Storage and Dispensing System for Cryogenic Fluids
OwnerErik Gustafson, Kevin Rogers +1inventors
InventorsErik Gustafson, Kevin Rogers, Philip Scales
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Abstract
A system and method for active control of withdrawing and dispensing cryogenic fluid from a storage system including multiple tanks.
Claims23
A cryogenic fluid delivery system comprising:
- a. a first storage tank (22a) configured to contain a first supply of cryogenic liquid (26a), said first storage tank (22a) including a first head space (36a) configured to contain a first vapor above the first supply of cryogenic liquid (26a) stored in the first storage tank (22a);
- b. a first liquid withdrawal line (28a) configured to communicate with the first supply of cryogenic liquid (26a);
- c. a vapor delivery line (46);
- d. a vaporizer (32) having an inlet in communication with the first liquid withdrawal line (28a) and an outlet in communication with the vapor delivery line (46);
- e. a pressure building circuit in communication with the vapor delivery line (46) and the first head space (36a) of the first storage tank (22a) and including a flow inducing device (52);
- f. a first pressure control valve (56a) in communication with an outlet of the flow inducing device (52) and the first head space (36a);
- and
- g. a second storage tank (22b) configured to contain a second supply of cryogenic liquid (26b), said second storage tank (22b) including a second head space (36b) configured to contain a second vapor above the second supply of cryogenic liquid (26b) stored in the second storage tank (22b);
- h. a second liquid withdrawal line (28b) having an inlet configured to communicate with the second supply of cryogenic liquid (26b);
- i. said second liquid withdrawal line (28b) having an outlet in fluid communication with the vapor delivery line (46);
- j. a second pressure control valve (56b) in communication with the outlet of the flow inducing device (52) and the second head space (36b);
- k. a first fill level measurement device (20a) configured to measure a first fill level in the first storage tank (22a) and a second fill level measurement device (20b) configured to measure a second fill level in the second storage tank (22b);
- l. a first pressure sensor configured to detect a first pressure of the first head space (36a) and a second pressure sensor configured to detect a second pressure of the second head space (36b);
- m. a controller configured to communicate with the first and second fill level measurement devices, the first and second pressure sensors, the flow inducing device (52), the first pressure control valve (56a) and the second pressure control valve (56b).
A method of operating a cryogenic fluid delivery system having a flow inducing device, a first storage tank (22a) containing a first supply of cryogenic liquid (26a) and a first head space (36a) containing a first vapor above the first supply of cryogenic liquid (26a) and a second storage tank (22b) containing a second supply of cryogenic liquid (26b) and a second head space (36b) containing a second vapor above the second supply of cryogenic liquid (26b) stored in the second storage tank (22b), the method comprising the steps of:
- a. detecting a first pressure in the first storage tank (22a) and a second pressure in the second storage tank (22b);
- b. determining if either the first or the second pressure falls below a predetermined pressure threshold;
- c. measuring a first fill level in the first storage tank (22a) and a second fill level in the second storage tank (22b);
- d. calculating a fill level difference between the first and second fill levels;
- e. determining if the fill level difference exceeds a preset imbalance threshold;
- f. activating the flow inducing device (52) if either the first or the second pressure falls below the predetermined pressure threshold to:
- (i) pressurize the first storage tank (22a) if the first fill level is more than the second fill level and the fill level difference exceeds the preset imbalance threshold;
- or
- (ii) pressurize the second storage tank (22a) if the second fill level is more than the first fill level and the fill level difference exceeds the preset imbalance threshold;
- or
- (iii) pressurize both the first and second storage tanks if the fill level difference does not exceed the preset imbalance threshold.
A cryogenic fluid delivery system comprising:
- a. a first storage tank (22a) configured to contain a first supply of cryogenic liquid (26a), said first storage tank (22a) including a first head space (36a) configured to contain a first vapor above the first supply of cryogenic liquid (26a) stored in the first storage tank (22a);
- b. a first liquid withdrawal line (28a) configured to communicate with the first supply of cryogenic liquid (26a);
- c. a vapor delivery line (46);
- d. a vaporizer (32) having an inlet in communication with the first liquid withdrawal line (28a) and an outlet in communication with the vapor delivery line (46);
- e. a second storage tank (22b) configured to contain a second supply of cryogenic liquid (26b), said second storage tank (22b) including a second head space (36b) configured to contain a second vapor above the second supply of cryogenic liquid (26b) stored in the second storage tank (22b);
- f. a second liquid withdrawal line (28b) having an inlet configured to communicate with the second supply of cryogenic liquid (26b);
- g. said second liquid withdrawal line (28b) having an outlet in fluid communication with the vapor delivery line (46);
- h. a first fill level measurement device (20a) configured to measure a first fill level in the first storage tank (22a) and a second fill level measurement device (20b) configured to measure a second fill level in the second storage tank (22b);
- i. a first outlet control valve (75a) in fluid communication with the first liquid withdrawal line (28a);
- j. a second outlet control valve (75b) in fluid communication with the second liquid withdrawal line (28b);
- k. a controller configured to communicate with the first and second fill level measurement devices, the first outlet control valve (75a) and the outlet control valve (75b).
