System and method for recovery and cooling of steam and high temperature condensate

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system for recovery and cooling of steam and high temperature condensate and disposed between a feed water source and a steam source comprising a fluid circulation loop between the steam source and the feed water source including a steam trap that receives a mixture of steam and high temperature condensate from the steam source, wherein the steam trap discharges high temperature condensate from the steam source, and a fluid cooling mechanism which receives the high temperature condensate from the steam trap and cools the high temperature condensate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for recovery and cooling of steam and high temperature condensate and disposed between a feed water source and a steam source, the system comprising:
 a fluid circulation loop between the steam source and the feed water source including:   a steam trap that receives a mixture of steam and high temperature condensate from the steam source, wherein the steam trap discharges high temperature condensate from the steam source; and   a fluid cooling mechanism which receives the high temperature condensate from the steam trap and cools the high temperature condensate.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid storage device that receives cooled condensate from the fluid cooling mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a pump for pushing cooled condensate leaving the fluid storage device to the feed water source. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising one or more check valves downstream from the pump that prevent substantial fluid backflow. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a mixing tank disposed between the fluid circulation loop and the feed water source for integrating cooled condensate from the fluid storage device and feed water from the feed water source. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature control valve that controls flow of steam and high temperature condensate from the steam source to the steam trap, wherein the temperature control valve moves from a closed position to an open position below a certain temperature. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the temperature control valve can be set to move from the closed position to the open position at a steam temperature of between 150 to 250 degrees C. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid cooling mechanism cools the high temperature condensate to a temperature between about 10 degrees C. and 80 degrees C. 
     
     
         9 . A system for recovery and cooling of steam and high temperature condensate and disposed between a feed water source and a steam source comprising:
 a fluid circulation loop between the steam source and the feed water source including:   a condenser that receives steam and high temperature condensate from the steam source, wherein steam is condensed to a liquid state in the condenser; and   a fluid cooling mechanism that receives the condensed liquid from the condenser and cools the liquid.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a fluid storage device that receives cooled fluid from the fluid cooling mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a pump that receives cooled fluid from the fluid storage device and pushes the cooled fluid to the feed water source. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more check valves downstream from the pump that that prevent substantial fluid backflow. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a mixing tank disposed between the fluid circulation loop and the feed water source for integrating condensed liquid from the fluid storage device and feed water from the feed water source. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one valve disposed in the fluid circulation loop between the steam source and the condenser that allow steams flow from the steam source to the condenser. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid cooling mechanism is a sub-cooler. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid cooling mechanism cools the condensed liquid to a temperature between about 10 degrees C. and 80 degrees C. 
     
     
         17 . A method for recovery and cooling of steam and high temperature condensate, including operating a system disposed between a feed water source and a steam source, wherein the system may be operated in a first mode or a second mode, wherein said first mode comprises:
 circulating a mixture of steam and high temperature condensate from the steam source through a first fluid circulation loop to a steam trap;   discharging high temperature condensate from the steam source in the steam trap;   receiving the discharged high temperature condensate from the steam trap in a fluid cooling mechanism and further cooling the discharged high temperature condensate with the fluid cooling mechanism; and   pumping the cooled condensate to the feed water source; and wherein said second mode comprises:   circulating steam and high temperature condensate from a steam source through a second fluid circulation loop to a condenser;   condensing the steam in the condenser to a liquid;   receiving the condensed liquid from the condenser in a fluid cooling mechanism and cooling the condensed liquid with the fluid cooling mechanism; and   pumping the cooled condensed liquid to the feed water source.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein operating in a first mode further comprises opening a temperature control valve disposed in the first fluid circulation loop between the steam source and the steam trap at between 150 to 250 degrees C., wherein the mixture of steam and condensate from the steam source is circulated to the steam trap. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising accumulating cooled condensed liquid or condensate in a fluid storage device downstream from the fluid cooling mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid cooling mechanism cools either the high temperature condensate or the condensed liquid to a temperature of between about 10 degrees C. and 80 degrees C.