US3768271A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and plant for storing and transporting a liquefied combustible gas
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-01-18
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1992-01-18
Abstract
Abstract For the purpose of storing and transporting a liquefied combustible gas, in a methane tanker for example, together with a virtually inert gas such as nitrogen in contact with said combustible gas, use is made of additional energy either, as the case may be, in order to liquefy the inert gas - utilizing the evaporation of the combustible gas to that end - or in order to reliquefy the evaporated combustible gas - utilizing the evaporation of the liquid inert gas to that end.
Inventors
- 👤 L Denis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 02:56
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J1/00; F25J1/006; F25J1/007; F25J1/0072; F17; F17C; F17C9/00; F17C9/02; F17C9/04; F25J1/0002; F25J1/0012; F25J1/0015; F25J1/0022; F25J1/0025; F25J1/003; F25J1/0032; F25J1/0035; F25J1/0037; F25J1/0047; F25J1/005; F25J1/0052; F25J1/02; F25J1/0203; F25J1/0204; F25J1/0221; F25J1/0228; F25J1/0229; F25J1/023; F25J1/0243; F25J1/0244; F25J1/0245; F25J1/0249; F25J1/025; F25J1/0251; F25J1/0257; F25J1/0275; F25J1/0277; F25J1/0279; F25J1/0285; F25J1/0288; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/01; F17C2221/014; F17C2221/03; F17C2221/032; F17C2221/033; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/0161; F17C2270/00; F17C2270/01; F17C2270/0102; F17C2270/0105; F25J2210/00; F25J2210/42; F25J2210/60; F25J2210/62; F25J2210/70; F25J2290/00; F25J2290/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
In a system for handling a liquefiable combustible gas for storage and transportion, including a container for liquefiable inert gas in liquid form, a container for a liquefiable combustible gas in liquid form, a source of said inert gas in gaseous form, and a source of said combustible gas in gaseous form, an improved arrangement for optionally liquefying a selected one of said gases in gaseous form for delivery to the corresponding container comprising: a. means for circulating said inert gas through a refrigeration cycle including an expansion stage, a compression stage, and power means for supplying to said compression stage at least a portion of the energy required thereby; b. heat exchange means through which said circulating inert gas passes while in expanded cooled condition; c. means for expanding one of said gases from its liquefied form in the corresponding container and passing the expanded cooled gas through said heat exchanger; d. means for applying the cooling effect of said two expanded gases to the selected gas from its source to liquefy said gas; and e. means for delivering the thus liquefied gas to the container therefor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
In a system for handling a liquefiable combustible gas for storage and transportion, including a container for liquefiable inert gas in liquid form, a container for a liquefiable combustible gas in liquid form, a source of said inert gas in gaseous form, and a source of said combustible gas in gaseous form, an improved arrangement for optionally liquefying a selected one of said gases in gaseous form for delivery to the corresponding container comprising: a. means for circulating said inert gas through a refrigeration cycle including an expansion stage, a compression stage, and power means for supplying to said compression stage at least a portion of the energy required thereby; b. heat exchange means through which said circulating inert gas passes while in expanded cooled condition; c. means for expanding one of said gases from its liquefied form in the corresponding container and passing the expanded cooled gas through said heat exchanger; d. means for applying the cooling effect of said two expanded gases to the selected gas from its source to liquefy said gas; and e. means for delivering the thus liquefied gas to the container therefor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system according to claim 1 including f. means for passing surplus expanded combustion gas from said liquefied combustion gas container in heat exchange relation with said cooled inert gas to re-liquefy the same for return to said container, liquefied inert gas from the container thereof being expanded to cool the same and passed in cooled condition through said heat exchange means (b).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system according to claim 2 wherein compressed inert gas from said compression stage is cooled by passage through said heat exchange means (b) and then passed in heat exchange relation with said expanded combustible gas in means (f).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said inert gas after compression in said compression stage is cooled to liquefy the same and a fraction of said liquefied inert gas is delivered to said inert gas container, and make-up fresh inert gas from said source thereof is added to said circulating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 4 wherein said compressed inert gas is cooled by passage through said heat exchange (b).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system according to claim 4 including means for combusting said combustible gas and wherein said inert gas is extracted from the flue gases of said combusting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system according to claim 6 wherein said combusting means is a boiler and including further means for treating the resulting smoke, which further means include means for eliminating the carbon dioxide from the smoke whereby to extract nitrogen inert gas therefrom, and a booster connected to said circulating means for compressing this nitrogen and injecting it into said circulating means whereby to liquefy it.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system according to claim 6 wherein liquefied combustible gas from said container thereof is expanded and passed through said heat exchange means before being combusted in said combusting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a method of handling a liquefiable combustible gas for storage and transportion, including a container for liquefiable inert gas in liquid form, a container for a liquefiable combustible gas in liquid form, a source of said inert gas in gaseous form, and a source of said combustible gas in gaseous form, an improved arrangement for optionally liquefying a selected one of said gases in gaseous form for delivery to the corresponding container comprising: a. circulating said inert gas through a refrigeration cycle including an expansion stage, a compression stage, while supplying to said compression stage at least a portion of the power required thereby; b. passing said circulating inert gas while in expanded cooled condition through a heat exchanging zone; c. expanding one of said gases from its liquefied form in the corresponding container and passing the expanded cooled gas through said heat exchanging zone; d. applying the cooling effect of said two expanded gases to the selected gas from its source to liquefy said gas; and e. delivering the thus liquefied gas to the container therefor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a method of handling a liquefiable combustible gas for storage and transportion, including a container for liquefiable inert gas in liquid form, a container for a liquefiable combustible gas in liquid form, a source of said inert gas in gaseous form, and a source of said combustible gas in gaseous form, an improved arrangement for optionally liquefying a selected one of said gases in gaseous form for delivery to the corresponding container comprising: a. circulating said inert gas through a refrigeration cycle including an expansion stage, a compression stage, while supplying to said compression stage at least a portion of the power required thereby; b. passing said circulating inert gas while in expanded cooled condition through a heat exchanging zone; c. expanding one of said gases from its liquefied form in the corresponding container and passing the expanded cooled gas through said heat exchanging zone; d. applying the cooling effect of said two expanded gases to the selected gas from its source to liquefy said gas; and e. delivering the thus liquefied gas to the container therefor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |