Self-saturating liquefied natural gas delivery system utilizing hydraulic pressure

Abstract

Described herein are at least systems and methods for cryogenic fluid delivery which utilize pumpless delivery of cryogenic fluid. The systems and methods utilize hydraulic pressure, saturation pressure, or a combination of both hydraulic pressure and saturation pressure to deliver cryogen to a use device, such as an engine.

Claims

1. A method comprising: filling a main tank with a cryogenic liquid while an overflow tank remains empty; coupling a tank apparatus with a use device, the tank apparatus comprising: (a) the main tank and the overflow tank contained within the main tank, wherein the main tank contains a vapor head above the cryogenic liquid; (b) a withdrawal line that passes through a first vaporizer and that leads to the use device; (c) a vapor line having a first end positioned within the vapor head in the main tank and a second end that communicates with an overflow line via a first pressure regulator such that vapor from the vapor head can pass through the vapor line to the overflow tank via the overflow line and the first pressure regulator, and wherein the vapor line also connects with the withdrawal line; (d) the overflow line having a first end positioned inside the overflow tank, wherein the overflow line communicates with the withdrawal line; (e) a liquid line with a first end positioned inside the main tank and a second end positioned outside the main tank, the second end of the liquid line connected to a second vaporizer outside the main tank; (f) a condensing line having a first end connected to the second vaporizer and a second end connected to the withdrawal line, wherein the condensing line passes through the main tank in contact with the cryogenic liquid in the main tank; (g) a check valve located between where the vapor line connects to the withdrawal line and where the condensing line connects to the withdrawal line; flowing liquid cryogen through the liquid line toward the use device and vaporizing the liquid cryogen at the second vaporizer to form a resulting vapor; passing the resulting vapor through the condensing line and through the main tank toward the use device such that heat is transferred from the resulting vapor to the liquid cryogen in the main tank thereby causing the liquid cryogen in the main tank to expand such that hydraulic pressure in the main tank exceeds a threshold pressure of the first pressure regulator to cause the first pressure regulator to open; upon the first pressure regulator opening, flowing liquid cryogen out of the main tank through the vapor line and to the overflow tank via the first pressure regulator and the overflow line while the check valve remains closed; increasing a saturation pressure within the main tank until the check valve opens such that cryogenic fluid flows from the overflow tank and the vapor head toward the use device via the overflow line, the withdrawal line, and the check valve; causing a saturation pressure in the main tank to equalize to a saturation pressure in the overflow tank as a result of a thermal interconnect between the overflow tank and the main tank while the tank apparatus is in operation, wherein the saturation pressure in the main tank and the overflow tank exceeds a pressure that causes the check valve to open; and causing cryogenic fluid to flow from one of the overflow tank and the main tank toward the use device through the open check valve to provide a continuous supply of the cryogenic fluid to the use device from the main tank or the overflow tank.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the use device is an automobile engine.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cryogenic liquid is liquid natural gas.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein: the continuous supply of cryogenic fluid is facilitated by the hydraulic pressure of the main tank when the hydraulic pressure in the main tank is more than the saturation pressure in the main tank; and the continuous supply of cryogenic fluid is facilitated by the saturation pressure of at least one of the main tank and the overflow tank when the hydraulic pressure in the main tank is one of less than and equal to the saturation pressure in the main tank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary system diagram of a cryogenic fluid storage and delivery system with a horizontal pressure vessel and an economizer circuit; and

(2) FIG. 2 shows an exemplary system diagram that includes a pressure vessel that utilizes both hydraulic and saturation pressure to deliver fluid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) Disclosed is a cryogenic fluid storage and delivery system. The system is primarily described herein in the context of being used for a horizontal liquid natural gas pressure vessel that provides vehicular fuel to natural gas engines. However, it should be appreciated that the system can be used with any of a variety of mobile horizontal delivery tanks such as liquid nitrogen pressure vessels used for in-transit refrigeration. Moreover, although the disclosure is primarily described in terms of supplying fuel to an engine, it should be appreciated that the disclosed system may be configured for use with any application that uses cryogenic fluids.

(4) FIG. 1 shows an example of a cryogenic storage and delivery system that delivers a cryogenic fluid to a device, such as a vehicle powered by cryogenic fluid. The system includes a pressure vessel 105 that contains a cryogenic liquid 110 and a layer of vapor 115 above the cryogenic fluid. A liquid tube 120 extends into the cryogenic liquid 110 and communicates with a withdrawal line 125 that connects to a gas use device 165. A vaporizer 130 is positioned along the withdrawal line 125 for vaporizing the fluid before it is delivered to the gas use device 165. A control valve 160 is also positioned along the withdrawal line 125. Cryogenic liquid 110 or vapor 115 is provided to the withdrawal line 125 while the control valve 160 is open. When the control valve 160 is closed, cryogenic liquid or vapor may return to the pressure vessel through check valve 155.

(5) An economizer circuit 135 provides a pathway for the vapor 115 to flow out of the pressure vessel 105. The economizer circuit 135 includes a vapor line 140 coupled to a back-pressure regulator 145. The regulator 145 opens at a predetermined pressure to permit release of the vapor 115 from the pressure vessel 105. The regulator 145 senses the pressure in the vapor line 140 and opens or closes appropriately.

(6) Still with reference to FIG. 1, the withdrawal line 125 includes a relief valve 150 located downstream of the liquid tube 120 and upstream of the vaporizer 130. The withdrawal line 125 also includes check valve 155 that allows cryogenic liquid or vapor to return to the pressure vessel 105.

(7) The pressure relief valve 150 is configured to provide a predetermined level of back pressure in the liquid tube 120 that is greater than the back pressure in the economizer circuit 135. When the regulator 145 is open, the vapor 115 will preferentially flow out of the pressure vessel 105 to the use device 165 via the economizer circuit 135, which provides the path of least resistance out of the pressure vessel 105 as a result of the back pressure in the liquid tube 120 provided by the relief valve 150. Upon closing of the regulator 145, the liquid 110 flows out of the pressure vessel 105 via the liquid tube 120 through the pressure relief valve 150 to the use device 165.

(8) The relief valve 150 and check valve 155 collectively enable the system of FIG. 1 to work efficiently. The check valve 155 provides an unimpeded back flow path for liquid and vapor to return from the vaporizer 130 toward the pressure vessel 105. Because the check valve permits a free flow of vapor and liquid from the withdrawal line 125 to the pressure vessel 105, the backflow of heat to the pressure vessel is always available to assist the pressure vessel 105 in maintaining or building pressure, independent of the regulator 145 setting.

(9) The cryogenic storage and delivery system shown in FIG. 1 and alternative cryogenic storage and delivery systems are described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/413,104, filed Mar. 6, 2012, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,161, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

(10) Cryogenic fluid storage and delivery systems currently used in vehicles operate under conditions that may not fully leverage the pumpless delivery of fuel to the use device. In liquid fuel storage and delivery system, as found in a conventional vehicle that uses gasoline, a pump moves the liquid fuel from the storage tank to the engine where the fuel reacts with oxygen and causes motion. In contrast, in vehicles that use cryogenic fluid as fuel, such as LNG powered vehicles, the storage and delivery systems might only rely on the saturation pressure of the liquid within the pressure vessel, or storage tank, to expel fluid from the vessel and move it down through the delivery lines to the vaporizer and use device. The saturation pressure varies with the temperature of the system, such that as the temperature increases, the pressure exerted by the vapor above the liquid cryogen increases.

(11) FIG. 2 shows an alternative cryogen storage and delivery system that maintains the safety and ability to utilize the heat from fluid flowing back from the withdrawal line into the pressure vessel, as described with respect to FIG. 1, but that also allows for the use of hydraulic pressure to supply fuel to the use device until the saturation pressure in the pressure vessel become sufficient. The system shown in FIG. 2 includes a primary tank 205 that contains cryogenic liquid 210 with a vapor head 215 above it. An overflow tank 290 is contained within the primary tank 205. A fill line 295 communicates with the primary tank 205 and can be used to fill the primary tank via a check valve 297 and a releasable connector 299.

(12) The cryogen storage and delivery system has a liquid tube 220 with an end positioned in the cryogenic liquid 210. The liquid tube 220 is located near the bottom of primary tank 205. Furthermore, a vapor line 240 has an end within the vapor head 215 located near the top of primary tank 205 and communicates with an overflow line 285. Thus, vapor 215 can pass through the vapor line 240 to the overflow tank 290 via the overflow line 285. Both the liquid tube 220 and the vapor line 240 communicate with a withdrawal line 225 that passes through a vaporizer 230 and supplies fuel to the use device 265. The liquid tube 220 passes outside the primary tank 205 where it connects to a vaporizer 270. The vaporizer 270 in turn connects to a condensing pathway 275 positioned inside the primary tank 205 in contact with the contents (i.e. the cryogenic fluid) of the primary tank 205. The condensing pathway 275 connects to a relief valve 250 and a check valve 255, similar to those in the system shown in FIG. 1. Eventually the condensing pathway 275 leads to the withdrawal line 225. In this manner, cryogenic liquid 210 can pass from primary tank 205 to the withdrawal line 225 via the liquid tube 220 and the condensing pathway 275.

(13) With reference still to FIG. 2, the cryogen storage and delivery system also has an economizer circuit 235 that includes the vapor line 240 that includes a regulator 245 and a check valve 280. The check valve 280 is located between where the vapor line 240 joins the withdrawal line 225 and where the condensing pathway 275 joins the withdrawal line 225. The regulator 245 communicates with the overflow line 285 that leads to the overflow tank 290. Due to the plumbing configuration shown in FIG. 2, the overflow tank 290 cannot have a pressure that exceeds that of primary tank 205. Also, the primary tank 205 can be at a pressure greater than the pressure of the overflow tank 295.

(14) The cryogen storage and delivery system of FIG. 2 may deliver cryogen from the primary tank 205 utilizing the hydraulic pressure built up in the primary tank 205 or it may utilize the saturation pressure to deliver cryogen. The cryogen storage and delivery system may deliver cryogen to the use device 265 using hydraulic pressure within the primary tank 205 and then switch to using saturation pressure to drive the delivery of cryogen. These modes of operation are explained in greater detail below.

(15) It is desirable to fill the cryogen storage and delivery system of FIG. 2 to nearly 100% of the capacity of the primary tank 205 with liquid cryogen and use the system to provide fuel to a use device 265. In such a scenario, the main portion of the primary tank 205 is filled with cryogen through the fill line 295, and the overflow tank 290 remains empty until the pressure in the primary tank 205 exceeds the set point of the regulator 245.

(16) In this state, in which the primary tank 205 is predominantly filled with liquid cryogen, when the use device 265 demands fuel, liquid cryogen 210 flows through the liquid tube 220 and is transformed into vapor at the vaporizer 270. The resulting vapor leaves the vaporizer 270 and enters the condensing pathway 275 inside the primary tank 205. As the vapor moves through the condensing pathway 275, it may condense and transfer heat to the liquid cryogen 210 in the primary tank 205. The transferred heat causes the cryogen within the primary tank 205 to expand and become less dense. As the heat transfers to the liquid cryogen in primary tank 205, its density decreases and it begins to occupy more volume at a rate that exceeds that at which is being withdrawn as demanded by use device 265. That is, the volume occupied by liquid cryogen within primary tank 205 increases at a rate that exceeds the volumetric withdrawal rate from the primary tank 205. Thus, the primary tank 205 becomes hydraulically full. Once the primary tank 205 becomes hydraulically full, it rapidly develops an interior pressure greater than the threshold pressure for the regulator 245. This causes the regulator 245 to open and to allow any excessive volume of cryogen to flow out through the vapor line 240 and through the overflow line 285 to the overflow tank 290.

(17) When the interior of the primary tank 205 initially reaches a level that causes the regulator 245 to open, the pressure within the primary tank 205 is much greater than that in the overflow tank 290 (which will be approximately the saturation pressure of the liquid due to the thermal connection between the tanks). This pressure difference directs excess fluid flow preferentially through the overflow line 285 to the overflow tank 290 instead of through the check valve 280 towards the use device 265. As the liquid cryogen expands from the heat provided by the condensation pathway 275, the cryogen is also increasing in saturation pressure. Once the saturation pressure in the primary tank 205 reaches the regulator set pressure, the hydraulic pressure and saturation pressure will be the same, and the use device 265 may begin to accept fluid from the overflow tank 290 and the vapor 215 in the primary tank 205. As the fluid flow through the liquid tube 220 and the vaporizer 270 slows, the amount of heat transferred to the cryogen in the primary tank 205 reduces, and the primary tank 205 will eventually become no longer hydraulically full. When the primary tank 205 is no longer hydraulically full, the system switches to utilizing saturation pressure to deliver cryogen, and then the system of FIG. 2 operates much like that shown in FIG. 1.

