Method and apparatus for supplying vaporized gas on consumer demand

A method of supplying vaporized gas from a storage tank storing the gas as a liquefied gas in a lower liquid region and having a vapor region thereover, the method comprising:

• employing an external source of heat to heat a heat exchange liquid;
• circulating at least a portion of the liquefied gas through a heat exchanger to produce heated liquefied gas, said heat exchanger being fluidly connected to the storage tank;
• bringing said heat exchange liquid into heat exchange relation with said at least a portion of the liquefied gas, so as to transfer heat from said heat exchange liquid to said at least a portion of the liquefied gas in said heat exchanger, and
• supplying vaporized gas to a consumer, according to consumer demand, directly from the vapor region of the storage tank,
• wherein said heat exchange relation is controlled such that said at least a portion of said heated liquefied gas being discharged from said heat exchanger remains mostly in a liquefied state.

An apparatus for supplying vaporized gas from liquefied gas on consumer demand, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a storage tank storing the gas in liquefied form in a lower liquid region thereof and having a vapor region thereover;
• (b) a heating system including:
• (i) an external source of heat for heating a heat exchange liquid;
• (ii) a heat exchanger fluidly communicating with said storage tank, and
• (iii) a circulation system for circulating said heat exchange liquid through said heat exchanger and for circulating a portion of the liquefied gas through said heat exchanger, such that said heat exchange liquid and said portion of the liquefied gas are brought into heat-exchange relation in said heat exchanger;
• (c) a control system associated with said heating system, and
• (d) a supply line communicating with said vapor region of the storage tank for supplying vaporized gas to a consumer,
• wherein said heating system and said control system are configured to control heat supply to said liquefied gas such that said portion of the liquefied gas being discharged from said heat exchanger remains mostly in a liquefied state.