Thermal Generation System for Pressure Vessels

Abstract

An exemplary pressure vessel includes an inlet port through which a particulate stream is introduced into an interior of the pressure vessel and fluidized, a discharge port through which a heated fluidized particulate stream is discharged from the interior, and a thermal generation system arranged within the interior to increase a temperature of the stream. The exemplary thermal generation system includes an electric thermal bundle that includes a plurality electric thermal conduits, each electric thermal conduit including a first distribution bus bar electrically coupled to each electric thermal conduit to provide input electric service, and a second distribution bus bar electrically coupled to each electric thermal conduit to provide a return path for the input electric service.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pressure vessel, comprising:
 an inlet port through which a particulate stream is introduced into an interior of the pressure vessel;   a discharge port through which a heated particulate stream is discharged from the interior of the pressure vessel; and   a thermal generation system arranged within the interior of the pressure vessel and operable to increase a temperature of the particulate stream and thereby produce the heated particulate stream, the thermal generation system including one or more electric thermal bundles, each electric thermal bundle including:
 a plurality of spaced-apart, electric thermal conduits arranged in series and extending substantially vertical within the pressure vessel, each electric thermal conduit being operable to generate and radiate thermal energy into the interior of the pressure vessel; 
 a first distribution bus bar electrically coupled to each electric thermal conduit to provide input electric service to each electric thermal conduit; and 
 a second distribution bus bar electrically coupled to each electric thermal conduit to provide a return path for the input electric service. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pressure vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising a distribution manifold arranged within the interior and operable to inject a fluid into the pressure vessel to fluidize the particulate stream. 
     
     
         3 . The pressure vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising a vessel nozzle coupled to an outer wall of the pressure vessel and through which the input electric service and the return path are communicated to the first and second distribution bus bars, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The pressure vessel of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an input bus bar extending through the vessel nozzle and placing the first distribution bus bar in electrical communication with the input electric service;   an output bus bar extending through the vessel nozzle and placing the second distribution bus bar in electrical communication with the return path,   wherein the input and output bus bars are arranged within a liner positioned within the vessel nozzle; and   one or more isolation barriers arranged within an inner channel of the vessel nozzle and operable to isolate electric current flowing through the input electric service and the return path from contacting metallic surfaces of the vessel nozzle.   
     
     
         5 . The pressure vessel of  claim 3 , wherein the vessel nozzle includes:
 a gas inlet port providing a location for the injection of a pressurized gas stream into a fluidly coupled electric thermal bundle, the pressurized gas stream being operable to provide a dielectric and an oxide layer; and   a gas outlet port providing a location for the controlled discharge of the pressurized gas stream from the fluidly coupled electric thermal bundle.   
     
     
         6 . The pressure vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electric thermal bundles comprise a plurality of electric thermal bundles arranged within the interior of the pressure vessel and laterally-offset from each other, each electric thermal bundle extending in substantially parallel and vertical planes within the interior. 
     
     
         7 . The pressure vessel of  claim 1 , wherein opposing ends of each electric thermal bundle are supported by the pressure vessel at angularly offset sidewall locations within the interior of the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The pressure vessel of  claim 1 , wherein each electric thermal bundle includes a support member and opposing ends of the support member are secured to the angularly offset sidewall portions, the plurality of electric thermal conduits being secured to the support member and extending vertically downward therefrom. 
     
     
         9 . The pressure vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the first distribution bus bar is welded to a power input electrode of each electric thermal conduit, and the second distribution bus bar is welded to a power output electrode of each electric thermal conduit, and wherein angularly adjacent power input and output electrodes are electrically coupled. 
     
     
         10 . The pressure vessel of  claim 9 , wherein one or both of the power input and output electrodes comprise a solid rod made of an electrically-conductive material and exhibiting a diameter between about 0.06 inches and about 1.00 inch. 
     
