An object is to propose a fluid handling device for liquid hydrogen that prevents evaporation of liquid hydrogen, and moreover affords excellent heat insulation without liquefying oxygen in the vicinity. In a fluid handling device for liquid hydrogen, piping sections (1) have a heat insulation structure, a swivel joint section (2) is configured with helium gas sealed into a boundary relative-rotation section (6) between an outer ring section (3) and an inner ring section (4) with a bearing section (5) interposed, and moreover, between an outside-air-contacting wall section (7) that is in contact with the outside air and a liquid-hydrogen-contacting wall section (8) that is in contact with liquid hydrogen, a vacuum section (9) extends in the axial direction and moreover a heat-conducting extended path section (10) is provided with one end connected to the outside-air-contacting wall section (7) and the other end connected to the liquid-hydrogen-contacting wall section (8), extending the heat conduction distance between the outside-air-contacting wall section (7) and the liquid-hydrogen-contacting wall section (8), and reducing heat conductivity between the outside-air-contacting wall section (7) and the liquid-hydrogen-contacting wall section (8).

An object is to propose a fluid handling device for liquid hydrogen that prevents evaporation of liquid hydrogen, and moreover affords excellent heat insulation without liquefying oxygen in the vicinity. In a fluid handling device for liquid hydrogen, piping sections (1) have a heat insulation structure, a swivel joint section (2) is configured with helium gas sealed into a boundary relative-rotation section (6) between an outer ring section (3) and an inner ring section (4) with a bearing section (5) interposed, and moreover, between an outside-air-contacting wall section (7) that is in contact with the outside air and a liquid-hydrogen-contacting wall section (8) that is in contact with liquid hydrogen, a vacuum section (9) extends in the axial direction and moreover a heat-conducting extended path section (10) is provided with one end connected to the outside-air-contacting wall section (7) and the other end connected to the liquid-hydrogen-contacting wall section (8), extending the heat conduction distance between the outside-air-contacting wall section (7) and the liquid-hydrogen-contacting wall section (8), and reducing heat conductivity between the outside-air-contacting wall section (7) and the liquid-hydrogen-contacting wall section (8).

A device (1) for transferring a fluid from a mooring area to a ship is specified. The device (1) comprises an articulated supporting structure (2), which has at least one first and one second support (3, 4, 5), which are connected pivotably to one another by at least one pivot joint (6, 7) and which each have a longitudinal axis, wherein the first support (3) is fixed on the mooring area in such a way that the longitudinal axis of said support can be rotated substantially vertically and the first support (3) can be rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof, and wherein the second support (4, 5) is pivotable in a vertical plane. The device (1) furthermore comprises at least one guide element (8), which is fixed on the supports (3, 4, 5) or on the at least one pivot joint (6, 7), and a first flexible line (9), which is supported by means of the guide element (8) and is guided substantially in the vertical plane. The device furthermore comprises a second flexible line (10), which is arranged substantially in a horizontal plane around the first support (3) and is connected to the first flexible line (9) by means of a rigid tube section (13) connected in a fixed manner to the first support (3).

A device (1) for transferring a fluid from a mooring area to a ship is specified. The device (1) comprises an articulated supporting structure (2), which has at least one first and one second support (3, 4, 5), which are connected pivotably to one another by at least one pivot joint (6, 7) and which each have a longitudinal axis, wherein the first support (3) is fixed on the mooring area in such a way that the longitudinal axis of said support can be rotated substantially vertically and the first support (3) can be rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof, and wherein the second support (4, 5) is pivotable in a vertical plane. The device (1) furthermore comprises at least one guide element (8), which is fixed on the supports (3, 4, 5) or on the at least one pivot joint (6, 7), and a first flexible line (9), which is supported by means of the guide element (8) and is guided substantially in the vertical plane. The device furthermore comprises a second flexible line (10), which is arranged substantially in a horizontal plane around the first support (3) and is connected to the first flexible line (9) by means of a rigid tube section (13) connected in a fixed manner to the first support (3).

