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US 6,474,101 B1Granted
Natural gas handling system
AssigneeNorthstar Industries, Inc.
InventorsThomas G. Quine, James M. Hunt, James M. Smilikis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A natural gas handling system is provided having a new modular design to provide clean and accessible fuel for remote compressed natural gas. The natural gas handling system has a storage unit with a heated exchanger that converts the liquefied natural gas to compressed natural gas having a predetermined pressure of approximately 5000 psig without the use of pumps or compressors. The LNG/CNG storage unit has an outlet for providing warmed natural gas at approximately psig. If desired, refrigeration can be supplied from the −260° F. LNG during the vaporization process. The LNG/CNG storage unit also has a second outlet with a pressure regulator for providing warmed compressed natural gas at approximately 60 psig.
Claims20
A method of handling natural gas comprising the steps of:
- cooling a storage unit by supplying liquefied natural gas thereto;
- removing low pressure natural gas vapor from said storage unit when pressure within said storage unit reaches a first predetermined pressure;
- supplying liquefied natural gas to said storage unit to a predetermined level within said storage unit at a second predetermined pressure;
- isolating said storage unit to form an isolated chamber that prevents further natural gas from exiting said storage unit;
- heating said storage unit while said storage unit is isolated to convert said liquefied natural gas within said storage unit to compressed natural gas of a third predetermined pressure that is greater than twice said first and second predetermined pressures;
- and
- supplying said compressed natural gas at said third predetermined pressure to a compressed natural gas unit.
4 more elements
A method of handling natural gas comprising the steps of:
- cooling a storage unit located at a site location by supplying liquefied natural gas thereto;
- removing low pressure natural gas vapor from said storage unit;
- supplying liquefied natural gas to said storage unit to a predetermined level within said storage unit;
- and
- heating said storage unit to convert said liquefied natural gas within said storage unit to compressed natural gas of a predetermined pressure;
- supplying said compressed natural gas at said predetermined pressure to a compressed natural gas unit;
- and
- using a fluid to perform said heating of said storage unit, and then using said fluid as a cooling source for use with an onsite unit at said site location.
5 more elements
A method of handling natural gas comprising the steps of:
- cooling a storage unit by supplying liquefied natural gas thereto;
- removing low pressure natural gas vapor from said storage unit;
- supplying liquefied natural gas to said storage unit to a predetermined level within said storage unit;
- heating said storage unit to convert said liquefied natural gas within said storage unit to compressed natural gas of a predetermined pressure;
- and
- supplying said compressed natural gas at said predetermined pressure to at least one compressed natural gas storage tank to maintain said predetermined pressure of said compressed natural gas.
3 more elements
A natural gas handling system comprising:
- a LNG/CNG storage unit having a predetermined capacity and a predetermined pressure rating, said LNG/CNG storage unit having a liquefied natural gas inlet line with a first on/off valve configured to selectively receive liquefied natural gas, a first outlet line with a second on/off valve configured to selectively deliver low pressure natural gas, and a second outlet line with a third valve configured to selectively deliver compressed natural gas;
- a first heat exchanger operatively coupled to said storage unit and arranged to heat liquefied natural gas contained within said storage unit when said first and second on/off valves are closed;
- a level detection indicator operatively coupled to said storage unit to indicate a predetermined level of liquefied natural gas contained within said storage unit;
- a first low pressure regulator coupled to said first outlet line and set to allow natural gas vapor to exit from said storage unit upon reaching a first predetermined pressure when said second on/off valve is open;
- and
- controls operatively coupled and configured to said first and second on/off valves to selectively open said first and second on/off valves during filling of said storage unit through said liquefied natural gas inlet line, and to selectively close both of said first and second on/off valves when said liquefied natural gas in said storage unit reaches said predetermined level as indicated by said level detection indicator,
- said second on/off valve being located in said first outlet line to prevent natural gas from exiting said storage unit when said second on/off valve is closed and natural gas in said storage unit is above said first predetermined pressure.
