US3544289A - Fluid control system for liquid storage apparatus - Google Patents
Fluid control system for liquid storage apparatus Download PDFInfo
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- US3544289A US3544289A US662126A US3544289DA US3544289A US 3544289 A US3544289 A US 3544289A US 662126 A US662126 A US 662126A US 3544289D A US3544289D A US 3544289DA US 3544289 A US3544289 A US 3544289A
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
- F17C13/12—Arrangements or mounting of devices for preventing or minimising the effect of explosion ; Other safety measures
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
- F17C2205/01—Mounting arrangements
- F17C2205/0123—Mounting arrangements characterised by number of vessels
- F17C2205/013—Two or more vessels
- F17C2205/0134—Two or more vessels characterised by the presence of fluid connection between vessels
- F17C2205/0146—Two or more vessels characterised by the presence of fluid connection between vessels with details of the manifold
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
- F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
- F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
- F17C2205/0323—Valves
- F17C2205/0332—Safety valves or pressure relief valves
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
- F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
- F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
- F17C2205/0382—Constructional details of valves, regulators
- F17C2205/0385—Constructional details of valves, regulators in blocks or units
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
- F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
- F17C2221/011—Oxygen
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
- F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
- F17C2221/013—Carbone dioxide
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
- F17C2221/03—Mixtures
- F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
- F17C2221/033—Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
- F17C2221/03—Mixtures
- F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
- F17C2221/035—Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
- F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
- F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
- F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
- F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
- F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
- F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
- F17C2223/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
- F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
- F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
- F17C2227/01—Propulsion of the fluid
- F17C2227/0128—Propulsion of the fluid with pumps or compressors
- F17C2227/0135—Pumps
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
- F17C2227/01—Propulsion of the fluid
- F17C2227/0128—Propulsion of the fluid with pumps or compressors
- F17C2227/0157—Compressors
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
- F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
- F17C2227/0302—Heat exchange with the fluid by heating
- F17C2227/0304—Heat exchange with the fluid by heating using an electric heater
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
- F17C2250/04—Indicating or measuring of parameters as input values
- F17C2250/0404—Parameters indicated or measured
- F17C2250/0408—Level of content in the vessel
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
- F17C2250/06—Controlling or regulating of parameters as output values
- F17C2250/0605—Parameters
- F17C2250/061—Level of content in the vessel
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
- F17C2250/06—Controlling or regulating of parameters as output values
- F17C2250/0605—Parameters
- F17C2250/0626—Pressure
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2265/00—Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
- F17C2265/03—Treating the boil-off
- F17C2265/031—Treating the boil-off by discharge
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2265/00—Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
- F17C2265/03—Treating the boil-off
- F17C2265/032—Treating the boil-off by recovery
- F17C2265/036—Treating the boil-off by recovery with heating
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2270/00—Applications
- F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
- F17C2270/0102—Applications for fluid transport or storage on or in the water
- F17C2270/0105—Ships
Definitions
- This invention relates to an apparatus and method for storing liquids at or near their boiling point and particularly for containing a natural gas mixture under conditions of pressure and temperature Where the mixture is liquified but begins to vaporize with only minimal addition of heat.
- Such conditions exist with liquefied natural gas '(LNG) stored at an extremely low cyrogenic temperature and atmospheric pressure, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stored at ambient temperature and high pressure, and also with gas mixtures stored under a combination of moderate refrigeration and pressure near the bubble point (MLG) as described in United States Patent No. 3,298,805.
- LNG liquefied natural gas
- LPG liquefied petroleum gas
- MLG bubble point
- the specific purpose of the present invention is the safe and economical control of liquid expansion and vapor evolution generated from a liquid during its containment at or near the boiling point.
- a sizeable pocket of vapor, or ullage is left in the upper region of the vessel and its principal function is to accommodate at least the unavoidable liquid expansion caused by heat leak and insure that no liquid (only vapor) reaches the relief values at the upper end of the vessel. If liquid were to escape through the relief valves, it would flash or spill and cause a severe hazard to personnel and equipment.
- the ullage pocket thus insures that only vapor is expelled from the vessels and it can be safely disposed of by venting, chilling or burning.
- the invention is applicable to fluid storage apparatus wherein a liquid is contained substantially at its boiling point in vessel means which are loaded and unloaded through liquid and vapor headers connected thereto.
- the invention provides a safety system for controlling liquid expansion and vapor evolution during containment without necessitating ullage in the vessel means.
- the system comprises a vent header connected to the vessel means, and block valve means for closing off the vessel means from the liquid header during containment.
- a fluid control drum is included with which both the vent and vapor headers are connected for receiving and separating liquid and vapor expelled from the vessel means due to expansion or vaporization or both.
- This drum is of a capacity at least sufiicient to contain ullage plus the total liquid expansion produced in the vessel means from normal heat leak. Fluid in excess of a given pressure is removed from the drum by Withdrawal means.
- relief means comprise (i) pressure control valve means for directing through the vapor header whatever vapor evolution and liquid expansion results from normal heat leak and (ii) relief valve means for directing through the vent header whatever additional volume of vapor or liquid may be generated due to abnormal causes.
- the vessel means are usually a plurality of individual vessels, perhaps interconnected in parallel to form banks which in turn are connected in parallel by the headers. All of the vessels can be completely filled with the liquid cargo in accordance with the invention, so that there is no sloshing even when the vessels are subjected to inertial changes on board ship. Only two access conduits are required for each vessel, one for vapor and the other for liquid. As to utilization of the available storage space in the vessels, the safety system of the invention is far more efficient than known techniques employing ullage in each vessel. Only one ullage pocket is relied on in the present invention and that is in the fluid control drum. Any vessel undergoing vaporization or liquid expansion is immediately in communication with the drum through either the vapor header or the vent header. While the drum is large enough to accommodate safely the maximum liquid expansion from a number of vessels and still have the requisite ullage, if nonetheless embodies far less of an allocation of nonusable storage space as compared to providing ullage in each bottle.
- a conventional vessel may require onehalf percent of its capacity as ullage against the maximum inevitable expansion of the liquid due to heat leak during containment. Another two percent may then be set aside as an additional margin of safety to insure that the liquid level never reaches the vapor relief valve at the top of the vessel.
- two and one-half percent of the total vessel capacity of the ship is devoted to ullage.
- all the vessels on the ship would be filled with liquid and only the fluid control drum would contain ullage.
- the drum would be large enough to hold (a) all of the expanded liquid likely to come from the bottles due to heat leak and this is one-half percent of the total vessel volume in the example, and (b) two percent of its own volume set aside as ullage to protect its own vapor relief valves from the liquid level. Only two percent of one-half percent (i.e., one one-hundredeth of a percent) of the total vessel capacity of the ship would then be devoted to ullage per se.
- the broken line L in the drawing signifies the division between the shore facilities and the apparatus on board ship to which the invention relates.
- the subject matter shown to the right of the line L is part of the shore facilities, and it includes a large capacity storage tank which serves as a reservoir from which the cargo fluid is taken during loading and into which it is deposited during unloading of the ship.
- the cargo fluid in this example is a natural gas mixture containing at least 60 mol percent methane and at least 80 mol percent methane-plus-ethane, the remainder being heavier hydrocarbons and up to 10 mol percent inert constituents.
- a mixture has a gross calorific value of from 800 B.t.u./s.c.f. to 1600 B.t.u./s.c.f.
- the mixture is to be contained in the liquid state at a temperature between about 116 F. and 200 F., and at a pressure at or immediately below the bubble point-dew point pressure at the chosen operating temperature.
- the mixture is substantially in its equilibrium state where vaporization occurs on the surface of the liquid as a result of the addition of only a small amount of heat.
- a natural gas mixture having a mol percent composition of 88.80 percent methane, 5.02 percent ethane, 2.71 percent propane, 2.43 percent butane, .03 percent pentane, .01 percent hexane, .34 percent nitrogen and .66 percent carbon dioxide (with a specific gravin which there is a compressor 14. Valves and 16 are located in the conduits 11 and 13 respectively.
- the vessels On board the ship there is a multiplicity of pressure vessels arranged in banks 20a to 2011. In a typical application there may be about three hundred vessels on a given ship.
- the vessels vary in size depending upon where they are located in the ship, perhaps in a range from 15 to 60 feet in length with a diameter of about 10 feet. They are vertically disposed in the hold of the ship in compartments which are lined with thermal insulation to prevent substantial heat leakage into the cargo.
- the vessels are made of a suitable alloy resistant to the compression and refrigeration necessary to keep the cargo mixture in the operating state described previously.
- Each vessel is fully closed except for liquid and vapor access conduits 21a to 21n and 22a to 22n respectively which extend through the respective upper ends of the vessels and communicate with the bottom and top regions respectively of the interior thereof.
- Unit valves 23a to 2321 are provided in the respective liquid access conduits 21a to 2111 and can be opened or closed by a switch on a remote control panel on the ship.
- liquid subheaders 24a to 24n connect the respective liquid access conduits 21a to 21n in parallel and vapor subheaders 25a to 25n connect the respective vapor access conduits 22a to 22n in parallel.
- the liquid and vapor subheaders may be disposed substantially laterally in the ship over the tops of the vessels in a sealed-off tween deck area which may be considerably warmer than the hold containing the vessels. All of the vapor and liquid subheaders are preferably surrounded by jackets of thermal insulation.
- the system also includes a liquid header 26 extending longitudinally in the ship in the tween deck area and it is also surrounded by a jacket of thermal insulation.
- liquid header 26 interconnects all of the liquid subheaders ity relative to air of .648), the contemplated operating 24a to 2412.
- Liquid block valves 27a to 27n are located at the respective interconnections between the liquid header 26 and the liquid subheaders 24a to 2411.
- a respective vapor sensor 28a to 28n On the vessel side of each of these liquid block valves 27a to 2711 is a respective vapor sensor 28a to 28n which recognizes the arrival of an interface of liquid and vapor at that point and initiates certain operations which are described below.
- a valve 29 is located in the liquid header 26 in a position to control flow of fluids to and from the conduit 11 when the ship is linked to the shore facilities during loading and unloading.
- Avapor header 30 also extends longitudinally in the ship in the tween deck area and it is not thermally insulated. This vapor header 30 is connected to the respective vapor subheaders 25a to 2511. At the respective intercon nections between the vapor header 30 and the vapor subheaders 25a to 2521 are corresponding vapor block valves 31a to 3111. To the vessel side of each of these vapor block valves is an associated liquid sensor 32a to 32m which recognizes the arrival of a liquid vapor interface for purposes described below. A valve 33 is located in the vapor header 30 to control flow to and from the conduit 13 when the ship is linked to shore facilities during loading and unloading.
- the safety system of the invention includes a vent header 34 extending longitudinally in the ship and connected to each of the vapor subheaders 25a through 25n. which includes respective vapor relief valves 35a to 35n.
- the vent header 34 is also connected to the respective liquid subheaders 24a to 2411 through liquid relief valves 36a to 36n.
- the vent header 34 communicates directly with a fluid control drum 38 which is perhaps slightly larger in volumetric capacity than any one of the vessels 20a to 2011 but not substantially so. The matter of its size is discussed hereinafter.
- the drum 38 may conveniently be located in the forward part of the ship.
- the vapor header 30 is also connected to the drum.
- a conduit 41, 41 permits circumvention of the downstream pressure control valve 40 by fluids flowing from the vapor header 30.
- An upstream pressure control valve 42 is located in the con duit 41 to convey fluids from the vapor header 30 into the drum 38 around the downstream pressure control valve 40 when the pressure in the vapor header 30 rises above a predetermined level.
- the vapor header 30 is also connected to the vent header 34 through a connection 43 in which a safety valve 44 is located.
- the liquid header 26 is connected to the vent header 34 through a connection 45 in which a safety valve 46 is located.
- a bypass 47 joins the liquid header 26 with the conduits 41, 41' and it contains a valve 48 which is operable from a remote control panel.
- the vent header 34 may be the largest in diameter, followed in order by the liquid header 26, the vapor header 30, the vapor subheaders 25a to 25n, and the liquid subheaders 24a to 24n.
- Level control means 49 are provided for converting liquid in excess of a given volume to vapor in the drum 38 by the addition of heat. This consists of a transfer conduit 50 into which the liquid passes through a sea water heater 51 which is operated by a control 52 in response to the level of liquid in the knockout drum 38. Whenthe liquid level in the drum 38 exceeds a given point, the level control means operates to withdraw and vaporize some of the liquid to return the vapor to the drum 38.
