US3950958A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refrigerated underground storage and tempering system for compressed gas received as a cryogenic liquid
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-10-29
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Granted: 1976-04-20
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Expires: 1994-10-29
Abstract
Abstract Methods and systems for storing large volumes of gas, such as natural gas, commonly shipped as liquid at very low temperature and unloaded through comparatively short cryogenic pipelines. Systems are disclosed for receiving, storing and warming shipments of liquefied gas prior to distribution to consumers. The systems include invisible underground storage as a safeguard against natural and artificial hazards and to utilize natural heat flow to warm the gas.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Loofbourow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:27
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C9/00; F17C9/02; F17C3/00; F17C3/005; F17C2205/00; F17C2205/01; F17C2205/0123; F17C2205/013; F17C2205/03; F17C2205/0302; F17C2205/0323; F17C2205/0326; F17C2205/0332; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/03; F17C2221/032; F17C2221/033; F17C2221/035; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/0161; F17C2223/03; F17C2223/033; F17C2225/00; F17C2225/01; F17C2225/0107; F17C2225/0123; F17C2225/03; F17C2225/036; F17C2227/00; F17C2227/01; F17C2227/0128; F17C2227/0135; F17C2227/03; F17C2227/0302; F17C2227/0304; F17C2227/0337; F17C2227/0367; F17C2227/0369; F17C2227/0372; F17C2227/0374; F17C2250/00; F17C2250/06; F17C2250/0605; F17C2250/0631; F17C2265/00; F17C2265/05; F17C2270/00; F17C2270/01; F17C2270/0142; F17C2270/0144; F17C2270/0155; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/402
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of storage and tempering of large volumes of compressed gas received as a cryogenic liquid in an underground storage facility deep in the earth including at least one underground rock chamber, which method comprises: A. receiving liquefied gas at about -260° F and at about atmospheric pressure into a cryogenic pipeline for charging to said storage facility, B. introducing heat into said storage facility to warm the gas therein, C. maintaining the storage facility at a temperature between about 0° F to about -110° F and moderately elevated pressure up to about 2500 psi to maintain the gas predominantly in the gaseous state to store between about 75 and 475 cubic feet of gas to each cubic foot of storage space, D. withdrawing gas from said storage facility for consumption as needed, E. heating said withdrawn gas to between about 32° F and -40° F, and F. discharging the warmed gas to a pipeline for distribution.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of storage and tempering of large volumes of compressed gas received as a cryogenic liquid in an underground storage facility deep in the earth including at least one underground rock chamber, which method comprises: A. receiving liquefied gas at about -260° F and at about atmospheric pressure into a cryogenic pipeline for charging to said storage facility, B. introducing heat into said storage facility to warm the gas therein, C. maintaining the storage facility at a temperature between about 0° F to about -110° F and moderately elevated pressure up to about 2500 psi to maintain the gas predominantly in the gaseous state to store between about 75 and 475 cubic feet of gas to each cubic foot of storage space, D. withdrawing gas from said storage facility for consumption as needed, E. heating said withdrawn gas to between about 32° F and -40° F, and F. discharging the warmed gas to a pipeline for distribution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that stored gas is circulated to heat exchangers at ground surface to maintain the storage temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that the storage temperature is maintained by circulation of a heat exchanging fluid through the storage chamber out of contact with the stored gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that said liquefied gas is at least partially vaporized by heat exchange at ground surface and then charged to storage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 4 further characterized in that said liquefied gas is at least partially vaporized at ground surface by passing the liquefied gas in heat exchanging relation with stored gas circulated to the surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that: A. said storage facility comprises at last one storage chamber and a plurality of other chambers adjacent to but separated from said storage chamber, and B. the storage temperature is maintained within said storage chamber by circulating a heat exchanging fluid through said other chambers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that said storage facility includes at least one horizontally disposed rock chamber of relatively shallow depth and relatively large area and horizontal extension whereby the stored gas is exposed to maximum natural heat flow for rapid warming of the gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that said storage facility includes a plurality of underground rock chambers each interconnected by flow lines extending to the ground surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that said storage facility includes a main storage chamber of relatively larger volume and a plurality of other chambers of relatively smaller volume.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that: A. said storage facility comprises a plurality of storage chambers connected in series, and B. the pressure in each of said chambers downstream from the first chamber is maintained at a level lower than the pressure in the next adjacent upstream chamber and the temperature in each of said chambers downstream from the first chamber is maintained at a level higher than the temperature of the next adjacent upstream chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that: A. said storage facility comprises a plurality of horizontally spaced apart storage chambers connected in series, and B. said gas is warmed by natural heat flow by circulating said gas successively from chamber to chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that: A. said storage facility comprises a plurality of vertically spaced storage chambers connected in series, and B. said gas is warmed by natural heat flow by circulating the gas successively from chamber to chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 12 further characterized in that: A. said storage facility includes at least one storage chamber spaced horizontally from said vertically spaced chambers and connected in series therewith, and B. said gas is circulated successively from said vertically spaced chambers to said horizontally spaced chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that: A. said gas to be stored is natural gas, B. a small amount of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is maintained in said storage chamber, and C. a portion of said natural gas is absorbed in said LPG, thereby increasing the capacity of said chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that the storage temperature is maintained by introducing at least a portion of said gas to storage in liquid form.
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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) | 1979-04-20 | 1979-10-20 | 1980-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-04-20 | 1983-10-20 | 1984-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-04-20 | 1987-10-20 | 1988-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |