Method and apparatus for transporting LNG
AssigneeEl Paso Corporation
InventorAlan B. Nierenberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An LNG carrier having onboard regasification capability that includes a primary source of heat for regasifying the LNG is disclosed. Further, the LNG carrier includes at least one secondary source of heat for regasifying the LNG, a vaporizer, an intermediate fluid, and a pump that circulates said intermediate fluid through said vaporizer and said primary and secondary sources of heat.
Claims22
An LNG carrier having onboard regasification capability, comprising:
- (a) a primary source of heat movably fixed onboard an LNG carrier for regasifying LNG;
- (b) at least one secondary source of heat for regasifying the LNG;
- (c) a vaporizer;
- (d) an intermediate fluid;
- and
- (e) a pump that circulates said intermediate fluid through said vaporizer and said primary and secondary sources of heat.
A method for regasifying LNG onboard an LNG carrier comprising:
- (a) circulating an intermediate fluid between a vaporizer on board an LNG carrier, a movably fixed primary heat source, and at least one secondary heat source;
- (b) heating the LNG to a temperature above its vaporization temperature using heat energy carried by said intermediate fluid;
- and
- (c) heating the intermediate fluid using heat energy supplied by said primary and secondary heat sources.
An LNG carrier having onboard regasification capability, said LNG carrier comprising:
- (a) a movably fixed primary source of heat onboard an LNG carrier for regasifying LNG, said primary heat source being movable to be submerged in water;
- (b) at least one secondary source of heat for regasifying the LNG;
- (c) a vaporizer;
- (d) an intermediate fluid;
- and
- (e) a pump that circulates said intermediate fluid through said vaporizer and said primary and secondary sources of heat.
An LNG carrier system having onboard regasification capability, the system comprising:
- (a) at least one movably fixed first heating means onboard an LNG carrier for heating an intermediate fluid;
- (b) second heating means for heating the intermediate fluid;
- (c) vaporizing means for vaporizing LNG;
- (c) moving means for moving the at least one movably fixed first heating means from a first position to a second position which is at least partially submerged in water;
- and
- (d) circulating means for circulating the intermediate fluid between the vaporizing means, the at least one movably fixed first heating means, and the second heating means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.