Classifications

• • 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
  • F17C13/02—Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment
  • F17C13/025—Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment having the pressure as the parameter
• • 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
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
• • 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
• • 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
  • F17C2205/0335—Check-valves or non-return valves
• • 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
• • 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
• • 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
• • 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
• • 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
  • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
  • F17C2260/04—Reducing risks and environmental impact
  • F17C2260/044—Avoiding pollution or contamination
• • 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
  • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
  • F17C2260/04—Reducing risks and environmental impact
  • F17C2260/046—Enhancing energy recovery
• • 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
  • F17C2265/033—Treating the boil-off by recovery with cooling
  • F17C2265/034—Treating the boil-off by recovery with cooling with condensing the gas phase
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device, system and method for regulating the pressure for a liquefied natural gas storage tank. It applies, in particular, to the field of transportation of liquefied natural gas by a vehicle or any mobile or stationary cryogenic storage tank, pressurized or unpressurized.
• LNG liquefied natural gas
• Vaporized LNG is referred to as "evaporative gas” (translated from “Boil-off gas”, abbreviated “BOG”).
• This evaporation gas is also called “gaseous sky” in an LNG tank.
• the temporal accumulation of evaporation gas causes an increase in pressure inside the tank as the LNG is transported.
• the evaporation gas contained in the tank consisting of nitrogen and methane, is released into the atmosphere in order to avoid degrade the mechanical integrity of the tank.
• the present invention aims to remedy all or part of these disadvantages.
• the present invention is directed to a device for regulating the pressure for a liquefied natural gas storage tank, which comprises:
• a liquefied natural gas evaporation gas transfer pipe configured to be fixed to an evaporation gas outlet of the tank, this transfer line being provided with a first activated discharger when the pressure of the evaporation gas in the reservoir is greater than a first predetermined limit value, called "Pi",
• a heat exchanger for cooling and / or liquefying the evaporation gas, discharged from the reservoir
• a second discharger configured to be activated when the pressure of the evaporation gas in the tank is greater than a second predetermined limit value, greater than the first limit value, or
• a regulator configured to be activated when the pressure of the evaporation gas at the exchanger and / or the reservoir is less than a third predetermined limit value, so-called
• a liquefied evaporation gas return line connected to the heat exchanger, the return line being configured to be attached to a liquefied gas evaporation gas inlet of the tank.
• the evaporation gas can be cooled and / or liquefied by a heat exchanger instead of being dispersed in the atmosphere when the tank pressure is too high. This makes it possible to keep the reservoir close to a predetermined pressure setpoint value.
• the device that is the subject of the present invention comprises, between the transfer line and the heat exchanger:
• a second discharger configured to be activated when the pressure of the evaporation gas in the reservoir is greater than a second predetermined limit value, referred to as "P2", greater than the first limit value Pi or
• a regulator configured to be activated when the pressure of the evaporation gas at the exchanger and / or the reservoir is less than a third predetermined limit value, called "P3", P3 being less than Pi.
• the evaporation gas acts as a hot body in the heat exchanger, the cold body being formed of liquid nitrogen, the liquid nitrogen flow rate depending on the evaporation gas flow entering the heat exchanger. the exchanger and / or a temperature of the evaporation gas at the outlet of the exchanger.
• the device that is the subject of the present invention comprises:
• a valve configured to feed the heat exchanger with liquid nitrogen as a function of a sensed evaporation gas flow rate and / or a temperature value of the evaporation gas captured at the exchanger outlet, a sensor at the outlet of the tank.
• the device according to the present invention comprises an evaporation means configured to evaporate a portion of the liquid nitrogen in the tank so as to increase the pressure inside the tank to cause the flow liquid nitrogen to the heat exchanger.
• the device which is the subject of the present invention comprises an exit of liquid nitrogen evaporated in the atmosphere.
• the device which is the subject of the present invention comprises, downstream of at least one overflow device, a non-return valve.
• the device of the present invention comprises, downstream of the first discharger, a micro-compressor of the evaporation gas.
• the micro-compressor ensures the flow of gas to the storage volume up to the maximum storage pressure of this volume, that is to say the calibration pressure of the second discharge, P2.
• the storage volume serves to temporarily store a volume of gas, to delay the use of the cold fluid and to limit intermittent cooling or "plug" gas.
• the device that is the subject of the present invention comprises an auxiliary heat exchanger, downstream of the heat exchanger, on the path traversed by the cold fluid, configured to vaporize the cold fluid heated in the heat exchanger. heat.
• the present invention aims at a system for regulating the pressure inside a liquefied natural gas storage tank, which comprises:
• a liquefied natural gas storage tank comprising:
• the transfer line is attached to the outlet of the tank and
• the return line is attached to the tank inlet. Since the aims, advantages and particular features of the system that is the subject of the present invention are similar to those of the device that is the subject of the present invention, they are not recalled here.
