EP3769003B1 - Récipient sous pression pour gaz liquéfié et raccord de consommateur - Google Patents

Récipient sous pression pour gaz liquéfié et raccord de consommateur Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3769003B1
EP3769003B1 EP19709500.3A EP19709500A EP3769003B1 EP 3769003 B1 EP3769003 B1 EP 3769003B1 EP 19709500 A EP19709500 A EP 19709500A EP 3769003 B1 EP3769003 B1 EP 3769003B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pressure
liquefied gas
container
pressurized container
pressurized
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EP19709500.3A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3769003A1 (fr
Inventor
Ismael Callejón
Sergi Forns
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Cryo Inox SL
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Cryo Inox SL
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C9/00—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure
    • F17C9/02—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure with change of state, e.g. vaporisation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C5/00—Methods or apparatus for filling containers with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases under pressures
    • F17C5/06—Methods or apparatus for filling containers with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases under pressures for filling with compressed gases
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C7/00—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass
    • F17C7/02—Discharging liquefied gases
    • F17C7/04—Discharging liquefied gases with change of state, e.g. vaporisation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
    • F17C2205/01—Mounting arrangements
    • F17C2205/0123—Mounting arrangements characterised by number of vessels
    • F17C2205/013—Two or more vessels
    • F17C2205/0134—Two or more vessels characterised by the presence of fluid connection between vessels
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
    • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
    • F17C2221/033—Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
    • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
    • F17C2223/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2225/00—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2225/01—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2225/0107—Single phase
    • F17C2225/0123—Single phase gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/01—Propulsion of the fluid
    • F17C2227/0107—Propulsion of the fluid by pressurising the ullage
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/0302—Heat exchange with the fluid by heating
    • F17C2227/0306—Heat exchange with the fluid by heating using the same fluid
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/0337—Heat exchange with the fluid by cooling
    • F17C2227/0339—Heat exchange with the fluid by cooling using the same fluid
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/0337—Heat exchange with the fluid by cooling
    • F17C2227/0358—Heat exchange with the fluid by cooling by expansion
    • F17C2227/036—"Joule-Thompson" effect
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/04—Methods for emptying or filling
    • F17C2227/047—Methods for emptying or filling by repeating a process cycle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2265/00—Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
    • F17C2265/05—Regasification
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2265/00—Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
    • F17C2265/06—Fluid distribution
    • F17C2265/061—Fluid distribution for supply of supplying vehicles
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2265/00—Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
    • F17C2265/06—Fluid distribution
    • F17C2265/065—Fluid distribution for refueling vehicle fuel tanks
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2270/00—Applications
    • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
    • F17C2270/0134—Applications for fluid transport or storage placed above the ground
    • F17C2270/0139—Fuel stations

Definitions

  • Some gaseous materials can be advantageously liquefied at low temperatures in order to occupy less volume for better storage or transportation.
  • Such liquefied gas may be either transferred to be consumed, or pressurized and then turned from a liquid phase back to a gaseous phase to be consumed.
  • Such regasification process volume is, for example, occurring in industrial ports, where liquefied natural gas (LNG) is turned into compressed natural gas (CNG).
  • LNG liquefied natural gas
  • CNG compressed natural gas
  • Such regasification process consumes a significant amount of energy.
  • Such energy is for example used to heat liquefied gas in order to evaporate it, as well as to run high power industrial pumps to transfer the gas through the regasification installation.
  • the document WO2011059344 A1 discloses a method for the regasification of liquefied gases as LNG.
  • the present disclosure aims at reducing or even at suppressing the energy costs of pumping a fluid into a regasification or transfer installation to produce a high pressure gas or pressurized liquefied gas downstream.
  • ambient temperature may be used to evaporate a liquefied gas if the liquefied gas temperature is lower than ambient
  • prior art systems are using high power pumps to evacuate the liquid fluid.
  • the present disclosure not only permits using ambient temperature to pressurize liquefied gas, but also avoids the use of a pump through an elegant construction which will be described in more detail below.
  • example systems allow producing a cycle between three equivalent containers and three types of fluids (compressed liquid or gas, liquefied gas, and gas at lower pressure than compressed gas) such that the energy stored in pressure and temperature of the fluids gets exchanged to move the fluid between containers and run the cycle with a minimal energy cost.
  • fluids compressed liquid or gas, liquefied gas, and gas at lower pressure than compressed gas
  • compressed gas comprises a gaseous phase and also comprises some gas in a liquid phase.
  • more than 70% of the compressed gas in mass is in a gaseous phase.
  • less than 5% of the compressed gas in mass is in a liquid phase.
  • the compressed gas is liquid in more than 99% of its mass.
  • compressed gas is at a pressure of between 6 and 10 bar.
  • compressed gas is at a pressure of between 25 and 35 bar.
  • compressed gas is at a pressure of at least 200 bar.
  • the compressed gas comprises natural gas.
  • the compressed gas comprises air.
  • the compressed gas comprises N 2 . In an example, the compressed gas comprises O 2 . In an example, the compressed gas is at a temperature of between -90 and -60 degrees Celsius. In an example, the compressed gas is at a temperature of between -60 and -25 degrees Celsius.
  • the system of Figure 1 comprises a supply connection 300 for the supply of liquefied gas.
  • the liquefied gas comprises a liquid phase and also comprises some gas in a gaseous phase.
  • more than 70% of the liquefied gas in mass is in a liquid phase.
  • less than 5% of the liquefied gas in mass is in a gaseous phase.
  • the liquefied gas is in a liquid phase in more than 99% of its mass.
  • liquefied gas is at a pressure of between 1 and 2 bar.
  • compressed gas is at a pressure of between 2 and 4 bar.
  • liquefied gas is at a pressure of at least 4 bar.
  • the liquefied gas comprises natural gas. In an example, the liquefied gas comprises cryogenic liquid natural gas. In an example, the liquefied gas comprises air. In an example, the liquefied gas comprises N 2 . In an example, the liquefied gas comprises O 2 . In an example, the liquefied gas is at a temperature of between -180 and -140 degrees Celsius. In an example, the liquefied gas is at a temperature of between -160 and -80 degrees Celsius.
  • the system of Figure 1 comprises three pressurized containers 101, 102 and 103.
  • the pressurized containers are pressure vessels designed to hold a fluid such as a gas, liquid or a combination of both at a pressure different from the ambient pressure.
  • the pressurized containers are made of steel.
  • the pressurized containers have a generally cylindrical enclosure.
  • a pressurized container has an inner volume of at least 0.3 cubic meters.
  • the three pressurized containers 101, 102 and 103 have an identical structure.
  • the three pressurized containers 101, 102 and 103 are located at the same level, meaning at the same altitude, in order to minimize an impact of gravity on a method to cyclically modify pressure according to this disclosure.
  • the system of Figure 1 comprises an evaporator 210.
  • the evaporator comprises radiating surfaces whereby liquefied gas passing through the evaporator is exposed to ambient temperature or is heated by a heating fluid through the radiating surfaces, thereby transmitting heat to the liquefied gas, raising its temperature and progressively reducing its liquid phase, increasing its gaseous phase, and increasing pressure inside the vessel or container as fluid passes through the evaporator.
  • the evaporator is a passive radiator using ambient air as heat transfer fluid.
  • the evaporator is a forced circulation evaporator, using forced circulation from a heat transfer fluid to evaporate the liquefied gas.
  • the system of Figure 1 comprises a heat exchanger.
  • the heat exchanger is a counter current flow heat exchanger having two inputs and two outputs; two inputs and a first output being connected to the pressurized containers 101, 102, 103, the second output being connected to a consumer connection 400.
  • Using a counter flow heat exchanger contributes to obtaining the energy savings aimed at in the current disclosure by using the difference in temperature between the compressed gas and the liquefied gas in the system of the disclosure in a remediious manner as will be explained below.
  • the system of Figure 1 comprises a consumer connection 400.
  • the consumer connection is in an example a connection to a compressed gas distribution network.
  • the consumer connection connects to a network distributing compressed natural gas.
  • the consumer connection 400 is connected to the heat exchanger.
  • a connection between elements is a pressurized connection allowing a transfer of fluid (fluid including gas, liquid, or a mixture of gas and liquid) between an element and another element, the connection being direct or indirect.
  • a direct connection can be provided by a tube between elements.
  • a direct connection can be provided by a tube mechanically connected to elements with seals maintaining pressurization of the system.
  • Elements include for example the supply connection, the pressurized containers, the evaporator, the heat exchanger, valves or an expansion element.
  • An indirect connection can be provided between a first element and a second element if one or more further elements is or are placed between the first and the second element, meaning that a fluid moving between the first and the second element would pass through the one or more further elements when moving from the first to the second element or vice versa.
  • the system comprises a pressurized circuit between the elements of the system.
  • the system of Figure 1 comprises valves interconnecting each pressurized container 101, 102, 103 with the supply connection 300, with the evaporator 210, and with the heat exchanger.
  • valves 701, 702, 703 control the connection of respective containers 101, 102, 103 with a first fluid connection of the evaporator 210 through an additional valve 710.
  • Valves 707, 708 and 709 control the connection of respective containers 101, 102 and 103 with a second fluid connection of the evaporator 210.
  • the evaporator 210 comprises an internal fluid circuit between its first fluid connection and second fluid connection.
  • Valves 704, 705 and 706 control the connection of the respective containers 101, 102 and 103 through the respective valves 707, 708 and 709 to the input of the current flow channel 501 of the heat exchanger.
  • Valve 714 controls the connection between the output of the current flow channel 501 of the heat exchanger to consumer connection 400.
  • Valves 711, 712 and 713 control the connection of respective containers 101, 102 and 103 to the input of counter current flow channel 502 of the heat exchanger.
  • Valve 700 controls the connection of supply connection 300 to the rest of the system.
  • Valves 715, 716 and 717 control the connection of respective containers 101, 102 and 103 to the output of counter current flow channel 502 of the heat exchanger through an expansion element 600.
  • this is only an example of connection between elements of the circuit, and different circuits may be designed which will lead to a system according to this disclosure.
  • the system of Figure 1 comprises an expansion element 600.
  • an expansion element reduces temperature in a fluid which flows through the expansion element.
  • a fluid entering the expansion element has a higher proportion of gaseous phase than the fluid exiting the expansion element, and the fluid entering the expansion element has a lower proportion of liquid phase than the fluid exiting the expansion element.
  • the expansion element 600 comprises a Joule-Thomson valve or a throttling element.
  • the expansion element 600 is located between the first output of the counter current flow heat exchanger and the pressurized containers.
  • fluid flow through the expansion element goes from the output of the counter current flow channel 502 towards one or more of containers 101, 102 or 103.
  • FIG 2a the system of Figure 1 is represented in a specific state.
  • container 101 is filled with liquefied gas.
  • Container 101 is filled by opening valves 701 and 700 between container 101 and supply connection 300 for the supply of liquefied gas.
  • open valves are represented by two opposing white triangle, while closed valves are represented by two opposing black triangles.
  • container 101 gets filled by liquefied gas because the valves 700 and 701 are open and because pressure in container 101 is lower than pressure in the supply connection 300.
  • pressure in container 101 is of 6 bar and pressure in the supply connection 300 is 7 bar.
  • liquefied gas is supplied to a first pressurized container 101, the container being at a first pressure.
  • container 102 is filled with gas in a gaseous phase at about 5 bar represented by a light gray texture
  • container 103 is filled with compressed gas at about 200 bar, represented by a dark gray texture.
  • Containers 102 and 103 are in Figure 2 closed and without fluid connection to other elements due to valves being closed.
  • FIG 2b the system of Figure 1 is represented in a state directly following the state represented in Figure 2a .
  • valve 700 has been closed after the filling of container 101 by liquefied gas through the supply connection 300.
  • both valves 710 and 707 have been opened, and valve 701 was maintained opened, so that a circuit is open between container 101 and evaporator 210.
  • the first pressurized container 101 is connected to evaporator 210 to evaporate liquefied gas to produce a first fluid and increase pressure in the first pressurized container 101 to a second pressure.
  • the pressure in the container 101 raises from about 5 bar to about 200 bar during this phase, whereby the liquefied gas progressively turns into compressed gas through evaporation.
  • Figure 2b we have illustrated a gaseous phase in container 101, the gaseous phase being illustrated in a dark shade above the liquefied gas phase illustrated by horizontal dashed lines. The remaining valves in the system remain closed. During this phase, pressure raises in container 101 through evaporation in evaporator 210.
  • valves 701, 707 and 710 remain open as in Figure 2b , so that the liquefied gas continues to be submitted to evaporation.
  • valves 704 and 714 are open so that the fluid present in container 101 exits at the second pressure for example of the order of 200 bar through consumer connection 400.
  • the first container 101 is connected with consumer connection 400 via a channel 501 of a heat exchanger, the second pressure being higher than a pressure in the consumer connection 400.
  • Second pressurized container 103 containing a second fluid in this example compressed gas at a pressure of about 200 bar in a gaseous phase
  • third pressurized container 102 in this example originally filled with gas at a pressure of about 5 bar in a gaseous phase, such connection being via counter current flow channel 502 of the heat exchanger, the second fluid reducing its temperature as it flows through the counter current flow channel, whereby in this example it exchanges heat with the fluid passing through channel 501, the pressure in the second container 103 being higher than the pressure in the third container 102, the second fluid passing through expansion element 600 between the counter flow exchanger and the third pressurized container 102.
  • container 101 contains a fluid which has an increasing gaseous compressed phase, and a decreasing liquefied gas phase.
  • pressure in container 103 reduces, and the fluid contained in container 102 progressively contains a higher liquefied gas phase, due to the compressed gas of container 103 lowering its temperature in the heat exchanger and its pressure in the expansion element 600.
  • Figure 2d the system of Figure 1 is represented in a state directly following the state represented in Figure 2c .
  • the valves in Figure 2d are in the same position as per Figure 2c .
  • the change is illustrated by showing that container 101 has reached a stage at which it is filled with high pressure compressed gas, for example about 200 bar, resulting from raising the liquefied gas in both temperature and pressure.
  • Container 102 now comprises a higher proportion of liquefied gas and remains at a relatively low pressure of the order of 5 bar.
  • Container 103 is also at low pressure, for example containing gas at a pressure around 5 bar.
  • the representation of the various phases of fluid on the Figures are symbolic in that some of the phases may intermix and have a variety of proportions.
  • Figure 2e the system of Figure 1 is represented in a state directly following the state represented in Figure 2d . All valves have now been closed except valves 700 and 702 in order to progressively fill container 102 with liquefied gas, until it reaches a level of filling as illustrated in Figure 2f .
  • the filling may be complete or may be partial. If one compares Figures 2f and 2a , one will see that the situations are equivalent, but that the containers have now exchanged roles.
  • a cycle between containers allows providing compressed gas from liquefied gas to a supply network without the need of a pump. While low power fluid pumps may help run the cycle of this disclosure, in an example, the system is a pumpless system.
  • the pressurized containers repeat the above steps using a circular permutation between the first, second and third containers, each container cycling through successive phases of being supplied with liquefied gas as per figure 2a for first pressurized container 101, evaporating liquefied gas as per figure 2b for first pressurized container 101, consumer connection as per figure 2c for first pressurized container 101 and depressurisation as per the transision between figures 2c and 2d for second pressurized container 103.
  • Depressurization should be understood as a phase during which pressure decreases.
  • FIG. 3 Another example is illustrated in Figure 3 .
  • the system of Figure 3 comprises the elements of the system of Figure 1 and further comprises a second evaporator 2002, the second evaporator being connected to each of the pressurized containers 101, 102 and 103.
  • the system of Figure 3 permits an accelerated cycle.
  • both evaporators 210 and 220 are evaporating the fluid passing through them using ambient temperature.
  • ambient temperature some evaporators can become covered in ice considering the low temperature of liquefied gas, thereby reducing the evaporation process.
  • adding another evaporator helps compensating such a reduction, for example.
  • the term evaporator in this disclosure can include a plurality of evaporators.
  • Evaporator 220 in the system of Figure 3 is connected to its own valve 720 allowing to selectively control use of evaporator 220.
  • FIG. 4 A further example of a system according to the disclosure is illustrated in Figure 4 , whereby the system comprises a first evaporator 231, second evaporator 232 and third evaporator 233, being connected to each of the pressurized containers 101, 102 and 103, in this case respectively.
  • Such plurality of evaporators can be considered thermodynamically as one evaporator.
  • Such a design includes valves 731, 732 and 733, each corresponding to respective evaporators 231, 232 and 233.
  • Such a design permits using less valves than the system of Figure 1 . It is indeed possible to implement numerous various system according to this disclosure.
  • Figure 4 avoids using an evaporator 231, 232 or 233 continuously, whereby the evaporator would be connected to its respective container when such container is in a cycle of having its content passing from liquefied gas to compressed gas, such that the respective evaporator may not be used when the respective container is in a different part of the cycle, for example when its content changes from low pressure gas to compressed gas or when it is getting filled with liquefied gas.
  • Such intermittent use of an evaporator can allow such evaporator to raise its temperature to prepare for a new cycle, for example if exposed to ambient conditions and submitted to freezing due to a low below freezing temperature of a liquefied gas.
  • FIG. 4 The system of Figure 4 is illustrated when functioning in figures 5a to 5e .
  • container 101 is filled with liquefied gas by opening valves 701 and 700, thereby connecting supply connection 300 with container 101.
  • Container 102 is filled with gas in gaseous phase at low pressure, for example 5 bar and Container 103 by compressed gas at for example 200 bar.
  • Figure 5b representing a state following in the cycle the state of Figure 5a , all valves are closed except valve 731, thereby starting evaporation of the content of container 101, raising pressure into container 101, reducing the liquid phase in container 101.
  • valves 702 and 713 are open to allow a fluid flow between container 103 and container 102, whereby the compressed gas of container 103 lowers its temperature while flowing through counter current flow channel 502 of the heat exchanger, lowering its pressure while flowing through expansion element 600, and enter container 102 with lower pressure and temperature, for example comprising a liquefied gas phase.
  • Such flows of fluid illustrated in Figure 5c lead to a state illustrated in Figure 5d , the valves in 5d being in the same positions as in 5c, where the content of the containers is such that container 103 contains gas at a lower pressure and container 101 compressed gas at a higher pressure.
  • 102 is at a lower pressure and lower temperature and may contain some liquefied gas.
  • FIG. 6 Another example of a system according to the invention is illustrated in Figure 6 .
  • the system illustrated in Figure 6 comprises the elements of the system illustrated in Figure 1 , and the second output of the heat exchanger or the consumer connection is connected to the gas phase of the containers, at the evaporator 210 output, via a valve 740.
  • Such connection permits injecting compressed gas into the containers, thereby raising the temperature and pressure in the evaporator, for example to permit resetting the circuit or system if the evaporator is saturated in its function and does not evaporate with a satisfactory yield.
  • Such connection could be considered at other point of the circuit.
  • FIG. 7 Another example of a system according to the invention is illustrated in Figure 7 .
  • a system is illustrated which comprises the elements of the system illustrated in Figure 1 and further includes a supply tank 104 for the liquefied gas, the supply tank 104 being connected to the three pressurized containers 101, 102 and 103.
  • Supply tank 104 may have been filled with liquefied gas coming from a liquefied gas transporting ship for example.
  • the supply connection is a one way connection, meaning that there is no fluid flowing from the system back into the supply tank. Avoiding such a return of fluid through a one way connection avoids raising the temperature in the supply tank unnecessarily, and minimize cavitation risk.
  • the system further includes an additional liquefied gas supply connection from the containers low output (low output meaning a container output at the bottom of the containers, the bottom being defined according to gravity) to an additional consumer connection 401 through a valve 750.
  • additional consumer connection may be used to, for example, fill liquefied gas transportation means such as a tanker truck.
  • a system as per this disclosure allow providing compressed gas from liquefied gas in a remote area or in an area which does not benefit from a high power electrical connection for a high power pump, but such an additional consumer connection would also allow providing liquefied gas directly.
  • FIG 8 illustrates a regasification or pressurizing method according to the disclosure. Such a method can be applied to any system according to the disclosure. In this example, we are describing it applied to the system illustrated in Figure 1 .
  • Regasification is the process of returning to a gaseous phase a gas which has been liquefied.
  • the method illustrated in Figure 8 comprises in step 801 supplying liquefied gas to a first pressurized container such as 101, the pressurized container 101 being at a first pressure.
  • Step 802 illustrates connecting the first pressurized container 101 to evaporator 210 to evaporate liquefied gas to produce a first fluid and increase pressure in the first pressurized container to a second pressure.
  • Step 803 illustrates connecting the first pressurized container 101 with consumer connection 400 via a channel 501 of a heat exchanger, the first fluid raising its temperature as it flows through the channel 501, the second pressure being higher than a pressure in the consumer connection 400.
  • Step 804 illustrates connecting a second pressurized container 103 containing a second fluid with a third pressurized container 102 via a counter current flow channel 502 of the heat exchanger, the second fluid reducing its temperature as it flows through the counter current flow channel 502, the pressure in the second pressurized container 103 being higher than the pressure in the third pressurized container 102, the second fluid passing through an expansion element 600 between the counter flow exchanger and the third pressurized container 102.
  • the liquefied gas comprises cryogenic liquid natural gas and the first fluid comprises compressed natural gas.
  • Figure 9 illustrates a method to cyclically modify pressure in a pressurized container according to this disclosure.
  • This method can be applied to any container described in the present disclosure. We illustrate it here using the system illustrated in Figure 1 .
  • the method consists in repeating the following steps in a cycle providing in step 901 a one way supply 300 of liquefied gas in the pressurized container 101, the pressurized container 101 being at a first pressure; evaporating in step 902 the liquefied gas provided in the first pressurized container 101, raising the pressure in the pressurized container 101 to a second pressure, the content of the first pressurized container 101 being evacuated from the pressurized container 101 towards a consumer connection 400 through a heat exchanger, the second pressure being higher than a consumer connection pressure; lower in step 903 the pressure in the pressurized container 101 to a third pressure by connecting the pressurized container 101 to an other pressurized container 103 through a counter current flow 502 of the heat exchanger and through an expansion element 600, the other pressurized
  • steps 901, 902 and 903 are repeated in cycle.
  • the steps are implemented by opening and closing valves, the valves introducing losses of pressure.
  • the steps are implemented by using a pump in addition to valves.
  • the pressurized container 101 is filled with liquefied gas providing a one way supply of liquefied gas in the pressurized container 101, thereby avoiding returning fluid into a supply tank or supply network.
  • the first pressure is of less than 6 bar and the consumer connection pressure is of more than 200 bar.
  • Figure 10 is a schematic representation of a further example system according to the present disclosure.
  • This example comprises the elements of Figure 1 as well as an additional inlet or additional supply connection 402 connected to an additional channel 503 of the heat exchanger through an additional valve 718.
  • additional elements permit for example an additional supply of pressurized liquefied gas, compresses gas or mixture of these into the system in order to cool such additional supply.
  • Such cooled additional supply is rerouted into the expansion element 600.
  • the cooling of this additional supply takes place by flowing through additional channel 503 which is a counter current flow channel which participates to the heat exchange in a manner similar to counter current flow channel 502.
  • additional supply would be for vehicles propelled exclusively or partially by liquefied or compressed gas as a fuel which should expel part of such fuel due for example to a high pressure in tanks containing such fuel. Such use would not only prevent releasing fuel into the atmosphere, but permit recycling such fuel using the system of this disclosure. While such additional supply is illustrated in the context of the system Figure 1 , such additional supply may also be provided in the context of other system according to this disclosure. Such an additional supply may be controlled by a valve such as valve 718 which may open or close such an additional supply. When used, such additional supply would pass through expansion element 600 which turns high pressure compressed gas in gaseous phase into a gas at a much lower pressure and which may include a liquid phase.
  • the additional supply 402 of pressurized liquefied gas, compressed gas or mixture of these is at a temperature ranging between 90 and 110 degrees Celsius and at a pressure of more than 13 bar or more than 14 bar or more than 15 bar.
  • FIG 11 is a schematic representation of a further example system according to the present disclosure.
  • This example comprises the elements of Figure 3 , functionally replacing the second evaporator 220 by an additional current flow channel 504 in the heat exchanger.
  • the heat exchanger comprises an additional current flow channel 504 directly and selectively interconnecting each pressurized container with each other pressurized container.
  • Such additional current flow channel 504 functions similarly to current flow channel 501 whereby the gas passing through this channel gets heated.
  • This additional current flow channel is an alternative to an evaporator which participates in the functioning of the heat exchanger.
  • additional current flow channel may be comprised in other systems according to this disclosure, including for example the system of Figure 10 , leading to a system comprising two flow channels and two counter current flow channels.
  • Such additional current flow channel 504 may be selectively operated by a valve such as valve 721 which may be open, closed, or partially open such as the other valves of the system of this disclosure.
  • Such an additional current flow channel 504 may serve to relieve the functioning of an evaporator such as evaporator 210, for example when such evaporator should regain a temperature closer to ambient temperature, for example if and when such evaporator is covered with ice due to reaching a temperature well below ambient temperature.
  • evaporator such as evaporator 210
  • such additional current flow channel participates to the functioning of the heat exchanger according to the methods of this disclosure.
  • valves may be operated manually or through a control system, which may comprise electro-mechanical elements or electronic elements. Control may take place with a controller, the controller comprising a processor and data storage, the data storage comprising a machine readable instruction set to operate the valves according to this disclosure.
  • each valve may interconnect elements of this disclosure directly and selectively. A direct connection may be via tubing between the valve and each element. A selective connection may be completely open through a valve and tubing, may be completely closed, or may be partially open.
  • the valves may interconnect elements of this disclosure indirectly, whereby other elements may be inserted between a valve and an interconnected element. An example of such other element is a filter.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

Claims (15)

  1. Un procédé de pressurisation pour modifier cycliquement la pression dans un premier, un deuxième et un troisième conteneurs, le procédé comprenant la répétition des étapes suivantes dans un cycle :
    a- fournir du gaz liquéfié moyennant une alimentation unidirectionnelle (300) au premier conteneur sous pression (101), le premier conteneur sous pression (101) étant à une première pression,
    b- connecter le premier conteneur sous pression (101) à un évaporateur (210) pour évaporer le gaz liquéfié afin de produire un premier fluide et augmenter la pression dans le premier conteneur sous pression (101) jusqu'à une deuxième pression,
    c- connecter le premier conteneur sous pression (101) à une connexion de consommateur (400) via un canal (501) d'un échangeur de chaleur, le premier fluide élevant sa température lors de son passage à travers le canal (501), la deuxième pression étant supérieure à une pression dans la connexion de consommateur (400),
    d- connecter le deuxième conteneur sous pression (103) contenant un deuxième fluide avec le troisième conteneur sous pression (102) via un canal d'écoulement à contre-courant (502) de l'échangeur de chaleur, le deuxième fluide réduisant sa température lorsqu'il s'écoule à travers le canal d'écoulement à contre-courant (502), la pression dans le deuxième conteneur sous pression (103) étant supérieure à la pression dans le troisième conteneur sous pression (102), le deuxième fluide traversant un élément de détente (600) entre l'échangeur à contre-courant et le troisième conteneur sous pression (102),
    e- répéter les étapes ci-dessus en utilisant une permutation circulaire entre les premier, deuxième et troisième conteneurs, chaque conteneur passant par des phases successives d'alimentation en gaz liquéfié, d'évaporation de gaz liquéfié, de connexion au consommateur et de dépressurisation.
  2. Le procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le gaz liquéfié comprend du gaz naturel liquide cryogénique et le premier fluide comprend soit du gaz naturel liquéfié sous pression, soit du gaz naturel comprimé.
  3. Le procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel les étapes sont mises en oeuvre en ouvrant et en fermant des vannes, les vannes introduisant des pertes de pression.
  4. Le procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel la première pression est inférieure à 6 bar.
  5. Le procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel la deuxième pression est supérieure à 200 bar.
  6. Un système pour fournir un gaz liquéfié sous pression ou un gaz comprimé, le système étant configuré pour exécuter le procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, le système comprenant :
    une connexion d'alimentation (300) pour l'alimentation en gaz liquéfié ;
    trois conteneurs sous pression (101, 102, 103), un évaporateur (210) et un échangeur de chaleur ;
    une connexion de consommateur (400) reliée à l'échangeur de chaleur ;
    des vannes interconnectant le conteneur sous pression (101, 102, 103) avec la connexion d'alimentation (300), avec l'évaporateur (210) et avec l'échangeur de chaleur ;
    un élément de détente (600), et
    l'échangeur de chaleur est un échangeur de chaleur à circulation à contre-courant ayant deux entrées et deux sorties, deux entrées et une première sortie étant connectées aux conteneurs sous pression (101, 102, 103), l'élément de détente étant situé entre la première sortie et les conteneurs sous pression, la deuxième sortie étant connectée à la connexion de consommateur.
  7. Le système de la revendication 6, comprenant en outre un deuxième évaporateur (220), le deuxième évaporateur (220) étant relié à chacun des conteneurs sous pression (101, 102, 103).
  8. Le système de la revendication 6, comprenant un deuxième (232) et un troisième (233) évaporateur, chaque évaporateur (231, 232, 233) étant relié à un conteneur sous pression respectif (101, 102, 103).
  9. Le système de la revendication 6, dans lequel l'évaporateur (210) est relié à la deuxième sortie de l'échangeur de chaleur via une vanne.
  10. Le système de l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel l'élément de détente (600) comprend une vanne Joule-Thomson.
  11. Le système de l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, comprenant une connexion d'alimentation en gaz liquéfié additionnelle à une connexion de consommateur additionnelle (401).
  12. Le système de l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel la connexion d'alimentation (300) est une connexion unidirectionnelle.
  13. Le système de l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel le système est un système sans pompe.
  14. Le système de l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel le système comprend en outre une connexion d'alimentation additionnelle (402) connectée à l'élément de détente (600) via un canal d'écoulement à contre-courant additionnel (503) de l'échangeur de chaleur.
  15. Le système de l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel l'échangeur de chaleur comprend un canal de circulation à courant additionnel (504) interconnectant directement et sélectivement chaque conteneur sous pression avec chaque autre conteneur sous pression.
EP19709500.3A 2018-03-23 2019-03-12 Récipient sous pression pour gaz liquéfié et raccord de consommateur Active EP3769003B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18382198.2A EP3543591A1 (fr) 2018-03-23 2018-03-23 Récipient sous pression pour gaz liquéfié et raccord de consommateur
PCT/EP2019/056104 WO2019179819A1 (fr) 2018-03-23 2019-03-12 Récipient sous pression pour gaz liquéfié et raccordement de consommateur

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TW561230B (en) * 2001-07-20 2003-11-11 Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co Unloading pressurized liquefied natural gas into standard liquefied natural gas storage facilities
NO331474B1 (no) * 2009-11-13 2012-01-09 Hamworthy Gas Systems As Installasjon for gjengassing av LNG
JP2017536519A (ja) * 2014-11-21 2017-12-07 ワシントン、ステート、ユニバーシティＷａｓｈｉｎｇｔｏｎ Ｓｔａｔｅ Ｕｎｉｖｅｒｓｉｔｙ 水素燃料供給システム及び方法

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ES2923120T3 (es) 2022-09-23
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WO2019179819A1 (fr) 2019-09-26

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