NATURAL GAS HANDLING SYSTEM

• US 20020170297A1
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NorthStar Industries LLC (Hillenbrand Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Northstar Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Quine, Thomas G., Smilikis, James M., Hunt, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,474,101 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/50.2
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/052 large (>1000 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0326 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0332 Safety valves or pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0161 cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/033 Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/036 Very high pressure, i.e. above 80 bars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0135 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0185 comprising several pumps or compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0309 using another fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0311 Air heating
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0365 with recovery of heat
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0408 Level of content in the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0491 Parameters measured at or inside the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0631 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/072 Action when predefined value is reached
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/042 Reducing risk of explosion
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/05 : Regasification
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/063 : for supply of refuelling stations
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0139 : Fuel stations
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0171 : Trucks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0178 : Cars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0184 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 7/04 : with change of state, e.g. vaporisation

Abstract

A natural gas handling system is provided having a new modular design to provide clean and accessible fuel for remote compressed natural gas. The natural gas handling system has a storage unit with a heated exchanger that converts the liquefied natural gas to compressed natural gas having a predetermined pressure of approximately 5000 psig without the use of pumps or compressors. The LNG/CNG storage unit has an outlet for providing warmed natural gas at approximately psig. If desired, refrigeration can be supplied from the −260° F. LNG during the vaporization process. The LNG/CNG storage unit also has a second outlet with a pressure regulator for providing warmed compressed natural gas at approximately 60 psig.

Claims

1. A method of handling natural gas comprising the steps of:

cooling a storage unit by supplying liquefied natural gas thereto;

removing low pressure natural gas vapor from said storage unit;

supplying liquefied natural gas to said storage unit to a predetermined level within said storage unit; and

heating said storage unit to convert said liquefied natural gas within said storage unit to compressed natural gas of a predetermined pressure; and

supplying said compressed natural gas at said predetermined pressure to a compressed natural gas unit.

2. The method of handling natural gas according to claim 1, further comprising

using a fluid to perform said heating of said storage unit, and then using said fluid as a cooling source for use with an onsite unit.

3. The method of handling natural gas according to claim 1, wherein

said predetermined level is approximately ninety percent of capacity of said storage unit.

4. The method of handling natural gas according to claim 1, wherein

said predetermined pressure of said compressed natural gas is approximately 5000 psig.

5. The method of handling natural gas according to claim 1, further comprising

heating said low pressure natural gas vapor that is being removed from said storage tank.

6. The method of handling natural gas according to claim 5, further comprising

supplying said low pressure natural gas vapor to a low pressure natural gas unit.

7. The method of handling natural gas according to claim 6, further comprising

regulating said low pressure natural gas vapor to a predetermined pressure level.

8. The method of handling natural gas according to claim 7, wherein

said predetermined pressure level of said low pressure natural gas vapor is regulated to supply 20 psig to said low pressure natural gas unit.

9. The method of handling natural gas according to claim 1, wherein

said compressed natural gas unit includes at least one storage tank.

10. A natural gas handling system comprising:

a LNG/CNG storage unit having a predetermined capacity and a predetermined pressure rating, said LNG/CNG storage unit having an inlet line with a first on/off valve to selectively receive liquefied natural gas, a first outlet line with a second on/off valve to selectively deliver low pressure natural gas, and a second outlet line with a third valve to selectively deliver compressed natural gas;

a first heat exchanger operatively coupled to said storage unit to heat liquefied natural gas contained within said storage unit;

a level detection indicator operatively coupled to said storage unit to indicate a predetermined level of liquefied natural gas contained within said storage unit;

a first pressure regulator coupled to said first outlet to allow natural gas vapor to be removed from said storage unit upon reaching a first predetermined pressure; and

controls operatively coupled to said first and second on/off valves to selectively open said first and second on/off valves during filling of said storage unit, and to selectively close said first and second on/off valve when said liquefied natural gas in said storage unit reaches said predetermined level as indicated by said level detection indicator.

11. The natural gas handling system according to claim 10, wherein

said third valve is a second pressure regulator coupled to said second outlet to allow compressed natural gas to be removed from said storage unit upon reaching a second predetermined pressure.

12. The natural gas handling system according to claim 11, wherein

said second predetermined pressure of said second pressure regulator is set at approximately 5000 psig.

13. The natural gas handling system according to claim 10, wherein

said third valve is an on/off valve.

14. The natural gas handling system according to claim 10, further comprising

at least one compressed natural gas tank coupled to said second outlet line.

15. The natural gas handling system according to claim 10, further comprising

a second heat exchanger operatively coupled to said first outlet line.

16. The natural gas handling system according to claim 10, further comprising

a second heat exchanger operatively coupled to said second outlet line.

17. The natural gas handling system according to claim 10, further comprising

additional heat exchangers that are operatively coupled to said first and second outlet lines.

18. The natural gas handling system according to claim 10, further comprising

a LNG storage tank being coupled to said inlet line.

19. The natural gas handling system according to claim 18, wherein

said LNG storage tank includes an inlet line, an outlet line, a vapor outlet line and a pressure build coil.

20. The natural gas handling system according to claim 10, wherein

said first heat exchanger is coupled to a unit which uses fluid from said first heat exchanger as a cooling source.