The present disclosure relates generally to a dual gas trailer and, for example, to tanks with a bladder system.
Internal combustion engines (e.g., natural gas engines) consume fuel (e.g., natural gas) and emit carbon dioxide (CO2). For engines equipped with CO2 capture systems, there is a need for CO2 transport to a remote sequestration site. Currently, transportation of natural gas and CO2 requires separate infrastructure (e.g., tank trailers). Use of separate infrastructure, including devoting at least one leg of each round-trip journey to the return of empty tanks, is inefficient, time-consuming, and costly.
The apparatus of the present disclosure solves one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems in the art.
In some implementations, a dual gas transport system includes a trailer; one or more tanks mounted on the trailer, wherein each of the one or more tanks includes a first compartment and a second compartment, the first and second compartments being separated from each other by a bladder; and an electronic control module configured to control operations of the one or more tanks.
In some implementations, a method of dual gas transport with a trailer having one or more tanks includes, sequentially, receiving natural gas, at a first site, into a first compartment of each of the one or more tanks; transporting the trailer from the first site to a second site; delivering the natural gas, at the second site, out of the first compartment of each of the one or more tanks; receiving CO2, at the second site, into a second compartment of each of the one or more tanks, the second compartment being separated from the first compartment by a bladder; transporting the trailer from the second site to a third site; and delivering the CO2, at the third site, out of the second compartment of each of the one or more tanks.
In some implementations, an electronic control module, configured to control operations of one or more tanks of a dual gas transport system, includes one or more memories; and one or more processors, configured to control actuation of a first valve, in fluid communication with a first compartment of each of the one or more tanks, to receive natural gas, at a first site, into the first compartment; control actuation of the first valve to deliver the natural gas, at a second site, out of the first compartment of each of the one or more tanks; control actuation of a second valve, in fluid communication with a second compartment of each of the one or more tanks, to receive CO2, at the second site, into the second compartment, the second compartment being separated from the first compartment by a bladder; and control actuation of the second valve to deliver the CO2, at a third site, out of the second compartment of each of the one or more tanks.
This disclosure relates to a dual gas trailer, which is applicable to any process that consumes compressed gas (e.g., natural gas) and captures CO2. The process may be performed at any location that is remote from the compressed gas source and/or the sequestration site. The term “remote” may refer to any off-site field location independent of travel distance. The term “process” may refer to an operation associated with an industry such as, for example, mining, construction, farming, transportation, or another industry. For example, the process may be associated with oil & gas (e.g., drilling and/or hydraulic fracturing), electric power generation, gas compression, turbines, steam methane reformers, heaters, mining, dryers (e.g., sand drying), agriculture, forestry, asphalt/concrete plants, marine, and/or other industries. The dual gas trailer solution, described herein, enables use of the same infrastructure for inbound and outbound trips, which drives efficiency, time savings, and cost savings.
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The frame 205 may be a welded steel frame including a flatbed and a plurality of cross-beam supports.
The one or more tanks 210 may include a plurality of separate tanks (e.g., four tanks). The tanks 210 may be pneumatic tanks configured to hold compressed gas. The tanks 210 may be arranged, from an end-view, in a rectangular (e.g., square) configuration, among other examples.
The ECM 215 may control and/or monitor operations of the dual gas trailer 105. For example, the ECM 215 may control and/or monitor the operations of the dual gas trailer 105 based on information from the manifold 220, HMI 225, pressure sensors 230, temperature sensors 235, GPS 240, data connection 245, or operator controls, among other examples. The ECM 215 may be on-board the dual gas trailer 105. The ECM 215 may be, or include, a controller, among other examples. The ECM 215 may include one or more memories and one or more processors configured to implement instructions to control operations of the dual gas trailer 105. In some examples, the dual gas trailer 105 may be controlled manually (e.g., by performing a manual override of the ECM 215).
The manifold 220 may be mounted on the frame 205. The manifold 220 may include a plurality of separate manifolds (e.g., two manifolds). The manifold 220 may be in fluid communication with internal volumes of each of the tanks 210. The manifold 220 may be configured to distribute gas, from multiple tanks 210 (e.g., simultaneously, individually, or in batches of two or more tanks at the same time). Likewise, the manifold 220 may be configured to gather gas, into multiple tanks 210 (e.g., simultaneously, individually, or in batches of two or more tanks at the same time).
