The present disclosure relates generally to a cryogenic delivery tank for fueling and defueling of an on-board vehicle tank or other use device with a cryogenic fuel, more particularly, the fueling and defueling of liquefied natural gas.
Natural gas is useful as an alternate fuel source for powering vehicle engines. It is typically stored and transported as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) because it occupies a much smaller volume (approximately 1/600th the gaseous state). Temperature and pressure regulation of liquefied natural gas is extremely important. Liquefied Natural Gas is stored in insulated cryogenic tanks because of the low temperature requirements (˜−160° C.) and typically at lower pressures. Furthermore, the stored cryogenic liquid is typically saturated, so that the gas and liquid states simultaneously exist at a desired temperature and pressure.
Vehicles utilizing natural gas typically include an on-board vehicle tank. On-board vehicle tanks may have specific pressure or temperature requirements. During the liquefied natural gas fueling and defueling of on-board vehicle tanks, pressure reduction for cooling of the vapor space of the liquefied natural gas delivery tank or increase in saturation pressure of the liquefied natural gas delivery tank is typically needed. Fueling of these vehicle tanks can, therefore, be a complicated process.
A prior art system for controlling conditions in a cryogenic delivery tank, as shown in
Pressure reduction in the delivery tank 10 of
Saturation is accomplished by introducing natural gas from tank 40 into the delivery tank through second coil 80. Natural gas from tank 40 travels through the coil 80 and is warmed by heat transfer from ambient through the outer shell 20 and coil 80. The warmed natural gas is transferred to the bottom portion of delivery tank 10 and bubbles up through the liquid so as to warm it. In this current system, de-saturation is possible only by depressurization of the whole delivery tank. Venting of methane vapor 12 to atmosphere or burning of the methane vapor.
The above-described system utilizes two additional tanks and line connections between each of the additional tanks and the delivery tank. The processes for pressure reduction, increasing saturation, and decreasing saturation are complicated.
It is desirable to provide a transportable cryogenic liquid delivery tank to provide a simple and convenient solution for liquefied natural gas storage and associated fueling and defueling of liquefied natural gas vehicle tanks.
There are several aspects of the present subject matter which may be embodied separately or together in the methods, devices and systems described and claimed below. These aspects may be employed alone or in combination with other aspects of the subject matter described herein, and the description of these aspects together is not intended to preclude the use of these aspects separately or the claiming of such aspects separately or in different combinations as set forth in the claims appended hereto.
In one aspect, a cryogenic liquid delivery tank includes a vessel with an inner shell and an outer shell. The inner shell of the vessel defines an interior configured to contain a cryogenic liquid with a headspace above the cryogenic liquid. The delivery tank has a transfer pipe passing through the interior of the vessel including a head space coil positioned within an upper portion of the interior and a liquid side coil positioned in a lower portion of the interior. The transfer pipe has a first port adjacent to the head space coil and a second port adjacent to the liquid side coil. The first and second ports of the transfer pipe are configured to be removably attached to a second tank.
In another aspect, a cryogenic liquid delivery tank system includes a first cryogenic liquid delivery tank that includes a vessel with an inner shell and an outer shell. The inner shell of the vessel defines an interior configured to contain a cryogenic liquid with a headspace above the cryogenic liquid. The delivery tank has a transfer pipe passing through the interior of the vessel including a head space coil positioned within an upper portion of the interior and a liquid side coil positioned in a lower portion of the interior. The transfer pipe has a first port adjacent to the head space coil and a second port adjacent to the liquid side coil. The cryogenic liquid delivery tank also includes a second cryogenic tank. The second cryogenic tank has a second tank inferior configured to hold a second cryogenic liquid with a second head space above the second cryogenic liquid. The second cryogenic tank has a gas outlet pipe and a liquid outlet pipe. The gas outlet pipe is in fluid communication with a top portion of the second tank interior and configured to removably connect to the second port. The liquid outlet pipe is in fluid communication with a bottom portion of the second tank interior and configured to removably connect to the first and/or second ports of the transfer pipe.
