Condenser assembly and methods of separation of liquids and vapors

Abstract

A method of separating a liquid portion (F 1 ) of a working fluid from a vaporous flow of the working fluid (F 3 ). The method includes the steps of allowing a vapor portion of the working fluid (F 3 ) to flow through the system enabling a liquid portion (F 1 ) of the working fluid to separate using a combination of cooling means ( 234; 236 ) and a fluid separator ( 212 ). The cooling is accomplished by methods of spraying the saturated working fluid (F 3 ) with chilled fluid (F 1cooled ) having the capacity to remove heat form the working fluid by direct contact. The fluid separator ( 212 ) arranged with the cooling methods enhances the condensate rate of the overall working fluid flow, whereby at least a portion of the working fluid is separated out of the cooled vaporous working fluid in liquid form (F 1 ). Arrangements of systems for facilitating separation are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of separating a liquid portion of a working fluid from a vaporous flow of the working fluid, the method comprising:
 directing the vaporous flow of the working fluid through a condenser assembly; and   cooling the vaporous flow of the working fluid within the condenser assembly such that at least a portion of the working fluid condenses out as liquid condensate and a residual portion of the working fluid remains in a vaporous state.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cooling step includes spraying a cooled liquid into the vaporous flow of the working fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the cooled liquid is a portion of the liquid condensate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the portion of the liquid condensate is cooled via an external cooling source prior to being sprayed into the vaporous flow of the working fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the portion of the liquid condensate is cooled via an internal refrigeration means prior to being sprayed into the vaporous flow of the working fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the internal refrigeration means is configured to first pressurize the portion of the liquid condensate so that heat is removed such that when the portion of the liquid condensate is sprayed into the vaporous flow of the working fluid, the pressure drops and the portion of the liquid condensate drops in temperature thereby having the capacity to absorb heat from the vaporous flow of the working fluid flow. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the cooling step further includes passing the vaporous flow of the working fluid across a heat exchanger assembly after spraying of the portion of the liquid condensate into the vaporous flow. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the cooling step further includes passing the vaporous flow of the working fluid across a heat exchanger assembly before spraying of the portion of the liquid condensate into the vaporous flow. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cooling step includes passing the vaporous flow of the working fluid across a heat exchanger assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein a portion of the liquid condensate is utilized as coolant in the heat exchanger assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein after the cooling step, the vaporous flow of the working fluid is passed through a liquid separator wherein a further portion of the working fluid condenses out as liquid condensate while the remaining portion of the working fluid remains in a vaporous state. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the liquid separator is a centrifugal separator. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the liquid separator is positioned within a housing and the housing is cooled to increase the condensation rate of the liquid condensate that is removed from the working fluid flow. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the housing is cooled by a cooled portion of the liquid condensate or an external cooling source. 
     
     
         15 . A system for separating a liquid portion of a working fluid from a vaporous flow of the working fluid, the system comprising a condenser assembly configured to receive a vaporous flow of the working flow and to cool the vaporous flow of the working fluid within the condenser assembly such that at least a portion of the working fluid condenses out as liquid condensate and a residual portion of the working fluid remains in a vaporous state. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the condenser assembly includes a sprayer configured to spray a cooled liquid into the vaporous flow of the working fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the cooled liquid is a portion of the liquid condensate. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the condenser assembly further comprises an internal refrigeration means configured to cool the portion of the liquid condensate prior to it being sprayed into the vaporous flow of the working fluid. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the condenser assembly includes a heat exchanger assembly positioned such that the vaporous flow of the working fluid flows across the heat exchanger assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the condenser assembly includes a liquid separator configured to receive the vaporous flow of the working fluid after it has been cooled such that a further portion of the working fluid condenses out as liquid condensate while the remaining portion of the working fluid remains in a vaporous state. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the liquid separator is positioned within a housing and the housing is cooled to increase the condensation rate of the liquid condensate that is removed from the working fluid flow. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the liquid separator is a centrifugal separator.