- Withdrawal means are provided for removing vapor from the drum 38.
- This includes a vent conduit 54 from which the vapor may proceed through a conduit 55 into a fuel heater 56 and thence to the ships engines 57 for consumption as a primary propulsion energy source.
- vapor may proceed from the vent conduit 54 through a conduit 58 to a burner 59 where it is ignited in heat exchange relation with sea water with the products of combustion expelled through a fiue 60.
- vapors may proceed from the vent conduit 54 through an ultimate relief valve 61 and thence to a stack 62 opening to the atmosphere.
- the valve 48 is also opened when the voyage commences so that the liquid intentionally left in the liquid header 26 will have access to the vapor header 30 through the bypass 41. It will be noted that the liquid header 26, which is surrounded by thermal insulation, is filled with liquid cargo throughout the voyage and may be the equal in capacity to about six additional pressure vessels.
- the unit valve 23a is closed on each of the vessels in the bank so that the liquid expansion due to heat leak raises the liquid level in the vapor subheader 25a through the open vapor block valve 31a toward the vapor header 30. Since this is in the warm tween deck area the rising liquid will vaporize and the evolved vapor will be carried through the vent header 34. Normally the ships engines will be consuming this vapor by withdrawing it from the drum 38. Whenever the engines 57 consume so much fuel that the pressure drops in the drum 38 below a certain point, the downstream pressure control valve 40 opens and allows more vapor to enter the knockout drum from the vapor header 30.
- the vapor header 30 is not insulated and hence any droplets of liquid entrapped therein tend to be heated and vaporize, but if any liquid is carried along into the drum 38 it settles in the lower region thereof.
- the drum 38 is large enough so that if all of the vessels 20a to 20n expelled their full amount of likely liquid expansion through the vent header 34 and none of it vaporized, there would still be a safe amount of ullage in the drum 38 to keep the liquid away from the conduit 55 and ultimate relief valve 61.
- the level control means 49 immediately limits it by converting part of the liquid to vapor. If the engines 57 are closed down or idling, their fuel consumption drops and the pressure in the drum 38 will go up. No vapor would be flowing through the downstream pressure control valve 40 under those circumstances. However, if the pressure in the vapor header 30 becomes too great, the upstream pressure control valve 42 will open to allow the excess vapor to be conveyed through the conduits 41, 41 and on into the drum 38. Excess pressure in the drum 38 is relieved either by consumption of vapor in the burner 59 or by automatic opening of the ultimate relief valve 61 which vents the excess vapor to the atmosphere. Use of the burner 59 is preferred when the ship is in port and the engines are not consuming evolved vapor, since it would be inadvisable under those circumstances to contaminate the atmosphere by discharge through the stack 62.
- the safety system of the invention is also designed to handle whatever further vapor may be flashed oif due to abnormal causes. For example, if sea water flooded around a bank of vessels in the ship, their temperature would rise immediately and there would be considerable expansion and vaporization of their liquid contents. This would cause ,the vapor relief valve 35a to open and immediately carry off the evolved vapor through the vent header 34 to the drum 38. All vapor block valves 31a to 3111 would be closed automatically under these emergency conditions except in the affected bank or banks of vessels. If liquid in large quantity enters the drum, its level is controlled by the control means 49.
- the excess vapor in the drum may have tqbe withdrawn not only by the engines 57 and the burner 59, but by the stack 62 as well.
- the function of the vent header 34 is to provide a direct large-capacity flow path for any or all of the vessels 20a to 20n to the drum 38 under emergency conditions.
- valves 44 and 46 Other safety features are the provision of the valves 44 and 46.
- the safety valve 44 permits flow from the vapor header 30 to the vent header 34 and thence to the knockout drum 38, in the event the pressure control valves 40 and 42 fail to open.
- the safety valve 46 permits the contents of the liquid header 26 to be relieved into the vent header 34 through the connection 45 for precisely the same reasons that the individual vapor relief valves 36a to 36n are provided in association with the individual banks of vessels.
- the liquid and vapor headers 26 and 30 are linked to the conduits 11 and 13 and the valves 15, 16, 29 and 33 are opened.