In an additional aspect, a method of adjusting a pressure of a first cryogenic liquid stored in a delivery tank includes providing a transfer pipe in the interior of the vessel. The transfer pipe includes a head space coil positioned within an upper portion of the interior and a liquid side coil positioned in a lower portion of the interior. A second cryogenic liquid is directed from a second tank first through the headspace coil and then through the liquid side coil or directed from the second tank first through the liquid side coil and then through the headspace coil. Alternatively, a gas is directed from the second tank first through the liquid side coil and then through the headspace coil so that an exhaust gas is produced. The exhaust gas is then vented.
In another aspect, a cryogenic liquid delivery tank system includes a first cryogenic liquid delivery tank that includes a vessel with an inner shell and an outer shell. The inner shell of the vessel defines an interior configured to contain a cryogenic liquid with a headspace above the cryogenic liquid. The delivery tank has a transfer pipe passing through the interior of the vessel including a head space coil positioned within an upper portion of the interior and a liquid side coil positioned in a lower portion of the interior. The transfer pipe has a first port adjacent to the head space coil and a second port adjacent to the liquid side coil. The cryogenic liquid delivery tank also includes a second tank. The second tank has a second tank inferior configured to hold a gas. The second tank has a gas outlet pipe. The gas outlet pipe is in fluid communication with the second tank interior and configured to removably connect to the second port.
An embodiment of the disclosure provides a delivery tank with dual coiled transfer pipe, eliminating the need for separate first and second coil transfer pipe structures. An embodiment of the disclosure also eliminates the need for a second tank comprising natural gas in order to regulate pressure and saturation.
In the illustrated embodiment, delivery tank 100 has an inner shell 300 and an outer shell 200, where the inner shell defines an interior of the tank. Cryogenic liquid 101 is stored within the interior of the inner shell 300. Cryogenic liquid 101 occupies a specific volume of delivery tank 100, with the remaining volume occupied by cryogenic gas or vapor 102. The liquid level 103 is included for illustrative purposes, but the liquid level may vary, especially at different events (delivery of LNG, intake of LNG).
Delivery tank 100 has a dual coiled transfer pipe 110 installed inside the inner shell 300 of the delivery tank. Dual coiled transfer pipe 110 can be installed by any known methods in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in
Dual coiled transfer pipe 110 has a first pipe port 601 and a second pipe port 602 on the other end. First and second pipe ports 601 and 602 can be placed along different sides of the delivery tank 100. In a preferred embodiment, first pipe port 601 is at the top of the delivery tank vessel and the second pipe port 602 is placed on one side of the delivery tank. Both pipe ports can be outside the delivery tank 100. Both pipe ports can also be flush with the vessel edge or partially inside the vessel. As illustrated in
Each of coiled sections 111 and 112 may be in close proximity to or adjacent to first and second pipe ports 601 and 602. In the illustrated embodiment first coiled section 111 is adjacent to the first pipe port 601 and coiled section 112 is adjacent to the second pipe port 602.
In the illustrated embodiment, the cryogenic delivery tank 100 is a vertical tank. In other embodiments, the tank 100 may be a horizontal tank.
Cryogenic delivery tank 100 of the current invention, although shown as double walled, can be single or triple walled as well. The cryogenic tank can be made from copper alloy, nickel alloy, carbon, stainless steel or any other known material in the art.
Cryogenic delivery tank 100 may have insulation between inner and outer walls (or shells) and/or may be vacuum insulated. Single or multilayer insulation of any known materials for insulation can be utilized.
The inner vessel 300 can be joined to the outer vessel 200 by one or more inner vessel support members. For example, as known in the art, the inner vessel support member may connect the neck and base of the inner vessel to the outer vessel.
Cryogenic tank 100 may include devices or gauges for reading different characteristics of the tank. These devices or gauges can show pressure, temperature, differential pressure, liquid level, etc.
In the embodiment of
The second cryogenic tank 500 has an inner shell 600 and an outer shell 700. Cryogenic liquid 501 is stored within the inner shell 600. Cryogenic liquid occupies a specific volume of cryogenic tank 500, with the remaining volume occupied by cryogenic gas or vapor 502. The liquid level is included in the figures for illustrative purposes, but the liquid may vary, especially during different events (delivery of cryogenic liquids or gas, etc.).
In the illustrate embodiment, the second cryogenic tank 500 is a vertical storage tank. In other embodiments, the storage tank 500 may be a horizontal storage tank.
