Fluid heating system and method

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for warming a liquid or gas. The apparatus may be suitable for the vaporization of liquefied natural gas. In order to warm the liquid or gas for vaporization for other purposes, a heating tower is used. The heating tower can include a system for drawing air through, and spraying water over, a tube bundle type heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may include the material to be heated itself, or may be part of an intermediate loop containing an intermediate heat exchange fluid. In the case of the intermediate loop, a second heat exchanger is provided which on one side receives fluid from the intermediate loop which is warmed by the heating tower, and on the other side provides heat to the material which is desired to be heated.

1 . An apparatus for warming a second liquid, the apparatus comprising: 
 a tower comprising: 
 a first heat exchanger;  
 a spray head above the tube bundle for spraying a first liquid over the first heat exchanger;  
 a first fluid collection basin disposed below the first heat exchanger; and  
 a pump for recirculating the first liquid from the collection basin to the spray head; and  
   a supply of second liquid to the first heat exchanger which is colder than ambient conditions, whereby the second liquid exiting the first heat exchanger is heated to a warmer temperature than the second liquid entering the first heat exchanger.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger comprises a tube bundle.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a second heat exchanger, wherein the second liquid is an intermediate heat exchange fluid, which passes through the tube bundle, and also passes through the second heat exchanger via a closed circuit loop, and wherein the second heat exchanger warms a third material also passing through the second heat exchanger.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the third material is liquefied natural gas, and wherein the second heat exchanger evaporates the liquid natural gas.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the second liquid is a refrigerant type liquid material.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a framework that supports the tube bundle at a space above the liquid collection basin.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spray head comprises a manifold providing the first liquid to a plurality of individual spray heads arranged in an array.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the second heat exchanger is a two sided heat exchanger, with the second liquid passing through one side and the third liquid passing through another side, wherein the second liquid and the third liquid do not come into direct contact, and heat transfer between the second liquid and the third liquid is facilitated.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan for drawing air over the first heat exchanger in a predetermined direction.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a fan located above the tube bundle, to draw air from under the tube bundle upward through the tube bundle.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for warming a second liquid, the apparatus comprising: 
 a tower comprising: 
 a first heat exchanging means;  
 a spraying means above the tube bundle for spraying a first liquid over the first heat exchanging means;  
 a first fluid collecting means disposed below the first heat exchanger; and  
 a means for recirculating the first liquid from the collecting means to the spraying means; and  
   a supply of second liquid to the first heat exchanging means which is colder than ambient conditions, whereby the second liquid exiting the first heat exchanging means is heated to a warmer temperature than the second liquid entering the first heat exchanging means.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first heat exchanging means comprises a tube bundle.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a second heat exchanging means, wherein the second liquid is an intermediate heat exchange fluid, which passes through the tube bundle, and also passes through the second heat exchanging means via a closed circuit loop, and wherein the second heat exchanging means warms a third material also passing through the second heat exchanging means.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the third material is liquefied natural gas, and wherein the second heat exchanging means evaporates the liquid natural gas.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the second liquid is a refrigerant type liquid material.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a framework that supports the tube bundle at a space above the liquid collecting means.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the spraying means comprises a manifold providing the first liquid to a plurality of individual spraying means arranged in an array.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the second heat exchanging means is a two sided heat exchanging means, with the second liquid passing through one side and the third liquid passing through another side, wherein the second liquid and the third liquid do not come into direct contact, and heat transfer between the second liquid and the third liquid is facilitated.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a fan for drawing air over the first heat exchanging means in a predetermined direction.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a fan located above the tube bundle, to draw air from under the tube bundle upward through the tube bundle.  
   
   
       21 . A method for warming a second liquid using a tower comprising a first heat exchanger, a spray head above the tube bundle for spraying a first liquid over the first heat exchanger a first fluid collection basin disposed below the first heat exchanger; and a pump for recirculating the first liquid from the collection basin to the spray head the method comprising: 
 supplying the second liquid to the first heat exchanger at colder than ambient conditions, in order to heat the second liquid exiting the first heat exchanger to a warmer temperature than the second liquid entering the first heat exchanger.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first heat exchanger comprises a tube bundle.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the tower further comprises a second heat exchanger, wherein the second liquid is an intermediate heat exchange fluid, which passes through the tube bundle, and also passes through the second heat exchanger via a closed circuit loop, and wherein the second heat exchanger warms a third material also passing through the second heat exchanger.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the third material is liquefied natural gas, and wherein the second heat exchanger evaporates the liquid natural gas.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the second liquid is a refrigerant type liquid material.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the tower further comprises a framework that supports the tube bundle at a space above the liquid collection basin.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the spray head comprises a manifold providing the first liquid to a plurality of individual spray heads arranged in an array.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the second heat exchanger is a two sided heat exchanger, with the second liquid passing through one side and the third liquid passing through another side, wherein the second liquid and the third liquid do not come into direct contact, and heat transfer between the second liquid and the third liquid is facilitated.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the tower further comprises a fan for drawing air over the first heat exchanger in a predetermined direction.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the tower further comprises a fan located above the tube bundle, to draw air from under the tube bundle upward through the tube bundle.