- the valve 48 is closed, all of the unit valves 23a to 2311 are then opened, and the compressor 14 is operated to prime the system and the compressor 14 and the pump 12 together force the cargo liquid out through the liquid header 26 and into the storage tank 10. Again, this may be done in quadrants if desired.
- a given bank such as the vessels 20a is emptied, a vapor interface arrives at the vapor sensor 28a which causes the liquid block valve 27a to close and isolate the emptied bank.
- a safety system for controlling liquid expansion and vapor evolution during containment.withoutnecessitating ullage in the vessels comprising and vapor headers connected thereto, said liquid substantially completely filling said vessel means, a safety system for controlling liquid expansion and vapor evolution during containment without necessitating ullage in the vessel means comprising (a) a vent header connected to said vessel means; (b) block valve means for closing off said vessel means from said liquid header during containment;
- a fluid control drum with which both said vent and I vapor headers are connected for receiving and separating liquid and vapor expelled from said vessel means from said liquid header during containment; drum being of a capacity at least suflicient to contain ullage plus the total liquid expansion produced in said vessel means from normal heat leak; (d) withdrawal means for removing fluid from said drum in excess of a given pressure; and (e) relief means for controlling the transfer-of fluid from said vessel means into said drum comprising (i) pressure control, valve means for. directing through the vapor header whatever vapor evolution and liquid expansion results from normal heat leak, and
- relief valve means for directing through the vent header whatever additional volume of vapor or liquid may be generated due .to abnormal causes.
- said vessel means comprises banks of parallel-connected vessels, said banks being connected in series by said headers.
- level control means are included for automatically disposing of liquid in excess of a given volume in said drum.
- .posal means comprises combustion means for burning the (a) a vent header connected in series to the banks of vessels;
- control drum with which both said vent and vapor headers are connected for receiving and separating liquid and vapor expelled from said vessel means due to expansion or vaporization or both, the capacity of said drum being at least suflicient to contain ullage plus the total liquid expansion produced I in said vessels from normal heat leak;
- level control means for converting liquid in excess of a given volume to vapor in said drum by the addition of heat
- withdrawal means for removing fluid from said drum in excess of a given pressure comprising (i) fueling means for withdrawing vapor as a fuel supply for the ship, (ii) disposal means for withdrawing all vapor in excess of said fuel supply; (f) relief means. for controlling. the transfer of fluid from said vessels into said drum comprising (i). a pressure control valve in the vapor header for directing therethrough at least enough vapor to supply fuel for the ship plus whatever additional vapor evolution and liquid expansion results from normal heat leak, and (ii) relief valves'between the vent header and each bank of vessels for directing through the vent headerwhatever additional volume of vapor or a liquid may be generateddue to abnormal causes.
- means are provided for communicating said vapor header directlywith said vent header in the event pressure in the vapor header becomes excessive.
- Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein means are provided forcommunicating said liquid header directly .with said vent header in the event pressure in the liquid header becomes excessive.
- a method for controlling liquid expansion and vapor evolution during containment in vessel means ofa liquid substantially at its boiling point without necessitating ullage in the vessel means which comprises 10 (a) substantially completely filling said vessel means withdrawal and vaporization of excess liquid above that with said liquid, level and return of the resulting vapor back to the drum.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US66212667A | 1967-08-21 | 1967-08-21 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3544289A true US3544289A (en) | 1970-12-01 |
Family
ID=24656470
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US662126A Expired - Lifetime US3544289A (en) | 1967-08-21 | 1967-08-21 | Fluid control system for liquid storage apparatus |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3544289A (xx) |
ES (3) | ES357332A1 (xx) |
FR (1) | FR1577030A (xx) |
GB (1) | GB1196065A (xx) |
NL (1) | NL6811435A (xx) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4446804A (en) * | 1980-07-08 | 1984-05-08 | Moss Rosenberg Verft A/S | Method of transporting oil and gas under high pressure in tanks on board a ship |
US4821524A (en) * | 1985-07-30 | 1989-04-18 | Olajipari Fovallalkozo Es Tervezo Vallalat | Method and apparatus for reducing evaporation of storage tanks |
US6722399B1 (en) | 2002-10-29 | 2004-04-20 | Transcanada Pipelines Services, Ltd. | System and method for unloading compressed gas |
US8915203B2 (en) | 2011-05-18 | 2014-12-23 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) |
US20150075450A1 (en) * | 2013-09-13 | 2015-03-19 | Uop Llc | Heat recovery from a high pressure stream |
US20170198827A1 (en) * | 2014-05-28 | 2017-07-13 | Scott Technologies, Inc. | Modular manifold assembly for sequentially drawing fluid from fluid storage tanks |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2682752A (en) * | 1950-01-06 | 1954-07-06 | Mcnamar Boiler & Tank Company | System for conserving vapors |
US2810265A (en) * | 1954-09-15 | 1957-10-22 | Constock Liquid Methane Corp | Means for storing and transporting cold low boiling liquids |
US3150495A (en) * | 1962-08-09 | 1964-09-29 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Storage and pressure control of refrigerated liquefied gases |
US3232725A (en) * | 1962-07-25 | 1966-02-01 | Vehoc Corp | Method of storing natural gas for transport |
US3293011A (en) * | 1963-12-20 | 1966-12-20 | Vehoc Corp | Method of handling natural gas |
US3318104A (en) * | 1965-12-13 | 1967-05-09 | Theodore R Roszkowski | Method and apparatus for storing low-boiling liquids |
-
1967
- 1967-08-21 US US662126A patent/US3544289A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1968
- 1968-07-16 GB GB33840/68A patent/GB1196065A/en not_active Expired
- 1968-08-12 NL NL6811435A patent/NL6811435A/xx unknown
- 1968-08-17 ES ES357332A patent/ES357332A1/es not_active Expired
- 1968-08-20 FR FR1577030D patent/FR1577030A/fr not_active Expired
-
1969
- 1969-10-30 ES ES373013A patent/ES373013A1/es not_active Expired
- 1969-10-30 ES ES373012A patent/ES373012A1/es not_active Expired
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2682752A (en) * | 1950-01-06 | 1954-07-06 | Mcnamar Boiler & Tank Company | System for conserving vapors |
US2810265A (en) * | 1954-09-15 | 1957-10-22 | Constock Liquid Methane Corp | Means for storing and transporting cold low boiling liquids |
US3232725A (en) * | 1962-07-25 | 1966-02-01 | Vehoc Corp | Method of storing natural gas for transport |
US3150495A (en) * | 1962-08-09 | 1964-09-29 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Storage and pressure control of refrigerated liquefied gases |
US3293011A (en) * | 1963-12-20 | 1966-12-20 | Vehoc Corp | Method of handling natural gas |
US3318104A (en) * | 1965-12-13 | 1967-05-09 | Theodore R Roszkowski | Method and apparatus for storing low-boiling liquids |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4446804A (en) * | 1980-07-08 | 1984-05-08 | Moss Rosenberg Verft A/S | Method of transporting oil and gas under high pressure in tanks on board a ship |
US4821524A (en) * | 1985-07-30 | 1989-04-18 | Olajipari Fovallalkozo Es Tervezo Vallalat | Method and apparatus for reducing evaporation of storage tanks |
US6722399B1 (en) | 2002-10-29 | 2004-04-20 | Transcanada Pipelines Services, Ltd. | System and method for unloading compressed gas |
US8915203B2 (en) | 2011-05-18 | 2014-12-23 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) |
US20150075450A1 (en) * | 2013-09-13 | 2015-03-19 | Uop Llc | Heat recovery from a high pressure stream |
US20170198827A1 (en) * | 2014-05-28 | 2017-07-13 | Scott Technologies, Inc. | Modular manifold assembly for sequentially drawing fluid from fluid storage tanks |
US10024447B2 (en) * | 2014-05-28 | 2018-07-17 | Scott Technologies, Inc. | Modular manifold assembly for sequentially drawing fluid from fluid storage tanks |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ES373013A1 (es) | 1971-12-01 |
NL6811435A (xx) | 1969-02-25 |
ES357332A1 (es) | 1970-03-16 |
GB1196065A (en) | 1970-06-24 |
FR1577030A (xx) | 1969-08-01 |
ES373012A1 (es) | 1971-12-01 |
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