Liquefied natural gas transfer
First Claim
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1. In a process for transfer of liquefied natural gas from a storage tank, the improvement comprising;
- passing liquid nitrogen in heat exchange relation with said liquefied natural gas in said storage tank subcooling said liquefied natural gas to about 10°
to about 60°
F. below the boiling temperature of said liquefied natural gas in said storage tank, and vaporizing liquid nitrogen by said heat exchange with said liquefied natural gas causing pressurization of nitrogen vapor in the ullage of said storage tank sufficient to act as a pressurant for said transfer in a transfer mode.
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for transfer of liquefied natural gas from a storage tank in subcooled condition using liquefied nitrogen to subcool the liquefied natural gas and nitrogen vapor formed by thermal transfer between the liquefied natural gas and liquefied nitrogen as pressurant to drive the transfer of subcooled liquefied natural gas. This invention provides a liquefied natural gas vehicle refueling station which utilizes nitrogen as a propellant and avoids venting natural gas to the atmosphere.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a process for transfer of liquefied natural gas from a storage tank, the improvement comprising;
- passing liquid nitrogen in heat exchange relation with said liquefied natural gas in said storage tank subcooling said liquefied natural gas to about 10°
to about 60°
F. below the boiling temperature of said liquefied natural gas in said storage tank, and vaporizing liquid nitrogen by said heat exchange with said liquefied natural gas causing pressurization of nitrogen vapor in the ullage of said storage tank sufficient to act as a pressurant for said transfer in a transfer mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- passing liquid nitrogen in heat exchange relation with said liquefied natural gas in said storage tank subcooling said liquefied natural gas to about 10°
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8. A process for transfer of liquefied natural gas from a liquefied natural gas storage tank comprising:
- passing liquid nitrogen in heat exchange relation with said liquefied natural gas in said liquefied natural gas storage tank producing subcooled liquefied natural gas;
vaporizing at least a portion of said liquid nitrogen by said heat exchange with said liquefied natural gas sufficient to cause pressurization of substantially nitrogen vapor in the ullage of said liquefied natural gas storage tank; and
passing said subcooled liquefied natural gas from said liquefied natural gas storage tank in a delivery mode driven by said pressurization of said substantially nitrogen vapor in the ullage of said liquefied natural gas storage tank. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- passing liquid nitrogen in heat exchange relation with said liquefied natural gas in said liquefied natural gas storage tank producing subcooled liquefied natural gas;
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20. An apparatus for transfer of liquefied natural gas from a storage tank comprising:
- a liquefied natural gas storage tank having liquefied natural gas therein;
a pressure control valve in gaseous communication with the ullage of said liquefied natural gas storage tank;
a liquefied natural gas transfer line having one end in liquid communication with said liquefied natural gas;
a flow control valve in said liquefied natural gas transfer line;
flow through heat exchanger means in thermal exchange relation with said liquefied natural gas, said flow through heat exchanger means having a downstream open end;
liquefied natural gas temperature and pressure sensing means;
a liquefied nitrogen storage tank having liquefied nitrogen therein;
a nitrogen pressure control valve in gaseous communication with the ullage of said liquefied nitrogen storage tank;
a liquefied nitrogen transfer line having an upstream end in liquid communication with said liquefied nitrogen and a downstream end in liquid communication with the upstream end of said flow through heat exchanger means;
a flow control valve in said liquefied nitrogen transfer line;
adjustable heater means in thermal exchange relation with said liquefied nitrogen; and
liquefied nitrogen temperature and pressure sensing means.
- a liquefied natural gas storage tank having liquefied natural gas therein;
Specification