Storage tank for cryogenic liquid gas

Abstract

A storage container includes an inner tank to store a cryogenic liquid gas and an extraction system to permit extraction of the cryogenic liquid gas by a cryogenic liquid gas consumer. The extraction system includes an extraction line, a consumer line to facilitate extraction of the cryogenic liquid gas by the cryogenic liquid gas consumer, a return line to facilitate return of the cryogenic liquid gas to the inner tank, a heat transmitter to heat the cryogenic liquid gas extracted from the inner tank and transfer the cryogenic liquid gas to a gaseous phase, and a compressor to compress the gaseous cryogenic liquid gas. A first flow of the compressed cryogenic liquid gas is conducted to the cryogenic liquid gas consumer via the consumer line and a second flow of the compressed cryogenic liquid gas is returned to the inner tank via the return line.

Claims

1. A storage container for cryogenic liquid gas, comprising: an inner tank defining a space to store the cryogenic liquid gas; and an extraction system fluidically connected to the inner tank, the extraction system including: an extraction line having a first end thereof fluidically connected to the inner tank and a second end thereof fluidically connected to a branch point, a consumer line, having a first end thereof fluidically connected to the branch point and a second end thereof fluidically connected to a cryogenic liquid gas consumer, to facilitate extraction of the cryogenic liquid gas by the cryogenic liquid gas consumer, a return line, having a first end thereof fluidically connected to the branch point and a second end thereof fluidically connected to the inner tank, to facilitate return of the cryogenic liquid gas to the inner tank, a heat transmitter, arranged in the extraction line upstream of the branch point, to heat the cryogenic liquid gas extracted from the inner tank and transfer the cryogenic liquid gas to a gaseous phase, a compressor, arranged in the extraction line upstream of the branch point and downstream of the heat transmitter, to compress the gaseous cryogenic liquid gas, wherein a first flow of the compressed cryogenic liquid gas is conducted to the cryogenic liquid gas consumer via the consumer line and a second flow of the compressed cryogenic liquid gas is returned to the inner tank via the return line.

2. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the compressor is configured to compress the cryogenic liquid gas to a pressure which is greater than a pressure of the cryogenic liquid gas in the inner tank.

3. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the extraction system further includes a pressure reducer, arranged in the return line downstream of the branch point, to reduce the pressure of the cryogenic liquid gas being returned to the inner tank.

4. The storage container of claim 3, wherein the extraction system further includes a pressure safety valve, arranged in the return line downstream of the pressure reducer.

5. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising a cooling fluid circuit, operatively connected to the heat transmitter, to cool the cryogenic liquid gas consumer and also supply heat to the heat transmitter.

6. A storage container for cryogenic liquid gas, comprising: an inner tank defining a space to store the cryogenic liquid gas; and an extraction system fluidically connected to the inner tank, the extraction system including: an extraction and safety line, having a first end thereof fluidically connected to the inner tank and a second end thereof fluidically connected to a branch point, to facilitate extraction of only substantially gaseous cryogenic liquid gas from the inner tank, an extraction line, having a first end thereof fluidically connected to the inner tank and a second end thereof fluidically connected to the extraction and safety line, a consumer line, having a first end thereof fluidically connected to the branch point and a second end thereof fluidically connected to a consumer of the cryogenic liquid gas, to facilitate extraction of the cryogenic liquid gas by the consumer, a return line, having a first end thereof fluidically connected to the branch point and a second end thereof fluidically connected to the inner tank, to facilitate return of the cryogenic liquid gas to the inner tank, a heat transmitter, arranged in the extraction line upstream of the branch point, to heat the cryogenic liquid gas extracted from the inner tank and transfer the cryogenic liquid gas to a gaseous phase, a compressor, arranged in the extraction line upstream of the branch point and downstream of the heat transmitter, to compress the gaseous cryogenic liquid gas, wherein a first flow of the compressed cryogenic liquid gas is conducted to the consumer via the consumer line and a second flow of the compressed cryogenic liquid gas is returned to the inner tank via the return line.

7. The storage container of claim 6, wherein the extraction and safety line is fluidically connected to the extraction line upstream of the heat transmitter.

8. The storage container of claim 6, wherein the extraction system further includes a first shut-off valve in the extraction and safety line and/or a second shut-off valve arranged in the extraction line.

9. The storage container of claim 8, wherein the extraction system further includes a filling coupling, fluidically connected to the extraction and safety line and/or the extraction line, to facilitate filling of the inner tank.

10. The storage container of claim 6, wherein the compressor is configured to compress the cryogenic liquid gas to a pressure which is greater than a pressure of the cryogenic liquid gas in the inner tank.

11. The storage container of claim 6, wherein the extraction system further includes a pressure reducer, arranged in the return line downstream of the branch point, to reduce the pressure of the cryogenic liquid gas being returned to the inner tank.

12. The storage container of claim 11, wherein the extraction system further includes a pressure safety valve, arranged in the return line downstream of the pressure reducer.

13. The storage container of claim 6, further comprising a cooling fluid circuit, operatively connected to the heat transmitter, to cool the cryogenic liquid gas consumer and also supply heat to the heat transmitter.

14. A motor vehicle, comprising: an inner tank defining a space to store the cryogenic liquid gas; a cryogenic liquid gas consumer; and an extraction system fluidically connected to the inner tank, the extraction system including: an extraction line having a first end thereof fluidically connected to the inner tank and a second end thereof fluidically connected to a branch point, a consumer line, having a first end thereof fluidically connected to the branch point and a second end thereof fluidically connected to the cryogenic liquid gas consumer, to facilitate extraction of the cryogenic liquid gas by the cryogenic liquid gas consumer, a return line, having a first end thereof fluidically connected to the branch point and a second end thereof fluidically connected to the inner tank, to facilitate return of the cryogenic liquid gas to the inner tank, a heat transmitter, arranged in the extraction line upstream of the branch point, to heat the cryogenic liquid gas extracted from the inner tank and transfer the cryogenic liquid gas to a gaseous phase, a compressor, arranged in the extraction line upstream of the branch point and downstream of the heat transmitter, to compress the gaseous cryogenic liquid gas, wherein a first flow of the compressed cryogenic liquid gas is conducted to the cryogenic liquid gas consumer via the consumer line and a second flow of the compressed cryogenic liquid gas is returned to the inner tank via the return line.

15. The motor vehicle of claim 14, wherein the compressor is configured to compress the cryogenic liquid gas to a pressure which is greater than a pressure of the cryogenic liquid gas in the inner tank.

16. The motor vehicle of claim 14, wherein the extraction system further includes a pressure reducer, arranged in the return line downstream of the branch point, to reduce the pressure of the cryogenic liquid gas being returned to the inner tank.

17. The storage container of claim 16, wherein the extraction system further includes a pressure safety valve, arranged in the return line downstream of the pressure reducer.

18. The storage container of claim 14, further comprising a cooling fluid circuit, operatively connected to the heat transmitter, to cool the cryogenic liquid gas consumer and also supply heat to the heat transmitter.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description below.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a diagrammatic depiction of a storage container, in accordance with embodiments.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a diagrammatic depiction of a storage container, in accordance with embodiments.

DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a storage container for cryogenic liquid gas. The storage container comprises an inner tank 1 defining a space to store the cryogenic liquid gas, and an extraction system or device that comprises an extraction line 2 which extends into the inner tank 1.

(5) At a first distal end thereof the extraction line 2 has an opening which is fluidically connected to the inner tank 1 to facilitate receipt of, for example, at least a gaseous medium for flow through the extraction line 2. A second distal end of the extraction line 2 has a bore hole which is also fluidically connected to the inner tank 1 to facilitate receipt of at least a liquid medium for flow through the extraction line 2. The extraction line 2 is fluidically connected to a consumer line 4 at a branch point 3. Because the consumer line 4 is fluidically connected to a consumer 5, a liquid gas may be extracted from the inner tank 1 by the consumer 5 via the consumer line 4. The extraction line 2 is also fluidically connected to a return line 6 at the branch point 3. Because the return line 4 is fluidically connected to the inner tank 1, a gaseous medium can be returned to the inner tank 1 via the return line 6.

(6) A heat transmitter 7 is arranged in the extraction line 2 upstream of the branch point 3 to heat liquid gas that is extracted from the inner tank 1 is completely transferred to the gaseous phase. A power-controlled compressor 8 is arranged in the extraction line 2 upstream of the branch point 3 and downstream of the heat transmitter 7. The compressor 8 is configured to compress the gas to a density which is greater than in the inner tank 1. A partial stream or flow of the compressed gas is then conducted to the consumer 5 via the consumer line 4, while another partial stream of the compressed gas is returned to the inner tank 1 via the return line 6.

(7) A pressure reducer 9 is arranged in the return line 6 downstream of the branch point 3 in order to limit or otherwise reduce the pressure of the gas returned to the inner tank 1. A pressure safety valve 10 is also arranged in the return line 6 downstream of the pressure reducer 9. A first shut-off valve 12 is arranged in the consumer line 4 downstream of the branch point 3 and upstream of the consumer 5. In particular, the first shut-off valve 12 is arranged at connection region for the consumer 5. A second shut-off valve 13 is arranged in the return line 6 downstream of the branch point 3, the pressure reducer 9, and the pressure safety valve 10.

(8) A cooling fluid circuit 11 is provided to cool the consumer 5 and also supply heat to the heat transmitter 7. Thus, a cryogenic gas or a cryogenic liquid may be extracted from the inner tank 1 and conducted across the heat transmitter 7.

(9) In operation, due to a heat supply via cooling water of the consumer 5, the cryogenic gas or the cryogenic liquid is completely transferred to the gaseous phase and also heated sufficiently for the consumer 5. The power-controlled compressor 8 then compresses the gas and conveys it to the consumer 5 under a pressure that is greater than that in the inner tank 1. In order to increase the pressure in the inner tank 1 in targeted fashion, or to allow the extraction of gas or liquid, gas is transferred back to the inner tank 1 via the second shut-off valve 13. In order to limit the pressure for the gas returned to the inner tank 1, if necessary, the pressure reducer 9 with downstream pressure safety valve 10 may be fitted.

(10) FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment, in which the storage container includes an additional extraction and safety line 118 via which only gas can be extracted from the container. For this, a gas shut-off valve 115 is actuated, or via the extraction and safety line 118 and the now fluid-conductive valve 115, gas can be taken from the inner tank 101 and conducted to the heat transmitter 107. Alternatively or additionally, the tank system or storage container may have a shut-off valve 116 in the extraction line 102. The shut-off valve 116 is to control the extraction of liquid gas from the inner tank 101 via the extraction line 102, or further conduct the liquid gas to the heat transmitter 107. If both shut-off valves 115 and 116 are present in the tank system, it is now possible to extract medium from the inner tank 101 in a more targeted fashion according to a power demand, the internal tank pressure, a preceding tank event, etc. Should, for example, the vehicle has been stationary or is in a warm environment for a lengthy period of time, the pressure in the inner tank 101 may increase too greatly, in particular, to a threshold above the operating pressure of the tank. When the vehicle is in an operating state, it is advantageous for the system, when fuel is extracted in gaseous form from the inner tank 101 via the shut-off valve 115 and the extraction line 118 or is conducted to the heat transmitter 107. The procedure is similar should, for example, the internal pressure is greater but the driver is planning a refuelling stop in a short period of time. In this situation, it is also recommended to reduce the tank pressure during travel by extracting gas via the extraction line 118.

(11) On the other hand, a high internal tank pressure may be used to drive the compressor 108 with lower power, but nonetheless still provide the consumer 105 with liquid gas at the high operating pressure required by the consumer 105, and thus, save energy. In accordance with embodiments, gas is extracted via the extraction line 118 with the shut-off valve 115 in an open state. Should, however, the consumer 105 have a high power demand and/or the internal tank pressure is low, it is recommended to close the shut-off valve 115 and open the shut-off valve 116, and in this case, extract liquid gas via the extraction line 102 and conduct it across the heat transmitter 107.

(12) To protect the tank, a safety valve 119 which trips at over-pressure is provided at the extraction line 118. To complete the storage container, i.e., the tank system of the motor vehicle, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, a filling coupling 114 is also provided which allows the inner tank 101 to be filled via the shut-off valves 115 and 116 and the extraction lines 102 and 118. So that higher internal tank pressures are not balanced out via the filling coupling 114 or conducted into the environment via the filling coupling 114, a check valve 117 is arranged between the extraction line 118 and the filling coupling 114.

(13) The terms “coupled,” “attached,” “fastened,” or “connected” may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms “first,” “second,” etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.

(14) Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(15) 1, 101 Inner tank 2, 102 Extraction line 3, 103 Branch point 4, 104 Consumer line 5, 105 Consumer 6, 106 Return line 7, 107 Heat transmitter 8, 108 Compressor 9, 109 Pressure reducer 10, 110 Pressure safety valve 11, 111 Cooling fluid circuit 12, 112 First shut-off valve 13, 113 Second shut-off valve 114 Filling coupling 115 Gas shut-off valve 116 Liquid shut-off valve 117 Check valve 118 Extraction and safety line 119 Safety valve