Apparatus and process for cryogenic liquid evaporation to recool gas for cryogenic fluid recovery

Abstract

An apparatus and process for warming a cryogenic liquid and recooling a gas to recapture and recover the cryogenic gas may include recovering the cryogenic gas and storing the gas in at least one storage device to avoid emission of the gas to the atmosphere. The stored gas may be supplied to the at least one heat exchanger to vaporize the cryogenic liquid supplied from the at least one storage tank to dispense the cryogenic liquid. The stored cryogenic gas may be cooled by its use as a heating medium for evaporating the cryogenic liquid, and may then be supplied to one or more cryogenic liquid storage tanks as a cooled cryogenic gas, a partially liquefied fluid including cryogenic liquid and cryogenic gas, or a fully liquefied cryogenic liquid, and storage and subsequent use are realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to processes and systems for processing cryogenic liquids and recooled gases to recapture and recover cryogenic fluids. Embodiments can be configured to use cryogenic liquids (e.g., liquid hydrogen) and utilize gases (e.g., gaseous hydrogen) to heat the liquid and also cool the gas to liquefy the gas, partially liquefy the gas, or cool the gas. Background Art

[0002] Examples of hydrogen generation and / or supply systems can be found in U.S. Patents Nos. 6,401,767, 6,474,078, 6,619,336, 6,708,573, 6,745,801, 6,786,245, 7,028,724, 7,328,726, 7,793,675, 7,921,883, 8,020,589, 8,286 ,675, 8,365,777, 8,453,682, 8,899,278, 9,074,730, 9,151,448, 9,261,238, 9,279,541, 9,404,620, 9,863,583, 10,502,649, 10,508,770 and 11,167,732. Examples of hydrogen storage and / or distribution systems can also be understood from U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2023 / 0137335 and 2023 / 0107342 and International Publication No. WO 2023 / 095604. Such systems can provide hydrogen to a vehicle for use as a fuel to drive the vehicle.

[0003] There are also natural gas based storage and distribution systems that can provide natural gas fuel to vehicles that utilize natural gas as fuel. US Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0202585 discloses an example of such a system. Summary of the invention

[0004] We have determined that hydrogen storage and distribution systems, as well as other systems that utilize cryogenic fluids to store and distribute fluids as fuels (e.g., natural gas-based systems) or process gases (e.g., liquid oxygen-based systems that heat oxygen to form an oxidant stream for fuel combustion, etc.), often lose significant amounts of fluid to the atmosphere via venting. For example, storage tanks often vent gases that may form when cryogenic liquids are stored in the tanks to reduce pressure in the tanks to avoid overpressure conditions. As another example, fluids are often lost during pump cooling operations or storage tank supply conduit purge operations. As yet another example, cryogenic gases are often lost during tank and / or supply trailer emptying operations.

[0005] We also recognized that when the cold fluid is discharged to the atmosphere, the lost fluid can often result in the formation of fog and subsequent formation of fog in the atmosphere surrounding the facility due to the discharge of the cold gas. In addition, we found that if the stored cryogenic liquid is used for fuel dispensing operations, then the ambient air evaporators that can be used for such processing can also result in the formation of undesirable fog. In addition, we determined that such evaporators may experience ice accumulation, which can shorten the useful life of the evaporator or require the evaporator to undergo a defrost maintenance operation to remove the accumulated ice.

[0006] We have determined that fluid loss and fog formation are undesirable. For example, fog formation can reduce visibility and create possible safety issues. As another example, discharge of fluid can result in fluid loss, which is undesirable because energy and other inputs associated with the discharged lost fluid are lost. In addition, discharge of fluid may be undesirable due to environmental issues that may be associated with the fluid (for example, in a case where the fluid is methane, the emission of this methane may be undesirable due to carbon-based emission issues.

[0007] Embodiments of the processes, apparatuses, and systems of the present invention may be provided that may help avoid the loss of cryogenic fluids. Embodiments may provide improved operational flexibility, which also reduces operating costs, and avoids or limits the waste of energy associated with the formation, transportation, and / or storage of cryogenic fluids and such fluids. Embodiments may also be provided to reduce the total footprint or size of the apparatus, and also mitigate the formation of ice accumulation on the various structural elements of the apparatus, which may help extend the operating range of the cryogenic liquid evaporator. In addition, embodiments may be adapted to help avoid or minimize the formation of mist and to reduce or avoid emissions (e.g., emissions of methane, etc.) that may be harmful to the environment.

[0008] In a first aspect, there is provided an apparatus for warming a cryogenic liquid to evaporate the cryogenic liquid and recooling a gas to recapture and recover the gas. The apparatus may include a boil-off gas recapture and recovery system having a gas storage device positionable between a storage tank and an evaporator, the storage tank being positioned and configured to store the cryogenic liquid, the evaporator being positioned to heat the cryogenic liquid outputtable from the storage tank to evaporate the cryogenic liquid. The gas storage device may be positioned to receive gas formed from the cryogenic liquid for storage, and to supply the stored gas to the evaporator as a heating medium to warm the cryogenic liquid.

[0009] In some embodiments, the cryogenic liquid may be liquid hydrogen. Other embodiments may utilize other types of stored cryogenic liquids (eg, liquid oxygen, liquid natural gas, etc.).

[0010] In a second aspect, the apparatus may include a supply conduit arrangement of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system, the supply conduit arrangement of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system being positioned to supply gas formed from the cryogenic liquid to the gas storage device. An output conduit arrangement of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system may also be included. The output conduit may include an evaporator heating medium supply conduit connected between the evaporator and the gas storage device to supply the gas to the evaporator as the heating medium.

[0011] In some embodiments, the supply conduit arrangement of the evaporated gas recapture and recovery system may include one or more of the following: (i) a pressure reducing conduit positioned between the gas storage device and the storage tank; (ii) a pump cooling output conduit positioned between a pump and the gas storage device, wherein the pump is positioned between the evaporator and the storage tank to supply the cryogenic liquid to the evaporator; and (iii) at least one trailer gas supply conduit positionable between a trailer and the gas storage device, wherein the trailer may be connected to the storage tank via a trailer connector to supply the cryogenic liquid from the trailer to the storage tank.

[0012] At least one trailer gas supply conduit may be positioned and configured such that cryogenic gas formed when cryogenic liquid from the trailer passes through the trailer connector to cool elements of the trailer connector can be supplied to the gas storage device as a purge flow; and / or at least one trailer gas supply conduit may be positioned and configured such that cryogenic gas within the trailer can reach at least one storage container of the gas storage device through the trailer gas supply conduit during a trailer emptying operation.

[0013] Embodiments of the apparatus may include at least one trailer gas supply conduit, the reduced pressure conduit, and / or the pump cooling output conduit. For example, in some embodiments, the apparatus may include the reduced pressure conduit and the pump cooling output conduit.

[0014] In some embodiments, the output conduit arrangement of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system may include: (i) a cooled heating medium output conduit connected to the evaporator to output gas that can be used as a heating medium in the evaporator; and (ii) at least one of the following:

[0015] (A) a low temperature gas recovery supply conduit connected between the cooled heating medium output conduit and a conduit or processing unit located downstream of the evaporator; (B) a recovery pump supply conduit connected between the cooled heating medium output conduit and the pump; and / or (C) a storage tank recovery conduit connected between the cooled heating medium output conduit and the storage tank.

[0016] In a third aspect, the apparatus may include at least one cooling device that may be connected to the cooled heating medium output conduit to further cool the gas output from the evaporator via the cooled heating medium output conduit, wherein the at least one cooling device may be positioned between the storage tank and the evaporator. The at least one cooling device may include a cooling heat exchanger that is connected to the cooled heating medium output conduit and the refrigerant supply conduit to receive refrigerant, thereby cooling the gas output from the evaporator received via the cooled heating medium output conduit. There may also be a refrigerant boosting device that is positioned to receive the warmed refrigerant output from the cooling heat exchanger to increase the pressure of the warmed refrigerant so as to be supplied to the evaporator as a heating medium. A refrigerant pressure relief device may be positioned to receive refrigerant from the evaporator after supplying the warmed refrigerant to the evaporator when the heating medium is cooled via the evaporator. The pressure relief device may be connected to the refrigerant supply conduit, and the pressure relief device may be configured to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant so as to supply the refrigerant to the cooling heat exchanger at a preselected refrigerant supply pressure.

[0017] In a fourth aspect, the evaporator may include a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger may be connected to the evaporator heating medium supply conduit, and the second heat exchanger may be connected between the refrigerant pressure relief device and the refrigerant pressure boosting device. The second heat exchanger may be positioned to receive the warmed refrigerant and output the refrigerant to the refrigerant pressure relief device after the warmed refrigerant is used as a heating medium in the second heat exchanger.

[0018] In a fifth aspect, the refrigerant may consist of hydrogen or helium.

[0019] In a sixth aspect, the apparatus may include at least one expansion mechanism positioned between the evaporator and the storage tank and / or between the evaporator and the pump.

[0020] In a seventh aspect, the gas storage device may include a metal hydride storage container configured to store the gas and also increase the pressure of the gas to supply the gas to the evaporator as the heating medium to warm the cryogenic liquid.

[0021] In an eighth aspect, the cryogenic liquid is liquid hydrogen and the gas is hydrogen gas.

[0022] In a ninth aspect, the apparatus of the first aspect may include one or more features of the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and / or eighth aspects. Therefore, it should be understood that other embodiments may utilize one or more additional features. Examples of such features and combinations of features include the features shown in the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings and / or discussed herein.

[0023] In a tenth aspect, a process for warming a cryogenic liquid and recooling a gas is provided. The process may include supplying a gas formed by a cryogenic liquid stored in a storage tank, a gas formed by a cryogenic liquid in a cryogenic liquid trailer, a purge gas from a trailer connector for connecting the trailer to the cryogenic liquid storage tank, and / or a gas of a pump cooling fluid to a gas storage device. The process may also include outputting the gas from the gas storage device to a cryogenic liquid evaporator as a heating medium to warm the cryogenic liquid output from the cryogenic liquid storage tank and cool the heating medium. The process may also include supplying a gas used as a heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator toward the cryogenic liquid storage tank, and / or a pump positioned to supply the cryogenic liquid stored in the storage tank to the evaporator for evaporation, and / or a conduit or other unit located downstream of the cryogenic liquid evaporator.

[0024] In some embodiments, the cryogenic liquid may be liquid hydrogen. In other embodiments, the cryogenic liquid may be another type of cryogenic liquid.

[0025] In the eleventh aspect, the supply of gas used as a heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator toward the cryogenic liquid storage tank and / or the pump may be performed, and the supply of gas used as a heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator toward the cryogenic liquid storage tank may include: supplying at least a portion of the gas used as a heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator to (i) at least one cooling device and / or (ii) at least one pressure reducing device to supply the fluid to the storage tank and / or the pump.

[0026] In some embodiments, the fluid supplied to the storage tank is at least partially liquefied via the at least one cooling device and / or the at least one pressure reducing device.

[0027] In the twelfth aspect, the supply of gas used as a heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator toward the cryogenic liquid storage tank, and / or the pump, and / or a conduit or other unit located downstream of the cryogenic liquid evaporator may include: supplying at least a portion of the gas used as a heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator to a conduit or other unit located downstream of the cryogenic liquid evaporator.

[0028] In the thirteenth aspect, the supply of gas used as a heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator toward the cryogenic liquid storage tank, and / or the pump, and / or a conduit or other unit located downstream of the cryogenic liquid evaporator may include: supplying at least a portion of the gas used as a heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator to (i) at least one cooling device and / or (ii) at least one pressure reducing device to supply the fluid to the storage tank and / or the pump, and the at least one pressure reducing device is positioned between the at least one cooling device and the cryogenic liquid storage tank and / or the pump.

[0029] In the fourteenth aspect, the supplying of the gas used as the heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator toward the cryogenic liquid storage tank, and / or the pump, and / or a conduit or other unit located downstream of the cryogenic liquid evaporator may include: supplying at least a portion of the gas used as the heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator to at least one cooling device. The process may also include: supplying a refrigerant to a cooling heat exchanger of the at least one cooling device to cool the gas used as the heating medium; and outputting the refrigerant from the cooling heat exchanger to supply to the evaporator, thereby cooling the refrigerant output from the cooling heat exchanger.

[0030] In a fifteenth aspect, the gas storage device may include a metal hydride storage container configured to store the gas and increase the pressure of the gas during output of the gas from the gas storage device to the cryogenic liquid evaporator as the heating medium.

[0031] In a sixteenth aspect, embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention may perform, or be used to perform, embodiments of the process of the present invention.

[0032] In a seventeenth aspect, the process of the tenth aspect may include one or more features of the eleventh aspect, the twelfth aspect, the thirteenth aspect, the fourteenth aspect, the fifteenth aspect, and / or the sixteenth aspect. Therefore, it should be understood that other embodiments of the process may utilize one or more additional features. Examples of such features and combinations of features include the features shown in the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings and / or discussed herein.

[0033] It should be understood that embodiments of the process and equipment may utilize various conduit arrangements and process control elements. The embodiments may utilize sensors (e.g., pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow rate sensors, concentration sensors, etc.), controllers, valves, pipelines, and other process control elements. For example, some embodiments may utilize automated process control systems and / or distributed control systems (DCS). Various different conduit arrangements and process control systems may be utilized to meet a set of specific design criteria. A DCS or automated process control system may utilize one or more computer devices, the one or more computer devices comprising a processor and at least one transceiver connected to a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the at least one transceiver being configured to monitor, supervise, and / or control processing according to at least one predefined algorithm, the at least one predefined algorithm may be defined in a code stored in the computer-readable medium, the code being executable by a processor.

[0034] Other details, objects and advantages of the present invention for heating cryogenic liquids and recooling gases to recapture and recover gases formed from the cryogenic liquids, apparatus for heating cryogenic liquids and recooling gases, hydrogen storage and distribution systems, hydrogen storage and distribution processes, and methods of making and using the same will become apparent from the following description of specific exemplary embodiments thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Exemplary embodiments of the process for heating cryogenic liquid and recooling gas to recapture and recover cryogenic gas formed by cryogenic liquid, apparatus for heating cryogenic liquid and recooling gas, hydrogen storage and distribution system, hydrogen storage and distribution process, and methods of making and using the same of the present invention are shown in the drawings included herein. It should be understood that the same reference symbols used in the drawings may identify the same components.

[0036] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of an apparatus 1 for warming a cryogenic liquid and recooling a gas to recapture and recover a cryogenic gas formed from the cryogenic liquid. Figure 1 Also shown is an exemplary embodiment of the process of the present invention for warming a cryogenic liquid and recooling a gas. Figure 1 Various optional elements in the illustrated exemplary embodiment are shown in phantom lines.

[0037] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A block diagram of an exemplary implementation of a first exemplary embodiment of a device 1 is shown. Figure 2 Also shown is an exemplary embodiment of the process of the present invention for warming a cryogenic liquid and recooling a gas. Figure 2Various optional elements of the illustrated exemplary embodiment are shown in phantom lines.

[0038] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A block diagram of a further exemplary embodiment of the first exemplary embodiment of the device 1 is shown. Figure 3 Also shown is an exemplary embodiment of the process of the present invention for warming a cryogenic liquid and recooling a gas. Figure 3 Various optional elements of the illustrated exemplary embodiment are shown in phantom lines.

[0039] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a first exemplary embodiment of a device 1 is shown. Figure 4 Also shown is an exemplary embodiment of the process of the present invention for warming a cryogenic liquid and recooling a gas. Figure 4 Various optional elements of the illustrated exemplary embodiment are shown in phantom lines.

[0040] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing a first exemplary embodiment of a gas storage device 10 (gas storage device) that can be used to Figure 1 A first exemplary embodiment of the device 1 is shown and Figures 2 to 4 and Fig.12 In another exemplary embodiment of the embodiment shown, it can be included in Figure 5 Various optional elements in the illustrated exemplary embodiment are shown in phantom lines.

[0041] Figure 6 is a block diagram showing a second exemplary embodiment of a gas storage device 10 (gas storage device) that can be used to store gas Figure 1 A first exemplary embodiment of the device 1 is shown and Figures 2 to 4 and Fig.12 In a further exemplary implementation of this embodiment shown.

[0042] Figure 7 is a block diagram showing a third exemplary embodiment of a gas storage device 10 (gas storage device), which can be used to Figure 1 A first exemplary embodiment of the device 1 is shown and Figures 2 to 4 and Fig.12 In a further exemplary implementation of this embodiment shown.

[0043] Figure 8 is a block diagram showing a fourth exemplary embodiment of a gas storage device 10 (gas storage device) that can be used to Figure 1 A first exemplary embodiment of the device 1 is shown and Figures 2 to 4 and Fig.12 In another exemplary embodiment of the embodiment shown, it can be included in Figure 8 Optional elements in the exemplary embodiment shown are shown in phantom lines.

[0044] Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing a first exemplary embodiment of an optional cooling device 21, which can be used Figure 1 A first exemplary embodiment of the device 1 is shown and Figures 2 to 4 In another exemplary embodiment of the embodiment shown. Fig. 9 Optional elements in the exemplary embodiment shown are shown in phantom lines.

