Abstract
A device for drying a nozzle for liquefied gas included a first member for receiving the nozzle adapted to heat a heating unit, a heat storage, a pneumatic inlet, a pneumatic outlet, and a channel connecting the pneumatic inlet to the pneumatic outlet. The pneumatic outlet is arranged in the first member and the channel is arranged such that a pneumatic flow within the channel is heated by the heat storage.
Claims
1. A device for drying a nozzle for liquified gas, wherein the device comprises: a first member for receiving the nozzle; a heating unit adapted to heat a heat storage; a pneumatic inlet; a pneumatic outlet; and a channel connecting the pneumatic inlet to the pneumatic outlet, wherein the pneumatic outlet is arranged in the first member and the channel is arranged such that a pneumatic flow within the channel is heated by the heat storage.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the channel is longer than a shortest distance between the inlet and the outlet to increase a contact area between the channel and the heat storage.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a sleeve surrounding the heat storage and the channel is created by a space between the beat storage and the sleeve.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the channel is helix shaped.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is an elongated heating unit extending into the channel such that the pneumatic flow within the channel is heated by both the heating unit and the heat storage.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the heat storage is a metal body.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is any one of a heat cable, a pipe for hot liquid, and a pipe for hot gas.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a first actuator to activate the heating unit and a second actuator to activate the pneumatic flow.
9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the second actuator is actuated by insertion of the nozzle into the member.
10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprise means for locking the nozzle in the member, and wherein the device comprises computer means to run a pre-determined program for drying the nozzle, and wherein the nozzle is released once the program is completed.
11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first member is an opening.
12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further is adapted to heat the nozzle.
13. A method for drying a nozzle for liquified gas with the device according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the steps of: inserting the nozzle into the first member; actuating a second actuator thus activating the pneumatic, flow; and removing the nozzle.
14. The method for drying a nozzle for liquified gas according to claim 13, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: locking the nozzle to the device; initiating a predetermined drying program wherein the nozzle is dried; and unlocking the nozzle from the device upon completion of said predetermined drying program.
15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the channel is at least twice the length of a shortest distance between the inlet and the outlet to increase a contact area between the channel and the heat storage.
16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the channel is at least three times the length of a shortest distance between the inlet and the outlet to increase a contact area between the channel and the heat storage.
17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the channel is a thread shaped recess in the heat storage.
18. The device according to claim 1, wherein the heat storage is a solid metal body.
19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the heat storage is a metal body made of any of the following: aluminum, cast metal, iron, stainless steel or any other suitable metal material with sufficiently high thermal inertia to allow it to function has a heat storage.
20. The device according to claim 2, wherein the device comprises a sleeve surrounding the heat storage and the channel is created by a space between the heat storage and the sleeve.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0043] The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a device for drying a liquefied gas nozzle wherein the nozzle is inserted into the device.
[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a device for drying a liquefied gas nozzle.
[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section of the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2.
[0047] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of an outlet for the pneumatic flow.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0048] In the following, a detailed description of the different embodiments of the invention is disclosed under reference to the accompanying drawings. All examples herein should be seen as part of the general description and are therefore possible to combine in any way of general terms. Individual features of the various embodiments and aspects may be combined or exchanged unless such combination or exchange is clearly contradictory to the overall function of the device or method.
[0049] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of the device for heating a nozzle wherein the nozzle 2 is inserted into the device 1 and with no nozzle inserted, respectively. The device 1 has in the illustrated embodiment a circular form but might have any form or shape suitable for the nozzle 2 it is adapted to dry. In a typical embodiment the device for heating the nozzle 2 is used as a parking spot for the nozzle 2 when not in use.
[0050] FIG. 1 further illustrates a nozzle 2 that for example could be a nozzle for LNG with a locking mechanism controlled by handles 4. However, in different embodiments the nozzle could be of other shapes and forms, for example nozzles that are rotated into engagement with their mating part such as a first member 12. For the disclosure herein it shall be noted that a nozzle 2 could be any form of coupling but to provide a few non limiting examples it could be an LNG nozzle or a dry cryogenic coupling. In one embodiment the device 1 comprises a first actuator 22 to activate a heating unit 21, see FIG. 2. The first actuator might for example be a switch, lever, or any other suitable actuator that enables the heating unit 21 to be turned on and off, i.e., the purpose of the first actuator as illustrated in FIG. 1 is to enable the heating unit 21. The heating unit 21 is adapted to heat a heat storage 14, see the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, and maintain it at a suitable temperature. The heat storage 14, which may be solid, may be made by any suitable material, such as a metal, like aluminum, cast metal, iron, or stainless steel, with sufficiently high thermal inertia to allow it to function has a heat storage. In one embodiment the heating unit 21 is constantly active at times wherein a transfer of liquefied gas could be initiated, such as opening hours of a fuel station or harbor. In another embodiment a thermostat is arranged to control the heating unit 21 in order to keep the heat storage 14 at a suitable temperature. In another embodiment the heating unit 21 is constantly on, in yet another embodiment the heating unit 21 is constantly on if the first actuator 22 is turned on. The first actuator 22 does not have to be a physical actuator; in one embodiment it is a digital first actuator that is controlled by processing means either internally, externally at the local site, or in communication with the cloud.