• the present invention is directed to a method of regulating the pressure for a liquefied natural gas storage tank, which comprises:
• a second transfer step configured to be activated when the pressure of the evaporation gas in the reservoir is greater than a second predetermined limit value, greater than the first limit value, or
• FIG. 1 represents, schematically, a first particular embodiment of the device and system that are the subject of the present invention
• FIG. 2 represents, schematically and in the form of a logic diagram, a particular sequence of steps of the method which is the subject of the present invention
• a "valve” is a valve that is designed to reduce the pressure of a system to the intended working pressure of the system. Such a discharger is connected in series between the pressure source and the use station. An upstream pressure reducer or reducer is intended to limit a pressure in a pipework in the event of pressure variations. It has the same function as a relief valve.
• Such an overflow can be replaced by a set consisting of a valve, a pressure sensor upstream of the valve and a pressure sensor downstream of the valve, the valve being activated when the sensed pressure is greater than the limit pressure value corresponding to the operating pressure of the equivalent discharge device and when the pressure sensed downstream is lower than the pressure sensed upstream of the valve.
• cold fluid means a fluid whose temperature is lower than the temperature of the liquefied natural gas at a given pressure and capable of partially or totally cooling or liquefying the evaporation gas of the liquefied natural gas.
• FIG. 1 which is not to scale, shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the device 100 which is the subject of the present invention.
• This device 100 for regulating the pressure for a liquefied natural gas storage tank 200 comprises: a liquefied natural gas evaporation gas transfer line 105 configured to be fastened to an outlet 205 for evaporation gas from the tank, this transfer line being provided with a first discharger 1 10 activated when the pressure of the gas of evaporation in the tank is greater than a first predetermined limit value, called "Pi",
• a liquefied evaporation gas return line 120 connected to the heat exchanger, the return line being configured to be fixed to an inlet 210 for liquefied evaporation gas of the tank.
• the fixing of the transfer line 105 is carried out, for example, by screwing fastening plates positioned in contact with one another and provided with at least one thread for the passage of screws.
• a seal is positioned between the two plates, this seal having an annular structure. This fixation can be defeated.
• This attachment is removable, which allows withdrawal of the device 100 from the reservoir 200.
• the first weir 1 10 is configured to pass the evaporation gas when the pressure in the reservoir 200 is greater than the first predetermined limit value, Pi.
• This predetermined limit value is chosen such that it never exceeds the maximum operating pressure for which the reservoir 200 has been sized and varies according to the reservoir 200 to which the device 100 is fixed.
• This first predetermined limit value can be set during the manufacture of the device 100 or when the device 100 is fixed to the tank 200 by an operator via a control interface of the first weir 1 10.
• This control interface can be mechanical or digital and, depending on an interaction between the interface and the operator, varying the value of the first limit value.
• the tank 200 preferably comprises a vent 201 usual for any gas capacity to avoid overpressures likely to damage the tank 200.
• the first predetermined limit value is lower than the activation value of the vent 201.
• the exchanger 1 is, for example, a plate heat exchanger whose plate acts as a heat exchange medium between the hot evaporation gas and a cold fluid, such as liquid nitrogen or a liquefied inert gas. .
• the exchanger 1 15 is a tubular exchanger, or a plate heat exchanger or a wound heat exchanger.
• the exchanger 1 is dimensioned, and the cold fluid chosen, so that at a given flow rate of evaporation gas in the exchanger 1 15, the evaporation gas is liquefied at the outlet.
• the fixing of the return line 120 is carried out, for example, by screwing fastening plates positioned in contact with each other and provided with at least one thread for the passage of screws.
• a seal is positioned between the two plates, this seal having an annular structure. This fixation can be defeated. This attachment is removable, which allows withdrawal of the device 100 from the reservoir 200.
• the device, 100 or 600 comprises, between the transfer line 105 and the heat exchanger 1 15:
• a second discharger 130 configured to be activated when the pressure of the evaporation gas in the tank is greater than a second predetermined limit value, called "P2", greater than the first limit value Pi or
• a regulator 630 configured to be activated when the pressure of the evaporation gas at the exchanger and / or the reservoir is less than a third predetermined limit value, called "P3", P3 being less than Pi.
• the cold fluid storage volume 135 is dimensioned in order to have enough cold fluid to cool / liquefy the evaporation gas from the volume 125 and to guarantee the absence of emissions during the total duration of a path of the reservoir 200a. minimum.
• the second discharger 130 is configured to pass the evaporation gas contained in the storage volume 125 when the pressure in this volume 125 is greater than the second predetermined limit value P2.
• This second predetermined limit value is chosen so as to be greater than the sum of the first predetermined limit value Pi, of the pressure drop caused by the flow of gas in the pipes, 105 and 120, of the pressure drop in the heat exchanger 1 15.
• this second predetermined limit value varies according to the tank 200 to which the device 100 is fixed. A margin, corresponding to the estimated pressure drop of the circuit, must be added to this sum to guarantee a sufficient injection flow inside the device. tank 200.
