MOBILE CONTAINER-TANK MODULE

Abstract

A mobile container-tank module for liquid gas as fuel for drive units or energy-generation units as consumers is provided, wherein at least one process device for vaporizing the liquid gas is present in the container-tank module. The claimed mobile container-tank module provides that all the process devices for processing the liquid gas for direct fuel delivery to the drive units or energy-generation units are integrated within the dimensions of the container-tank module, wherein the container-tank module further has connections for an external energy source, in particular for receiving process heat for the vaporization of liquid gas, and for delivering processed gas to the drive units and energy-generation units. For safety reasons, it is provided to arrange the integrated process devices in a protected manner in the container-tank module.

Claims

1.-9. (canceled)

10. Mobile container-tank module a) for liquid gas as fuel for drive units or energy-generation units as consumers, b) having at least one process device provided in the container-tank module for vaporizing the liquid gas, c) wherein the container-tank module has a connection for an external energy source or an integrated energy source, for vaporizing liquid gas, d) wherein at least one connection is provided for delivering processed gas to the drive units and energy-generation units, e) wherein the integrated process devices are arranged in the container-tank module in a protected manner, and f) wherein the process devices are provided in housings and/or boxes within the dimensions of the container-tank module, characterized in that g) all the process devices for processing the liquid gas for direct fuel delivery to the drive units or energy-generation units, in particular for vaporizing the liquid gas, for heating the gas, for compressing, for adjusting the pressure of and for feeding the gas, are provided as process devices integrated within the dimensions of the container-tank module h) the housings are provided within the dimensions of the container-tank module beneath its cryogenic tank, i) the external connections of gas-carrying lines are provided enclosed in a box at an end portal of the container-tank module, and j) at least one box for receiving electrical and electronic components, and plug-type connections to external connections is provided at the opposite end portal.

11. Container-tank module according to claim 10, characterized in that the cryogenic tank, in particular an insulated pressure tank, for LNG, LPG or other vaporizable liquid fuels, such as, for example, methanol, is provided.

12. Container-tank module according to claim 10, characterized in that the required process components for controlling and monitoring the process sequences, such as vaporization or compression of the liquid gas, and the states of the liquid gas are integrated in the container-tank module.

13. Container-tank module according to claim 10, characterized in that wireless transmission means for GPS tracking of the container-tank module and for data transfer for monitoring and controlling of parameters of the container-tank module and the process sequences are provided.

14. Container-tank module according to claim 10, characterized in that there is provided an interface or communication device with the consumers, in order to bidirectionally exchange requirement parameters, such as energy requirement in terms of fuel or fuel specification.

15. Container-tank module according to claim 10, characterized in that the housings and/or boxes are designed to be gas-tight and suitable for cryogenic temperatures.

16. Container-tank module according to claim 10, characterized in that for the vaporization of the liquid gas, a device having compact tubular or plate heat exchanger is provided, and in that external process heat, such as cooling water from combustion engines or in some cases sea- or groundwater, is fed to the device.

17. Container-tank module according to claim 10, characterized in that the delivery pressure of the vaporized liquid gas, in particular of LNG, to consumers is set at a pressure level of from approximately 5 to not more than 10 bar.

18. Container-tank module according to claim 10, characterized in that the integrated heating device for the vaporization of liquid gas is designed in the manner of an auxiliary heating system for vehicles.

Description

[0040] The invention will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow by means of two schematic drawings and their possible use. In the drawings:

[0041] FIG. 1 is a simplified representation of a mobile container-tank module in a perspective view inside a transport frame with standard dimensions for containers; and

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a stern section of a ship he possibility of arranging a mobile container-tank module.

[0043] The schematic and simplified representation according to FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a container-tank module 1, which has a substantially cylindrical pressure tank 2 which is permanently arranged inside a transport frame 3 of standard dimensions. The pressure tank 2, which receives a liquid gas such as LNG, LPG or methanol, is equipped with a heat-insulating jacket in order, for example, to be able to insulate the temperature of the liquid gas LNG relative to the outside temperature at about 163 C.

[0044] The transport frame 3 of the container-tank module 1 can preferably have standard dimensions of conventional containers of about 40 (feet) or 20 (feet) in length.

[0045] The container-tank module 1 is so designed that all the process devices for processing the liquid gas for direct fuel delivery to drive units or energy-generation units can be integrated and accommodated within the dimensions of the container-tank module 1 with the transport frame 3.

[0046] The process devices can here include in particular, for example, heat exchangers for vaporizing the liquid gas, heating devices for heating the gas, compressors for compressing and adjusting the pressure of the gas, or pumps for conveying the gas, but also valves or control modules. These process devices are installed in compact, miniaturized form in housings 6, 7 or boxes 15, 16, 17. The gas-carrying lines in particular are here accommodated in gas-tight housings 6, 7 which can be mechanically loaded and in particular, where necessary, are explosion-proof.

[0047] The housing or housings 6, 7 serve on the one hand as mechanical protection for the process devices and components and on the other hand have the function of a safety enclosure in the event of the accidental escape of LNG or gas from lines, connection elements or components such as valves, sensors, pumps and heat exchangers. Furthermore, these housings prevent the immediate environment from having to be categorized as potentially explosive and having to be correspondingly equipped.

[0048] Advantageously, the housings 6, 7 and the integrated process devices thereof are arranged beneath the cryogenic tank 2, so that the feeding of liquid gas downwards by means of gravity into corresponding process devices is also ensured.

[0049] In the left-hand region of FIG. 1, the approximately circular closing face of the pressure tank 2 is shown as the end portal 11. In the example, connection boxes 15 and 17 are provided in this region within the container dimensions. The connection box 15 can accommodate, for example, the connection to an external heat energy source. The connection box 17 can be provided for connection points for emergency and safety systems such as, for example, an overpressure blow-off device for gas or for flushing, extinguishing or cooling water. The boxes 15, 17 are normally designed to be gas-tight and capable of withstanding high mechanical loads.

[0050] On the right-hand side of the cryogenic pressure tank 2 there is the opposite end portal 12, in the region of which preferably one or more connection boxes 16 for electrical and electronic control and monitoring devices are installed. The connection box 16 is here purposively arranged at a greater distance from the housings 6, 7 or the boxes 15, 17, in order to be able to rule out any risk of explosion.

[0051] In the upper region of the pressure tank 2, monitoring fittings 21, for example valves and other systems, are further shown. Lines 19 are likewise provided on both sides of the pressure tank 2, which lines have nozzles for extinguishing and cooling water.

[0052] The mobile container-tank module according to the invention is suitable in particular for use on ships because the entire conversion and processing of the liquid gas such as LNG can be delivered in the form of heated and compressed gas directly to drive units or energy-generation units. The shortest possible line paths are taken into consideration here, since all the process devices for processing of the liquid gas are integrated within the dimensions of the chosen standard container.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows, schematically and in simplified form, the stern section 40 of a ship. In the middle of the stern there is in the example an open platform 41 for a mobile container-tank module 1, on which the container-tank module 1 can be positioned in a fixed and secure manner. 45, 46 denote exhaust gas chimneys of engines of the ship. The line connections for the delivery of processed gas to the consumers of the ship over short distances would be directed to the front in the example.

[0054] There are additionally shown in FIG. 2 on the stern an air inlet mast 42 on the port side and a blow-off mast 43 or a mast for letting out air on the starboard side.

[0055] The container-tank module 1 can therefore be regarded as a compact energy supply module for gas as fuel, which contains all the process technology equipment for processing liquid gas to gas and thereby in particular requires only a connection for an external energy or heat source and a delivery connection for the processed gas for direct feeding to consumers. Critical connections and couplings for liquid gas such as LNG can be avoided completely.