Systems and methods for suppressing vaporization of volatile fluids in agricultural fluid application systems

A method for suppressing vaporization of a volatile fluid dispensed from a pressure vessel, said method comprising:

• channeling a first flow of volatile fluid from the pressure vessel to a distribution manifold;
• channeling a second flow of volatile fluid from the pressure vessel to an evaporator in thermal communication with the first flow of volatile fluid;
• expanding the second flow of volatile fluid using a metering valve to produce an expanded second flow of volatile fluid having a reduced pressure and temperature, wherein the metering valve is coupled in fluid communication with the evaporator and fluidly connected between the evaporator and the pressure vessel;
• controlling an operating parameter of the metering valve, using a controller coupled in communication with the metering valve, to regulate a flow rate of volatile fluid channeled to the evaporator based on a superheat value of the second flow of volatile fluid;
• compressing the expanded second flow of volatile fluid using a compressor coupled to the evaporator to produce a compressed second flow of volatile fluid having an increased pressure and temperature;
• and
• channeling the compressed second flow of volatile fluid to the pressure vessel via a return line, wherein the pressure and the temperature of the compressed second flow of volatile fluid are greater than a tank pressure and a tank temperature, respectively, of volatile fluid contained in the pressure vessel.

A fluid application system comprising:

• a fluid line configured to channel a flow of volatile fluid from a pressure vessel;
• a distribution manifold coupled in fluid communication to said fluid line, said distribution manifold comprising a plurality of fluid dispensing lines, said distribution manifold configured to receive a first flow of volatile fluid from said fluid line and channel the first flow of volatile fluid to said plurality of fluid dispensing lines;
• and
• a vapor compression system coupled in fluid communication to said fluid line, said vapor compression system comprising:
• an evaporator comprising at least one channel therein for receiving a second flow of volatile fluid from said fluid line and channeling the second flow of volatile fluid therethrough;
• a metering valve coupled in fluid communication with said at least one channel and fluidly connected between said evaporator and the pressure vessel, said metering valve configured to regulate a flow rate of volatile fluid channeled to said evaporator;
• a controller coupled in communication with said metering valve, said controller configured to control an operating parameter of said metering valve to regulate a flow rate of volatile fluid channeled to said evaporator based on a superheat value of the second flow of volatile fluid;
• a compressor coupled in fluid communication with and downstream from said at least one channel;
• and
• a return line coupled in fluid communication with an outlet of said compressor;
• wherein said evaporator is coupled in thermal communication with the first flow of volatile fluid for cooling the first flow of volatile fluid, and wherein said compressor is configured to compress the second flow of volatile fluid and channel the compressed second flow of volatile fluid to the pressure vessel via said return line.