An emergency release system for a fluid transfer system is disclosed. The fluid transfer system includes a first valve and a second valve that is selectively fluidly coupled to the first valve. The emergency release system includes a breakaway coupler mechanism engageable with the first valve and the second valve to releasably couple the first valve and the second valve together, an actuator mechanism defined by a dual rod having a first rod member and a second rod member releasably attached to the first rod member, the first rod member engageable with the first valve and the second rod member engageable with the second valve, and a piston-cylinder assembly configured to engage the actuator mechanism to selectively and simultaneously close the first and second valves, and to disengage the breakaway coupler mechanism from the first valve and the second valve.

An emergency release system for a fluid transfer system is disclosed. The fluid transfer system includes a first valve and a second valve that is selectively fluidly coupled to the first valve. The emergency release system includes a breakaway coupler mechanism engageable with the first valve and the second valve to releasably couple the first valve and the second valve together, an actuator mechanism defined by a dual rod having a first rod member and a second rod member releasably attached to the first rod member, the first rod member engageable with the first valve and the second rod member engageable with the second valve, and a piston-cylinder assembly configured to engage the actuator mechanism to selectively and simultaneously close the first and second valves, and to disengage the breakaway coupler mechanism from the first valve and the second valve.

A liquefied hydrogen transport method includes connecting first and second loading arms to the manifold while vacuum insulation double tubes of the first and second loading arms are filled with hydrogen gas and air is mixed in piggyback lines; supplying an inactive gas to one of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms and taking in a gas mixture of an inactive gas and air from the other of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms; supplying hydrogen gas to one of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms and taking in a gas mixture of hydrogen gas and an inactive gas from the other of the piggyback lines of the first and second lading arms; and transporting liquefied hydrogen through any one of the vacuum insulation double tubes of the first and second loading arms.

A liquefied hydrogen transport method includes connecting first and second loading arms to the manifold while vacuum insulation double tubes of the first and second loading arms are filled with hydrogen gas and air is mixed in piggyback lines; supplying an inactive gas to one of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms and taking in a gas mixture of an inactive gas and air from the other of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms; supplying hydrogen gas to one of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms and taking in a gas mixture of hydrogen gas and an inactive gas from the other of the piggyback lines of the first and second lading arms; and transporting liquefied hydrogen through any one of the vacuum insulation double tubes of the first and second loading arms.

The present invention relates to a system and method for ship-to-ship transfers and/or replenishments of a resource to a ship during lightering. In particular, the ship-to-ship transfer system includes one or more single-point moorings (e.g., CALM, SALM, or ELSBM buoys) fluidly connected to one another and, optionally, a pumping station or utility ship to facilitate the transfer of the resource. Each single-point mooring is positioned at the water surface at a lateral distance away from the other single-point moorings. Each single-point mooring is fluidly coupled to one another via a series of pipes on or near the sea floor and also includes a fluidic coupling (e.g., a floating hose assembly) that may be connected to a ship. The ship-to-ship transfer system may also be used for storage of resources, delivery of liquid consumables, and/or receipt of liquid waste.

The present invention relates to a system and method for ship-to-ship transfers and/or replenishments of a resource to a ship during lightering. In particular, the ship-to-ship transfer system includes one or more single-point moorings (e.g., CALM, SALM, or ELSBM buoys) fluidly connected to one another and, optionally, a pumping station or utility ship to facilitate the transfer of the resource. Each single-point mooring is positioned at the water surface at a lateral distance away from the other single-point moorings. Each single-point mooring is fluidly coupled to one another via a series of pipes on or near the sea floor and also includes a fluidic coupling (e.g., a floating hose assembly) that may be connected to a ship. The ship-to-ship transfer system may also be used for storage of resources, delivery of liquid consumables, and/or receipt of liquid waste.