JPH04244700A - Liquefied natural gas storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To promote system miniaturization as well as to interconnect a tank body and a casing to each other trough a short pipeline by unifying the tank body, storing liquefied natural gas, and the casing for housing this natural gas being discharged out of the tank body as one body. CONSTITUTION:This LNG storage device suitable for an automobile using liquefied natural gas(LNG) as fuel consists of a tank body 10, a casing 20 and a carbon fiber 30 as an adsorbent. The tank body 10 is composed of an inner layer 11 and an outer layer 12 surrounding the former, and an interspace between both these layers 11 and 12 is kept in a vacuum. This tank body 10 is housed in the casing 20, and the carbon fiber 30 is fuzzily filled up in an interspace 20S with the casing 20. A first pipeline 40 is installed for taking the liquefied natural gas to an engine, while a second pipeline 50 is installed so as to conduct the gas in the tank body 10 into the carbon fiber 30, and a third pipeline 60 is installed to take the gas to the outside.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to liquefied natural gas storage systems.

0002

[Prior Art] Normally, a cold storage tank for storing liquefied natural gas (hereinafter referred to as LNG) is equipped with a manual release valve and an automatic safety valve, and the internal pressure of the tank increases due to the intrusion of heat. At this time, in order to protect the tank from damage, the valve is opened to release a portion of the gas to the outside, but there is a problem in that the atmosphere is contaminated by the LNG released from the tank.

FIG. 2 shows a device proposed to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages. This device A consists of a tank body B for storing LNG, and an adsorption tank filled with cotton-like carbon fiber as an LNG adsorbent. The tank body B and the adsorption tank C are communicated with each other by a pipe F in which a manual release valve D and an automatic safety valve E are interposed.

When the internal pressure of the tank body B increases, the LNG released from the tank body B by opening the release valve D or the safety valve E is stored in the adsorption tank C through the pipe F. Therefore, the tank body B can be protected from damage without polluting the atmosphere.

[0005] The above device A is configured as a fuel storage means for an automobile that uses LNG as fuel, which is currently being researched. The LNG taken out from the tank body B is connected to an engine control device (not shown).
Together with the LNG taken out from the adsorption tank C through a pipe L interposed with a solenoid valve J and a check valve K, which are opened and closed based on the commands of is not being fed to the engine.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the liquefied natural gas storage device having the above configuration, in addition to the tank body that actually stores LNG, it is necessary to install an adsorption tank separate from the tank body. This has the disadvantage of increasing the size of the device.

[0007] Furthermore, the pipe for communicating the tank body and the adsorption tank, which are installed separately from each other, inevitably becomes long, which is disadvantageous in that it increases manufacturing costs and promotes the occurrence of leakage.

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquefied natural gas storage device that can achieve miniaturization of the device and also suppress increases in manufacturing costs and occurrence of leakage as much as possible. shall be.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Accordingly, in the present invention, a tank body containing liquefied natural gas is surrounded by a casing, and a space between the casing and the tank body is filled with a liquefied natural gas adsorbent, Furthermore, the first part takes out the liquefied natural gas inside the tank body to the outside of the casing.
a second pipe line that guides the liquefied natural gas released from the tank body to the liquefied natural gas adsorbent in the casing;
The above object is achieved by providing a third pipe line for taking out the liquefied natural gas adsorbed by the liquefied natural gas adsorbent to the outside of the casing.

0010

[Function] According to the above structure, the tank body for storing and accommodating liquefied natural gas and the casing for accommodating liquefied natural gas released from the tank body are integrated, so that the device is miniaturized and Both can be communicated through a short pipe.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The structure of the present invention will be explained in detail below based on the drawings showing one embodiment. FIG. 1 shows an example in which a liquefied natural gas storage device according to the present invention is applied to a fuel storage means of an automobile that uses liquefied natural gas (hereinafter referred to as LNG) as fuel. 10, a casing 20, carbon fibers 30 as a liquefied natural gas adsorbent, and a first pipe line 40, a second pipe line 50, and a third pipe line 60.

The tank body 10 is composed of an inner tank 11 containing LNG and an outer tank 12 surrounding the inner tank 11. The space between the inner tank 11 and the outer tank 12 is heat-insulated. It is kept in a vacuum for this purpose.

The tank body 10 is housed inside a casing 20, and the casing 20 surrounds the entire outer periphery of the tank body 10.

[0014] A support section 21 is provided at the lower inside of the casing 20.
, 21 are provided in a protruding manner, and the tank main body 10 is mounted and supported on these support parts 21, 21.

[0015] The tank body 10 has support parts 21, 21
By being supported by, inside the casing 20,
A space 20S is defined between the tank body 10 and the space 20S, and this space 20S is filled with carbon fibers 30 as a liquefied natural gas adsorbent in the form of cotton.

As clearly shown in FIG. 1, the tank body 1
0 has a pipe 41 with one end facing inside the tank body 10.
is provided, and this pipe 41 is connected to the casing 2.
0 and extends to an engine (not shown). A manual on-off valve 42 is interposed in this pipe 41, and the pipe 41 and the manual on-off valve 42 create a first conduit 40 for taking out the LNG inside the tank body 10 to the outside of the casing 20. is configured. Note that an LNG filling pipe 43 for supplying LNG to the tank body 10 is connected to the pipe 41,
This pipe 43 is provided with a manual on-off valve 44 that is opened only when LNG is supplied to the tank body 10.

The tank body 10 also has a pipe 5 with one end facing into the tank body 10 and the other end opening toward the carbon fiber 30 in the space 20S.
1, and a manual on-off valve 52 is interposed in this pipe 51. Furthermore, an automatic safety valve 54 is interposed in a branch pipe 53 that branches from the pipe 51 and opens toward the carbon fiber 30. Said pipe 51
, a manual on-off valve 52, a branch pipe 53, an automatic safety valve 54, and a pressure gauge 51a provided on the pipe 51.
A second conduit 50 for guiding LNG released from the tank body 10 to the carbon fibers 30 in the casing 20 is configured.

On the other hand, the casing 20 is provided with a pipe 61 whose one end faces the carbon fiber 30 in the space 20S and whose other end extends to the engine (not shown). A solenoid valve 62 is provided which opens and closes based on commands from a control device (not shown). Furthermore, an automatic safety valve 64 is interposed in a branch pipe 63 that branches from the pipe 61 and opens to the outside of the casing 20 . The pipe 61, solenoid valve 62, branch pipe 63, and automatic safety valve 64 transport LNG from the carbon fiber 30 to the casing 2.
A third conduit 60 is configured for taking out the liquid to the outside.

Now, when the internal pressure of the tank body 10 increases and exceeds a predetermined pressure, the automatic safety valve 54 in the second pipe line 50 opens, and a part of the LNG in the tank body 10 is transferred to the second pipe line 50. is discharged into the space 20S of the casing 20 through the conduit 50. Also, when a worker opens the manual on-off valve 52 in the second pipe line 50, a portion of the LNG in the tank body 10 is released into the space 20S. By releasing a portion of the LNG within the tank body 10 into the space 20S, the internal pressure of the tank body 10 decreases, thereby protecting the tank body 10 from damage. Moreover, since the LNG discharged into the space 20S is adsorbed by the carbon fibers 30 filled in the space 20S, the discharge of LNG does not pollute the atmosphere.

On the other hand, the LNG in the tank body 10 is
Via the first conduit 40, it is fed to an engine (not shown) as indicated by arrow a. In addition, the above casing 2
The LNG adsorbed on the carbon fibers 30 in the engine 0 is also fed to the engine (not shown) as indicated by arrow b through the third pipe line 60. Here, the solenoid valve 62 in the third pipe line 60 is connected to the engine control device (
Based on a command (not shown), the valve is opened after the engine is started, for example. Also, in case casing 2
When the internal pressure inside the casing 20 rises and exceeds a predetermined pressure, the automatic safety valve 64 in the third pipe line 60 opens to protect the casing 20, and the LNG is discharged through the branch pipe 63.
is released.

As described above, by sending the LNG released into the casing 20 to protect the tank body 10 to the engine via the third pipe 60 and combusting it, it is possible to improve fuel efficiency and prevent pollution. is also helpful.

Furthermore, according to the above configuration, the tank body 10
By accommodating the components in the casing 20, the entire device 1 is made smaller, which requires less installation space, which is particularly advantageous when the installation space for each component is limited, such as in an automobile.

Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the tank body 10 is made of carbon fiber 30 containing a large amount of gas and having good heat insulation properties.
There is also the advantage that heat intrusion into the tank body 10 is blocked by being wrapped by the tank body 10, thereby further improving the cold insulation effect of the tank body 10.

The liquefied natural gas storage device according to the present invention is not only applicable to fuel storage means for automobiles that use LNG as fuel as shown in the embodiments, but can also be used in various ways as a device for effectively storing LNG. Needless to say, it is widely adopted in various technical fields.

[0025]

Effects of the Invention As detailed above, according to the liquefied natural gas storage device according to the present invention, the tank body containing the liquefied natural gas is surrounded by a casing, and
The space between the casing and the tank body is filled with a liquefied natural gas adsorbent, and the liquefied natural gas discharged from the tank body is further provided with a first pipe line for taking out the liquefied natural gas inside the tank body to the outside of the casing. A second pipe line that guides the liquefied natural gas to the liquefied natural gas adsorbent in the casing, and a third pipe line that takes out the liquefied natural gas from the liquefied natural gas adsorbent to the outside of the casing are provided. The tank body and the casing for containing the liquefied natural gas released from the tank body are integrated, and as a result,
The device is miniaturized, and it becomes possible to communicate the two through a short pipe line, thereby making it possible to suppress increases in manufacturing costs and occurrence of leaks as much as possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a liquefied natural gas storage device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a conventional liquefied natural gas storage device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Liquefied natural gas storage device 10...Tank body 20...Casing 30...Carbon fiber (liquefied natural gas adsorbent) 40...First
Conduit 50...Second conduit 60...Third conduit

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A tank body containing liquefied natural gas, a casing surrounding the tank body, a liquefied natural gas adsorbent filled in a space between the casing and the tank body, and a liquefied natural gas adsorbent inside the tank body. a first pipe line for taking out the liquefied natural gas to the outside of the casing;
A second pipe line that guides liquefied natural gas released from the tank body to the liquefied natural gas adsorbent in the casing, and takes out the liquefied natural gas adsorbed by the liquefied natural gas adsorbent to the outside of the casing. A liquefied natural gas storage device comprising: a third pipe line.