[0045] Fig.10 is a block diagram showing a second exemplary embodiment of an optional cooling device 21, which can be used Figure 1 A first exemplary embodiment of the device 1 is shown and Figures 2 to 4 In another exemplary embodiment of the embodiment shown. Fig.10 Optional elements in the exemplary embodiment shown are shown in phantom lines.

[0046] Fig.11 1 is a flow chart showing an exemplary embodiment of a process for heating a cryogenic liquid and recooling a gas to recapture and recover cryogenic gas according to the present invention. It should be understood that the embodiment of the process can be used in an embodiment of the apparatus 1 to heat a cryogenic liquid and recool a gas to recapture and recover cryogenic gas.

[0047] Fig.12 yes Figure 1 A block diagram of an exemplary implementation of a first exemplary embodiment of a device 1 is shown. Fig.12 Also shown is an exemplary embodiment of the process of the present invention for warming a cryogenic liquid and recooling a gas. Fig.12 Various optional elements of the illustrated exemplary embodiment are shown in phantom lines. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] from Figures 1 to 10 and Fig.12As can be understood from the disclosure provided herein, exemplary embodiments of the apparatus 1 of the present invention for warming a cryogenic liquid and recooling a gas to recapture and recover a cryogenic gas formed from the cryogenic liquid can be positioned and arranged for improved processing performance, which can help reduce cryogenic fluid losses to avoid losses of such fluids due to discharge into the atmosphere. Embodiments can provide improved operating efficiency by reducing fluid losses while also mitigating (if not avoiding) the formation of mist associated with the operation of the apparatus 1. Some embodiments of the apparatus 1 can be configured as a hydrogen storage and distribution system and / or utilize processes for performing hydrogen storage and distribution. Other embodiments of the apparatus 1 can be configured as other types of systems that can utilize other types of cryogenic fluids (e.g., methane or natural gas, cryogenic oxygen that can be stored as a liquid for subsequent use as a gas, etc.).

[0049] refer to Figures 1 to 4 , the apparatus 1 may include a cryogenic fluid storage tank 3 (ST), which may be configured to store a liquid cryogenic fluid and a gaseous cryogenic fluid, which may be formed as a result of the storage of the liquid cryogenic fluid in the tank evaporating into a gas when the liquid is stored in the liquid cryogenic fluid storage tank 3. The cryogenic gas in the tank 3 may be located in an upper portion of the tank above the liquid level in the tank. The cryogenic fluid stored in the tank may be hydrogen or another suitable cryogenic fluid (e.g., methane, oxygen, etc.).

[0050] The storage tank 3 may be filled or refilled via at least one trailer 3T, which may be connected to the storage tank 3 via a trailer connection 2T. The cryogenic liquid within the trailer 3T may be supplied to the tank to refill the tank, to add additional cryogenic liquid to the tank 3, or to otherwise provide additional cryogenic fluid to the tank 3 via a trailer connection 2T connectable between the trailer 3T and the storage tank 3. In other embodiments, the resupply of cryogenic fluid to the storage tank 3 may be provided via another fluid source (e.g., a hydrogen formation device, etc.) that may be located at a site of the apparatus.

[0051] The storage tank 3 may be configured to store cryogenic fluids. In an embodiment in which the cryogenic liquid to be stored is hydrogen, the storage temperature of the fluid in the storage tank may be within a preselected storage temperature range of -225°C to -280°C, and the storage pressure may be within a preselected storage pressure range of 0.1MPa to 3MPa. In an embodiment in which the cryogenic liquid is stored in oxygen, the preselected storage temperature may be within a range of -219°C to -125°C, and the storage pressure may be within a preselected storage pressure range of 0.1MPa to 3MPa. Other cryogenic liquids may also be stored in storage tanks (e.g., liquid natural gas, liquid nitrogen, etc.). In general, a preselected storage temperature and a preselected storage pressure may be selected so that the stored fluid is below the critical temperature of the fluid to help minimize evaporation losses of the liquid.

[0052] The storage tank 3 may be fluidly connected to the pump 5 via a pump supply conduit 4 positioned between the storage tank 3 and the pump 5. The pump 5 may be configured to drive a liquid flow or to assist in driving a fluid flow comprising a mixture of a liquid and a gas. The pump 5 may be positioned to increase the pressure of the fluid to supply the fluid to the evaporator 7 (HXV) so that the cryogenic liquid supplied to the pump 5 may be evaporated into a gas. The fluid output from the pump 5 may have a preselected evaporator supply pressure, which may be a pressure in the range of, for example, 20 MPa to 80 MPa, 20 MPa to 40 MPa, 30 MPa to 70 MPa, or in other suitable pressure ranges.

[0053] An evaporator supply conduit 6 may be positioned between the pump 5 and the evaporator 7 to supply the cryogenic fluid from the pump 5 to the evaporator 7. In some embodiments, the evaporator 7 may be positioned to heat the cryogenic fluid and output the cryogenic fluid as a cryogenic gas to be supplied to the distribution system 9. An evaporator output conduit 8 may be positioned between the evaporator 7 and the distribution system 9 to supply the heated gas output from the evaporator 7 to the distribution system 9.

[0054] The evaporator 7 may include at least one heat exchanger (e.g., multiple heat exchangers or a single heat exchanger). The evaporator 7 may be configured to utilize at least one heating medium. The heating medium supplied to the evaporator 7 may include a gas formed by evaporation of a cryogenic liquid stored in the storage tank 3 when the liquid is heated (e.g., during storage in the storage tank 3, via use in a purge operation, residual gas of a cryogenic liquid held in the trailer 3T that may have been formed or supplied to the trailer during transportation, gas formed during a pump cooling operation, etc.). In some embodiments, the evaporator 7 may include more than one heat exchanger, and the heating medium provided by the gas formed by the evaporated cryogenic liquid may not be sufficient to evaporate the cryogenic liquid into a gas to be output as a gas via the evaporator output conduit 8. In such embodiments, at least one additional heating medium may be used for the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid in the evaporator 7 to provide a heated gas for supply to the evaporator output conduit 8. Such a heating medium may include, for example, ambient air. As another example, such an additional heating medium may also include or alternatively include a heated refrigerant flow as discussed herein.

[0055] In some embodiments, the distribution system 9 may include at least one distributor to distribute the gas to at least one vehicle 11 via at least one vehicle connection device 9f, which may be positioned to fluidly connect the distribution system 9 to the vehicle 11 to supply the fluid to at least one fuel tank of the vehicle 11. The distribution system 9 may also include a flow control manifold connected to one or more distributors to distribute the cryogenic fluid to the distributors, thereby facilitating the supply of fuel to the vehicle 11.

[0056] In other embodiments, it is contemplated that the apparatus may provide a cryogenic fluid to another plant process. In such embodiments, the evaporator output conduit 8 may be positioned between the evaporator 7 and another plant process element to supply the warmed cryogenic fluid to the plant process element. For example, in embodiments where the cryogenic fluid is oxygen and the apparatus 1 is configured to support furnace operation for fuel combustion or metal (e.g., aluminum or steel) melting, the evaporator output conduit 8 may be positioned to provide an oxidant stream to the furnace to combust the fuel in the furnace.

[0057] The apparatus 1 may also include a boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2 configured to recapture cryogenic liquid that evaporates into gas during storage for use as a purge stream, for pump cooling operations, and / or for other uses that avoid the need to vent gas formed by the cryogenic liquid. For example, the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2 may be configured to recapture and recover gas in one or more of the following situations: (i) gas formed as the cryogenic liquid may be warmed during storage; (ii) gas formed when the cryogenic liquid is used for pump cooling operations and / or purge of supply lines; (iii) gas formed by the cryogenic liquid is used for purge of lines and / or (iv) gas formed during emptying operations and / or gas exported from a tank or trailer during emptying operations. The boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2 may also be configured to collect other gases formed by the cryogenic liquid (e.g., due to evaporation, evaporation losses, warmed during storage or use, etc.).

[0058] The boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2 may include a gas storage device 10. The gas storage device 10 may include one or more gas storage containers 30. The gas storage container 30 may be configured to store gas formed from a cryogenic liquid when the gas is warmed and is no longer at a cryogenic temperature. Warming of the gas supplied to the gas storage device 10 may be provided via at least one warming tank, a conduit path for supplying the formed gas to the gas storage device, use of an enlarged conduit segment within a gas supply conduit for supplying the gas to the gas storage device to facilitate warming the gas to a non-cryogenic temperature, or other mechanisms or configurations that facilitate warming the gas to a non-cryogenic temperature for storage in one or more storage containers 30 of the gas storage device 10. In some embodiments, the non-cryogenic temperature for storing the gas may be a temperature above -100°C, between -100°C and 50°C, between -100°C and 25°C, or other suitable storage temperature within a pre-selected gas storage temperature range.

[0059] The gas storage device 10 may include at least one gas storage container 30, and may further include a pressurizing mechanism C. The pressurizing mechanism C may be incorporated into the storage container 30, incorporated into the gas storage device 10, or may be positioned between the gas storage device 10 and the evaporator 7 to increase the pressure of the gas feed 10f supplied to the evaporator 7, thereby being used as a heating medium therein for warming the cryogenic liquid output from the storage tank 3, which may be supplied to the evaporator 7 via the pump 5 and the evaporator supply conduit 6. The gas feed 10f may be supplied to the evaporator 7 via the evaporator heating medium supply conduit positioned between the gas storage device 10 and the evaporator 7. In an embodiment in which the pressurizing mechanism C is not incorporated into the gas storage device 10, the pressurizing mechanism C may be connected to the evaporator heating medium supply conduit or incorporated therein to increase the pressure of the gas feed 10f to a preselected heating medium pressure within a preselected evaporator heating medium pressure range.

[0060] For example, in some configurations, the boost mechanism C may include a compressor, a pump, a buffer tank, or other devices configured to increase the pressure of the gas at a preselected heating medium pressure within a preselected evaporator heating medium pressure range to be supplied to the evaporator 7 as a heating medium. The pressure range may be in the range of 0.1 MPa to 3 MPa, between .5 MPa and 1 MPa, between .3 MPa and 1.5 MPa, or in other suitable ranges. The boost mechanism C (when used) may be positioned between the gas storage device 10 and the evaporator 7 to output the gas at a preselected evaporator heating medium pressure via an evaporator heating medium supply conduit 10fc, which is positioned between the evaporator 7 and the gas storage device 10 and / or between the boost mechanism C and the evaporator 7.

[0061] In other configurations, the pressurizing mechanism may be at least one heating element for heating the storage container 30, which is configured as a metal hydride storage container 33. The at least one heating element can heat the container so that the hydrogen stored in the container can be released from the container 30 under a pressurized state within a preselected evaporator heating medium pressure range so as to be supplied to the evaporator via an evaporator heating medium supply conduit positioned between the evaporator 7 and the gas storage device 10.

[0062] The evaporated gas recapture and recovery system 2 may also include a supply conduit arrangement and an output conduit arrangement, so that the gas stored in the gas storage device 10 can be supplied to the evaporator 7 and then transported to the storage tank 3 and / or a conduit located downstream of the evaporator 7 (for example, the evaporator output conduit 8, etc.), and the supply conduit arrangement is used to recover the cryogenic gas or other gas formed by the cryogenic liquid evaporated (for example, evaporation, evaporation loss, etc.) from different units of the equipment 1 and deliver it to the gas storage device 10.

[0063] The boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2 may also include at least one expansion mechanism 12 (Exp.) and / or at least one cooling device 21 positioned to cool and / or facilitate the cooled gas used as the heating medium in the evaporator 7 to be at least partially liquefied after being output from the evaporator 7 as a cooled heating medium flow via a cooled heating medium output conduit 14 connectable to the evaporator 7. When used, these components may be connected to the output conduit arrangement of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2.

[0064] For example, the cooled heating medium output conduit 14 may be a component of the output conduit arrangement of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2. As will be appreciated below, in embodiments where a cooling device 21 is utilized, the cooled heating medium output conduit 14 may include a cooling device supply conduit 14a and an expansion mechanism supply conduit 14b.

[0065] In addition, the evaporator heating medium supply conduit for supplying the gas feed 10f to the evaporator 7 can be a component of the output conduit arrangement of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2. The output conduit arrangement of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2 can also include other conduits. For example, the output conduit arrangement of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2 can include a storage tank recovery conduit 16, a recovery pump supply conduit 16p and / or a cryogenic gas recovery supply conduit 16a, as discussed below.

[0066] from Figures 1 to 8An example of a supply conduit arrangement for the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2 may be best understood in . For example, the supply conduit arrangement may include at least one trailer gas supply conduit 20 positioned between the gas storage device 10 and the trailer connection 2T and / or the trailer 3T for supplying cryogenic gas toward at least one storage container 30 of the gas storage device 10, thereby storing gas formed from cryogenic liquid to the gas storage device 10. For example, the trailer gas supply conduit 20 may be positioned so that cryogenic gas formed when cryogenic liquid from the trailer 3T passes through the trailer connection 2T as a purge flow to cool elements of the connection may be captured and supplied to the gas storage device 10 for storage and use rather than being discharged. In some embodiments, the purge flow captured for supply to the gas storage device 10 may be purified via at least one purification unit (e.g., an adsorber having an adsorbent material therein for removing impurities, etc., from the captured purge flow) before being fed to the storage device 10. For example, such a purification unit may be incorporated into the trailer gas supply conduit 20 and / or included in this conduit.

[0067] The trailer gas supply conduit 20 may also or alternatively be positioned so that cryogenic gas within the trailer 3T (e.g., gas that may have formed when the cryogenic liquid within the trailer is stored in the trailer 3T) can pass through the trailer gas supply conduit to at least one storage container 30 for storing gas during a trailer emptying operation. This type of emptying operation may occur before the trailer 3T leaves the site to help ensure that the pressure within the trailer 3T is below a preselected threshold, or may be provided before the cryogenic liquid is supplied to the storage tank 3 to avoid an overpressure condition within the trailer 3T.

[0068] The supply conduit arrangement of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2 may also (or alternatively) include a decompression conduit 10a that may be connected between the storage tank 3 and the gas storage device 10 (e.g., at least one storage container 30 of the gas storage device 10) so that the cryogenic gas formed in the tank 3 when the cryogenic liquid is stored in the tank 3 can be removed from the tank 3 and supplied to the at least one storage container 30 of the gas storage device 10 instead of being discharged to the atmosphere. This type of removal of cryogenic gas from the tank 3 may occur periodically to reduce the pressure in the tank 3, thereby maintaining the pressure within the tank at or below a preselected tank storage pressure. As the cryogenic liquid is stored in the tank over time, cryogenic gas may be formed during the storage time (e.g., evaporation loss or evaporation during storage), which may increase the pressure in the tank. The periodic removal of the formed cryogenic gas may reduce the pressure within the tank 3 and maintain this pressure at or below a preselected tank storage pressure. This type of pressure reduction may occur periodically in response to detecting that the pressure within the tank is at or above a preselected threshold, which may be a preselected tank storage pressure. This detection may be provided via a regulator or pressure sensor positioned to monitor or measure the pressure of the tank 3. The controller may be configured to actuate the valve to open the valve of the tank so that cryogenic gas may be output from the tank to be supplied to at least one container 30 of the gas storage device 10 for storage of gas via a reduced pressure conduit 10a, which may be connected between the storage tank 3 and the gas storage device 10. Also, as described above, due to the warming of the gas that may occur during the passage of the gas toward the at least one storage container 30 of the gas storage device 10, the gas stored via the gas storage device 10 may be at a non-cryogenic temperature.

[0069] This removal of cryogenic gas from the tank 3 and delivery of the gas to the gas storage device 10 may allow the gas to be cooled again and recaptured rather than vented to the atmosphere to relieve the overpressure condition within the tank 3. The pressure relief conduit 10a may also be used to reduce the pressure within the tank 3 during an emptying operation to remove the cryogenic gas within the tank 3, thereby facilitating further filling of the tank 3 with cryogenic liquid, which will be exported from the trailer 3T and supplied to the tank 3 via the trailer connection 2T. The tank emptying operation using the pressure relief conduit 10a may occur while the above-described trailer emptying operation is being performed, such that cryogenic gas from the trailer 3T is provided to the gas storage device 10 via the trailer gas supply conduit 20, and cryogenic gas from the tank 3 is provided to the gas storage device 10 via the pressure relief conduit 10a. This type of emptying operation may occur before, during, or after performing the above-described trailer connection 2T purge operation.

[0070] The supply conduit arrangement of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2 may also (or alternatively) include one or more pump cooling conduits for recovering a cryogenic fluid that may be supplied to the pump 5 to cool the pump before the pump is actuated to drive the cryogenic liquid from the tank 3 to the evaporator 7. For example, the pump cooling supply conduit 10pc and / or the pump supply conduit 4 may be used to supply a cryogenic fluid to the pump to cool the pump before the pump 5 is actuated. In some embodiments, a cryogenic liquid may be supplied to the pump via the pump supply conduit for cooling the pump 5. As a result of such cooling, the cryogenic liquid may evaporate while cooling the pump 5, and a cryogenic gas formed via the pump cooling may be output from the pump and supplied to at least one container 30 of the gas storage device 10 via a pump cooling output conduit 10b positioned between the pump 5 and the gas storage device 10.

[0071] In other embodiments, a pump cooling supply conduit 10pc may be connected between the pump 5 and the storage tank 3 to supply a cryogenic fluid from the tank 3 to the pump 5 for cooling the pump 5. The cryogenic fluid may then be output from the pump 5 as a cryogenic gas, which is output from the pump 5 for supply to at least one storage container 30 of the gas storage device 10 via a pump cooling output conduit 10b positioned between the pump 5 and the gas storage device 10. In some embodiments, the cryogenic fluid output from the tank 3 for passing through the pump cooling supply conduit 10pc may be the cryogenic gas within the tank 3. In such a configuration, the inlet of the pump cooling supply conduit 10pc may be positioned above the expected liquid level of the tank 3, so that the cryogenic gas is output from the tank 3 and thus transferred to the pump cooling supply conduit 10pc for use in pump cooling operations and subsequent storage of the cryogenic gas.

[0072] In some embodiments that may also include a decompression conduit 10a, a pump cooling supply conduit 10pc may be connected between the pump 5 and the decompression conduit 10a, thereby being used to supply cryogenic gas from the tank 3 to the pump 5 to perform a pump cooling operation and subsequently supply cryogenic gas to the gas storage device 10.

[0073] As described above, the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2 may also include at least one expansion mechanism 12 (Exp.) and / or at least one cooling device 21, which is positioned to cool and / or facilitate the cooled low-temperature gas used as the heating medium in the evaporator 7 to be at least partially liquefied after being output from the evaporator 7 as a cooled heating medium flow via a cooled heating medium output conduit 14 that can be connected to the evaporator 7. For example, the cooled gas used as the heating medium in the evaporator 7 output from at least one storage container 30 of the gas storage device 10 may be output from the evaporator 7 via the cooled heating medium output conduit 14, and then supplied to the expansion mechanism 12 (Exp.) to reduce the pressure of the fluid to a preselected storage tank supply pressure. In some embodiments, such a preselected storage tank supply pressure may be a pressure between 0.1 MPa and 3 MPa. The expansion mechanism 12 may include a control valve, a Joule-Thomson valve, an expander, a combination of such units, or other suitable pressure reducing devices.

[0074] The reduced pressure provided by the expansion mechanism 12 may also serve to cool the fluid. The reduced pressure and cooling that may be provided via the expansion mechanism 12 may partially liquefy or completely liquefy the gas while reducing its pressure. Alternatively, the reduced pressure and cooling that may be provided via the expansion mechanism 12 may further cool the gas without even partially liquefying the gas to help maintain the pressure within the storage tank 3 and to help limit the evaporation loss of the cryogenic liquid that may occur when the cryogenic liquid is stored in the tank 3. The fluid output from the expansion mechanism 12 may be supplied to the storage tank 3 via a storage tank recovery conduit 16 positioned between the storage tank 3 and the expansion mechanism 12, and / or may be supplied to the pump 5 via a recovery pump supply conduit 16p positioned between the expansion mechanism 12 and the pump 5 (e.g., supplied to the pump supply conduit 4 via a recovery pump supply conduit 16p connected between the pump supply conduit 4 and the expansion mechanism 12, for supplying the fluid from the expansion mechanism 12 to the pump 5, thereby passing through the pump together with the cryogenic liquid from the storage tank 3, etc.). In a case where all or at least a portion of the fluid output from the expansion mechanism 12 is supplied to the pump 5, the fluid can be supplied to the pump 5 so as to supply the fluid toward the evaporator 7 for evaporation and / or heating therein so as to output the gas as heated gas via the evaporator output conduit 8.

[0075] Fig.12 Show Figure 1 An exemplary implementation of the illustrated embodiment, for example, may provide for fluid flow from the expansion mechanism 12 to the pump 5. The fluid supplied to the pump 5 via the recovery pump supply conduit 16p may be a cooled gas, a cryogenic liquid, or a mixture of liquid and gas.

[0076] In the case where at least some of the fluid to be recovered includes gas supplied to the storage tank 3 via the storage tank recovery conduit 16, the gas may be supplied to the storage tank 3 such that the gas is supplied below the liquid level of the storage tank 3 so that the gas passes through the cryogenic liquid of the storage tank 3 (e.g., the gas may bubble through the liquid of the storage tank 3). This bubbling of the recovered gas may help cool the gas supplied to the storage tank 3 via the storage tank recovery conduit 16 to reduce the volume of gas supplied to the tank, may help liquefy a portion of the gas, and / or may provide other advantages that may outweigh the warming of the stored liquid that may occur by supplying the gas through the liquid of the storage tank 3. To facilitate bubbling of the gas supplied to the storage tank 3 via the storage tank recovery conduit 16, the outlet of the storage tank recovery conduit 16 may be positioned at a preselected distance below the expected liquid level location of the storage tank 3 or at or near the bottom of the storage tank 3.

[0077] In some embodiments, at least one cooling device 21 may be connected to the cooled heating medium output conduit 14. The at least one cooling device 21 may be a chiller (e.g., an absorption chiller) or a heat exchanger that uses a cooling medium from another plant process to cool the gas used as the heating medium in the evaporator 7, which is output from the evaporator via the cooled heating medium output conduit 14 as the cooled heating medium.

[0078] In some configurations, the at least one cooling device 21 may be configured to utilize a refrigerant that can be used to cool the low-temperature gas output from the evaporator as a cooled heating medium and also used as a heating medium in the evaporator 7 to provide additional heat to the low-temperature liquid warmed by the evaporator via a refrigerant heating medium supply conduit 22CM connected between the cooling device 21 and the evaporator 7. Such a configuration of the cooling device 21 may be Fig. 9 and Fig.10 The exemplary embodiment of the cooling device 21 shown is best understood. Fig. 9 and Fig.10 Different exemplary options for using the refrigerant heating medium supply conduit 22CM for different configurations of the cryogenic liquid evaporator 7 that can be used in an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus 1 for warming the cryogenic liquid and for recooling the gas to recapture and recover the cryogenic liquid Figures 1 to 4 Gases formed during storage or use of cryogenic liquids as shown.

[0079] from Fig. 9 and Fig.10It is understood that the cooling device 21 may include a cooling heat exchanger 21cd for further cooling the cooled gas output from the evaporator 7 via the cooled heating medium output conduit 14. The cooling heat exchanger 21cd may receive the cooled gas from the evaporator via a cooling device supply conduit 14a positioned between the evaporator 7 and the cooling heat exchanger 21cd of the cooling device 21. The cooling heat exchanger 21cd may further cool the gas to a preselected low temperature stream recovery temperature using a refrigerant. The temperature may be selected to facilitate liquefaction of at least a portion of the gas via the expansion mechanism 12, or to facilitate complete liquefaction of the gas after the gas passes through the expansion mechanism 12, which may be positioned between the storage tank 3 and the cooling heat exchanger 21cd. The further cooled gas output from the cooling heat exchanger 21cd may be supplied toward the tank 3 via an expansion mechanism supply conduit 14b positioned between the expansion mechanism 12 and the cooling heat exchanger 21cd. In some embodiments, the preselected cryogenic stream recovery temperature may be selected so that the further cooled gas passing through expansion mechanism supply conduit 14b also includes some liquid from gas condensation that may occur due to the temperature reduction of the gas passing through cooling heat exchanger 21cd.

[0080] The refrigerant used in the cooling heat exchanger 21cd of the cooling device 21 may be supplied to the cooling heat exchanger 21cd via a refrigerant supply conduit 21Rin. The heated refrigerant used as a cooling medium in the cooling heat exchanger 21cd may be output from the cooling heat exchanger 21cd via a refrigerant output conduit 21Rout positioned between the cooling heat exchanger 21cd and the evaporator 7. The cooling device 21 may include a refrigerant booster 21PC, which may be positioned to receive the heated refrigerant via the refrigerant output conduit 21Rout to increase the pressure of the refrigerant to a preselected evaporator supply pressure. The preselected evaporator supply pressure of the refrigerant may be a suitable pressure, which may be selected to take into account the supply pressure for supplying the refrigerant to the evaporator 7 for use as a heating medium therein, the type of refrigerant selected and its material properties, and the flow rate of the refrigerant to be utilized. The refrigerant booster 21PC may be, for example, a pump or a compressor. The warmed refrigerant may be output from the refrigerant pressurizing device 21PC at a preselected evaporator supply pressure to be supplied as a heating medium for the evaporator 7 via the heating medium supply conduit 22CM. The evaporator 7 may output the refrigerant as a cooled refrigerant at a preselected refrigerant supply temperature to supply the refrigerant to the cooling device 21, and thereby to the cooling heat exchanger 21cd. The cooled refrigerant may be output from the evaporator 7 and supplied to the refrigerant pressure relief device 21pld of the cooling device 21 to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant, and thereby to the cooling heat exchanger 21cd via the pressure relief device supply conduit 24CM positioned between the evaporator 7 and the refrigerant pressure relief device 21pld. The refrigerant pressure relief device 21pld can reduce the pressure of the refrigerant, which can also further cool the refrigerant to a pre-selected cooling heat exchanger refrigerant supply temperature to supply the refrigerant to the cooling heat exchanger via the refrigerant supply conduit 21Rin, thereby serving as a cooling medium therein to further cool the gas to be further cooled, thereby being used to return the fluid to the storage tank 3 via the storage tank recovery conduit 16 and / or to the pump 5 via the recovery pump supply conduit 16p.