A method of operating a cryogenic fluid delivery system having a first storage tank (22a) containing a first supply of cryogenic liquid (26a) and a first head space (36a) containing a first vapor above the first supply of cryogenic liquid (26a), a second storage tank (22b) containing a second supply of cryogenic liquid (26b) and a second head space (36b) containing a second vapor above the second supply of cryogenic liquid (26b) stored in the second storage tank (22b), a first liquid withdrawal line having a first outlet control valve (75a) in fluid communication with the first supply of cryogenic liquid and a second liquid withdrawal line having a second outlet control valve (75b) in fluid communication with the second supply of cryogenic liquid, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. measuring a first fill level in the first storage tank (22a) and a second fill level in the second storage tank (22b);
- b. calculating a fill level difference between the first and second fill levels;
- c. determining if the fill level difference exceeds a preset imbalance threshold;
- d. adjusting the first outlet control valve and/or the second outlet control valve to:
- (i) increase a flow of cryogenic liquid out of the first storage tank (22a) if the first fill level is more than the second fill level and the fill level difference exceeds the preset imbalance threshold;
- or
- (ii) increase the flow of cryogenic liquid out of the second storage tank (22a) if the second fill level is more than the first fill level and the fill level difference exceeds the preset imbalance threshold.
A cryogenic fluid delivery system comprising:
- a. a first storage tank (22a) configured to contain a first supply of cryogenic liquid (26a), said first storage tank (22a) including a first head space (36a) configured to contain a first vapor above the first supply of cryogenic liquid (26a) stored in the first storage tank (22a);
- b. a first liquid withdrawal line (209a) configured to communicate with the first supply of cryogenic liquid (26a);
- c. a vapor delivery line (216);
- d. a first vaporizer (210a) having a first primary heat transfer passage (212a) with an inlet in communication with the first liquid withdrawal line (209a) and an outlet;
- e. a first valve system (211a) having an inlet configured to receive vapor from the outlet of the first primary heat transfer passage (212a) of the first vaporizer (210a), a primary outlet in fluid communication with the vapor delivery line (216) and a pressure building outlet;
- f. a first heat exchanger (214a) configured to be submerged in the first supply of cryogenic liquid (26a) in the first storage tank (22a) and having an inlet in fluid communication with the pressure building outlet of the first valve system and an outlet;
- g. said first vaporizer (210a) having a first secondary heat transfer passage (221a) configured to receive fluid from the outlet of the first heat exchanger (214a) and to direct warmed fluid to the vapor delivery line (216);
- h. a second storage tank (22b) configured to contain a second supply of cryogenic liquid (26b), said second storage tank (22b) including a second head space (36b) configured to contain a second vapor above the second supply of cryogenic liquid (26b) stored in the second storage tank (22b);
- i. a second liquid withdrawal line (209b) configured to communicate with the second supply of cryogenic liquid (26b);
- j. a second vaporizer (210b) having a second primary heat transfer passage (212b) with an inlet in communication with the second liquid withdrawal line (209b) and an outlet;
- k. a second valve system (211b) having an inlet configured to receive vapor from the outlet of the second primary heat transfer passage (212b) of the second vaporizer (210b), a primary outlet in fluid communication with the vapor delivery line (216) and a pressure building outlet;
- l. a second heat exchanger (214b) configured to be submerged in the second supply of cryogenic liquid (26b) in the second storage tank (22b) and having an inlet in fluid communication with the pressure building outlet of the second valve system and an outlet;
- m. said secondary vaporizer (210b) having a second secondary heat transfer passage (221b) configured to receive fluid from the outlet of the second heat exchanger (214b) and to direct warmed fluid to the vapor delivery line (216);
- n. a first fill level measurement device (20a) configured to measure a first fill level in the first storage tank (22a) and a second fill level measurement device (20b) configured to measure a second fill level in the second storage tank (22b);
- o. a first pressure sensor configured to detect a first pressure of the first head space (36a) and a second pressure sensor configured to detect a second pressure of the second head space (36b);
- p. a controller (70) configured to communicate with the first and second fill level measurement devices, the first and second pressure sensors and the first and second valve systems.
A method of operating a cryogenic fluid delivery system having a first storage tank (22a) containing a first supply of cryogenic liquid (26a) and a first head space (36a) containing a first vapor above the first supply of cryogenic liquid (26a) and a second storage tank (22b) containing a second supply of cryogenic liquid (26b) and a second head space (36b) containing a second vapor above the second supply of cryogenic liquid (26b) stored in the second storage tank (22b), a first heat exchanger (214a) submerged in the first supply of cryogenic liquid, a second heat exchanger (214b) submerged in the second supply of cryogenic liquid, a first valve system which may be adjusted to direct cryogenic liquid from the first storage tank (22a) to the first heat exchanger (214a) and a second valve system which may be adjusted to direct cryogenic liquid from the second storage tank (22b) to the second heat exchanger (214b), the method comprising the steps of:
- a. detecting a first pressure in the first storage tank (22a) and a second pressure in the second storage tank (22b);
- b. determining if either the first or the second pressure falls below a predetermined pressure threshold;
- c. measuring a first fill level in the first storage tank (22a) and a second fill level in the second storage tank (22b);
- d. calculating a fill level difference between the first and second fill levels;
- e. determining if the fill level difference exceeds a preset imbalance threshold;
- f. adjusting the first valve system and/or the second valve system if either the first or the second pressure falls below the predetermined pressure threshold to:
- (i) pressurize the first storage tank (22a) if the first fill level is more than the second fill level and the fill level difference exceeds the preset imbalance threshold;
- or
- (ii) pressurize the second storage tank (22a) if the second fill level is more than the first fill level and the fill level difference exceeds the preset imbalance threshold;
- or
- (iii) pressurize both the first and second storage tanks if the fill level difference does not exceed the preset imbalance threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.