• the volume 125 preferably comprises a vent 126 which is customary for any gas capacity in order to avoid overpressures liable to damage the volume 125.
• the second predetermined limit value is lower than the activation value of the vent 126.
• This second predetermined limit value can be set during the manufacture of the device 100 or when the device 100 is attached to the tank 200 by an operator via a control interface of the second discharger 130.
• This control interface can be mechanical or digital and , depending on an interaction between the interface and the operator, varying the value of the second limit value.
• this expander is actuated as a function of an evaporation gas pressure measured downstream of the expander 630, this pressure being representative of the pressure of the evaporation gas in the exchanger 1 or the gas pressure in the tank 200.
• the evaporation gas acts as a hot body in the heat exchanger, the cold body being formed of liquid nitrogen, the liquid nitrogen flow rate depending on the flow of evaporation gas entering the exchanger 1 And / or a temperature of the evaporation gas at the outlet of the exchanger 1 15.
• the device 100 comprises:
• valve 140 configured to supply the heat exchanger 1 with liquid nitrogen as a function of a sensed evaporation gas flow rate and / or a temperature value of the evaporation gas captured at the outlet of the exchanger 1 15, by a sensor 141 at the outlet of the tank.
• This slaving can be achieved by adding, to the device 100, a sensor:
• the device 100 comprises an evaporation means 145 configured to evaporate a portion of the liquid nitrogen in the tank 135 so as to increase the pressure inside the tank to cause the flow of liquid nitrogen to the heat exchanger.
• the evaporation means 145 is formed, for example, of a liquid nitrogen extraction pipe contained in the tank 135, of a heat exchanger with a hot fluid, with respect to the liquid nitrogen, such as air or water or electrical resistance for example, to vaporize the liquid nitrogen and an injection pipe of the vaporized liquid nitrogen in the tank 135.
• the device 100 has an outlet 150 of the liquid nitrogen evaporated into the atmosphere.
• the device 100 comprises, downstream of at least one discharge, 1 10 and / or 130, a non-return valve, 155 and / or 160.
• the device 100 comprises, downstream of the first weir 1 10, a microcompressor 165 of the evaporation gas.
• This micro-compressor 165 may be equipped with a recycling line to ensure, at the input of the micro-compressor, a minimum flow rate for the implementation of said micro-compressor.
• This micro-compressor is configured to carry the evaporation gas at a pressure between the activation pressure of the first discharger 1 10 and the activation pressure of the second discharger 130 or 630.
• the device that is the subject of the present invention comprises, a heat exchanger 1 16 auxiliary to heat, downstream of the heat exchanger 1, on the path traveled by the fluid. cold, configured to vaporize the cold fluid heated in the heat exchanger 1 15.
• auxiliary heat exchanger 1 16 The purpose of the auxiliary heat exchanger 1 16 is to vaporize and heat the cold fluid residues at the outlet of the exchanger 1 15.
• FIG. 1 also shows a particular embodiment of the system 300 which is the subject of the present invention.
• This system 300 for regulating the pressure inside a liquefied natural gas storage tank 200 comprises:
• a tank 200 for storing liquefied natural gas comprising:
• control device 100 as described in FIG. 1, in which:
• the transfer line 105 is fixed at the outlet of the reservoir and
• the 120 return duct is attached to the tank inlet.
• FIG. 2 shows, in the form of a logic diagram, a particular sequence of steps of the method 400 which is the subject of the present invention.
• This pressure control method 400 for a liquefied natural gas storage tank comprises:
• a step 405 comparing the pressure inside the reservoir and a first predetermined limit value
• a step 410 of transfer of evaporation gas of liquefied natural gas leaving the reservoir
• a second transfer step 412 configured to be activated when the pressure of the evaporation gas in the reservoir is greater than a second predetermined limit value greater than the first limit value
• an expansion step 413 configured to be activated when the pressure of the evaporation gas at the exchanger and / or the reservoir is less than a third predetermined limit value, called "P3", P3 being less than Pi and
• a step 420 for returning liquefied evaporation gas to the reservoir is realized, for example, by the implementation of the device 100 as described with reference to FIG. 1 or device 600 as described with reference to FIG.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Citations (5)

• 2016
  • 2016-12-21 FR FR1663065A patent/FR3060708B1/fr active Active
• 2017
  • 2017-12-15 WO PCT/FR2017/053614 patent/WO2018115661A1/fr unknown
  • 2017-12-15 PL PL17825592T patent/PL3559542T3/pl unknown
  • 2017-12-15 EP EP17825592.3A patent/EP3559542B1/fr active Active
  • 2017-12-15 DK DK17825592.3T patent/DK3559542T3/da active
  • 2017-12-15 ES ES17825592T patent/ES2870206T3/es active Active
  • 2017-12-15 PT PT178255923T patent/PT3559542T/pt unknown
  • 2017-12-15 KR KR1020197019119A patent/KR20190100928A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2021
  • 2021-04-20 CY CY20211100343T patent/CY1124145T1/el unknown

Patent Citations (5)

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