Cryogenic device for separating gas fraction from a liquefied natural gas flow

Abstract

The cryogenic device for separating gas fraction from a liquefied natural gas flow carries out a two-stage separation of a gas fraction. The device includes a cylindrical housing provided with an inlet pipeline and an outlet pipeline, and a perforated partition arranged within the housing so as to face the outlet pipeline. The housing has two (upper and lower) portions of cylindrical shape that are connected to each other at an angle α of 135°-170°. There are two additional pipelines on the outside, one of them being used for pressure feed of a gas fraction after the first separation stage into the housing upper portion, and the other additional pipeline being used for extracting a gas fraction after the second separation stage into the gas cavity of a reservoir containing a cryogenic fuel.

Claims

1. A cryogenic device for separating gas fraction from a liquefied natural gas flow in a two-stage separation, the device comprising: a cylindrical housing being comprised of a lower portion and an upper portion mounted on top of said lower portion, each portion having a cylindrical shape and being connected to each other at an angle α of 135°-170°, said upper portion having an inclined wall; an inlet pipeline in fluid connection to said lower portion of the housing; an outlet pipeline in fluid connection to said lower portion of the housing; a perforated partition arranged within said lower portion of the housing between said inlet pipeline and said outlet pipeline; an additional inlet pipeline in fluid connection with said outlet pipeline and said upper portion of the housing; and an additional outlet pipeline in fluid connection with said upper portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The proposed structure is illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a front elevation view of the cryogenic device for separating gas fraction from a liquefied natural gas flow.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view of the cryogenic device for separating gas fraction from a liquefied natural gas flow.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) The cryogenic device for separating gas fraction from a liquefied natural gas flow comprises a housing consisting of two portions of cylindrical shape: a lower portion 1 arranged vertically and an upper portion 2 connected to the lower portion 1 at an angle α of 135°-170°, a perforated partition 3, an inlet pipeline 4, an outlet pipeline 5, an additional inlet pipeline 6, and an additional outlet pipeline 7.

(6) The cryogenic device for separating gas fraction from a liquefied natural gas flow can be operated as follows. Liquefied natural gas is fed from a cryogenic fuel reservoir (not shown in the figures) via the inlet pipeline 4 through the perforated partition 3 into the lower cylindrical portion 1, as arranged vertically, of the housing; thus, the first stage of liquefied natural gas separation into a liquid fraction and a gas fraction is carried out. Then, the liquid fraction is passed into a cryogenic pump (not shown in the figures) via the outlet pipeline 5, from which the liquid fraction after the first separation stage together with remaining gas fraction particles is pressure-fed via the additional inlet pipeline 6 into the upper cylindrical portion 2 of the housing, the upper cylindrical portion being connected to the lower cylindrical portion 1 at an angle α of 135°-170°. When in the upper cylindrical portion 2 of the housing, liquid fraction particles settle onto the inclined wall or surface 8 of the housing; thus, the second separation stage is carried out. After that, the gas fraction is extracted from the upper portion of the device housing via the additional pipeline 7 into the gas cavity of the cryogenic fuel reservoir.

(7) The cryogenic device for separating gas fraction from a liquefied natural gas flow has been tested in the gas treatment system of a GT1h-002 gas-turbine locomotive and proved to be reliable and simple in maintenance.