Automated cylinder transfill system and method

• US 4,881,374 A
• Filed: 03/08/1989
• Issued: 11/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Van Ommeren, James, Mattiola, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Capossela, Ronald C.
• Application Number:
  US07/320,745
• Time in Patent Office: 258 Days
• Field of Search: 62/50.6, 62/125, 62/129, 141/4, 141/5, 141/7, 141/65, 417/18, 417/20, 137/255, 73/23
• US Class Current: 62/50.6
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0323 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0161 cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0135 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/04 Methods for emptying or filling
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/045 by vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0636 Flow or movement of content
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/005 for gas bottles, such as on a continuous belt or on a merry-go-round
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/02 for filling with liquefied gases

Abstract

A system and method for loading liquid gases into a container includes supplying substance to a pump simultaneously with the evacuation of the container for cooling the pump down during evacuation and starting the pump motor when the pump has reached a low temperature determined in accordance with the pressure of the substance storage tank. An analyzer for detecting the presence of contaminants is coupled to the evacuation line in fluid communication with the substance removed from the cylinders. Cavitation during the loading operation is detected by monitoring the flow of substance from the pump. A plurality of containers of differing sizes are loaded simultaneously on the same manifold. An isolation valve is provided in the manifold for terminating flow of substance to smaller containers when the smaller containers are full while permitting substance to continue to flow to larger containers coupled to the manifold.

Claims

1. A system for filling gas storage devices containing substance prior to filling in a filling station having a storage tank containing liquefied gas comprising:

vacuum means coupled to a gas storage device for removing the substance from the gas storage device prior to filling thereby evacuating the gas storage device;

a vacuum means including vacuum line means for conducting the removed substance from the gas storage device during the evacuation;

analyzer means coupled to the vacuum line means and in fluid communication with the removed substance for detecting the presence of at least one predetermined substance in the removed substance; and

the analyzer means including means for providing a signal in response to the detecting.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the analyzer means includes means for oxidizing the removed substance.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the analyzer means includes means for detecting the presence of an odorless gas.

4. A system for loading substance into a gas storage device, the system having a storage tank for storing liquefied gas and manifold means for receiving substance from the tank, comprising:

the manifold means including means for providing a supply of substance for the gas storage device;

valve means coupled to the manifold means for controlling the flow of substance from the manifold means to the gas storage device;

container inlet means coupled to the valve means for conducting substance from the valve means to the gas storage device;

means for actuating the valve means when the filling operation is complete to isolate the gas storage device from the manif old means;

bleed means coupled to the inlet means for bleeding substance from the gas storage device when the valve means are actuated;

means for applying the substance bled from the container to analyzer means for analyzing the bled gas.

5. A method for filling gas storage devices containing substance prior to filling and a filling station having a storage tank containing liquefied gas, comprising the steps of:

evacuating the container by means of vacuum means coupled to the gas storage device for removing the substance from the gas storage device prior to filling;

conducting the removed substance from the gas storage device during the evacuation by way of vacuum line means within the vacuum means;

coupling analyzer means to the vacuum line means in fluid communication with the removed substance for detecting the presence of at least one predetermined substance in the removed substance; and

,

providing a signal in response to the detecting by means of the analyzer means.

6. The method of claim 5 including the step of oxidizing the removed substance within the analyzer means.

7. The method of claim 5 including the step of detecting the presence of an odorless gas.

8. A method for loading substance into a gas storage device in a system having a storage tank for storing liquefied gas and manifold means for receiving substance from the tank, comprising:

supplying substance to the gas storage device;

controlling the flow of substance from the manifold means to the gas storage device by means of a valve;

actuating the valve means when the filling operation is complete to isolate the gas storage device from the manifold means;

bleeding substance from the gas storage device when the valve means is actuated; and

,

applying the substance bled from the container to analyzer means for analyzing the bled gas.