[0081] In some embodiments, the refrigerant used as the cooling medium of the cooling heat exchanger 21cd of the cooling device 21 may be a fluid including hydrogen or helium. For example, the refrigerant may include a fluid of at least 99 mole percent (mol%) hydrogen (e.g., between 99 mole % hydrogen and 100 mole % hydrogen) or at least 99 mole % helium (e.g., between 99 mole % helium and 100 mole % helium). The preselected cooling heat exchanger refrigerant supply temperature may be a temperature in the range of -300°C to -400°C or other suitable ranges. An example of a preselected cooling heat exchanger refrigerant supply pressure may be a pressure in the range of 0.1 MPa and 10 MPa, at which the refrigerant is output from the refrigerant pressure relief device 21pld to be supplied to the cooling heat exchanger via the refrigerant supply conduit 21Rin.

[0082] from Fig. 9 It can be understood that in some embodiments, the evaporator 7 can be configured to utilize multiple heat exchangers in series, which may include a first heat exchanger HX1 and a second heat exchanger HX2. The first heat exchanger HX1 can receive gas from at least one container 30 of the gas storage device 10 as a gas feed 10f to be used as a heating medium for warming the low-temperature liquid output from the pump 5 and supplied to the evaporator 7. The low-temperature liquid may be only partially evaporated via the first heat exchanger HX1, may be evaporated at a temperature that is not high enough, or may be heated without being sufficiently heated to evaporate via the first heat exchanger HX1. The second heat exchanger HX2 can receive the heated fluid or at least partially evaporated fluid output from the first heat exchanger HX1 via a second heat exchanger supply conduit 5i positioned between the first heat exchanger HX1 and the second heat exchanger HX2. The second heat exchanger HX2 of the evaporator 7 can receive the heated refrigerant output from the cooling device 21 via the heating medium supply conduit 22CM, so that the heated refrigerant can be cooled back to the preselected refrigerant supply temperature, while also providing heat for warming the low-temperature liquid flow supplied to the evaporator, thereby outputting the heated low-temperature liquid output from the pump 5 as a gas via the evaporator output conduit 8. The cooled refrigerant used as the heating medium in the second heat exchanger HX2 can be output from the second heat exchanger HX2 for supply to the refrigerant pressure relief device 21pld of the cooling device 21 via the pressure relief device supply conduit 24CM positioned between the second heat exchanger HX2 of the evaporator 7 and the refrigerant pressure relief device 21pld.

[0083] from Fig.10It can be understood that in some other embodiments, the evaporator 7 can be configured to include a first heat exchanger HX1, which can receive gas from at least one container 30 of the gas storage device 10 as a gas feed 10f to be used as a heating medium for warming the low-temperature liquid output from the pump 5 and supplied to the evaporator 7, and also receive the heated refrigerant from the cooling device 21 as the heating medium for warming the low-temperature liquid. In such an arrangement, the first heat exchanger HX1 of the evaporator 7 can receive the heated refrigerant output from the cooling device 21 via the heating medium supply conduit 22CM, so that the heated refrigerant can be cooled back to the pre-selected refrigerant supply temperature, while also providing heat for warming the low-temperature liquid flow supplied to the evaporator 7, thereby outputting the evaporated low-temperature liquid output from the pump 5 as a gas via the evaporator output conduit 8. The cooled refrigerant used as a heating medium in the first heat exchanger HX1 may be output from the first heat exchanger HX1 for supply to the refrigerant pressure relief device 21pld of the cooling device 21 via a pressure relief device supply conduit 24CM positioned between the first heat exchanger HX1 of the evaporator 7 and the refrigerant pressure relief device 21pld.

[0084] Some embodiments of the cooling device 21 may utilize a refrigerant buffer tank 25 (RT) in which additional refrigerant may be stored so that such refrigerant may be added to the circuit of the refrigerant flow to replenish any lost refrigerant that may occur during use (e.g., imperfect seals, leaks, etc.). A refrigerant replenishment conduit 26 may be connected between the refrigerant buffer tank 25 and conduits of the refrigerant circuit (e.g., refrigerant heating medium supply conduit 22CM, refrigerant output conduit 21Rout, pressure relief device supply conduit 24CM, etc.) to provide refrigerant replenishment that may be required during operation. The valve of the refrigerant replenishment conduit 26 may be adjusted between an open position and a closed position to facilitate such flow of refrigerant replenishment fluid.

[0085] In some embodiments, the heating that may be provided by the gas output from the gas storage device 10 and the warmed refrigerant that may be provided by the cooling device 21 may not be sufficient to evaporate the cryogenic liquid. In such cases, the evaporator may include an additional heat exchanger that may utilize the flow of another heating medium AA, which may be ambient air or other types of heating medium for providing an additional source of heat for evaporation of the cryogenic liquid. For example, the evaporator 7 may include Fig. 9 and Fig.10The third heat exchanger HX3 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 may utilize another flow of another heating medium AA. As another example, in a case where the first heat exchanger of the evaporator 7 may utilize the gas output from the gas storage device 10 as the heating medium and the second heat exchanger located downstream of the heat exchanger may utilize another flow of the heating medium AA, the evaporator 7 may include a second heat exchanger.

[0086] In some configurations, the captured low-temperature gas retained via the gas storage device 10 may be provided in whole or at least in part as a low-temperature gas located downstream of the evaporator 7. For example, the cooled low-temperature gas supplied to the evaporator as a heating medium output from the evaporator via the cooled heating medium output conduit 14 may be supplied for merging with the low-temperature gas output from the evaporator 7 via the evaporator output conduit 8. For example, a low-temperature gas recovery supply conduit 16a may be connected between the evaporator output conduit 8 and the cooled heating medium output conduit 14 for supplying the gas to the evaporator output conduit gas after the gas from the gas storage device 10 is used as a heating medium in the evaporator 7. In such an embodiment, all of the gas may be transferred to the downstream of the evaporator 7 via the low-temperature gas recovery supply conduit 16a to be mixed with the evaporated low-temperature liquid output from the evaporator 7 as a low-temperature gas and recovered, or a portion of the gas may be transferred to the downstream of the evaporator 7 via the low-temperature gas recovery supply conduit 16a, and another portion of the fluid may be supplied back to the storage tank 3.

[0087] In some configurations, the phase separator PS may be positioned between the storage tank 3 and the cooled heating medium output conduit 14 for separating liquid and gas, which may be formed from the gas output to the cooled heating medium output conduit 14, or subsequently further cooled via the cooling device 21 and / or the expansion mechanism 12. For example, the phase separator PS may be positioned between the expansion mechanism 12 and the storage tank 3. The liquid of the further cooled stream may be output from the phase separator PS for supply to the tank 3 via the storage tank recovery conduit 16, which may be connected between the phase separator PS and the storage tank 3 or the pump 5 via a recovery pump supply conduit 16p, which may be connected between the phase separator PS and the pump 5.

[0088] The gas output from the phase separator PS may be supplied to the low-temperature gas recovery supply conduit 16a via the phase separator gas output conduit 16b connected between the phase separator PS and the low-temperature gas recovery supply conduit 16a, for providing the low-temperature gas output from the phase separator PS, so as to be further used downstream of the evaporator 7 (for example, for fuel distribution via the distribution system 9 or for another downstream process that can use the low-temperature gas). As another option, the gas output from the phase separator PS may be supplied to the gas storage device 10 via the gas storage device supply conduit 16c connected between the phase separator PS and the gas storage device 10, for providing the low-temperature gas output from the phase separator PS. In some embodiments, the phase separator gas output conduit 16b may be connected to the gas storage device supply conduit 16c, for supplying the gas output from the phase separator PS to the gas storage device 10. In some embodiments, such a gas storage device supply conduit 16c may include a compressor or other flow drive mechanism to help facilitate the flow of gas from the phase separator PS to the gas storage device 10. The gas output from the phase separator PS and supplied to the gas storage device 10 can be stored in the gas storage device 10 and reused as a heating medium for the evaporator 7, and then transferred back through other elements to be supplied to the pump 5, the storage tank 3 and / or circulated back to the gas storage device 10 again.

