# US 2014/0151016 A1 · Heating a hot cargo barge using recovered heat from another vessel using an umbilical > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151016 A1 - Document ID: US20140151016A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/174,832 - Filed: 2014-02-06 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-09 - Assignees: Martin Operating Partnership L.P. - Applicants: Martin Operating Partnership L.P. - Inventors: Edward Henry Grimm, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151016A1 ## CPC - B63B 83/20: for conversion to a different use, e.g. for converting tankers into a FPSO-FLNG units - B60H 1/02: the heat being derived from the propulsion plant - B63B 11/02: Arrangement of bulkheads, e.g. defining cargo spaces - B63B 21/62: characterised by moving of more than one vessel (rigid interconnections between pontoons B63B35/38) - B63B 25/12: closed - B63B 25/16: heat-insulated (insulating panelling B63B3/68; heating or cooling B63J) - B63B 35/28: Barges or lighters {(underwater-towed barges B63G8/42; for transporting logs B63B35/62)} - B63J 2/12: Heating; Cooling - B63J 2/14: of liquid-freight-carrying tanks - B63B 2021/563: {Pushing equipment} - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - B63J: AUXILIARIES ON VESSELS ## Abstract A system and method for heating a hot cargo on a watergoing vessel using a heat source on another watergoing vessel. The heat may be transferred to the hot cargo via heat umbilicals configured to carry heat in a heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid may be circulated in a hot cargo heat exchanger configured to move heat into the hot cargo. The heat source on the another watergoing vessel may be a propulsion motor, exhaust heat, or non-propulsion heat source. The method may include heating the hot cargo. The method may also include switching between heat sources when both vessels are configured to heat the hot cargo. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for heating, the system comprising: a first watergoing vessel comprising: a first heat source; and a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first heat source; a second watergoing vessel comprising: a storage tank configured for hot cargo; and a second heat exchange in thermal communication with the storage tank; and a heat transfer connector configured to circulate a heat transfer fluid between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising: at least one pump configured to move the heat transfer fluid along the heat transfer connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second watergoing vessel further comprises: a second heat source. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the second vessel further comprises: a valve assembly configured to switch heating of the second heat exchanger between the first heat source and the second heat source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, further comprising: a temperature switch configured to control the valve assembly and responsive to at least one of: i) a temperature of the storage tank and ii) a temperature of the second heat exchanger. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a third watergoing vessel comprising: an additional storage tank configured for hot cargo; and a third heat exchanger in thermal communication with the additional storage tank; and an additional heat transfer connector configured to circulate the heat transfer fluid between the first heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the heat transfer connector and the additional heat transfer connector are configured to circulate the heat transfer fluid between the watergoing vessels in series. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the third watergoing vessel is disposed between the first watergoing vessel and the second watergoing vessel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer connector is thermally insulated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first heat source is configured to provide propulsion for the first watergoing vessel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the first heat source is configured to provide propulsion and heat simultaneously. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first watergoing vessel and the second watergoing vessel are under weigh. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the heat connector comprises a discharge umbilical and a return umbilical. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein each of the umbilicals comprise a quick disconnect fitting. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second watergoing vessel is a complete integral tank double-hull cargo containment vessel. ### Claim 16 A method of heating a cargo, the method comprising: heating a storage tank on a second watergoing vessel using a first heat source on a first watergoing vessel, wherein the storage tank is configured for hot cargo, and wherein i) the heat source is in thermal communication with a first heat exchanger on the first watergoing vessel, ii) the first heat exchanger is in thermal communication with a heat transfer connector configured to circulate a heat transfer fluid between the first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger disposed on the second watergoing vessel, and iii) the second heat exchanger is in thermal communication with storage tank. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the second watergoing vessel has a second heat source configured to heat the storage tank via the heat transfer fluid, the method further comprising: switching a circulation flow of the heat transfer fluid between receiving heat from the second heat source and receiving heat from the first heat source. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: estimating a temperature of the hot cargo using a temperature sensor, wherein the switching of the circulation flow is based on a signal from the temperature sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the temperature sensor is in thermal communication with at least one of: i) the storage tank and ii) the second heat exchanger.