US3885394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for treating and utilizing vaporized gas in a ship for transporting liquified gas
Assignee: Sulzer AG
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Filing: 1973-12-10
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1993-12-10
Abstract
Abstract The vaporized gas is first heated and then compressed. Thereafter, the gas is divided into two component flows with one component flow being sent to the ship''s propulsion plant as a source of fuel. The second component flow is then further compressed and cooled in heat exchange relation with the continued flow of vaporized gas from the gas tanks. The cooled gas is then liquified and returned to the gas tanks.
Inventors
- 👤 Karel Witt
- 👤 Christian Trepp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:21
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J1/00; F25J1/02; F25J1/0228; F25J1/0229; F25J1/023; B; B63; B63H; B63H21/00; B63J; B63J99/00; F17; F17C; F17C9/00; F17C9/02; F17C9/04; F25J1/0002; F25J1/0022; F25J1/0025; F25J1/003; F25J1/0032; F25J1/004; F25J1/0201; F25J1/0202; F25J1/0243; F25J1/0257; F25J1/0275; F25J1/0277; F17C2265/00; F17C2265/03; F25J2220/00; F25J2220/60; F25J2220/62; F25J2230/00; F25J2230/30; F25J2230/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A process of treating and utilizing vaporized gas from a liquified gas tank of a ship for transporting liquified combustible gas comprising the steps of drawing off a flow of vaporized gas from at least one gas tank; compressing said flow of vaporized gas; dividing the compressed flow of gas into at least two component flows; feeding one of said gas component flows to a propulsion unit of the ship; compressing a second of said gas component flows; passing said compressed second gas component flow into heat exchange relation with a continued flow of said flow of vaporized gas to heat said continued flow of vaporized gas prior to compressing of said continued flow of vaporized gas; and thereafter reducing the pressure of said second gas component flow and feeding a liquid part of the reduced pressure gas component flow to at least one gas tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A process of treating and utilizing vaporized gas from a liquified gas tank of a ship for transporting liquified combustible gas comprising the steps of drawing off a flow of vaporized gas from at least one gas tank; compressing said flow of vaporized gas; dividing the compressed flow of gas into at least two component flows; feeding one of said gas component flows to a propulsion unit of the ship; compressing a second of said gas component flows; passing said compressed second gas component flow into heat exchange relation with a continued flow of said flow of vaporized gas to heat said continued flow of vaporized gas prior to compressing of said continued flow of vaporized gas; and thereafter reducing the pressure of said second gas component flow and feeding a liquid part of the reduced pressure gas component flow to at least one gas tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises the step of cooling said flow of compressed gas prior to dividing into said component flows.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the full flow of said vaporized gas from one tank is compressed to a pressure demanded by the propulsion unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises the step of separating volatile constituents from said reduced pressure gas component flow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
A process as set forth in claim 4 wherein said step of reducing the pressure of said second gas component flow includes expanding said second gas component flow to a pressure corresponding to a delivery pressure of said vaporized gas from the tank and wherein the separated volatile constituents pass in heat exchange relation with said flow of vaporized gas and are added to said one gas component flow.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
189 words
An apparatus for treating anD utilizing vaporized gas from a liquified gas tank of a ship for transporting liquified combustible gas comprising at least one gas tank; means for drawing off a flow of vaporized gas from said tank; a first compressor connected to said for drawing off means for compressing the flow of vaporized gas; a first branch line connected to said compressor to deliver one component flow of the compressed gas flow to a propulsion unit of the ship; a second compressor connected to said first compressor to receive and compress a second component flow of the compressed gas flow from said first compressor; a heat exchanger connected with said means and to said second compressor to receive the flow of vaporized gas from said tank and the flow of the compressed second gas component flow from said second compressor in heat exchange relation to heat the flow of vaporized gas and cool the second gas component flow; and a pressure reducing means connected to said heat exchanger and said tank to deliver the second gas component flow to said tank in at least partly liquified form.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
189 words
An apparatus for treating anD utilizing vaporized gas from a liquified gas tank of a ship for transporting liquified combustible gas comprising at least one gas tank; means for drawing off a flow of vaporized gas from said tank; a first compressor connected to said for drawing off means for compressing the flow of vaporized gas; a first branch line connected to said compressor to deliver one component flow of the compressed gas flow to a propulsion unit of the ship; a second compressor connected to said first compressor to receive and compress a second component flow of the compressed gas flow from said first compressor; a heat exchanger connected with said means and to said second compressor to receive the flow of vaporized gas from said tank and the flow of the compressed second gas component flow from said second compressor in heat exchange relation to heat the flow of vaporized gas and cool the second gas component flow; and a pressure reducing means connected to said heat exchanger and said tank to deliver the second gas component flow to said tank in at least partly liquified form.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 which further comprises a second branch line between said first compressor and said second compressor to convey the second gas component therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 which further comprises an after-cooler downstream of said first compressor for cooling the compressed flow of vaporized gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 which further comprises a separator connected to said heat exchanger to receive the cooled second gas component flow, a cooling passage in said heat exchanger, a line between said separator and said cooling passage for passing separated volatile gas constituents from the second gas component flow through said cooling passsage, a line between said cooling passage and said first branch line to deliver the volatile gas constituents thereto and a line between said separator and said gas tank to deliver liquified gas thereto.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |