Method of Monitoring Liquefied Gas In A Cryogenic Liquefied Gas Tank And A Cryogenic Tank

Abstract

The present application relates to method and system of monitoring liquefied gas in a cryogenic liquefied gas tank having an inner shell and an outer shell and an insulation between the inner and outer shell. An exemplary method includes arranging an array of temperature sensors for measuring a temperature of the inner shell wall at different vertical positions, reading sensors in the array, performing a validity check of the sensors, and using only sensors which passed the validity check only, determining a state of the gas based on the temperature data.

Claims

1. Method of monitoring liquefied gas in a cryogenic liquefied gas tank having an inner shell and an outer shell and an insulation between the inner and outer shell, the method comprising: 1.1. arranging an array of temperature sensors for determining temperature of an outer surface of the inner shell of the tank at different vertical positions (S.1-S.n); 1.2. reading sensors in the array of temperature sensors for obtaining temperature data; 1.3. performing a validity check of the sensors of the array of temperature sensors; 1.4. discarding, in a case where a sensor fails the validity check, the temperature data from further processing; and 1.5. determining a state of the gas based on the temperature data of the sensors which passed the validity check.

2. Method of monitoring liquefied gas in a cryogenic liquefied gas tank according to claim 1, comprising: performing the validity check of the sensors by setting a reference value for the temperature data of the sensors; comparing each temperature data of the sensors to the reference value; and in a case where a difference of the temperature data to the reference value is more than a predetermined allowed value, discarding the temperature data of the sensor from further processing.

3. Method of monitoring liquefied gas in a cryogenic liquefied gas tank according to claim 2, comprising: performing the validity check of the sensors by setting a temperature data of one of the sensors in the array of temperature sensors to be a reference value for the temperature data of the sensors.

4. Method of monitoring liquefied gas in a cryogenic liquefied gas tank according to claim 2, by comprising: performing the validity check of a sensor by setting a temperature data of horizontally adjacent sensors in the array of temperature sensors to be the reference value.

5. Method of monitoring liquefied gas in a cryogenic liquefied gas according to claim 1, comprising: determining a vertical location of the surface level of liquefied gas in the tank based on the temperature data of the sensors which passed the validity check.

6. Method of monitoring liquefied gas in a cryogenic liquefied gas tank according to claim 1, wherein the array comprises: temperature sensors arranged at different predefined vertical and horizontal positions.

7. Method of monitoring liquefied gas in a cryogenic liquefied gas according to claim 6, comprising: using only sensors which passed the validity check only, determining two dimensional temperature distribution of liquefied gas in the tank based on the temperature data of the sensors which passed the validity check.

8. Method of monitoring liquefied gas in a cryogenic liquefied gas tank according to claim 5, comprising: determining a vertical location of a surface level of liquefied gas by reading sensors in the vertical array of temperature sensors, and replacing any discarded temperature data with interpolated temperature data calculated using temperature data of sensors which passed the validity check.

9. Method of monitoring liquefied gas in a cryogenic liquefied gas tank according to claim 6, comprising: determining a vertical location of a surface level of liquefied gas by reading superimposed sensors in the array of temperature sensors, and replacing any discarded temperature data with temperature data of a sensor which passed the validity check and which is horizontally most adjacent to a sensor which provided the discarded data.

10. Method of monitoring liquefied gas in a cryogenic liquefied gas tank according to claim 6, comprising: determining a vertical location of the surface level of liquefied gas at a first horizontal position by reading a first column of vertically superimposed sensors in the array of temperature sensors, and determining the vertical location of the surface level of liquefied gas at a second horizontal position by reading a second column of vertically superimposed sensors in the array of temperature sensors.

11. Method of monitoring liquefied gas in a cryogenic liquefied gas tank according to claim 10, comprising: replacing any discarded temperature data with temperature data of a sensor which passed the validity check and which is horizontally most adjacent to a sensor which provided the discarded data.

12. A cryogenic liquefied gas tank comprising: an inner shell and an outer shell; an insulation between the inner and outer shell shells; and a monitoring arrangement having an array of temperature sensors, wherein the monitoring arrangement includes a computer unit having executable instructions for causing the computer unit to obtain temperature data from sensors in the array of temperature sensors, to perform a validity check of the sensors of the array of temperature sensors, and in a case where a sensor fails the validity check, to discard the temperature data of the sensor from further processing, and to use only sensors which passed the validity check for determining a state of the gas in the tank based on the temperature data of the sensors which pass the validity check.

13. A cryogenic tank according to claim 13, wherein the array of temperature sensors is in an insulation cavity between the inner and outer shells.

