# US 2014/0150469 A1 · Metering System and Method for Cryogenic Liquids

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- Number: US 2014/0150469 A1
- Document ID: US20140150469A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/089,096
- Filed: 2013-11-25
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-29
- Assignees: Chart Inc.
- Applicants: Chart Inc.
- Inventors: Paul Drube; Thomas Drube
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150469A1

## CPC

- F17C 13/025: {having the pressure as the parameter}
- G01F 1/00: Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow (measuring a proportion of the volume flow G01F5/00)
- F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25)
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME

## Abstract

A system for dispensing a cryogenic liquid includes a storage tank containing a supply of the cryogenic liquid and a metering chamber. A liquid inlet line is in communication with the storage tank and the metering chamber so that the metering chamber receives cryogenic liquid from the storage tank. A meter run is in communication with the metering chamber and includes a metering element, a dispensing line and a dispensing valve. A stabilizing column is positioned within the metering chamber and includes vertically spaced openings. Vertically spaced first and second pressure sensors are in communication with the interior of the stabilizing column. A controller is in communication with the metering element, the first and second pressure sensors and the dispensing valve.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for dispensing a cryogenic liquid comprising:
a. a storage tank containing a supply of the cryogenic liquid;
b. a metering chamber;
c. a liquid inlet line in communication with the storage tank and the metering chamber so that the metering chamber receives cryogenic liquid from the storage tank;
d. a meter run in communication with the metering chamber, said meter run including a metering element, a dispensing line and a dispensing valve;
e. a stabilizing column positioned within the metering chamber and including a sidewall defining an interior of the stabilizing column, said sidewall including a plurality of vertically spaced openings;
f. a first pressure sensor in communication with the interior of the stabilizing column;
g. a second pressure sensor in communication with the interior of the stabilizing column and vertically spaced from the first pressure sensor; and
h. a controller in communication with the metering element, the first and second pressure sensors and the dispensing valve.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the metering element is positioned within the metering chamber and submerged within cryogenic liquid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the metering element includes a meter line having an orifice with an inlet pressure sensor in communication with an inlet side of the orifice and an outlet pressure sensor in communication with an outlet side of the orifice, said inlet and outlet pressure sensors in communication with the controller.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the metering chamber is insulated.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising a third pressure sensor in communication with the interior of the stabilizing column, said third pressure sensor vertically spaced from both the first and second pressure sensors and in communication with the controller.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second pressure sensors communicate with a portion of the interior of the stabilizing column at or near a longitudinal axis of the stabilizing column.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the stabilizing column features an open top end and an open bottom end.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising a recirculation line extending between a head space of the metering chamber and said storage tank.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising a fill line in communication with the liquid inlet line, said fill line including a plurality of spray orifices positioned within a head space of the metering chamber so that cryogenic liquid passing through the spray orifices collapses vapor in the head space of the metering chamber.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9 wherein the meter run includes an inlet positioned within a bottom portion of the metering chamber.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the liquid inlet line includes a pump.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the stabilizing column is positioned about ⅛ inches from an interior surface of a wall of the metering chamber, with the plurality of orifices facing the interior surface of the wall of the metering chamber.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12 wherein the stabilizing column features a diameter of about one inch and said plurality of vertically spaced openings are positioned approximately two inches apart.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising a temperature probe positioned within the metering chamber or in communication with flowing cryogenic liquid and in communication with the controller, said controller determining a percentage of a component of the cryogenic liquid based upon a temperature detected by the temperature probe and a density determined using pressures from the first and second pressure sensors.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the cryogenic liquid is liquid natural gas.

### Claim 16

A system for dispensing a cryogenic liquid comprising the steps of:
a. providing a storage tank and a metering chamber with a liquid inlet line running from the storage tank to the metering chamber and having a plurality of spray orifices positioned in a head space of the metering chamber, where said metering chamber includes a meter run having a metering element and a dispensing valve, said metering chamber also including a stabilizing column having a plurality of vertically spaced openings and first and second pressure sensors in communication with an interior of the stabilizing column;
b. transferring cryogenic liquid from the storage tank to the metering chamber until a level of cryogenic liquid in the metering chamber covers the spray orifices;
c. recirculating cryogenic liquid between the metering chamber and the storage tank until a predetermined condition is reached within the metering chamber;
d. opening the dispensing valve when the predetermined condition within the metering chamber is reached so that cryogenic liquid is dispensed from the metering chamber;
e. determining a density of the cryogenic liquid in the metering chamber using the first and second pressure sensors;
f. metering the dispensed cryogenic liquid using a pressure drop across the metering element and the density from the first and second pressure sensors.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein the level of cryogenic liquid in the metering chamber from step b. is sufficient to submerge the metering element in cryogenic liquid.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein step c. includes pumping cryogenic liquid from the storage tank to the metering chamber.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of providing a temperature probe within cryogenic liquid within the metering chamber or in communication with flowing cryogenic liquid and using the density from the first and second pressure sensors and a temperature from the temperature probe to determine a percentage of a component of the cryogenic liquid

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein the cryogenic liquid is liquid natural gas.

### Claim 21

A metering chamber for dispensing a cryogenic liquid comprising:
a. a liquid inlet line adapted to communicate with a source of cryogenic liquid so that the metering chamber may receive cryogenic liquid from the source;
b. a meter run including a metering element, a dispensing line and a dispensing valve;
c. a stabilizing column positioned within the metering chamber and including a sidewall defining an interior of the stabilizing column, said sidewall including a plurality of vertically spaced openings;
d. a first pressure sensor in communication with the interior of the stabilizing column;
e. a second pressure sensor in communication with the interior of the stabilizing column and vertically spaced from the first pressure sensor; and
f. a controller in communication with the metering element, the first and second pressure sensors and the dispensing valve.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The metering chamber of claim 21 wherein the metering element is positioned within the metering chamber and adapted to be submerged within cryogenic liquid.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The metering chamber of claim 21 wherein the metering element includes a meter line having an orifice with an inlet pressure sensor in communication with an inlet side of the orifice and an outlet pressure sensor in communication with an outlet side of the orifice, said inlet and outlet pressure sensors in communication with the controller.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The metering chamber of claim 21 wherein the metering chamber is insulated.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

The metering chamber of claim 21 further comprising a third pressure sensor in communication with the interior of the stabilizing column, said third pressure sensor vertically spaced from both the first and second pressure sensors and in communication with the controller.

### Claim 26 (depends on 21)

The metering chamber of claim 21 wherein the first and second pressure sensors communicate with a portion of the interior of the stabilizing column at or near a longitudinal axis of the stabilizing column.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

The metering chamber of claim 21 wherein the stabilizing column features an open top end and an open bottom end.

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

The metering chamber of claim 21 further comprising a fill line in communication with the liquid inlet line, said fill line including a plurality of spray orifices positioned within a head space of the metering chamber so that cryogenic liquid passing through the spray orifices collapses vapor in the head space of the metering chamber.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The metering chamber of claim 28 wherein the meter run includes an inlet positioned within a bottom portion of the metering chamber.

### Claim 30 (depends on 21)

The system of claim 21 wherein the stabilizing column is positioned about ⅛ inches from an interior surface of a wall of the metering chamber, with the plurality of orifices facing the interior surface of the wall of the metering chamber.