F17C9/02

Pressure building cryogenic fluid delivery system
11371654 · 2022-06-28 · ·

A tank is configured to store a supply of cryogenic liquid and a heat exchanger has a main line and a reheat line. A liquid pickup line directs cryogenic liquid from the tank to the main line of the heat exchanger. A trim heater exit tee receives fluid from the main line of the heat exchanger. Fluid exits the trim heater exit tee through an engine outlet and a trim heater outlet. Fluid exiting through the engine outlet flows through a flow restriction device and to a primary inlet of a trim heater return tee. A trim heater line receives fluid from the trim heater outlet of the trim heater exit tee and directs it to the reheat line of the heat exchanger after the fluid passes through a portion of the trim heater line positioned within the tank. Warmed fluid leaving the reheat line of the heat exchanger travels to a trim heater inlet of the trim heater return tee.

Cryogenic fluid vaporizer
11371655 · 2022-06-28 · ·

A liquid cryogenic vaporizer and method of use are disclosed. The vaporizer includes a main tube, a cryogenic fluid inlet positioned proximate a first end of the main tube for receiving cryogenic fluid, and a second tube having a diameter smaller than the main tube, the second tube being in fluid communication with the main tube at a second end of the main tube opposite the cryogenic fluid inlet. The vaporizer further includes an outlet extending from the inner tube for expelling vaporized fluid. The second tube can be positioned within the main tube, and one or more velocity limiters are optionally included within the main tube along a fluid path.

Cryogenic fluid vaporizer
11371655 · 2022-06-28 · ·

A liquid cryogenic vaporizer and method of use are disclosed. The vaporizer includes a main tube, a cryogenic fluid inlet positioned proximate a first end of the main tube for receiving cryogenic fluid, and a second tube having a diameter smaller than the main tube, the second tube being in fluid communication with the main tube at a second end of the main tube opposite the cryogenic fluid inlet. The vaporizer further includes an outlet extending from the inner tube for expelling vaporized fluid. The second tube can be positioned within the main tube, and one or more velocity limiters are optionally included within the main tube along a fluid path.

RECOMPRESSED TRANSCRITICAL CYCLE WITH VAPORIZATION IN CRYOGENIC OR LOW-TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS, AND/OR WITH COOLANT FLUID

A process for regasifying a fluid and generating electrical energy includes subjecting an operating fluid to 1) pumping, the pumping step including a low pressure pumping step 1a) and a high pressure pumping step 1b), 2) heating in a recuperator to obtain a heated flow, the heating step including a low temperature heat recovery step 2a) and a high temperature heat recovery step 2b), 3) further heating through a high temperature source to obtain a further heated flow, 4) expanding in a turbine, with generation of electrical energy to obtain an expanded flow, 5) cooling by heat exchange to obtain a cooled flow, and 6) condensing the flow of the operating fluid and regasifying the fluid. After low pressure pumping, a portion of the flow of the operating fluid is subjected to recompression to obtain a flow combined with the flow of the operating fluid obtained from step 2a).

RECOMPRESSED TRANSCRITICAL CYCLE WITH VAPORIZATION IN CRYOGENIC OR LOW-TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS, AND/OR WITH COOLANT FLUID

A process for regasifying a fluid and generating electrical energy includes subjecting an operating fluid to 1) pumping, the pumping step including a low pressure pumping step 1a) and a high pressure pumping step 1b), 2) heating in a recuperator to obtain a heated flow, the heating step including a low temperature heat recovery step 2a) and a high temperature heat recovery step 2b), 3) further heating through a high temperature source to obtain a further heated flow, 4) expanding in a turbine, with generation of electrical energy to obtain an expanded flow, 5) cooling by heat exchange to obtain a cooled flow, and 6) condensing the flow of the operating fluid and regasifying the fluid. After low pressure pumping, a portion of the flow of the operating fluid is subjected to recompression to obtain a flow combined with the flow of the operating fluid obtained from step 2a).

SPACECRAFT THERMAL AND FLUID MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

To manage propellant in a spacecraft, the method of this disclosure includes storing propellant in a tank as a mixture of liquid and gas; transferring the propellant out of the tank; converting the mixture of liquid and gas propellant into a single phase, where the single phase is either liquid or gaseous; and supplying the single phase of the propellant to a thruster.

Portable electric liquid fuel vaporizer
11339965 · 2022-05-24 ·

A portable vaporizer for heating a liquid-phase fuel. The vaporizer comprising a reservoir having a least one wall for containing a heat-conducting fluid within the reservoir. A heating tube extending into the reservoir such that the heating tube is in fluid contact with the heat-conducting fluid. The heating core has and inlet through which the liquid-phase fuel will flow and an outlet through which the vaporized liquid-phase fuel will flow. A heating core comprising an electric heating element placed within the reservoir to heat the heat-conducting fluid and vaporize the liquid-phase fuel passing through the heating tube.

Device for supplying fluid to a user apparatus

Device for supplying fluid to a user apparatus, in particular a cryogenic fuel such as hydrogen, to an engine, the device comprising a liquefied cryogenic fluid tank comprising a liquid phase and a gaseous phase, a user apparatus, a heating unit comprising a first end which is connected to the tank and a second end which is connected to the user apparatus, the drawing-off duct comprising a heater for the fluid drawn off, the device comprising a system for pressurising the tank comprising a pressurising duct comprising a first end which is connected to an upper end of the tank, a second end which is connected to a lower end of the tank, the pressurising duct comprising a fluid pumping unit and a heating unit, and being configured to draw off gaseous fluid from the tank, to heat it in the heating unit, and to re-inject this heated fluid into the low part in the liquid phase, characterised in that the pressurising duct and the drawing-off duct have a portion in common, and in that the heating unit and the heater are constituted by a single heat exchanger.

Apparatus and method for reliquefaction of boil-off gas of vessel

An apparatus for reliquefaction of boil-off gas for a vessel, comprises: a compression unit for compressing the boil-off gas discharged from the storage tank; and a heat exchanger for heat-exchanging the compressed boil-off gas compressed by the compression unit with the boil-off gas discharged from the storage tank; a first expansion means for dividing the boil-off gas passing through the heat exchanger into at least two flows including a first flow and a second flow, and expanding the divided first flow; a first intercooler for cooling the second flow remaining after the division of the first flow by using the first flow expanded by the expansion means as a refrigerant; and a receiver for receiving a second flow having passed through the first intercooler, in which a downstream pressure of the compression unit is controlled by a flow discharged from the receiver.

Apparatus and method for reliquefaction of boil-off gas of vessel

An apparatus for reliquefaction of boil-off gas for a vessel, comprises: a compression unit for compressing the boil-off gas discharged from the storage tank; and a heat exchanger for heat-exchanging the compressed boil-off gas compressed by the compression unit with the boil-off gas discharged from the storage tank; a first expansion means for dividing the boil-off gas passing through the heat exchanger into at least two flows including a first flow and a second flow, and expanding the divided first flow; a first intercooler for cooling the second flow remaining after the division of the first flow by using the first flow expanded by the expansion means as a refrigerant; and a receiver for receiving a second flow having passed through the first intercooler, in which a downstream pressure of the compression unit is controlled by a flow discharged from the receiver.