14. A cryogenic tank according to claim 13, comprising: the sensors of the array of temperature sensors being arranged at different predefined vertical positions.

15. A cryogenic tank according to claim 13, comprising: the sensors of the array of temperature sensors being arranged at different predefined vertical and horizontal positions.

16. A cryogenic tank according to claim 13, wherein the computer unit comprises: executable instructions to determine the vertical location of the surface level of liquefied gas by reading sensors in the vertical array of temperature sensors, and to replace any discarded temperature data with interpolated temperature data calculated using temperature data of sensors which passed the validity check.

17. A cryogenic tank according to claim 13, wherein the computer unit comprises: executable instructions to determine the vertical location of the surface level of liquefied gas by reading superimposed sensors in the array of temperature sensors, and replacing any discarded temperature data with temperature data of a sensor which passed the validity check and which is horizontally most adjacent to the sensor which provides the discarded data.

18. A computer readable memory device comprising: executable instructions stored in a non-tangible medium which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to carry out a method comprising: 1.1 arranging an array of temperature sensors for determining temperature of the an outer surface of the inner shell of the tank at different vertical positions (S.1-S.n); 1.2 reading sensors in the array of temperature sensors for obtaining temperature data; 1.3 performing a validity check of the sensors of the array of temperature sensors; 1.4 discarding, in a case where a sensor fails the validity check, the temperature data from further processing; and 1.5 determining a state of the gas based on the temperature data of the sensors which passed the validity check.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0034] In the following, the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying exemplary, schematic drawings, in which

[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates a cryogenic liquefied gas tank according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates a detail relating to a principal of determining the surface level of a cryogenic liquefied gas tank according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0037] FIG. 3 illustrates a cryogenic liquefied gas tank according to another embodiment of the invention,

[0038] FIG. 4 illustrates a cryogenic liquefied gas tank according to another embodiment of the invention, and

[0039] FIG. 5 illustrates a detail relating to a principal of determining the surface level of a cryogenic liquefied gas tank according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an end part of a cryogenic liquefied gas tank 10, which may be called also as a tank for sake of simplicity, arranged for example on a platform 12 of a marine vessel or a land based power plant. Practically the other end of the tank is substantially identical to the one shown in the figure and is not therefore shown here. FIG. 1 also shows a cross sectional view of tank 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The tank 10 is of circular cross section and it has dome-like ends. The cryogenic liquefied gas tank may serve, for example, as a liquefied natural gas tank in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It may be designed to be a pressure vessel also. The cryogenic liquefied gas tank 10 comprises an inner shell 16, which is advantageously of stainless steel to endure the circumstances in the tank. The tank space 11 within the inner shell 16 forms the liquefied gas storage space. The cryogenic liquefied gas tank 10 comprises also an outer shell 18, which may also be of stainless steel. There is an insulation cavity 20 between the inner shell 16 and the outer shell 18 which encloses the inner shell 16. The outer shell 18, in turn, encloses the insulation cavity 20. The insulation cavity 20 may be filled with a suitable insulating material and/or it may be, as it is the case in the FIG. 1, a vacuum insulation space forming the insulation. The inner shell 16 is supported on or to the outer shell 18 by means of supports arranged in the cavity 20.

[0041] The cryogenic liquefied gas tank 10 as is shown in the FIG. 1 is provided with a room or space 22 welded to, or by some other appropriate means arranged in gas tight connection with, the outer shell 18 of the tank 10 forming a safety barrier against unintentional gas leak. The space 22, which may be referred to as a tank connection space, is used for housing, in addition to monitoring and controlling devices, also e.g. a piping and instruments needed for filling or emptying the liquefied gas tank 10, not shown here.

[0042] The tank connection space 22 is normally a gas tight enclosure containing all tank connections, fittings, flanges and tank valves. It is constructed of cryogenic temperature resistant materials, optionally it has a bilge well with a high level indicator and a low temperature sensor. The tank connection space (TCS) is not normally accessible, it may not be entered by personnel unless checked for sufficient oxygen and absence of explosive atmosphere.

[0043] The tank 10 according to the invention comprises an array 30 of temperature sensors 31 configured for monitoring the state of liquefied gas in the cryogenic liquefied gas tank 10. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, by means of the array 30 of the sensors 31 it is possible to define the surface level of the liquefied gas in the tank or generally the level change of phase of the gas in the tank. Also, additionally or alternatively, the state of the gas may comprise temperature distribution of the gas, both the liquefied portion and the gaseous portion, in the tank—depending on the configuration of the sensors 31. In the FIG. 1 the array comprises sensors 31 at different vertical positions arranged. The sensors may be arranged such that they are directly one above the other in a vertical inline-configuration. This kind of an array is configured to determine the vertical location of the surface level of liquefied gas in the tank 10.