(18) A non-limiting exemplary use scenario is one in which an LNG vehicle with a cryogen storage and delivery system as shown in FIG. 2 is initially filled with 40 psig saturated LNG. The optimal operating parameters of the LNG fueled vehicle require that the intake pressure of natural gas by the engine be around 100 psig. The primary tank 205 is initially nearly full of LNG, and the overflow tank is initially nearly empty and may contain vapor at or below 40 psig. The regulator 245 in the economizer circuit 235 is set to 100 psig.

(19) In the exemplary scenario, once the primary tank 205 is filled with cold LNG at 40 psig, the vehicle is operated. The use device 265 (in the form of an engine) begins to draw cryogen from the primary tank 205 through the liquid tube 220. Because the primary tank 205 is full or nearly full of LNG, the hydraulic pressure can feed the fuel to the engine 265. The cryogen passes through the vaporizer 270, is vaporized, and the resulting vapor passes through the condensing pathway 275. The vapor at least partially condenses to a liquid cryogen to transfer heat to the cryogen within the primary tank 205. The cryogen then passes through the relief valve 250, through the withdrawal line 225, through the vaporizer 230, and to the engine 265.

(20) In other words, the engine 265 demands fuel be withdrawn at a certain rate, X. The heat transferred by the cryogen passing through the condensing pathway 275 causes the cryogen in the primary tank 205 to decrease in density (i.e. to increase in volume per unit mass) at a second rate, Y. In the period shortly after the vehicle has been filled with fuel, and the engine initially demands fuel, the rate Y at which the cryogen decreases in density is greater than the rate X at which fuel leaves the pressure vessel. In this case, when Y is greater than X, the primary tank 205 is or becomes hydraulically full.

(21) The hydraulic pressure in the primary tank 205 eventually exceeds the threshold of the regulator 245, such that the hydraulic pressure in the pressure vessel is at least 100 psig. This causes the regulator 245 to open, and cryogen to flow through the overflow line 285 into the overflow tank 290. At this point, the hydraulic pressure in the primary tank 205 is 100 psig, but its saturation pressure is still about 40 psig. Due to the thermal interconnect between the primary and overflow tanks the pressure in the overflow tank will be the liquid's saturation pressure, which is about 40 psig. The check valve 280 is configured to prevent flow from the vapor line 240 and the overflow line 285 to the engine 265 until pressure in those lines approaches or exceeds a threshold value that is near 100 psi.

(22) Once the saturation pressure in the primary tank 205 reaches the regulator's 245 set pressure of 100 psig, the pressure in the overflow tank 290 and primary tank 205 begin to equilibrate due to the thermal interconnect. Since both saturation pressures are now the same, flow through the regulator 245 will now go through check valve 280 into the withdrawal line 225 and on to the use device 265. Liquid will simultaneously flow in parallel out of the overflow tank 290 through line 285 to regulator 245. The primary tank 205 will begin to drain liquid and is no longer hydraulically full. At this time, the cryogen in the primary tank 205 has achieved, or is near achieving, the optimal saturation operating pressure of 100 psig. The check valve 280 allows fuel to flow from the overflow tank 290 and through the vapor line 240 to the engine. As liquid to the withdrawal line 225 is being supplied by parallel paths, the amount of fuel flowing through the liquid tube 220 and the condensing pathway 275 reduces, so that less heat is transferred into the cryogen within the primary tank 205 from the heat exchanger 270. Once the saturation pressure of the cryogen in the primary tank 205 reaches 100 psig and the liquid level in the primary tank has fallen so that the vapor line 240 is in communication with vapor, the system operates with the economizer circuit 235 and the check valve 255 providing pathways of heat flow back into the primary tank 205 from the withdrawal line 225, as in the system of FIG. 1. This exemplary system can provide LNG always, or nearly always, under sufficient pressure to fuel the engine of the vehicle for desired performance.

(23) The cryogen storage and delivery systems described herein may be used with vehicles of various engine types and pressure vessels of various sizes. Engine sizes that may be compatible with cryogen storage and delivery systems described herein include 500 psig engines, 100 psig engines, and the like. It should be appreciated that the pressure values described herein are examples and are not limiting on this disclosure.

(24) While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of an invention that is claimed or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or a variation of a sub-combination. Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results.

(25) Although embodiments of various methods and devices are described herein in detail with reference to certain versions, it should be appreciated that other versions, methods of use, embodiments, and combinations thereof are also possible. Therefore the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.