The HMI 225 may be on-board the dual gas trailer 105 for local control and monitoring. Alternatively, the HMI 225, or one or more additional HMI's, may be located remote from the dual gas trailer 105 for remote control and monitoring. In some examples, the HMI 225 may enable remote shutdown of operations of the dual gas trailer 105. The HMI 225 may be, or include, a touchscreen interface, among other examples.
The one or more pressure sensors 230 may be mounted on the tanks 210, and/or on the manifold 220, among other examples. The pressure sensors 230 may be analog or digital pressure transducers configured to measure compressed gas pressures. The pressure sensors 230 may be transmitters.
The one or more temperature sensors 235 may be mounted on the tanks 210, and/or on the manifold 220, among other examples. The temperature sensors 235 may be, or include, a contact or non-contact sensor, resistance temperature detector (RTD), thermocouple sensor, or thermistor, among other examples. The temperature sensors 235 may be configured to measure compressed gas temperatures. The temperature sensors 235 may be transmitters.
The GPS 240 may be on-board the dual gas trailer 105 to provide tracking of the dual gas trailer 105 during transport, as well as during loading and offloading, among other examples. The GPS 240 may be, or include, an assisted GPS, differential GPS, or non-differential GPS, among other examples.
The data connection 245 may include cellular or satellite telemetry communication with a centralized control center 250 located off-board the dual gas trailer 105. The centralized control center 250 may be configured to provide control and data acquisition across a fleet of dual gas trailers 105, simultaneously.
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The tank 210 includes a tank body 310 having an inner cylindrical surface 315, defined about a longitudinal axis 320, being closed at both ends. The tank body 310 includes a first compartment 325, outside the bladder 305, and a second compartment 330, inside the bladder 305. The first compartment 325 and the second compartment 330 are separated from each other by the bladder 305 (which may also be referred to as an “inner bladder”). The bladder 305 may be free-floating within the tank body 310 or movably coupled (e.g., directly or indirectly) to the tank body 310 by one or more support structures, among other examples.
The bladder 305 includes a generally cylindrical body having a wall defining an outer surface 335 facing the first compartment 325 (e.g., facing the inner cylindrical surface 315 of the tank body 310) and an inner surface 340 facing the second compartment 330. The bladder 305 may have a similar shape to that of the tank body 310. The shape of the outer surface 335 of the bladder 305 may be configured to correspond to and/or conform to the inner cylindrical surface 315 of the tank body 310 (e.g., when the bladder 305 is inflated and/or deflated). A length L1 of the bladder 305 is defined parallel to the longitudinal axis 320, and a diameter D1 of the outer surface 335 is defined perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 320. In some examples, the length L1 of the bladder 305, when inflated, may be at least an order of magnitude greater than the length L1 of the bladder 305, when deflated. Likewise, the diameter D1 of the outer surface 335, when the bladder 305 is inflated, may be at least an order of magnitude greater than the diameter D1 of the outer surface 335, when the bladder 305 is deflated.
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In some examples, containment of natural gas in the first compartment 325, outside the bladder, as opposed to the second compartment 330, inside the bladder, may be advantageous due to the first compartment 325 having a greater volume and/or pressure capacity compared to the second compartment 330, in combination with natural gas being a higher value gas compared to CO2. In other words, there is a cost advantage to transport natural gas outside the bladder and CO2 inside the bladder, as opposed to the reverse configuration. This advantage may be particularly valuable when the dual gas trailer 105 is used in the example implementation shown in
The dual gas trailer 105 includes, in association with the one or more tanks 210 and/or in communication with the ECM 215, one or more flow control valves 350 (350a-b), one or more pressure relief valves 355 (355a-b), one or more indicators 360 (360a-b), and one or more flow meters 365.
The one or more flow control valves 350 may include a first flow control valve 350a, in fluid communication with the first compartment 325, and a second flow control valve 350b, in fluid communication with the second compartment 330. The flow control valves 350 may be gate valves, among other examples. In some examples, the flow control valves 350 may be integrated with the manifold 220. In some examples, one or more additional valves, like the flow control valves 350, may be connected in fluid communication with a field-side of the manifold 220, opposite the one or more tanks 210.
Actuation of each of the one or more flow control valves 350 may controlled independently of each other. For example, the flow control valves 350 may be opened and closed to control filling and emptying each compartment 325/330 independently. In some examples, actuation of the flow control valves 350 may be controlled to manage outlet pressures from each tank 210 and/or each compartment 325/330 individually. Actuation of the flow control valves 350 may be controlled by the ECM 215 (e.g., one or more processors thereof). For example, the ECM 215 may control actuation of the first flow control valve 350a to regulate gas flow into and out of the first compartment 325. Likewise, the ECM 215 may control actuation of the second flow control valve 350b to regulate gas flow into and out of the second compartment 330. In some examples, the ECM 215 may control actuation of the flow control valves 350 based on state information from the manifold 220, operator information from the HMI 225, pressure information from the one or more pressure sensors 230, temperature information from the one or more temperature sensors 235, location information from the GPS 240, and/or operation information from the data connection 245.
The one or more pressure relief valves 355 may include a first pressure relief valve 355a, in fluid communication with the first compartment 325, and a second pressure relief valve 355b, in fluid communication with the second compartment 330. The pressure relief valves 355 may be spring-loaded or pilot operated, among other examples. The pressure relief valves 355 may prevent over-pressurization of the first compartment 325 and/or the second compartment 330.
The one or more indicators 360 (360a-b) may include a first indicator 360a, in fluid communication with the first compartment 325, and a second indicator 360b, in fluid communication with the second compartment 330. The indicators 360 may be, or include, pressure or temperature transducers, or internal or external gas composition sensors (e.g., capacitive electrode sensors), among other examples. In some examples, the indicators 360 may be configured to monitor gas quality within the tanks 210 and/or within one or more gas flow streams into or out of the first compartment 325 and/or the second compartment 330. In some examples, the indicators 360 may be configured to detect gas leaks outside the tanks 210.
The one or more flow meters 365 may include a first flow meter 365a, in fluid communication with the first compartment 325, and a second flow meter 365b, in fluid communication with the second compartment 330. The flow meters 365 may be mass, velocity, differential pressure, or positive displacement, among other examples. The flow meters 365 may be configured to determine gas volumes within the tanks 210 and/or within one or more gas flow streams into or out of the first compartment 325 and/or the second compartment 330.
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The manifold 220 includes a body 405 (405a-b) mounted on the dual gas trailer 105. The body 405 includes a first body 405a and a second body 405b. The body 405 may include a different number of parts from what was described in connection with
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As indicated by the arrows, expansion of the bladder 305/305′ to the second state may be associated with emptying gas out of the first compartment 325 and/or filling another gas into the second compartment 330. In some examples, filling and/or emptying operations may occur during expansion of the bladder 305/305′. In some examples, emptying operations may occur during expansion of the bladder 305/305′, whereas filling operations may occur after expansion of the bladder 305/305′. In some examples, emptying operations may occur without expansion of the bladder 305/305′, whereas filling operations may occur during expansion of the bladder 305/305′. In some examples, filling and/or emptying operations may occur before or after expansion of the bladder 305/305′. In some examples, filling and/or emptying of the bladder 305/305′ may be based on a differential pressure between the first compartment 325 and the second compartment 330. In some examples, filling and/or emptying of the bladder 305/305′ may cause expansion of the bladder 305/305′. Reversing the process illustrated in
As a result of the bladder 305 expanding to the second state, a volume of the first compartment 325 (in
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Certain processes and/or equipment associated with oil & gas (e.g., drilling and/or hydraulic fracturing), electric power generation, gas compression, turbines, steam methane reformers, heaters, mining, dryers (e.g., sand drying), agriculture, forestry, asphalt/concrete plants, marine, and/or other industries (e.g., internal combustion engines, such as natural gas engines) may consume fuel (e.g., natural gas) and emit carbon dioxide (CO2). For processes and/or equipment equipped with CO2 capture systems, there is a need for CO2 transport to a remote sequestration site. Currently, transportation of natural gas and CO2 requires separate infrastructure (e.g., tank trailers). Use of separate infrastructure, including devoting at least one leg of each round-trip journey to the return of empty tanks, is inefficient, time-consuming, and costly.
The dual gas trailer 105 solution, and application thereof, described herein, enables use of the same infrastructure for inbound and outbound trips associated with the transport of compressed gas and CO2, which drives efficiency, time savings, and cost savings.
The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications and variations may be made in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the implementations. Furthermore, any of the implementations described herein may be combined unless the foregoing disclosure expressly provides a reason that one or more implementations cannot be combined. Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of various implementations. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure of various implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set.
As used herein, “a,” “an,” and a “set” are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Further, as used herein, the article “the” is intended to include one or more items referenced in connection with the article “the” and may be used interchangeably with “the one or more.” Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, as used herein, the term “or” is intended to be inclusive when used in a series and may be used interchangeably with “and/or,” unless explicitly stated otherwise (e.g., if used in combination with “either” or “only one of”). Further, spatially relative terms, such as “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the apparatus, device, and/or element in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.