Patent US4627243A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4627243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Gas supply system for variable demand application
Assignee: Praxair Technology Inc
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Filing: 1985-09-26
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Granted: 1986-12-09
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Expires: 2005-09-26
Abstract
Abstract A system for the supply of gas to a variable flowrate consumption use point comprising monitoring specified system parameters, making specified determinations, and adjustable the liquid pump speed accordingly. Preferably the monitoring is computerized. The invention results in a less costly and more efficient gas supply system.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert R. Schaub
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:02
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C7/00; F17C13/00; F17C13/02; F17C13/028; F17C9/00; F17C9/02; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/01; F17C2221/011; F17C2221/014; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2225/00; F17C2225/01; F17C2225/0107; F17C2225/0123; F17C2227/00; F17C2227/01; F17C2227/0128; F17C2227/0135; F17C2250/00; F17C2250/03; F17C2250/032; F17C2250/04; F17C2250/0404; F17C2250/043; F17C2250/06; F17C2250/0605; F17C2250/0626
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for providing gas to a variable consumption flowrate use point comprising: pumping liquid at an initial flowrate to a high pressure with a variable speed liquid pump having a maximum flowrate capability at least twice its minimum flowrate capability, vaporizing high pressure liquid to produce high pressure gas, passing high pressure gas to a high pressure gas storage tank, delivering high pressure gas from the storage tank to the use point, monitoring the use point consumption flowrate of said gas, determining if the use point consumption flowrate differs from the liquid pump initial flowrate, and, based on this determination, adjusting the liquid pump speed to provide a flowrate corresponding to the use point consumption flowrate, whereby the size of the high pressure gas storage tank is significantly reduced.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for providing gas to a variable consumption flowrate use point comprising: pumping liquid at an initial flowrate to a high pressure with a variable speed liquid pump having a maximum flowrate capability at least twice its minimum flowrate capability, vaporizing high pressure liquid to produce high pressure gas, passing high pressure gas to a high pressure gas storage tank, delivering high pressure gas from the storage tank to the use point, monitoring the use point consumption flowrate of said gas, determining if the use point consumption flowrate differs from the liquid pump initial flowrate, and, based on this determination, adjusting the liquid pump speed to provide a flowrate corresponding to the use point consumption flowrate, whereby the size of the high pressure gas storage tank is significantly reduced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the use point consumption flowrate exceeds the liquid pump initial flowrate but is less than the liquid pump maximum flowrate wherein the adjustment comprises increasing the liquid pump speed to provide a flowrate which matches the use point consumption flowrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the use point consumption flowrate is less than the liquid pump initial flowrate but exceeds the liquid pump minimum flowrate wherein the adjustment comprises decreasing the liquid pump speed to provide a flowrate which matches the use point consumption flowrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the use point consumption flowrate is less than the liquid pump maximum flowrate wherein the adjustment comprises operating the liquid pump at a speed to provide a flowrate which exceeds the use point consumption flowrate and storing excess high pressure gas in the high pressure gas storage tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the use point consumption flowrate exceeds the liquid pump minimum flowrate wherein the adjustment comprises operating the liquid pump at a speed to provide a flowrate which is less than the use point consumption flowrate, and providing additional high pressure gas to the use point from the high pressure gas storage tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the use point consumptin flowrate exceeds the maximum liquid pump flowrate wherein the adjustment comprises operating the liquid pump at or below its maximum flowrate capability and providing additional high pressure gas from the high pressure gas storage tank to the use point.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the use point consumption flowrate is less than the minimum liquid pump flowrate capability wherein the adjustment comprises operating the liquid pump at or above the minimum flowrate capability and storing excess high pressure gas in the high pressure gas storage tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the use point consumption flowrate is less than the minimum liquid pump flowrate capability wherein the adjustment comprises shutting the liquid pump and supplying the entire use point requirements from the high pressure gas storage tank.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the monitoring of the use point consumption flowrate is continuous.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the monitoring of the use point consumption flowrate is intermittent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the monitoring of the use point consumption flowrate is carried out by use of a computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said liquid is a subambient temperature liquid.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for providing gas to a variable consumption flowrate use point comprising: pumping liquid at an initial flowrate to a high pressure with a variable speed liquid pump having a maximum flowrate capability at least twice its minimum flowrate capability, vaporizing high pressure liquid to produce high pressure gas, passing high pressure gas to a high pressure gas storage tank, delivering high pressure gas from the storage tank to the use point, monitoring the pressure in the high pressure gas storage tank, determining whether the pressure in the high pressure gas storage tank is changing, and, based on this determination, adjusting the liquid pump speed to provide a flowrate corresponding to the use point consumption flowrate, whereby the size of the high pressure gas storage tank is significantly reduced.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for providing gas to a variable consumption flowrate use point comprising: pumping liquid at an initial flowrate to a high pressure with a variable speed liquid pump having a maximum flowrate capability at least twice its minimum flowrate capability, vaporizing high pressure liquid to produce high pressure gas, passing high pressure gas to a high pressure gas storage tank, delivering high pressure gas from the storage tank to the use point, monitoring the pressure in the high pressure gas storage tank, determining whether the pressure in the high pressure gas storage tank is changing, and, based on this determination, adjusting the liquid pump speed to provide a flowrate corresponding to the use point consumption flowrate, whereby the size of the high pressure gas storage tank is significantly reduced.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the pressure in the high pressure gas storage tank is increasing wherein the adjustment comprises reducing the liquid pump speed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the pressure in the high pressure gas storage tank is decreasing wherein the adjustment comprises increasing the liquid pump speed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the pressure in the high pressure gas storage tank is kept between a predetermined minimum and maximum pressure by operating the liquid pump at a speed inclusive between its maximum and minimum flowrate capability so as to keep the pressure within the high pressure gas storage tank from falling below the predetermined minimum or rising above the predetermined maximum.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the pressure in the high pressure gas storage tank is increasing wherein the adjustment comprises operating the liquid pump at a speed to enable the pressure in the tank to increase toward the predetermined maximum by providing a flowrate which exceeds the use point consumption flowrate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the pressure in the high pressure gas storage tank is decreasing wherein the adjustment comprises operating the liquid pump at a speed to enable the pressure in the tank to decrease toward the predetermined minimum by providing a flowrate less than the use point flowrate and additionally providing gas to the use point from the high pressure gas storage tank.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the monitoring of the pressure in the high pressure gas storage tank is continuous.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the monitoring of the pressure in the high pressure gas storage tank is intermittent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the monitoring of the pressure in the high pressure gas storage tank is carried out by use of a computer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said liquid is a subambient temperature liquid.
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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) | 1989-12-08 | 1990-06-09 | 1990-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-08 | 1994-06-09 | 1994-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-08 | 1998-06-09 | 1998-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |