System and method for heat exchanger fluid handling with atmospheric tower

Abstract

A system connects fluid heat exchange devices such as a submerged combustion LNG vaporizer and a heating tower. The fluid handling system has a first heat exchange device having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, and a second heat exchange device having a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet. A first conduit connects the first fluid outlet to the second fluid inlet, a first reservoir receives fluid from the first fluid outlet, a second reservoir receives fluid from the second fluid outlet, a second conduit connects the second reservoir to the first fluid inlet; and a third, fluid equalization, conduit connected to the first reservoir and the second reservoir equalizes the fluid levels in the first and second reservoirs with each other.

1 . A fluid handling system, comprising:
 a first heat exchange device comprising an atmospheric heat exchange tower having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet;   a second heat exchange device having a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet;   a first conduit connected to the first fluid outlet to the second fluid inlet;   a first reservoir that receives fluid from the first fluid outlet;   a second reservoir that receives fluid from the second fluid outlet;   a second conduit connected to the second reservoir to the first fluid inlet; and   a third, fluid equalization, conduit connected to the first reservoir to the second reservoir and equalizes the fluid levels in the first and second reservoirs with each other.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchange device comprises an atmospheric heating tower. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second heat exchange device comprises a liquefied natural gas (LNG) vaporizer. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second heat exchange device comprises a liquefied natural gas (LNG) vaporizer. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second heat exchange device is a submerged combustion vaporizer (SCV). 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second heat exchanger is a submerged combustion vaporizer (SCV). 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a weir in fluid communication with the second fluid outlet, wherein the weir is disposed between the second fluid outlet and the second reservoir so the second reservoir receives fluid from the weir. 
   
   
       8 . A fluid handling system, comprising:
 an atmospheric heating tower having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet;   a submerged combustion vaporizer (SCV) having a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet;   a first fluid connection connecting the first fluid outlet to the second fluid inlet; and   a second fluid connection that connects the second fluid outlet to the first fluid inlet.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one pump that circulates fluid between the heating tower and the SCV. 
   
   
       10 . A fluid handling system, comprising:
 first heat exchanging means having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet;   second heat exchanging means having a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet;   first connecting means for connecting the first fluid outlet to the second fluid inlet;   first holding means that that receives fluid from the first fluid outlet;   second holding means that receives fluid from the second fluid outlet;   second connecting means for connecting the second reservoir to the first fluid inlet; and   fluid level equalizing means for equalizing the fluid levels in the first and second holding means with each other.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first heat exchanging means comprises an atmospheric heating tower. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second heat exchanging means comprises a liquefied natural gas (LNG) vaporizer. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second heat exchanging means comprises a liquefied natural gas (LNG) vaporizer. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second heat exchanging means is a submerged combustion vaporizer (SCV). 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second heat exchanging means is a submerged combustion vaporizer (SCV). 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a third holding means in fluid communication with the second fluid outlet, wherein the third holding means is disposed between the second fluid outlet and the second holding means so the second holding means receives fluid from the third holding means. 
   
   
       17 . A fluid handling system, comprising:
 an atmospheric heating tower having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet;   a submerged combustion vaporizer (SCV) having a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet;   first means for connecting the first fluid outlet to the second fluid inlet; and   second means for connecting that connects the second fluid outlet to the first fluid inlet.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one pump that circulates fluid between the heating tower and the SCV. 
   
   
       19 . A fluid handling method, comprising:
 providing a first heat exchange device comprising an atmospheric heat exchange tower having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, a second heat exchange device having a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet, a first conduit connected to the first fluid outlet to the second fluid inlet, a first reservoir that receives fluid from the first fluid outlet, a second reservoir that receives fluid from the second fluid outlet; a second conduit that connects the second reservoir to the first fluid inlet, and   equalizing the fluid levels in the first and second reservoirs with each other.   
   
   
       20 . A fluid handling method, comprising:
 providing an atmospheric heating tower having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, and a submerged combustion vaporizer (SCV) having a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet;   circulating fluid from the first fluid outlet to the second fluid inlet; and   circulating fluid from the second fluid outlet to the first fluid inlet.