System and Method for Transfering Liquid Argon to Bulk Transport Tanks
OwnerRalph Johansoninventor
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Abstract
A system and method is provided for transferring liquid argon from a bulk storage tank to a transport tank in which liquid argon is pumped through a tube arrangement within a heat exchanger and the tube arrangement is contacted by liquid nitrogen at a temperature less than the temperature of the liquid argon so that heat transfers from the liquid argon to the liquid nitrogen, thereby reducing the temperature, density and pressure of the liquid nitrogen prior to exiting the heat exchanger.
Claims28
A system for transferring liquid argon from a bulk storage tank to a transport tank comprising:
- a storage tank containing liquid nitrogen;
- and
- a heat exchanger including;
- a housing defining an interior chamber;
- a liquid argon tube arrangement disposed within the interior chamber and having an inlet configured for fluid communication with the bulk storage tank and an outlet configured for fluid communication with the transport tank;
- a liquid nitrogen tube arrangement in fluid communication with said liquid nitrogen bulk storage tank and disposed within the interior chamber in close proximity to the liquid argon tube arrangement, the liquid nitrogen tube arrangement including a plurality of openings positioned and arranged to direct liquid nitrogen from the liquid nitrogen tube arrangement onto the liquid argon tube arrangement;
- and
- a vent defined in the housing in communication with the interior chamber to vent gaseous nitrogen therefrom.
A system for transferring liquid argon from a bulk storage tank to a transport tank comprising:
- a storage tank containing liquid nitrogen;
- and
- a heat exchanger including an elongated tubular housing defining an interior chamber;
- a liquid argon tube arrangement disposed within the interior chamber and having an inlet configured for fluid communication with the bulk storage tank and an outlet configured for fluid communication with the transport tank;
- a liquid nitrogen inlet in fluid communication with said liquid nitrogen storage tank and opening to the interior chamber adjacent the bottom of the tubular housing;
- and
- an outlet for venting nitrogen vapor from the interior chamber at the top of the elongated tubular housing.
A method for transferring liquid argon from a bulk storage tank to a transport tank comprising:
- pumping liquid argon at a first temperature and first pressure through a tubing arrangement within a housing;
- contacting the tubing arrangement with liquid nitrogen within the housing, the liquid nitrogen at a second temperature lower than said first temperature so that heat energy is transferred from the liquid argon to the liquid nitrogen, whereby the temperature and pressure of the liquid argon is reduced and the liquid nitrogen changes to a gaseous state;
- discharging the liquid argon to the transport tank at the lower temperature and pressure;
- and
- venting the gaseous nitrogen from the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.