer extracting hydrocarbon liquids from natural gas.

Extracting hydrocarbon liquids from natural gas

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(PD) Image: Milton Beychok
Fig. 3: A schematic diagram of the power recovery system in a fluid catalytic cracking unit.

Power recovery in fluid catalytic cracker

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

© Image: Joost J. Brasz, European patent EP0676600
Fig. 4: Schematic diagram of a refrigeration system using an expansion turbine and a compressor.

Refrigeration system

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Power generation

History

References