Apparatus and Method for Nitrogen Generation for Methanol Powered Maritime Vehicle

A process for nitrogen generation for a methanol powered maritime vehicle, the process comprising:

• compressing air to a pre-selected feed pressure to output a compressed air flow, the pre-selected feed pressure being between 1300 and 2000 kPag;
• and
• separating the compressed air flow to form a nitrogen stream having between 90 and 100 vol % N2;
• and
• feeding the nitrogen stream to a nitrogen storage unit connected to a methanol engine unit of the methanol powered maritime vehicle.

An apparatus for nitrogen generation for a methanol powered maritime vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a compression system configured to compress air to a pre-selected feed pressure and output a compressed air flow at the pre-selected feed pressure;
• a nitrogen separation unit positioned downstream of the compression system, the nitrogen separation unit configured to separate nitrogen and oxygen from the compressed air flow fed to the nitrogen separation unit via the compression system, the nitrogen separation unit configured to output the nitrogen separated from the compressed air flow as a nitrogen stream and feed at least a portion of the nitrogen stream to a nitrogen storage unit via a nitrogen storage unit feed conduit connected between the nitrogen storage unit and the nitrogen separation unit;
• the nitrogen storage unit connected to a methanol engine unit of the maritime vehicle via a methanol feed conduit to feed nitrogen stored in the nitrogen storage unit to the methanol engine unit;
• a nitrogen venting conduit positioned between the nitrogen separation unit and the nitrogen storage unit for venting of at least a portion of the nitrogen stream, the nitrogen venting conduit having a valve;
• a sensor configured to detect a pressure of the nitrogen storage unit;
• and
• a controller having a processor in communication with a non-transitory memory, the controller in communication with the sensor and the valve of the nitrogen venting conduit, the controller configured to determine whether the pressure of the nitrogen storage unit is at or above a pre-selected pressure threshold based on data from the sensor and, if the pressure of the nitrogen storage unit is at or above the pre-selected pressure threshold, actuate the valve of the nitrogen venting conduit to adjust the valve of the nitrogen venting conduit to an open position to vent at least a portion of the nitrogen stream and/or communicate with the compression system to adjust operation of the compression system.