Cryogenic delivery tank 500 of the current invention, although shown as double walled, can be single or triple walled as well. The cryogenic tank can be made from copper alloy, nickel alloy, carbon, stainless steel or any other known material in the art.
Cryogenic tank 500 may also include devices or gauges for reading different characteristics of the tank. These devices or gauges can show pressure, temperature, differential pressure, liquid level, etc.
The second tank may be a gas tank in another embodiment. It can be a high pressure gas tank. The high pressure gas may be nitrogen. In this embodiment, second tank is filled with a gas and doesn't contain liquid. Second tank has a gas outlet pipe. The gas outlet pipe may be connected to first and second pipe ports 601 and 602 of the dual coiled transfer pipe 110 of delivery tank 100. Pipe outlets of the gas tank may be connected to either pipe port of the dual coiled transfer pipe 110 by flexible hose. Although a flexible hose is a preferred connection means, pipes of each tank may be connected by any other known connection means, including, but not limited to, insulated piping. The connection means may be permanent or temporary and can consist of any piping, tube, hose or appropriate conduit. In addition, the pipe outlet of the gas tank may be selectively connected to ports 601 and 602 of tank 100 by lines that include one or more valves to direct gas from the tank to either port 601 or 602 in accordance with the configurations described below.
Saturation may also be accomplished when the second tank is a gas tank. When the saturation pressure of the cryogenic liquid 101 needs to be increased, the operator connects the gas outlet pipe 520 of the gas tank to the pipe port 602 of the dual coiled transfer pipe 110 of the delivery tank 100. Warm gas passes through dual coiled transfer pipe 110 from second pipe port 602 to first pipe port 601 and is released as a colder gas. The warm gas heats the cryogenic liquid 101 while in coiled section 112 and increases the temperature and, therefore, the saturation pressure of the cryogenic liquid.
In the illustrated embodiment, delivery tank 104 has an inner shell 300 and an outer shell 200, where the inner shell defines an interior of the tank. Cryogenic liquid 101 is stored within the interior of the inner shell 300. Cryogenic liquid 101 occupies a specific volume of delivery tank 104, with the remaining volume occupied by cryogenic gas or vapor 102. The liquid level 103 is included for illustrative purposes, but the liquid level may vary, especially at different events (delivery of LNG, intake of LNG).
Delivery tank 104 has a two transfer pipes 113 and 114 installed inside the inner shell 300 of the delivery tank. Transfer pipes 113 and 114 can be installed by any known methods in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in
Transfer pipe 113 has a first pipe port 604 and a second pipe port 607 on the other end. Transfer pipe 114 has a first pipe port 605 and a second pipe port 606 on the other end. Pipe ports 604, 605, 606 and 607 can be placed along different sides of the delivery tank 104. In a preferred embodiment, first pipe ports 604 and 605 are at the top of the delivery tank vessel and the second pipe ports 606 and 607 are placed on one side of the delivery tank. The pipe ports can be outside the delivery tank 104. The pipe ports can also be flush with the vessel edge or partially inside the vessel. As illustrated in
Each of coiled sections 111 and 112 may be in close proximity to or adjacent to pipe ports 604, 605, 606 and 607. In the illustrated embodiment first coiled section 111 is adjacent to the first pipe ports 604 and 605 and coiled section 112 is adjacent to the second pipe ports 606 and 607.
In the illustrated embodiment, the cryogenic delivery tank 104 is a vertical tank. In other embodiments, the tank 104 may be a horizontal tank.
Cryogenic delivery tank 104 of the current invention, although shown as double walled, can be single or triple walled as well. The cryogenic tank can be made from copper alloy, nickel alloy, carbon, stainless steel or any other known material in the art.
Cryogenic delivery tank 104 may have insulation between inner and outer walls (or shells) and/or may be vacuum insulated. Single or multilayer insulation of any known materials for insulation can be utilized.
The inner vessel 300 can be joined to the outer vessel 200 by one or more inner vessel support members. For example, as known in the art, the inner vessel support member may connect the neck and base of the inner vessel to the outer vessel.
Cryogenic tank 104 may include devices or gauges for reading different characteristics of the tank. These devices or gauges can show pressure, temperature, differential pressure, liquid level, etc.
In the embodiment of
While the preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/983,901, filed Mar. 2, 2020, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
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