Method and apparatus for condensing fugitive methane vapors
AssigneeConsolidated Natural Gas Service Company, Inc.
InventorJohn W. Bjerklie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Fugitive methane or natural gas vapors are recovered from a handling or delivery system and are blown through solid methane chips or a slush of solid and liquid methane. The solid methane melts and cools the vapors below the vaporization temperature to condense them. The condensed vapors and melted solid can be mixed with liquid methane for use therewith. The solid methane is produced by cooling liquid methane or natural gas in a liquid nitrogen heat exchanger or refrigerator. The liquid methane is solidified in a sheet on an endless belt, which breaks the sheet into pieces at a tail section.
Claims14
A method of condensing fugitive methane, comprising the steps of:
- manufacturing solid methane;
- and
- passing fugitive methane in heat exchange relationship with the solid methane so as to condense the fugitive methane,
- the step of manufacturing the solid methane including providing liquid methane;
- cooling the liquid methane to form a sheet of solid methane;
- and breaking the sheet into pieces.
An apparatus for condensing fugitive methane, comprising:
- a first vessel for containing liquid methane;
- a delivery conduit for conveying liquid methane from the first vessel to a second vessel;
- a recovery apparatus for recovering fugitive methane vapors produced from evaporation of liquid methane;
- a recovery conduit for transferring fugitive methane from the recovery apparatus to the first vessel;
- and
- a device in communication with the recovery conduit arranged to convey the fugitive methane vapors into thermal communication with solid methane, said fugitive methane vapors being condensed by a transfer of heat to the solid methane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.