Method and apparatus for providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply

Claim 3

The method of providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid of claim 1 wherein the condensed fluid is caused to fall as drops into the liquid phase portion of the heat exchange fluid.

Claim 4

The method of providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid of claim 1 wherein said heating step utilizes waste heat normally dumped into the environment.

Claim 5

The method of providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid of claim 1 wherein said heating step comprises flowing water in heat transfer association with said liquid phase heat transfer fluid and said preselected minimum temperature comprises the freezing temperature of the water.

Claim 6

The method of providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid of claim 1 wherein said heating step comprises a step of delivering different heat source means in heat transfer association with said liquid phase in said closed chamber.

Claim 7

The method of providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid of claim 1 wherein said closed chamber is defined by a plurality of closed containers, and duct means for conducting vapor phase and liquid phase heat exchange fluid between the containers.

Claim 8

The method of providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid of claim 1 wherein said closed chamber is defined by a plurality of closed containers, and duct means for conducting vapor phase and liquid phase heat exchange fluid between the containers, said heating of the liquid phase being effected in a plurality of said containers.

Claim 9

The method of providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid of claim 1 wherein said closed chamber is defined by a plurality of closed containers, and duct means for conducting vapor phase and liquid phase heat exchange fluid between the containers, said heating of the liquid phase being effected in a plurality of said containers and said placing of the supply liquid in heat transfer association with the heat transfer fluid vapor phase being effected in less than all of said containers.

Claim 10

The method of providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid of claim 1 wherein said closed chamber is defined by a plurality of closed containers, and duct means for conducting vapor phase and liquid phase heat exchange fluid between the containers, said heating of the liquid phase being effected in each of said containers.

Claim 11

The method of providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid of claim 1 wherein said closed chamber is defined by a plurality of closed containers, and duct means for conducting vapor phase and liquid phase heat exchange fluid between the containers, said heating of the liquid phase being effected in a plurality of said containers and said placing of the supply liquid in heat transfer association with the heat transfer fluid vapor phase being effected in only one of said containers.

Claim 12

The method of providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid of claim 1 wherein said liquid supply comprises liquid natural gas and said heat exchange fluid comprises ammonia.

Claim 13

The method of providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid of claim 1 wherein said liquid supply comprises liquid natural gas, said heat exchange fluid comprises ammonia, and said heating step comprises flowing water in heat transfer relationship with the liquid ammonia in said chamber.

Claim 16

The method of providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid of claim 13 wherein one of said heat sources comprises environmental water.

Claim 17

The method of providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperatutre liquid supply of said fluid of claim 13 wherein one of said heat sources comprises engine cooling jacket water.

Claim 18

The method of providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid of claim 13 wherein one of said heat sources comprises compressed gas.

Claim 19

The method of providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid of claim 13 wherein the level of the liquid phase heat transfer fluid in said plurality of heating chambers is equalized.

Claim 20

The method of providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid of claim 13 wherein the vapor phase heat transfer fluid for each heating chamber is separately delivered to said receiver chamber.

Claim 21

Apparatus for providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid, comprising: means defining a closed chamber having heat transfer fluid therein defining a lower liquid phase portion and an upper vapor phase portion; means for heating said liquid phase portion to the saturation temperature thereof to cause vaporization thereof; means for placing liquid from said supply in heat transfer association with only said heat transfer fluid vapor phase portion in said closed chamber to vaporize said liquid, effect superheating of the vaporized liquid, and concurrently cause condensation of vapor phase portion heat transfer fluid and falling of the condensed fluid directly into the lower liquid phase portion of the heat transfer fluid; and means for causing the rate of delivery of the supply liquid and the rate of heating of said liquid phase portion to provide an equilibrium condition of the heat transfer fluid in the closed chamber wherein the temperature thereof is maintained above a preselected minimum temperature.

Claim 22

Apparatus for providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid, comprising: means defining a closed chamber having heat transfer fluid therein defining a lower liquid phase portion and an upper vapor phase portion; means for heating said liquid phase portion to the saturation temperature thereof to cause vaporization thereof; means for placing liquid from said supply in heat transfer association with only said heat transfer fluid vapor phase portion in said closed chamber to vaporize said liquid, effect superheating of the vaporized liquid, and concurrently cause condensation of vapor phase portion heat transfer fluid and falling of the condensed fluid directly into the lower liquid phase portion of the heat transfer fluid; and means for causing the rate of delivery of the supply liquid and the rate of heating of said liquid phase portion to provide an equilibrium condition of the heat transfer fluid in the closed chamber wherein the temperature thereof is maintained above a preselected minimum temperature.

Claim 23

Apparatus for providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid, comprising: means defining a closed chamber having heat transfer fluid therein defining a lower liquid phase portion and an upper vapor phase portion; means for heating said liquid phase portion to the saturation temperature thereof to cause vaporization thereof; means for placing liquid from said supply in heat transfer association with said heat transfer fluid vapor phase portion to vaporize said liquid, effect superheating of the vaporized liquid, and concurrently cause condensation of vapor phase portion heat transfer fluid and falling of the condensed fluid directly into the lower liquid phase portion of the heat transfer fluid; means for causing the rate of delivery of the supply liquid and the rate of heating of said liquid phase portion to provide an equilibrium condition of the heat transfer fluid in the closed chamber wherein the temperature thereof is maintained above a preselected minimum temperature; means defining a second closed chamber having heat transfer fluid therein defining a lower liquid phase portion and an upper vapor phase portion; means for heating said liquid phase portion in said second closed chamber to the saturation temperature; and means for delivering vapor phase heat transfer fluid from said second chamber to said first chamber and liquid phase heat transfer fluid from said first chamber to said second chamber.

Claim 24

Apparatus for providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid, comprising: means defining a closed chamber having heat transfer fluid therein defining a lower liquid phase portion and an upper vapor phase portion; means for heating said liquid phase portion to the saturation temperature thereof to cause vaporization thereof; means for placing liquid from said supply in heat transfer association with said heat transfer fluid vapor phase portion to vaporize said liquid, effect superheating of the vaporized liquid, and concurrently cause condensation of vapor phase portion heat transfer fluid and falling of the condensed fluid directly into the lower liquid phase portion of the heat transfer fluid; means for causing the rate of delivery of the supply liquid and the rate of heating of said liquid phase portion to provide an equilibrium condition of the heat transfer fluid in the closed chamber wherein the temperature thereof is maintained above a preselected minimum temperature; means defining a second closed chamber having heat transfer fluid therein defining a lower liquid phase portion and an upper vapor phase portion; means for heating said liquid phase portion in said second closed chamber to the saturation temperature; and means for delivering vapor phase heat transfer fluid from said second chamber to said first chamber and liquid phase heat transfer fluid from said first chamber to said second chamber.

Claim 25

Apparatus for providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid, comprising: means defining a closed chamber having heat transfer fluid therein defining a lower liquid phase portion and an upper vapor phase portion; means for heating said liquid phase portion to the saturation temperature thereof to cause vaporization thereof; means for placing liquid from said supply in heat transfer association with said heat transfer fluid vapor phase portion to vaporize said liquid, effect superheating of the vaporized liquid, and concurrently cause condensation of vapor phase portion heat transfer fluid and falling of the condensed fluid directly into the lower liquid phase portion of the heat transfer fluid; means for causing the rate of delivery of the supply liquid and the rate of heating of said liquid phase portion to provide an equilibrium condition of the heat transfer fluid in the closed chamber wherein the temperature thereof is maintained above a preselected minimum temperature; means defining a second closed chamber wherein said means for placing liquid from said supply in heat transfer association with said heat transfer fluid vapor phase portion is effected; a third chamber having heat transfer fluid therein defining a lower liquid phase portion and an upper vapor phase portion; means for heating said liquid phase portion in said third closed chamber to saturation temperature; and means for delivering vapor phase heat transfer fluid from said third chamber to said second chamber and liquid phase heat transfer fluid from said second chamber back to said first and third chambers.

Claim 26

Apparatus for providing superheated gaseous fluid from a low temperature liquid supply of said fluid, comprising: means defining a closed chamber having heat transfer fluid therein defining a lower liquid phase portion and an upper vapor phase portion; means for heating said liquid phase portion to the saturation temperature thereof to cause vaporization thereof; means for placing liquid from said supply in heat transfer association with said heat transfer fluid vapor phase portion to vaporize said liquid, effect superheating of the vaporized liquid, and concurrently cause condensation of vapor phase portion heat transfer fluid and falling of the condensed fluid directly into the lower liquid phase portion of the heat transfer fluid; means for causing the rate of delivery of the supply liquid and the rate of heating of said liquid phase portion to provide an equilibrium condition of the heat transfer fluid in the closed chamber wherein the temperature thereof is maintained above a preselected minimum temperature; means defining a second closed chamber wherein said means for placing liquid from said supply in heat transfer association with said heat transfer fluid vapor phase portion is effected; a third chamber having heat transfer fluid therein defining a lower liquid phase portion and an upper vapor phase portion; means for heating said liquid phase portion in said third closed chamber to saturation temperature; and means for delivering vapor phase heat transfer fluid from said third chamber to said second chamber and liquid phase heat transfer fluid from said second chamber back to said first and third chambers.