[0051] FIG. 1 illustrates how a pneumatic inlet 31 in one embodiment is arranged in the lower part of the device 1 and adapted to receive a pneumatic flow from an external source. The pneumatic flow might be compressed air, nitrogen, or any other suitable gas. In the illustrated embodiment the pneumatic inlet 31 is arranged at the opposite end of the device 1 from the first member 12 and the outlet 32. The pneumatic inlet 31 is connected to a channel 30, see FIG. 3, wherein heat from the heat storage 14 is extracted to the pneumatic flow. The pneumatic inlet 31 thus could have other positions in relation to the first member 12 as long as the purpose of heating the pneumatic flow is achieved. It is preferred that the channel 30 is longer than the shortest distance L1, see FIG. 3, between the inlet 31 and the outlet 32 to increase the contact area between the channel 30 and the heat storage 14. It is preferred that the length of the channel is at least twice, more preferably at least three times the length of the shortest distance L1 between the inlet 31 and the outlet 32. This is in the shown embodiment accomplished by making the channel 30 helix shaped, i.e., wound around the heat storage 14. However, it is appreciated that other ways are to shape the channel 30 like a meander or other curved shapes, as long as the channel 30 makes contact with the heat storage 14.
[0052] FIG. 2 illustrates the device 1 wherein no nozzle 2 is present. The device 1 comprises the first member 12 being the part of the device 1 where the nozzle 2 is placed to be dried. In the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 2 the first member 12 is an opening for receiving a nozzle 2. However, it shall be noted that the first member 12 might have other forms and shapes for engaging with the nozzle 2. Depending on the design of the nozzle 2 it might be heated with a pneumatic flow through the inside of for example a ball cage adapted to lock the nozzle 2 into engagement with another member during operation. In another embodiment the pneumatic flow could flow around the nozzle or coupling to dry it from the outside.
[0053] FIG. 2 further illustrates how the heating unit 21 extends into the device 1. The heating unit 21 could be arranged to only heat within the device 1 or for emitting heat along the entire length of the heating unit 21. In one embodiment, a sleeve 13 surrounds the heat storage 14. In one embodiment insulation is added along parts of the heating unit 21 that is exposed outside of the heat storage 14 and/or sleeve 13. The sleeve 13 might have different functions for the device 1 in different embodiment, for example to enclose the channel 30 as shown in FIG. 3 and/or as a heat protection to keep the outside of the device cold.
[0054] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section of a device 1 as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the heat storage 14 is clearly visible. In this particular embodiment the heat storage 14 is a round solid body. However, it might have any shape or form that is suitable for the nozzle or coupling that it is adapted to dry. FIG. 3 further illustrates how the channel 30 is threaded into the heat storage 14 and covered by the sleeve 13, i.e., in one illustrative embodiment of FIG. 3 the channel 30 is an outside thread of the heat storage 14 covered by a sleeve 13 mutually creating a channel 30 running around the heat storage 14 from bottom to the top. The pneumatic outlet 32 is further illustrated in the first member 12.
[0055] FIG. 3 further illustrates a clear advantage of the device 1 for drying a nozzle as disclosed herein. The pneumatic flow from the inlet 31 to the outlet 32 flows through the cannel 30 and is heated by heat from the heat storage 14. In the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 3, the flow is also heated by the heating unit 21. Although this is only one example of how the channel 30 could be arranged it clearly shows the benefits of the solution. In order for the pneumatic flow to effectively dry the nozzle the temperature of the pneumatic flow needs to be increased from a surrounding indoor or outdoor temperature wherein for example a compressor for compressing air or tank comprising a compressed gas is arranged. The other parameter affecting the drying time is the pace of the pneumatic flow, for example measured in liters/minute. To enable that the temperature is increased enough without requirement of reducing the pace of the pneumatic flow the solution comprising a heat storage 14.
[0056] FIG. 4 illustrates a distributing member 33 arranged to distribute the flow from the pneumatic outlet 32 in a suitable manner for the nozzle to be dried. In one embodiment the distributing member 33 comprises means of a second actuator 23 for allowing or preventing a pneumatic flow through the outlet 32 such that when the nozzle is in place the pneumatic flow starts.
