US3050951A

US3050951A - Shipping container and method for transporting liquefied gases and the like

Info

Publication number: US3050951A
Application number: US809974A
Authority: US
Inventors: Willard J Gebien
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-04-30
Filing date: 1959-04-30
Publication date: 1962-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1979-08-28
Also published as: GB947059A; DE1165054B; NL251009A; BE590271A

Abstract

947,059. Carrying liquefied gases. W. J. GEBIEN. April 25, 1960 [April 30, 1959], No. 14432/60. Heading B7A. [Also in Division F4] A liquid methane storage receptacle 88 operating at substantially atmospheric pressure and constructed of balsa wood 92 lined with redwood 90 is buoyantly supported within a steel tank 86 charged with liquid, e.g. crankcase oil, crude petroleum, palm oil and the like from a reservoir and standpipe unit 96. The oil serves to seep into cracks developing in the receptacle walls and congeal therein, /thus forming a seal against the escape of liquefied gas. In a modification the ship's hull may serve as the oil storage tank and the gas storage receptacle 88a, Fig. 9 (not shown), may be rigidly supported by positioners 106, 108, 110 and 112.

Description

W. J. GEBIEN Aug. 28, 1962 3,050,951 SHIPPING CONTAINER AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING LIQUEEIED GASES AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1959 A #A w W Mw DMS a m w Y @afm m a N Y s i) .X v 5) I u WwW/rw. mm\ M M /w 3,050,951 R TRANSPORTING THE LIKE Aug 28, 1952 w. J. GEBIEN SHIPPING CONTAINER AND METHOD Fo LIQUEFIED GASES AND Filed April 30, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Otlice 3,050,951 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 3,05%,951 SHIPPENG CGNTAEIJER AND METHOD FOR TRANSFGRTEG UQUEFIED GASES AND THE UKE Wiiiard E. Gebien, 929 N. itlfiiwaukee, Libertyville, Ill. Filed Apr. 3i), i955, Ser. No. 809,974 1t? Claims. (Cl. 62-45) This invention relates generally to containers for cold fluids and especially to a container for transporting liquefied natural gas at substantially atmospheric pressure.V

The considerable distances that separate sources of natural gas and consuming markets have led to extensive waste of that material. For example, well over one trillion cubic feet of the natural gas from oil well operations in Venezuela and the Middle East are presently being flared each year, an amount approximately equal to the entire European production for the same period,

The fact that liquefied natural gas possesses only M500 of the volume that is displayed by the material in its customary state has spurred interest in means for transporting natural gas as a liquid, particularly at very low temperatures and substantially atmospheric pressure. To this end, ocean-going vessels have been specially fitted to carry cargos of liquefied natural gas.

The prior art schemes, however, offer a number of important drawbacks. The tanks used in the specially tted ships consist of an outer steel shell which is secured about la balsa wood insulating hner. An allwelded aluminum inner shell is then fastened inside the balsa wall insulation. These tanks are supported on foundation beams which must be carefully designed and properly placed in order to provide uniform support for the tanks and in order to protect the transporting vessel las well as the tanks from load concentration stresses.

An important object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a container for cold uids which is buoyantly supported and which therefore obviates excessive load concentrations in the transporting vehicle and in the container.

The inner tank employed in the prior art schemes has proved to be the focus of a number of impor-tant problems. This inner tank must be constructed of a material which is capable of withstanding the extremely low temperature of the liquefied natural gas. Expensively constructed inner tanks of aluminum or nickel alloy steel have proved to be the only satisfactory arrangement heretofore; `and even these special inner tanks are susceptible .t failure upon the repeated thermal stressing encountered during loading and unloading of the natural gas cargo. Any discontinuities which might develop in the inner tank from thermal fatigue stress or from the failure of a weldment obviously can lead to loss of the cargo or the incurrence of a substantial safety hazard.

Accordingly, another important objec-t of the present invention is to provide a container for transporting liqueiied gases which incorp-orates self-sealing receptacle for the liquefied gas.

Yet, another object of the invention is to provide a container for transporting liquefied gases which incorporates a non-metallic receptacle which is not deleteriously atfeoted by the thermal expansion and contraction incurred in loading and unloading of the natural gas cargo.

The tanks lof the prior art have also presented a substantial disadvantage in that the tanks must necessarily be constructed in the shipyard as an integral part of the transporting vessel. Such construction has proved to be expensive, ineflicient and wasteful of valuable shipyard space and time.

Therefore, a further object of the invention is to provide a container for transporting liquefied gases which is susceptible of construction independent from its transporting means and which is readily inserted in and removed from various transporting means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a container for transporting liquefied gases which does not require construction to close dimensional tolerances.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a novel method of containing liquefied gases for transporta tion at substantially atmospheric pressure.

Additional objects and features of the invention pertain to the particular structure and arrangements whereby the above objects are` attained.

The structure in accordance with the invention includes a rigid, closured, thermally insulating receptacle buoyantly supported in a mobile, sealant fluid, there being means restraining the receptacle against the buoyancy.

The invention, both to its structure and mode of operation, `will be better understood by reference to the following disclosure and drawings forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. l is a fragmentary perspective view of the container of the invention, showing the container being lowered into place in a supporting structure;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view in section showing the container of the invention in its empty condition;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view in section showing the container of the invention iilled with liqueed gas;

FIG. 4 is a top plan View in section showing an embodiment of the invention which incorporates cribbing;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view in section illustrating the manner in which the thermally insulating receptacle is automatically sealed in case a discontinuity develops;

FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevational view of a cargo ship, partially broken away to reveal details in accordance vwith the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view through the section 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. S is a schematic side elevational view of a cargo ship, partially broken away to reveal details of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a View through the section 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic side elevational view in partial section showing the container of the invention embodied for transportation in a railroad car;

FIG. 11 is a view through the section 11-11 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is an end `elevational view in section showing a variation in the means of mounting the container of the invention in a railroad car.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, specifically to FiG. l, there will be seen a supporting structure 20 which includes a number of apertures 22. Each aperture 22 is adapted to receive a container unit 24 which may be filled with some liquefied gas, such as liqueiied natural gas. Accordingly, the liquefied gas may be transported by transporting the structure 20.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3 for a more detailed description of the container unit 24, a generalized embodiment of the container is shown to include a liquidtight tank 26 which may be fabricated from steel or other suitable material and which may be comprised of a body portion 28 suitably complemented by a cover portion Sti, the former having a sealant lluid drain valve 32 and the latter having a closure assembly 34 and a sealant fluid reservoir and standpipe unit 36. A thermally insulating receptacle 3S is provided within the tank 26, being spaced apart therefrom by the intervening chamber 4t) and being restrained against upward movement by the cover portion 30.

Having the tank 26 and the receptacle 38 thus arranged permits the introduction of a quantity of a sealant iiuid 42 through a lling valve 44 into the reservoiJ acampar unit 36 and from thence into the chamber 40. According to an important feature of the invention, this sealant fiuid buoyantly supports the receptacle 38, substantially surrounding the receptacle 38 even to the extent of separating receptacle 38 from the cover portion by a thin film 46. In order to provide proper buoyant forces, fluid 42 is selected to possess a specific gravity higher than the specific gravity of the liquefied gas which is to be contained in the receptacle 38. In one specific embodiment, reclaimed crankcase oil has proved suitable for use as the sealant fluid.

Appropriately, closure assembly 34 and receptacle 38 possess a common filling orifice 48 through which the liquefied gas may be introduced into the yreceptacle 38. It has proved advantageous to incorporate a relief valve unit 50, whereby vapors rising through the cold liquefied gas may be vented to the atmosphere.

The receptacle 38 is preferably constructed of a rigid insulating material; and in one specific -embodiment it has proved advantageous to construct receptacle 38 from a redwood liner 52 cross-laminated to a balsa wood outer shell 54, using suitable adhesive. This construction makes use of a more durable interior for protecting the insulation against the damaging effects of the liquefied gas contents, particularly against the effects of rapid gas expansion in a part of the insulation which is suddenly relieved of contact with the liquefied contents.

When receptacle 33 is properly supported in the tank 26 by the fluid 42, container unit 24 may be charged with its cargo. Accordingly, a quantity of liquefied gas 56 may be introduced into the receptacle 38 through the filling orifice 48. Charging of the liquefied gas may be advantageously Aaccompanied by `charging of the sealant fluid, the levels of the two Ibeing raised correspondingly to avoid undue stressing of the receptacle.

Since it is intended to transport the liquefied gas 56 at substantially atmospheric pressure, it will be recognized that the liquefied gas 56 must necessarily be introduced at extremely low temperature. For example, liquefied natural gas is ordinarily transported at a temperature of approximately 260 F. This extremely low temperature causes contraction and shrink-age of the receptacle 38 upon its being filled with the liquefied gas.

Under such circumstances, chamber becomes enlarged; and quantities of the sealant fluid 42 are withdrawn from the reservoir -unit 36 accommodating this enlargement so as to eliminate voids adjacent the Walls of receptacle 38. Elimination of these voids insures` uniform support of and prevents stresses from building up in the receptacle 38.

Container 24 in its filled condition is illustrated in FIG. 3.

After the receptacle 38 has been properly yfilled with the liquefied gas 56, a plug 58 may kbe inserted into the filling orifice 48 to engage ya sealing gasket 60. Subsequently, a cap 62 may be app-lied to the closure assembly 34 ito seal the plug 58 against the gasket 60, as by drawing the cap 62 down against cover portion 30, using a number of bolts 64.

In particularly large installations involving atank 26a of considerable size, as is shown in FIG. 4, it has proved advantageous to provide cribbing within a receptacle 38a. Thus, vertical longitudinal bracing 66 and vertical lateral bracing 68 may be employed in order to support the walls of receptacle 38a against the pressure of fiuid 42a and in order to eliminate splash and swash within the receptacle. Bracing 66 and bracing 68 may -be fashioned from some suitable material, such as hardwood.

It is recognized that under abnormal conditions discontinuities or cracks can develop in the walls -of receptacle 38 during filling of the liquefied gas cargo, during emptying of the same, or during transportation. According to the present invention, such minor failures in the walls of receptacle 38 are not permissive of leakage of the liquefied gas 56. As shown in FIG. 5, liquefied gas 56, entering a fissure -or discontinuity 70 which extends through the liner 52 and the outer shell 54, encounters sealant fluid 42 before it can escape from the fissure 78. Appropriately, sealant fiuid 42 is maintained at a pressure higher than that exhibited by the liquefied gas 56 for this purpose, as by the employ of reservoir and standpipe unit 36, and is further selected to display a higher density and a higher viscosity than the liquefied gas.

Because of the very cold nature of the liquefied gas 56, Contact between the liquefied gas 516 which is tending to escape and the sealant fiuid 42 causes the latter to congeal quickly forming a solid plug in and thereby automatically closing off the fissure 70. Thus is the receptacle 38 made self-sealing.

While the invention has thus far been described with a reference to a generalized embodiment, a more thorough understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following descriptions given with particular reference to two embodiments of the invention particularly adapted to ocean-going cargo vessels and one with reference to a railroad freight car. Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there will be seen a cargo vessel shown generally at 88, including the vessel structure 82 and bulkheads 84. The bulkheads 84 define within the structure 82 a number of chambers 86 into each of which a liquefied gas receptacle 88 may be inserted. The receptacle 88 may be constructed from a redwood liner 96 and a balsa wood outer shell 92 as previously described with reference to receptacle. 38.

Chamber 86 is appropriately lled with a sealant iiuid 94 from a reservoir and standpipe unit 96 in order to provide buoyant support for the receptacle 88. Fluid 94 also provides viscous damping of the receptacle 88 against the shock or twisting of the container due to movements of the vessel 80, particularly movements associated with pitch and roll.

A number of hatches 98 are constructed from girders, or other similar elements, and are adapted to restrain the .receptacle 88 against the buoyant support of the fiuid 94. The hatches 98 may be secured tothe structure 82 and the bulkheads 84 in any one of a number of suitable manners.

Manifestly, quantities of liquefied gas 180 may be fiiled into the receptacles 88 through filling valve units 102.

The cargo vessel need not necessarily be outfitted as described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. For example, a ship 86a may be adapted to employ its hull 104 as the liquid-tight tank for enclosing the sealant fluid 94, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Although buoyant support of the liquefied gas receptacle is a preferred arrangement, a receptacle 88a may be rigidly supported, as by positioners 106, 108, 110, and 112. In such situations, it is advantageous to fabricate positioners 1i@ yand 112 from some suitable, resilient material, such as neoprene rubber. Furthermore, static pressure may be maintained in the uid 94 by means of a standpipe arrangement 96a, which is formed integrally with the hull 184.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the receptacle 88a may be positioned by means of restraining roof member 114. lt is recognized, however, that a system of cables, not shown, may be equally as well employed to restrain the receptacle 88a.

From the fore-going descriptions ygiven with reference to FIGS. 6-9, it will become apparent that the receptacles 88 or the receptacles 88a may be easily removed for inspection or replacement or for purposes of converting the vessel 80 or the vessel 80a from a liquefied gas tanker to an oil tanker or to a cargo ship and vice versa. Manifestly, removal or insertion of the receptacles 88 or the receptacles 88a may be easily accomplished upon removal of the hatches 98 or the roof member 114 respectively.

It should be pointed out that provision of the sealant fluid in the manner hereinabove described permits construction of the receptacles to rather liberal tolerances.' Accordingly, in the absence of the necessity of close fitting assemblies, removal or insertion of the receptacles is greatly facilitated.

It should also be pointed out that the sealant fiuid 94 may conveniently take the form of a compatible cargo such as crude petroleum, palm oil, coconut oil and the like.

The container of the invention may also be adapted for transport by railroad. Accordingly, there will be seen, in FIGS. lO-l2, a liquid-tight tank 12d suitably supported on a car bed 122, truck assemblies 124 being appropriately fastened beneath the bed 122. ln compliance with the invention, a cylindrical, liquefied gas receptacle 126 is provided inside the tank 120 so as to be surrounded and buoyantly supported by sealant fluid 128. Appropriately, a sealant fluid reservoir and standpipe unit 13d communicates with the chamber 132 which is defined between the tank 120 and the receptacle 126.

As indicated previously, the liquefied gas receptacle, receptacle 126 of the present embodiment, may be constructed of a redwood inner liner 134 and a balsa Wood outer shell 136. For purposes of railroad transportation, i-t has proved desirable to position the receptacle 126 by means of a number of resilient supports 13d which may be ported for snubbing action and an axial load resisting member 140. A load resisting member 14d may advantageouslybe provided at each end of the tank 12d. It is recognized that, under certain circumstances, the supports 138 -may be dispensed with, allowing the receptacle 126 to be freely supported by the fluid 128, as is shown in FIG. l2.

Manifestly, a quantity of liquefied gas 142 may be' introduced into the receptacle 126 by some convenient means, as by filling orifice 144. Orifice 144 may be closured by means of a plug 146.

The container of the invention may additionally'be adapted for transport by trailer truck or by aircraft.

Although the foregoing descriptions have been given with particular respect to liquefied natural gas, it should be recognized that the invention may be used equally well with any cold fiuid or any other liquefied gases which it is desired to transport at very low temperatures and under substantially atmospheric pressure.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made. It is, therefore, contemplated to cover by the appended claims, any such modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

l. A container for ltransporting cold fluids comprising an inner receptacle having all of its walls formed entirely of non-metallic insulating material, an outer tank formed of impermeable, temperature-conducting material, the c0- efiicient of expansion of the inner receptacle being generally uniform throughout, ythe receptacle and the tank being free to contract, expand and change shape -independently of one another under the influence of thermochanges, said outer tank spacedly surrounding said inner receptacle, sealant fluid filling the space between the receptacle and the tank and enveloping said receptacle in contact therewith, each wall of said receptacle being of sufficient thickness to continuously maintain the entire body of said sealant fiuid in a fluid condition when said inner receptacle contains cold fluids, and means for maintaining said sealant fluid at :a pressure higher than that exhibited by the cold fluids within the receptacle.

2. Means for transporting cold iiuids comprising an outer tank formed `of impermeable heat-conducting material, an inner receptacle formed solely of insulating material, the coefficient of expansion of said inner receptacle being generally uniform throughout, Ithe receptacle and the tank being free to contract, expand and change shape independently of one another under the influence of thermochanges, said outer .tank spacedly surrounding said inner receptacle, sealant fluid substantially filling the space between the receptacle and the tank and enveloping said receptacle in contact with the insulating material of said receptacle, the entire inner receptacle being formed of a non-metallic material of high insulating properties to preclude temperature conduction between said inner receptacle and said sealant fluid in order to continuously maintain the entire body of lsaid sealant fluid in a fluid state when said inner receptacle contains cold fluid.

3. Means for transporting cold fluids comprising an outer tank formed of impermeable temperature-conducting material, an inner receptacle formed entirely of nonmetallic insulating material, the coeicient of expansion` of said inner receptacle being generally uniform throughout, the receptacle and the tank being free to contract, expand yand change shape independently of one another under the influence of thermochanges, said outer tank spacedly surrounding said inner receptacle, sealant fluid substantially filling the space between the receptacle and the tank and enveloping said receptacle in Lcontact With the outer surface of the insulating material of said receptacle and in contact With the inner surface of said outer tank, said insulating material being of suiicient thickness to `continuously maintain the entire body of said sealant fiuid in fluid condition' when said receptacle contains cold iiuids land means for maintaining said sealant fluid at a pressure higher than that exhibited by the cold tiuids within `said receptacle.

4. A method of containing liquefied gases for transportation :at substantially atmospheric pressure oharacterized by the steps of surrounding a quantity of said liquefied gases With a receptacle formed entirely of nonnietallic insulating material, surrounding said receptacle with a sealant fluid, surrounding said sealant fluid With a Wall formed `of impermeable, temperature-conducting material, continuously maintaining said liquefied gases in intimate con-tact with the inner surface of said receptacle of insulating material, continuously maintaining the entire body of said sealant fluid in fluid condition, continuously maintaining said sealant fluid in intimate contact with the outer surface of said receptacle of insulating material and maintaining said sealant fluid under pressure whereby said sealant fluid is caused to enter discontinuities in said receptacle to solidify therein and to seal said receptacle against leakage.

5. A method of transporting liquefied gases at substantially atmospheric pressure characterized by the steps of surrounding a quantity of said liquefied gases with a receptacle formed of insulating material, submerging substantially =the entirety of said receptacle in a buoyantly supporting, mobile, sealant fluid, continuously maintaining the entire body of said sealant fluid in uid condition, continuously maintaining said sealant fluid in intimate contact with the outer surface of said insulating material, maintaining said liquefied gas within said receptacle below its critical temperature, restraining said receptacle against the buoyant force of said sealant fluid, maintaining said sealant fluid at a pressure higher than that exhibited by said gas whereby said sealant tiuid is urged into discontinuities in said insulating material to congeal therewithin and to seal said discontinuities against leakage therethrough.

6. Means for transporting cold iiuids comprising an outer tank formed of impermeable temperature-conducting material, an inner receptacle formed solely of nonmetallic insulating material, the coefficient of expansion of said inner receptacle being generally uniform throughout, the receptacle and the tank being free to contract, expand and change shape independently of one another under the influence of thermochanges, said outer tank spacedly surrounding said inner receptacle, sealant fluid substantially filling the space between the receptacle and the tank and enveloping said receptacle in contact with the insulating material of said receptacle, said insulating material being of sufficient thickness to continuously maintain the entire body of said sealant fluid in a fluid condition when said inner receptacle contains cold fiuid.

aosassi 7. The method of transporting cold fluids which comprises the steps of vclosing a -body of cold liuid within a receptacle formed solely of non-metallic insulating material, surroundingsaid insulating material with a body of sealant fluid, continuously maintaining said cold iluid in continuous Contact with the inner surface of said insulating material, continuously maintaining said sealant liuid in continuous Contact with the outer surface of said insulating material, surrounding said sealant fluid with temperatureconducting material, continuously maintaining the entire body of sealant iiuid in a iiuid condition and continuously maintaining a pressure differential between said sealant uid and said cold Huid whereby said sealant fluid is caused to enter discontinuities occurring in said insulating material to seal said discontinuities within said insulating material.

8. Means for transporting cold fluids comprising a container formed of temperature-conducting, liquid imper' vious material, a receptacle formed entirely of non-metallic insulating material positioned within said container and having its outer surface spaced at all points from the inner surface of said container, and a supply of sealant fluid lling the space between said container and receptacle and in Contact with the inner surface of said container and with the outer surface of said receptacle, said insulating material being of suicient thickness to continuously maintain the entire supply of said sealant iluid in a fluid condition when said receptacle contains cold fluids.

9. Means for transporting cold fluids comprising a container formed of heat-conducting, liquid impervious material, a receptacle formed of insulating material positioned Within said container and having its outer surface spaced at all points from the inner surface of said container, and a supply of sealant fluid filling the space between said container and receptacle and in contact with the inner surface of said container and with the outer surface of said receptacle, and means for automatically replenishing the supply of said sealant iluid.

10. The structure of claim 8 wherein means are provided for maintaining said sealant fluid under pressure greater than the pressure Within said receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,927,521 Lancaster Sept. 19, 1933 2,650,478 Brown Sept. 1, 1953 2,798,364 Morrison July 9, 1957 2,817,218 Beckwith Dec. 24, 1957 2,859,895 Beckwith Nov. 11, 1958 2,863,297 Johnson Dec. 9, 1958 2,911,125 Dosker Nov. 3, 1959 2,933,902 Howard Apr. 26, 1960 2,952,987 Clauson Sept. 20, 1960 2,963,873 Stowers Dec. 13, 1960