4 more elements
A natural gas handling system comprising:
- a LNG/CNG storage unit having a predetermined capacity and a predetermined pressure rating, said LNG/CNG storage unit having an inlet line with a first on/off valve to selectively receive liquefied natural gas, a first outlet line with a second on/off valve to selectively deliver low pressure natural gas, and a second outlet line with a third valve to selectively deliver compressed natural gas;
- a first heat exchanger operatively coupled to said storage unit to heat liquefied natural gas contained within said storage unit;
- a level detection indicator operatively coupled to said storage unit to indicate a predetermined level of liquefied natural gas contained within said storage unit;
- a first pressure regulator coupled to said first outlet line to allow natural gas vapor to be removed from said storage unit upon reaching a first predetermined pressure;
- controls operatively coupled to said first and second on/off valves to selectively open said first and second on/off valves during filling of said storage unit, and to selectively close said first and second on/off valve when said liquefied natural gas in said storage unit reaches said predetermined level as indicated by said level detection indicator;
- and
- at least one compressed natural gas tank being coupled to said second outlet line.
4 more elements
A natural gas handling system comprising:
- a LNG/CNG storage unit having a predetermined capacity and a predetermined pressure rating, said LNG/CNG storage unit having an inlet line with a first on/off valve to selectively receive liquefied natural gas, a first outlet line with a second on/off valve to selectively deliver low pressure natural gas, and a second outlet line with a third valve to selectively deliver compressed natural gas;
- a first heat exchanger operatively coupled to said storage unit to heat liquefied natural gas contained within said storage unit;
- a level detection indicator operatively coupled to said storage unit to indicate a predetermined level of liquefied natural gas contained within said storage unit;
- a first pressure regulator coupled to said first outlet line to allow natural gas vapor to be removed from said storage unit upon reaching a first predetermined pressure;
- controls operatively coupled to said first and second on/off valves to selectively open said first and second on/off valves during filling of said storage unit, and to selectively close said first and second on/off valve when said liquefied natural gas in said storage unit reaches said predetermined level as indicated by said level detection indicator;
- and
- a second heat exchanger being operatively coupled to said first outlet line.
4 more elements
A natural gas handling system comprising:
- a LNG/CNG storage unit having a predetermined capacity and a predetermined pressure rating, said LNG/CNG storage unit having an inlet line with a first on/off valve to selectively receive liquefied natural gas, a first outlet line with a second on/off valve to selectively deliver low pressure natural gas, and a second outlet line with a third valve to selectively deliver compressed natural gas;
- a first heat exchanger operatively coupled to said storage unit to heat liquefied natural gas contained within said storage unit;
- a level detection indicator operatively coupled to said storage unit to indicate a predetermined level of liquefied natural gas contained within said storage unit;
- a first pressure regulator coupled to said first outlet line to allow natural gas vapor to be removed from said storage unit upon reaching a first predetermined pressure;
- controls operatively coupled to said first and second on/off valves to selectively open said first and second on/off valves during filling of said storage unit, and to selectively close said first and second on/off valve when said liquefied natural gas in said storage unit reaches said predetermined level as indicated by said level detection indicator;
- and
- a second heat exchanger being operatively coupled to said second outlet line.
4 more elements
A natural gas handling system comprising:
- a LNG/CNG storage unit having a predetermined capacity and a predetermined pressure rating, said LNG/CNG storage unit having an inlet line with a first on/off valve to selectively receive liquefied natural gas, a first outlet line with a second on/off valve to selectively deliver low pressure natural gas, and a second outlet line with a third valve to selectively deliver compressed natural gas;
- a first heat exchanger operatively coupled to said storage unit to heat liquefied natural gas contained within said storage unit;
- a level detection indicator operatively coupled to said storage unit to indicate a predetermined level of liquefied natural gas contained within said storage unit;
- a first pressure regulator coupled to said first outlet line to allow natural gas vapor to be removed from said storage unit upon reaching a first predetermined pressure;
- controls operatively coupled to said first and second on/off valves to selectively open said first and second on/off valves during filling of said storage unit, and to selectively close said first and second on/off valve when said liquefied natural gas in said storage unit reaches said predetermined level as indicated by said level detection indicator;
- and
- additional heat exchangers being operatively coupled to said first and second outlet lines.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.