[0044] As is depicted in the right side view of the FIG. 1 each sensor 31 is arranged at predetermined vertical position S.1-S.n. A zero height may be assigned to level S.1 which represent an empty tank while S.n represents full height H of the tank. Each vertical position S.1-S.n defines a predetermined height H from the bottom, or the zero height position. Thus the vertical position of each one of the sensors 31 is predetermined and is a known variable for determining the vertical location of the surface level. The array of temperature sensors 30 comprises its interface 32 for measurement and data signal(s) and for controls. In the FIG. 1 the interface is located in the tank connection space 22.

[0045] As is shown in the FIG. 1 the array 30 of temperature sensors 31 is non-removably arranged on the inner shell wall 16′ of the tank 10 on opposite side to a storage space 11 of the tank 10 and inside the outer shell 18. The individual sensors 31 are attached in heat transfer connection with the inner shell wall 16′.

[0046] The attachment directly to the outer surface of the shell may be accomplished for example by glue or other adhesive joint. Effects of the invention may be obtainable to at least some extent even if the sensors would be attached indirectly to the wall. Even if there would be a layer of known substance between the sensor and the shell wall, the measurement value of a sensor can be corrected to correspond to the shell wall temperature with adequate accuracy using the thermal conductivity of the layer substance and thickness of the layer. The attachment may also be accomplished by means of a suitable intermediate piece which is for example welded to the wall 16. The basic idea of the invention is that the array 30 of sensors 31 is non-removably arranged and configured for service of lifetime of the tank and the redundancy of sensors is taken care of by arranging the sensor. The distribution of sensors, i.e. distances between the adjacent sensors can be determined by simple experiments or calculation, taking into account the desired resolution.

[0047] As is shown in the FIG. 1 the sensors are in the insulation cavity 20 such that they cannot be accessed from outside by using non-destructive means. More particularly the figure depicts an embodiment of the invention where the sensors are embedded in the insulation provided in the insulation cavity 20 such that the sensors are not accessible from outside by using non-destructive means. In practice this means that tank is built without any service doors to the outer shell 18 for accessing the sensors.

[0048] Each one of the sensors 31 are arranged in data transfer communication by means of a data wire or a data bus 34 to with the interface 32. The interface acts as a link between the sensors and a computer unit arranged in connection with the interface 32. The computer unit comprises executable instructions in a form of a computer program, which when executed in the computer unit 36 provides monitoring information based on temperature data obtained from the sensors 31. More specifically the computer unit is configured i.a. by means of the computer program to obtain temperature data from the sensors 31 in the array of sensors 30. Advantageously the data comprises data from each one of the sensors 31. Additionally the computer program is configured to perform a validity check of the sensors 31 of the array of sensors,

[0049] In order to provide service life of the array 30 to last a nominal expected lifetime of the tank 10 defined by the manufacturer, it is made possible by the invention that even if some of the sensors may become inoperable for any reason, the surface level of the liquefied gas in the tank can be determined by making use of other, still operable sensors. The computer program comprises instructions to perform a validity check of a sensor so that in a case a sensor fails the validity check the temperature data is discarded from further processing, that is not used in the process of determining the state of the gas in the tank 10. The computer unit 36 comprises further executable instructions to, by making use of sensors passed the validity check only, determine the state of the gas based on the temperature data of the passed sensors.

[0050] The information containing the actual vertical position of each one of the sensors 31 in the tank 10 is stored in or made available to the computer unit 36 an thus the temperature data can be used for determining the liquid level in the tank 10. With a reference to the FIG. 1, for sake of an example, if one assumes that the sensor 31′ just above the liquid level S.I does not pass the validity check, according to an embodiment shown in the FIG. 1, its temperature data is discarded and replaced with interpolated temperature data which is calculated using temperature data which passed the validity check. In the FIG. 2 there is shown the surface S.I of the liquefied gas in the tank 10, the liquid phase below and gas phase above the surface. The curve t illustrates the temperature behaviour at the transition region between the liquid to the gas phase where the direction to the right represents increasing temperature. The crosses in the FIG. 2 represent the temperature data of each sensor passed the validity check at the determined vertical positions. The temperature of the liquid decreases near the surface due to natural boil-off in which the evaporation of the gas consumes energy from the liquid decreases its temperature causing a recognizable local minimum to form at the surface level. This can be used in determining the liquid level. Also, the temperature of the liquefied gas is considerably lower than that of the gas above the surface of liquefied gas. Also this can be used in determining the liquid level. Now, the temperature data of the discarded sensor 31′ can be replaced by an interpolated value obtained by making use of adjacent sensors which passed the validity check in the vertical array 30. Thus the computer unit 36 comprises executable instructions to determine the vertical location of the surface level S.I of liquefied gas by reading sensors 31 in the vertical array of temperature sensors, and to replace any discarded temperature data 31′ with interpolated temperature data calculated using temperature data of sensors 31 which passed the validity check.

[0051] Now, this way by means of the cryogenic liquefied gas tank 10 as depicted in the FIG. 1 it is possible to practise a method of monitoring liquefied gas comprising first arranging an array 30 of temperature sensors 31,31′ for measuring temperature of an inner shell wall 16′ of the tank on opposite side to a storage space of the tank, reading sensors 31, 31′ in the array of temperature sensors obtaining temperature data, performing a validity check of the sensors of the array 30 of temperature sensors, and in a case a sensor 31′ fails the validity check discarding the temperature data from further processing, and by making use of sensors 31 passed the validity check only, determining a state of the gas based on the temperature data of the passed sensors.

[0052] The validity check of the sensors may be performed by setting a reference value for the temperature data of the sensors, and comparing each temperature data of the sensors to the reference value. Optionally, the reference value can be set so that it is based on practical experience to be such that it represent a reasonably good estimate for a temperature of a properly functioning sensor so that possible malfunction of a sensor is recognizable. Optionally, the reference value can be set be a temperature data of one of the sensors in the array which is confirmed to be operable. Thus, in a case where difference of the temperature data to the reference value is more than a predetermined allowed value discarding the temperature data of the sensor from further processing. The vertical location of the surface level of liquefied gas in the tank is determined based on making use of sensors passed the validity check only.

[0053] The difference of the temperature data to the reference value can be understood also as using a range i.e. setting a reference value range for the temperature data of the sensors, and in a case where the temperature data is not within the reference value range the temperature data is discarded from further processing.

[0054] In the FIG. 3 there is shown schematically an end part of a cryogenic liquefied gas tank 10, which is for its most part similar to that shown in the FIG. 1. The tank 10 shown in the FIG. 3 does not include a tank connection space like the one shown in the FIG. 1, and it should be understood that that the tank connection space is only an optional feature. Usually the tank connection space is required in marine solutions but not necessarily in land based tanks. The distinctive difference of the tank 10 shown in the FIG. 3 to that in the FIG. 1 is that, while the tank 10 comprises an array 30 of temperature sensors 31, the array 30 is a two dimensional array of sensors 31. In other word the sensors 31 in the array comprise several horizontal rows and several vertical columns i.e. it is configured as a matrix. In the embodiment shown in the FIG. 3 the array of 30 temperature sensors 31 comprises a number of sensors 31 which are arranged to the tank 10 at predetermined positions in three vertical columns such that there are three horizontally adjacent sensors 31 at each horizontal row. The number of horizontally adjacent sensors may vary depending on the case. The terms vertical and horizontal should be understood also here so that horizontal represents general direction of free surface of the liquefied gas and vertical represents direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction i.e. the direction of normal of the general direction of the surface of the liquefied gas. In the FIG. 3 the array is configured to determining the vertical location of the surface level of liquefied gas in the tank 10. The array of sensors extends vertically from bottom to top of the tank. The distribution of the sensors vertically or horizontally is not necessarily made even, and the vertical distances between sensors may be different.

[0055] According to the embodiment of the invention depicted in the FIG. 3 the array 30 is configured for monitoring liquefied gas in the cryogenic liquefied gas tank 10. By means of the array 30 of the sensors 31 it is possible to define the surface level of the liquefied gas in the tank. The monitoring arrangement and method in the FIG. 3 corresponds to that in the FIG. 1 but in the embodiment of the FIG. 3 the method comprises reading sensors in the array of temperature sensors obtaining temperature data, performing a validity check of the sensors of the array of temperature sensors, in a case a sensor fails the validity check discarding the temperature data from further processing, and making use of sensors passed the validity check only, determining a state of the gas based on the temperature data of the passed sensors. In this embodiment a temperature data of a discarded sensor advantageous is replaced with a temperature data of a sensor which passed the validity check at the same vertical row as the discarded sensor. When the number of sensors in a row is N it is possible to use the array 30 without decreasing the accuracy or resolution even is N-1 sensors in the same row fails to operate.

[0056] Also in the embodiment of the FIG. 3 the validity check of a sensor can be, and advantageously, is performed by setting a temperature data of horizontally adjacent sensors in the array to be the reference value the particular row of sensors.

