LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS TRANSPORTATION/DISTRIBUTION AND VAPORIZATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20160265723A1
• Filed: 09/22/2015
• Published: 09/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electric Energy Express Corporation
• Original Assignee: Electric Energy Express Corporation
• Inventors: WANG, SHUN-YU, TSENG, LING-YUAN, CHEN, TZE TZUNG, CHU, MINGFU
• Granted Patent: US 10,247,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2225/035 High pressure, i.e. between 10 and 80 bars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0311 Air heating
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/038 Detecting leaked fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/05 Regasification
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/068 Distribution pipeline networks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0173 Railways
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0184 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0581 Power plants
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 7/04 with change of state, e.g. vaporisation

Abstract

A liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system includes a transportation/distribution platform, on which at least one gas transportation/distribution section, a vaporization treatment section, and a central management section are arranged. The gas transportation/distribution section allows at least one liquefied natural gas train to unload liquefied natural gas. The vaporization treatment section is connected to the gas transportation/distribution section. The vaporization treatment section includes therein at least one fuel cell module, so that heat exchange may be conducted with byproduct of thermal energy and water generated in a power generation operation of the fuel cell module to vaporize liquefied natural gas from the gas transportation/distribution section and to feed the vaporized natural gas into a local area gas supply pipeline or a temporary gas storage section for storage and for feeding to the fuel cell module of the vaporization treatment section. The central management section receives the electrical power generated by the fuel cell module of the vaporization treatment section and is connected to and controls transportation/distribution and vaporization of the liquefied natural gas and management, monitor, and control of the output of the vaporized liquefied natural gas of the gas transportation/distribution section and the vaporization treatment section.

Claims

1. A liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system, comprising:

a transportation/distribution platform;

at least one gas transportation/distribution section, which is arranged on at least one side of the transportation/distribution platform that is close to a railway adapted to allow at least one liquefied natural gas transportation train to unload liquefied natural gas;

at least one vaporization treatment section, which is arranged on the transportation/distribution platform and is connected to the gas transportation/distribution section to receive the liquefied natural gas, the vaporization treatment section comprising at least one fuel cell module and at least one heat exchange tank, the fuel cell module comprising at least one byproduct outlet for a byproduct of thermal energy or water, a fuel inlet, and an electrical power output terminal, the at least one byproduct outlet of thermal energy or water being connected to the heat exchange tank, the heat exchange tank comprising therein at least one exchange pipeline, the exchange pipeline having an end connected to and receiving the liquefied natural gas from the gas transportation/distribution section for heat exchange with the at least one byproduct of thermal energy or water generated in a power generation operation of the fuel cell module so as to generate vaporized liquefied natural gas, an out-feed pipeline being formed at an opposite end of the exchange pipeline to output the vaporized liquefied natural gas, a portion of the vaporized liquefied natural gas outputted from the out-feed pipeline being fed back to the fuel inlet of the fuel cell module; and

at least one central management section, which is arranged on the transportation/distribution platform and is connected to and receive electrical power from the electrical power output terminal of the fuel cell module of the vaporization treatment section and is connected to and controls transportation/distribution, vaporization of the liquefied natural gas and management, monitor, and control of temporary storage of vaporized natural of the gas transportation/distribution section, the vaporization treatment section, and a temporary gas storage section.

2. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas transportation/distribution section comprises a liquefied natural gas pump arranged therein, the liquefied natural gas pump being connected to the central management section to be activated and controlled by the central management section to supply assistance to input of the liquefied natural gas.

3. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas transportation/distribution section comprises a liquefied natural gas leak sensor arranged therein, the liquefied natural gas leak sensor being connected to the central management section to feed leak detection status of the liquefied natural gas of the gas transportation/distribution section back to the central management section.

4. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel cell module of the vaporization treatment section comprises a solid oxide fuel cell module.

5. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one air blower is arranged and connected between the byproduct outlet of thermal energy of the fuel cell module of the vaporization treatment section and the heat exchange tank, the air blower being controlled and activated by the central management section to generate hot air that is fed into the heat exchange tank.

6. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchange tank of the vaporization treatment section comprises a hot gas exchange outlet to allow inside hot air of the heat exchange tank to drain and exchange with outside air.

7. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the byproduct outlet of thermal energy of the fuel cell module of the vaporization treatment section comprises at least one gas valve, the gas valve being controlled by the central management section for opening/closing to control communication with outside atmosphere.

8. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one hot water tank is arranged and connected between the byproduct outlet or water of the fuel cell of the vaporization treatment section and the heat exchange tank, the hot water tank comprising at least one electrical heater arranged therein, the electrical heater being connected to the central management section to be controlled and activated by the central management section to generate hot water in the hot water tank for supplying to the heat exchange tank, the heat exchange tank comprising a water sprayer arranged therein, the water sprayer spraying the hot water from the hot water tank onto a surface of the exchange pipeline of the heat exchange tank.

9. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one circulation pump is arranged and connected between the hot water tank of the vaporization treatment section and the heat exchange tank, the circulation pump being controlled and activated by the central management section to generate circulation of hot water supplied to the heat exchange tank.

10. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the hot water tank of the vaporization treatment section comprises at least one temperature sensor arranged therein, the temperature sensor being connected to the central management section to feed water temperature of the hot water tank back to the central management section.

11. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchange tank of the vaporization treatment section comprises at least one temperature sensor and a water level sensor arranged therein, the temperature sensor and the water level sensor being connected to the central management section to feed temperature and water level of the heat exchange tank back to the central management section.

12. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the out-feed pipeline of one end of the exchange pipeline of the heat exchange tank of the vaporization treatment section is connected to a first control valve, a second control valve being arranged and connected between the first control valve and the fuel inlet of fuel cell module of the vaporization treatment section, the first control valve and the second control valve being controlled by the central management section to control feeding of the vaporized liquefied natural gas to the fuel cell module.

13. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first control valve has an output terminal that is connected to a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor being connected to the central management section to feed a detection status of pressure of the vaporized liquefied natural gas supplied from the output terminal of the first control valve back to the central management section.

14. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second control valve is connected to an activation tank.

15. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the out-feed pipeline of one end of the exchange pipeline of the heat exchange tank of the vaporization treatment section is connected to at least one temporary gas storage section.

16. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the out-feed pipeline of one end of the exchange pipeline of the heat exchange tank of the vaporization treatment section is connected to at least one local area gas supply pipeline.

17. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an ancillary electrical heating device is arranged at a bottom of the heat exchange tank of the vaporization treatment section, the ancillary electrical heating device being connected to the central management section to be controlled and activated by the central management section to supply thermal energy for assisting heating to the heat exchange tank.

18. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central management section comprises:

at least one detection unit, which is connected to and detects statuses of input and vaporization of the liquefied natural gas supplied to the gas transportation/distribution section and the vaporization treatment section and leaking of output, vaporization temperature, water level, and pressure of the vaporized liquefied natural gas;

at least one central processing unit, which is connected to the detection unit to receive signals and data of the detection statuses of input and vaporization of the liquefied natural gas supplied to the gas transportation/distribution section and the vaporization treatment section and leaking of output, vaporization temperature, water level, and pressure of the vaporized liquefied natural gas and to supply, in response to the signals and data of the detection statuses, control instructions and safety alarm signals corresponding to input and vaporization of the liquefied natural gas supplied to the gas transportation/distribution section and the vaporization treatment section and leaking of output, vaporization temperature, water level, and pressure of the vaporized liquefied natural gas;

at least one output control interface, which is connected to the central processing unit and is connected to the gas transportation/distribution section and the vaporization treatment section to receive the control instructions supplied from the central processing unit and corresponding to input and vaporization of the liquefied natural gas supplied to the gas transportation/distribution section and the vaporization treatment section and leaking of output, vaporization temperature, water level, and pressure of the vaporized liquefied natural gas associated with the gas transportation/distribution section and the vaporization treatment section and to supply corresponding operation control signals to the gas transportation/distribution section and the vaporization treatment section;

at least one communication interface, which is connected to the central processing unit to transmit, via a wired or wireless communication mode, the signals and data of the detection statuses of input and vaporization of the liquefied natural gas supplied to the gas transportation/distribution section and the vaporization treatment section and leaking of output, vaporization temperature, water level, and pressure of the vaporized liquefied natural gas and the operation statuses and the safety alarm signals of input and vaporization of the liquefied natural gas supplied to the gas transportation/distribution section and the vaporization treatment section and leaking of output, vaporization temperature, water level, and pressure of the vaporized liquefied natural gas to at least one remote monitor and control center; and

at least one electrical power conversion unit, which is connected to the electrical power output terminal of the fuel cell module of the vaporization treatment section to receive and convert electrical power supplied from the electrical power output terminal into operation powers necessary for the detection unit, the central processing unit, the output control interface, and the communication interface in order to supply the operation powers to the detection unit, the central processing unit, the output control interface, and the communication interface.

19. The liquefied natural gas transportation/distribution and vaporization management system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the central processing unit is connected to a safety alarm unit to supply the safety alarm signals to the safety alarm unit for issuing a near-site safety alarm.