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US 7,004,095 B2Granted
Cargo venting system
AssigneeSingle Buoy Moorings Inc.
InventorsJos Bronneberg, Dirk de Vos
Life of this patent
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AssigneeSingle Buoy Moorings Inc.
InventorsJos Bronneberg, Dirk de Vos
Estimating the term…
A vessel (14) that stores crude oil in tanks (12A–12H) in the vessel hull, maintains oxygen-free gas in the tank spaces (32) that lie above the crude oil. This is achieved by flowing in hydrocarbon-inert gas (gas that does not react with hydrocarbons), such as flue gas, when crude oil is removed so the crude oil level drops, and by flowing out vent gas that includes the inert gas and gaseous hydrocarbons that come from the crude oil, when crude oil flows into the tank and the oil level rises. An inert gas pipe (50) is used to flow inert flue gas into the tanks, and a separate vent gas pipe (52) is used to flow out the vent gas. A vacuum is applied to the vent pipe by connecting the vent pipe to an eductor (102) through which pressured gas, such as steam, is flowed. The vent gas is usually released into the atmosphere, but is burned when there is almost no wind, to prevent a buildup of hydrocarbon gas on the vessel deck.
A method for assuring maintenance of oxygen-free gas in the empty spaces of crude oil-holding tanks in a vessel which includes passing inert gas that is inert to hydrocarbons through an inert gas pipe into upper tank portions that lie above crude oil in the tanks at least when the crude oil levels decrease, and withdrawing vent gas that lies in said upper portions of the tanks through a vent gas pipe that is separate from said inert gas pipe, at least when the tank crude oil levels increase, wherein:
A vessel that includes a hull that is moored at a mooring location, the vessel having a plurality of tanks that each is designed to hold crude oil, including a system for keeping oxygen out of tank upper spaces that lie above crude oil therein, including an inert gas pipe having a plurality of outlets each connected to one of said tank upper spaces, a vent gas pipe having a plurality of inlets each connected to one of said tank upper spaces, a source of hydrocarbon inert gas which does not react with hydrocarbons connected to said inert gas pipe to flow said inert gas therealong and into said outlet, and a gas vent for disposing of said vent gas, and that is connected to said vent gas pipe, including:
A vessel that includes a hull that is moored at a mooring location, the vessel having a plurality of tanks that each is designed to hold crude oil, including a system for keeping oxygen out of tank upper spaces that lie above crude oil therein which includes an inert gas pipe having a plurality of outlets each connected to one of said tank upper spaces, a vent gas pipe having a plurality of inlets each connected to one of said tank upper spaces, a source of hydrocarbon inert gas which does not react with hydrocarbons connected to said inert gas pipe to flow said inert gas therealong and into said outlet, and a gas vent that leads to the atmosphere and that is connected to said vent gas pipe, including:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.