[0057] In the embodiment shown in the FIG. 3 it is also conceivable that in case all of the sensors at same vertical row become unusable, or will fail the validity check, temperature data is discarded and replaced with interpolated temperature data which is calculated using temperature data of vertically adjacent sensors which passed the validity check as is explained in connection with the FIG. 2.

[0058] It should also be noted that in the embodiment of FIG. 3 the computer unit 36 comprising executable instructions to determine the vertical location of the surface level of liquefied gas by reading superimposed sensors in the array of temperature sensors and replacing any discarded temperature data with temperature data of a sensor which passed the validity check being horizontally most adjacent to the discarded one.

[0059] In the FIG. 4 there is shown schematically an end part of a cryogenic liquefied gas tank 10, which is for its most part similar to that shown in the FIG. 1. The distinctive difference of the tank 10 shown in the FIG. 4 to that in the FIG. 1 is that, while the tank 10 comprises an array 30 of temperature sensors 31, which is a two dimensional array of sensors 31 extending from one end of the tank to the opposite end. This configuration of the array 30 makes it possible to define both the surface level of the liquefied gas in the tank, and also two dimensional temperature distribution of the gas, both the liquefied portion and the gaseous portion, in the tank 10. In the embodiment shown in the FIG. 4 the array of 30 temperature sensors 31 comprises a number of sensors 31 which are arranged to the tank 10 at predetermined positions in several vertical columns such that there are multiple horizontally adjacent sensors 31 at each horizontal row. The number of horizontally adjacent sensors may vary depending on the case. In the FIG. 4 the array is configured to determining mainly the temperature distribution of the in the tank 10. The array of sensors extends vertically from bottom to top of the tank. In practise, in the embodiment shown in the FIG. 4 there are at least two adjacent arrays of vertically distributed sensors 31. According to an embodiment of the invention the tank 10 provided with an array of sensors near its both ends, and optionally on between them.

[0060] The distribution of the sensors vertically or horizontally is not necessarily made even, and the distances between sensors may be different. The number and the distribution of sensors, i.e. distances between the adjacent sensors can be determined by simple experiments or calculation, taking into account the desired resolution of the case.

[0061] The vertical location of the surface level of liquefied is determined at a first horizontal position or a sensor column by reading a first column of vertically superimposed sensors in the array of temperature sensors, and the vertical location of the surface level of liquefied is determined at a second horizontal position by reading a second column of vertically superimposed sensors in the array of temperature sensors. This provides an effect of making it possible to define the liquid level in a case the tank is slanted. This could take place in an installation in a marine vessel.

[0062] Also in the embodiment of the FIG. 4 replacement of any discarded temperature data with temperature data of a sensor which passed the validity check being horizontally most adjacent to the discarded one provides redundancy of the array 30. Reading a second column of horizontally superimposed sensors in the array of temperature sensors can be used for replacing any discarded temperature data with temperature data of a sensor which passed the validity check being horizontally most adjacent to the discarded one.

[0063] In the FIG. 5 there is shown the surface S.I of the liquefied gas in the tank 10, the liquid phase below and gas phase above the surface. The curve t illustrates the temperature behaviour at the transition region between the liquid to the gas phase where the direction to the right represents increasing temperature. The crosses in the FIG. 5 represent the temperature data of each sensor in the column C1 which passed the validity check at the determined vertical positions. Now, the temperature data of the discarded sensor 31′ can be replaced by a temperature data of a sensor 31″ in the adjacent column C2 which passed the validity check and is horizontally most adjacent to the discarded sensor 31′. The triangle sign in the FIG. 5 represent the temperature data of the sensor 31″ in the column C2.

[0064] Thus the computer unit 36 comprises executable instructions to determine the vertical location of the surface level S.I of liquefied gas by reading sensors 31 in the vertical array of temperature sensors, and to replace any discarded temperature data 31′ with temperature data of a sensor 31″ which passed the validity check being horizontally most adjacent to the discarded one.

[0065] In the figures the tank 10 is a horizontal cylindrical tank, but it can be also vertical i.e. having its center axis substantially vertical. The tank may also be an atmospheric tank and/or it may be of different form such as spherical or prismatic tank. The sensors are only on one side of the tank in the figures, but they may be arranged on e.g. each wall section of the tank circumscribing the tank.

[0066] While the invention has been described herein by way of examples in connection with what are, at present, considered to be the most preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various combinations or modifications of its features, and several other applications included within the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. The details mentioned in connection with any embodiment above may be used in connection with another embodiment when such combination is technically feasible.