     
         11 . The pressure vessel of  claim 10 , wherein each electric thermal conduit further includes:
 a housing in which the power input and output electrodes are housed; and   an elongated support member extending vertically within the housing and fixed to the housing with a plurality of support arms located at the upper most elevation, and   wherein each electric thermal conduit further includes a fixed guide attached to an end of the support member to help facilitate a concentric alignment of the power input and output electrodes within the housing during thermal expansion and contraction.   
     
     
         12 . The pressure vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal generation system is a first thermal generation system and the pressure vessel further includes a second thermal generation system arranged within the interior of the pressure vessel and vertically offset from the first thermal generation system. 
     
     
         13 . The pressure vessel of  claim 1 , wherein each electric thermal bundle further includes an elongated brace secured to a lower end of each electric thermal conduit and thereby aligning the lower end of each electric thermal conduit in a common horizontal plane. 
     
     
         14 . A method of heating a particulate stream, comprising:
 introducing a particulate stream into an interior of a pressure vessel via an inlet port;   fluidizing the particulate stream and thereby generating a fluidized particulate stream;   increasing a temperature of the fluidized particulate stream with a thermal generation system and thereby producing a heated fluidized particulate stream, the thermal generation system being arranged within the interior of the pressure vessel and including one or more electric thermal bundles, each electric thermal bundle including:
 a plurality of spaced-apart, electric thermal conduits arranged in series and extending substantially vertical within the pressure vessel, each electric thermal conduit being operable to generate and radiate thermal energy into the interior of the pressure vessel; 
 a first distribution bus bar electrically coupled to each electric thermal conduit to provide input electric service to each electric thermal conduit; and 
 a second distribution bus bar electrically coupled to each electric thermal conduit to provide a return path for the input electric service; and 
   discharging the heated fluidized particulate stream from the interior of the pressure vessel via a discharge port.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 injecting a fluid into the pressure vessel with a gas manifold arranged within the interior and thereby fluidizing suspended particulates of the fluidized particulate stream; and   adjusting a pressure of the fluid discharged from the gas manifold and thereby suspending and entraining the fluidized particulate stream within an area defined within the pressure vessel where the thermal generation system is located.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising communicating the input electric service and the return path to the first and second distribution bus bars, respectively, through a vessel nozzle coupled to an outer wall of the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 injecting a pressurized gas stream into a fluidly coupled electric thermal bundle via a gas inlet port provided on the vessel nozzle;   preventing migration of the fluidized particulate stream into the fluidly coupled electric thermal bundle with the pressurized gas stream; and   discharging the pressurized gas stream from the fluidly coupled electric thermal bundle via a gas outlet port provided on the vessel nozzle.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 providing the input electric service to each thermal conduit via the first distribution bus bar welded to a power input electrode of each electric thermal conduit;   providing the return path for the input electric service to each thermal conduit via the second distribution bus bar welded to a power output electrode of each electric thermal conduit; and   electrically coupling angularly adjacent power input and output electrodes.   
     
     
         19 . A pressure vessel, comprising:
 an inlet port through which a fluid stream is introduced into an interior of the pressure vessel;   a discharge port through which a heated fluid stream is discharged from the interior of the pressure vessel; and   a thermal generation system arranged within the interior of the pressure vessel and operable to increase a temperature of the fluid stream and thereby produce the heated fluid stream, the thermal generation system including one or more electric thermal bundles, each electric thermal bundle including:
 a plurality of spaced-apart, electric thermal conduits arranged in series and extending substantially vertical within the pressure vessel, each electric thermal conduit being operable to generate and radiate thermal energy into the interior of the pressure vessel; 
 a first distribution bus bar electrically coupled to each electric thermal conduit to provide input electric service to each electric thermal conduit; and 
 a second distribution bus bar electrically coupled to each electric thermal conduit to provide a return path for the input electric service. 
   
     
     
         20 . The pressure vessel of  claim 19 , wherein the fluid stream comprises a gas, a liquid, or a combination of the gas and the liquid, and void of particles, and wherein each electric thermal bundle further includes an elongated brace secured to a lower end of each electric thermal conduit and thereby aligning the lower end of each electric thermal conduit in a common horizontal plane.