Method and apparatus for recovering and transporting methane mine gas

• US 6,205,793 B1
• Filed: 07/06/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schimp, Christopher E.
• Original Assignee: Schimp, Christopher E.
• Inventors: Schimp, Christopher E.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US09/347,562
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 62/461, 62/463, 344/73, 961/43, 961/48, 502/418
• US Class Current: 62/46.1
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 11/007 for hydrocarbon gases, such as methane or natural gas, propane, butane or mixtures thereof [LPG]
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/004 for large storage vessels not under pressure F17C13/008 and F17C13/02 - F17C13/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/06 Vessel construction using filling material in contact with the handled fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• 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 2227/0157 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/044 Avoiding pollution or contamination
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0142 placed underground
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0171 Trucks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for economically storing and transporting coal mine methane gas is presented. The apparatus utilizes converted propane tankers. Standard propane tankers are filled with activated carbon or commercial carbons with a high volumetric methane adsorption capacity. The methane gas is compressed by a smaller compressor at the well and loaded into the converted tanker. At least three converted tankers are utilized in this method, one being loaded at the well, one discharging its methane gas at the end-user, and one being transported in between the well and the end-user. The truck used to transport the converted tankers has a bi-fuel system adding to the economy of the method and apparatus. Utilizing this apparatus and method of storage and transportation will reduce greenhouse emissions from the mine and from the power plants, and will provide the owner and operator with numerous tax credits and clean air incentives. It also provides the public with a cheaper source of cleaner burning fuel for large public utilities and other large end-users.

Claims

1. A method of loading methane gas from a well and delivering and discharging methane gas at an end-user, comprising the steps of:

(a) loading a first tanker with between 5,000 and 16,000 cubic feet of methane gas per hour for approximately six hours, compressed to approximately 250 psi, wherein said first tanker is filled with activated charcoal or commercial carbons with a high volumetric methane adsorption capacity, whereby the commercial carbons of said first loading tanker will not inefficiently heat up during the loading process;

(b) discharging said compressed methane gas at an end-user from a second tanker, at a rate of discharge of approximately 50,000 cubic feet per hour, wherein said second tanker is filled with activated carbon or commercial carbons with a high volumetric methane adsorption capacity, whereby the commercial carbons of said second discharging tanker will not inefficiently cool down too quickly during the discharging process;

(c) transporting at least one other tanker filled with methane gas between said well and end-user during the time that said first tanker is loading and said second tanker is discharging wherein said other tanker is filled with activated charcoal or commercial carbons with a high volumetric methane adsorption capacity,

whereby a discharge tanker may be transported between said end-user and said well while another tanker is being efficiently loaded at said well and yet another tanker is being efficiently discharged at said end-user.

2. A method for collecting, compressing, storing and transporting methane well gas as in claim 1, further comprising the step of using a bi-fuel truck utilizing methane gas and diesel fuel to transport said tankers between the well and end-user.