[0089] from Figures 5 to 8 As best understood in the context of FIG. 1 , the gas storage device 10 (gas storage device) may be configured in a variety of different ways. Figures 5 to 8 An exemplary arrangement of the gas storage device 10 is shown. Other configurations may also be used in other embodiments of the gas storage device 10.

[0090] For example, in some embodiments, the gas storage device 10 may include a plurality of storage containers (e.g., Figure 5 and Figure 6 , or only a single storage container 30 (e.g., Figure 7 and Figure 8 ). Some storage containers 30 may be arranged in series, while another storage container 30 may be used in parallel, or as an alternative source of gas for providing to the evaporator 7 as a heating medium for subsequent re-cooling and recapture or reuse as discussed herein.

[0091] For example, from Figure 5 and Figure 6It can be understood that the gas storage device 10 may include a first gas storage container 30 and a second gas storage container 30, the first gas storage container 30 being configured as a buffer tank 31, and the second gas storage container 30 being configured as a metal hydride storage container 33, which is located downstream of the buffer tank to receive the gas from the buffer tank and store it therein. The first gas storage container 30 and the second gas storage container 30 configured as the buffer tank 31 and the metal hydride storage container 33 may be configured to receive and store gas that may have purity issues, so that the metal hydride storage container 33 can store a fully purified gas while removing impurities from the gas.

[0092] For example, a first storage container 30, which may be configured as a supply buffer tank 31, may receive a first gas flow 31a for supply to a second storage container 30, which may be configured as a metal hydride storage container 33, for storing gas having improved purity via the storage. The buffer tank 31 may be sized to accommodate a large flow of gas supplied to the container 30 as a first gas flow 31a, which may then be provided to the second storage container 30 at a slower flow rate to accommodate the storage rate that may be provided by the metal hydride storage container 33 via a second storage container supply conduit 10g, which is positioned between the first storage container 30 and the second storage container 30, which may be configured as a metal hydride storage container 33.

[0093] For example, when cryogenic liquid from trailer 3T is passed through trailer connector 2T as a purge flow to cool the components of the connector, the cryogenic gas obtained from the formation of the cryogenic gas can be recovered and supplied to the first storage container as the first gas stream 31a. Due to the interaction of the purge flow with the components of trailer connector 2T, the purge flow can have a higher impurity content, and the purge flow can be supplied to the metal hydride storage container 33, because storing gas via the metal hydride storage container 33 can facilitate the storage of purified gas that does not include those impurities due to the metal hydride components of the storage container. If the cryogenic gas from such an operation can be high, then the buffer tank 31 can provide an intake mechanism to allow the high rate of cryogenic gas to be accommodated, so that the purge operation can be carried out quickly, while also allowing the slower intake rate of the metal hydride storage container 33 to be accommodated.

[0094] Where possible only using Figure 8 The single storage container 30 shown is configured as a metal hydride storage container 33 and / or as Figure 5 and Figure 6In the configuration of the tandem storage container arrangement of the second storage container 30 shown, which may be configured as a metal hydride storage container 33, the cryogenic gas of the first gas stream 31a may be provided via a plurality of different conduits of the supply conduit arrangement for recovering the cryogenic gas of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2. For example, the first gas stream 31a may include cryogenic gas obtained via cryogenic gas formed when cryogenic liquid from the trailer 3T passes through the trailer connection 2T to cool the elements of the connection (as a purge flow that may be supplied to the gas storage device via the trailer gas supply conduit 20) and cryogenic gas received via a trailer evacuation operation (the cryogenic gas may be received via the trailer gas supply conduit 20). As described above, the cryogenic gas may be warmed to a non-cryogenic temperature via the conduit to be supplied to the storage container of the gas storage device 10.

[0095] The first gas stream 31a may also (or alternatively) include cryogenic gas from the tank 3, which is provided to the gas storage device 10 via a pressure reduction conduit 10a, which may be provided via a tank pressure reduction operation to maintain the pressure of the storage tank 3 as discussed above, and / or a tank emptying operation may be performed for supplying additional cryogenic liquid to the tank 3 via at least one trailer 3T via a trailer connection 2T as discussed above. The first gas stream 31a may also (or alternatively) include cryogenic gas obtained via a pump cooling operation via a pump cooling output conduit 10b. As described above, these cryogenic gas streams that may be supplied to the gas storage device 10 may be warmed to a non-cryogenic temperature for supply to a storage container of the gas storage device 10 (e.g., via warming through at least one conduit, etc.).

[0096] from Figure 5 As best understood in the foregoing, the gas storage device 10 may further include a third storage vessel 30. The third storage vessel 30 may be configured as a gas storage vessel 35 for receiving a second gas stream 35a from at least one cryogenic gas source for storage (e.g., pump cooling operations and / or storage tank emptying operations). In some configurations, the gas of the second gas stream 35a may have a higher purity cryogenic gas than the first gas stream 31a.

[0097] For example, gas from a pump cooling operation via the pump cooling output conduit 10b and / or a storage tank 3 depressurization and / or evacuation operation via the depressurization conduit 10a may be supplied as the second gas stream 35a to the third storage vessel 35. The gas received from these operations may have a higher purity content than other sources of gas that may be provided to the first storage vessel 30 via the first gas stream 31a (e.g., in some embodiments where the storage tank 3 is configured for storing liquid hydrogen, a higher concentration of hydrogen than other sources, in some embodiments where the storage tank 3 is configured for storing liquid oxygen, a higher concentration of oxygen than other sources, etc.).

[0098] In such embodiments, the first gas flow 31a may include gas formed when cryogenic liquid from a trailer 3T passes through a trailer connection 2T to cool elements of the connection (as a purge flow that may be supplied to the gas storage device 10 via the trailer gas supply conduit 20) and / or cryogenic gas received via a trailer emptying operation (which cryogenic gas may be received via the trailer gas supply conduit 20).

[0099] In some embodiments, it is expected that the first cryogenic flow 31a may include a cryogenic gas formed when a cryogenic liquid from a trailer 3T passes through a trailer connector 2T to cool elements of the connector (as a purge flow that can be supplied to a gas storage device via a trailer gas supply conduit 20), and the second gas flow 35a may include a cryogenic gas received via a trailer discharge operation (the cryogenic gas can be received via the trailer gas supply conduit 20), and the gas obtained by the pump cooling operation via the pump cooling output conduit 10b and the storage tank 3 decompression and storage tank emptying operations via the decompression conduit 10a can be supplied to a third storage container 35 as the second gas flow 35a.

[0100] In other embodiments of the gas storage device 10, the device may include a single storage container 30. For example, in some embodiments, the single storage container 30 may be configured as a metal hydride storage container 33 for storing cryogenic gas received as the first gas stream 31a and subsequent use of the gas. Examples of such arrangements may be found in Figure 8 As can be seen in the implementation, no use is made of Figure 8 In such embodiments, the release and use of the stored gas may be provided via one or more heating elements that may heat the metal hydride storage container 33 to increase the pressure and temperature of the stored gas so that the stored gas may be output from the gas storage device 10 as a cryogenic gas feed 10f.

[0101] In other embodiments, the storage container 30 may be a tank 31 (which may be configured to store gas) and a pressurizing mechanism C (e.g., a compressor, etc.), which may be positioned to drive the low-temperature gas feed 10f from the gas storage device 10 to the evaporator 7. Examples of such arrangements are as follows: Figure 7 shown.

[0102] In some embodiments, the gas storage device 10 may include multiple storage containers 30, which may be operated in parallel or in other ways. Figure 5 and Figure 8 An example of such an embodiment is shown. Figure 8 (include Figure 8It can be understood that the first storage container 30 can be configured as a metal hydride storage container 33 for storing the low-temperature gas provided via the first gas flow 31a and the subsequent use of the gas. In such embodiments, the release and use of the stored gas can be provided via one or more heating elements, which can heat the metal hydride storage container 33 to increase the pressure and temperature of the stored gas, so that the stored gas can be output from the gas storage device 10 as a low-temperature gas feed 10f.

[0103] The second storage container 30 may be positioned as a second gas storage container 35 for receiving a second gas flow 35a therein. The low-temperature gas from the second gas flow 35a may be output from the second gas storage container 35 via a pressurizing mechanism C (e.g., a compressor, etc.), which is positioned to drive the flow of the low-temperature gas feed 10f to be output from the second gas storage container 35 via a second gas storage container output conduit 10h, which is connected to the pressurizing mechanism C positioned between the evaporator 7 and the gas storage device 10; or to drive the flow of the low-temperature gas feed 10f to be output from the second gas storage container 35 of the gas storage device 10 via a second gas storage container output conduit 10i, which is positioned to communicate with the pressurizing mechanism C of the gas storage device 10.

[0104] In some embodiments, the gas storage device 10 may be configured to receive a first gas stream 31a and a second gas stream 35a, and different storage containers 30 may be configured to store gas at different storage pressures. For example, a first container 30 receiving a first gas stream 31a may receive gas and store gas at a higher or lower pressure than another container 35 receiving a second gas stream 35a and / or storing the gas.

[0105] The storage capacity of one or more containers 30 of the gas storage device 10 may be sized and configured to receive cryogenic gas for storage and use of the gas. The storage capacity may be sized to meet a preselected set of criteria.

[0106] In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the gas stored in the gas storage device 10 for use as the evaporator heating medium may not be sufficient to completely evaporate the cryogenic liquid output from the pump 5. In such embodiments, another heating medium may also be supplied to the evaporator 7 (e.g., ambient air and / or warmed refrigerant from the cooling device 21 when used, etc.).

[0107] It should be understood that the gas storage device 10 may receive gas formed by the evaporation of cryogenic liquid that may occur, or may store gas formed by cryogenic liquid that is no longer a cryogenic gas because it is warmed to a sufficient temperature so that the temperature of the gas is no longer cryogenic. The gas storage device 10 may store the gas it receives so that the gas is warmed during storage, so that it can be used more effectively as a heating medium in the evaporator 7. The storage device 10 may be configured and utilized to output the gas stored therein as a non-cryogenic gas, which can be supplied to, for example, the evaporator 7. The gas stored via the gas storage device 10 may then be subjected to cooling and other cooling (e.g., cooling using the expansion mechanism 12 and / or the cooling device 21 as discussed above) via use as a heating medium in the evaporator 7 to form a cryogenic gas or to at least partially liquefy the gas to form a cryogenic liquid and / or a mixture of a cryogenic gas and a cryogenic liquid, so as to be used to recapture the stored gas as a cryogenic fluid.

[0108] In embodiments of the apparatus 1 of the present invention and / or embodiments of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2 of the present invention, embodiments of the process of the present invention for warming a cryogenic liquid and recooling a gas to recapture and recover the cryogenic gas may be utilized. Fig.11 Examples of such processes can be understood in the exemplary embodiments shown. Fig.11 In the exemplary embodiment of the process of the present invention shown, the process may include a first step S1, which may include supplying gas from a cryogenic liquid storage tank 3, supplying gas from a cryogenic liquid trailer 3T, supplying purge gas from a trailer connector 2T, and / or pumping a cooling fluid to a gas storage device 10.

[0109] Gas formed from cryogenic liquid from one or other process of the system or equipment may also be fed to the gas storage device 10 for storage and use rather than being discharged. For example, another waste stream including process gas (e.g., gas from cryogenic liquid stored in storage tank 3) may also be used to feed the storage device 10.

[0110] In some embodiments, the gas may be supplied to the gas storage device 10 as a first gas stream 31a or as a first gas stream 31a and a second gas stream 35a. For example, as discussed above, the supply of cryogenic gas to the gas storage device 10 may be provided via a supply conduit arrangement for recovering cryogenic gas from different units of the apparatus 1 included in the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2.

[0111] In the second step S2, the gas stored in the gas storage device 10 may be output from the gas storage device 10 to the evaporator 7 for warming the cryogenic liquid output from the storage tank 3 via the pump 5 and supplied to the evaporator 7. The gas stored in the storage device 10 may be stored for a sufficiently long residence time to warm the gas, so that the gas supplied to the gas storage device 10 is no longer a cryogenic gas in the case where the gas is at a low temperature when supplied to the gas storage device 10. In other cases, the gas stored in the gas storage device 10 may be a warmed gas that is no longer at a low temperature as discussed above.

[0112] The gas output from the gas storage device 10 may be a heating medium used in the evaporator 7 to at least partially evaporate the cryogenic liquid, to completely evaporate the cryogenic liquid, or to assist in evaporating the cryogenic liquid (e.g., to warm the cryogenic liquid). Using the cryogenic gas output from the gas storage device 10 as a heating medium in the evaporator 7 may result in the gas being cooled when transferring heat to the cryogenic liquid in the second step S2. The example of providing the gas as a heating medium to the evaporator 7 can be understood from the above. In the case where the cryogenic liquid supplied to the evaporator 7 via the pump cannot be completely evaporated using the stored gas, one or more other heating media may be supplied to one or more heat exchangers of the evaporator 7 for adding additional heat to the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid, as discussed above.

[0113] In the third step S3, the cooled gas used as the heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator 7 may be supplied to the cryogenic liquid storage tank 3, the pump 5 and / or a conduit or other unit located downstream of the evaporator 7 for recovery of this fluid. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the cooled gas supplied toward the cryogenic liquid storage tank 3 may undergo further cooling via at least one cooling device 21, decompression via a decompression device (e.g., a Joule-Thomson valve, an expander, at least one expansion mechanism 12, etc.) and / or phase separation via a phase separator PS for supply to the storage tank 3. From the above, examples of supplying the cooled gas output from the evaporator 7 to the storage tank 3, the pump 5 and / or another process unit or conduit located downstream of the evaporator 7 can be understood. For example, some embodiments of the process may utilize exemplary embodiments of the output conduit arrangement of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system 2, such as discussed above.

[0114] In the case where fluid is supplied to the storage tank 3 and the fluid includes or is a gas, the gas may be supplied to the storage tank such that the gas is supplied below the liquid level of the storage tank so that the gas passes through the cryogenic liquid of the tank (e.g., bubbles through the liquid of the tank 3). This bubbling of the recovered gas may help cool this gas to reduce the volume of gas supplied to the tank, may help liquefy a portion of the gas, and / or may provide other advantages that may outweigh the warming of the stored liquid that may occur if the gas is supplied through the liquid of the storage tank 3.

[0115] We have discovered that the gas storage device 10 can be used in embodiments to capture different streams having different quantities and time scales for recooling the fluids of those streams. Such streams are typically considered waste streams and / or are not considered waste during the discharge of such fluids. Embodiments can prevent such waste (e.g., prevent fluid discharge, etc.) and provide more flexible operations, which also allows for reduced waste.

[0116] It should be understood that additional modifications or other modifications may be made to the embodiments clearly shown and discussed herein to meet a specific set of design goals or a specific set of design standards. For example, the arrangement of valves, pipelines and other conduit elements (for example, conduit connection mechanisms, pipes, seals, valves, etc.) for interconnecting the different units of the equipment to realize the fluid flow between different elements (for example, pumps, heat exchangers, compressors, storage containers, etc.) may be arranged to meet a specific plant layout design, which takes into account the available area of ​​the plant, the equipment size of the plant and other design considerations. As another example, the flow rate, pressure and temperature of the fluid through various equipment or system elements may change, to consider different design configurations and other design standards.

[0117] Embodiments of the processes, equipment, and systems of the present invention may each be configured to include process control elements that are positioned and configured to monitor and control operations (e.g., temperature and pressure sensors, flow sensors, an automated process control system having at least one workstation including a processor, non-volatile memory, and at least one transceiver for communicating with sensor elements, valves, and controllers to provide a user interface for the automated process control system, which may be run on the workstation and / or another computer device in the factory, etc.) It should be understood that embodiments may also utilize a distributed control system (DCS) to implement one or more processes and / or control operations of the equipment.

[0118] As another example, it is contemplated that a specific feature described separately or as part of an embodiment may be combined with other separately described features or parts of other embodiments. Therefore, the elements and actions of the various embodiments described herein may be combined to provide further embodiments. Therefore, although certain exemplary embodiments of the processes, devices, systems, and methods of making and using the same of the present invention have been shown and described above, it should be clearly understood that the present invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise differently implemented and practiced within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for warming a cryogenic liquid to vaporize the cryogenic liquid and recooling a gas to recapture and recover the gas, the apparatus comprising: a boil-off gas recapture and recovery system having a gas storage device positionable between a storage tank positioned and configured to store the cryogenic liquid and a vaporizer positioned to heat the cryogenic liquid outputtable from the storage tank to vaporize the cryogenic liquid; and The gas storage device is positioned to receive gas formed from the cryogenic liquid for storage, and to supply the stored gas to the evaporator as a heating medium to warm the cryogenic liquid.

2. The device according to claim 1, comprising: a supply conduit arrangement of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system positioned to supply gas formed from the cryogenic liquid to the gas storage device; as well as The output conduit arrangement of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system includes an evaporator heating medium supply conduit connected between the evaporator and the gas storage device to supply the gas to the evaporator as the heating medium.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the supply conduit arrangement of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system comprises one or more of: a pressure relief conduit positioned between the gas storage device and the storage tank; a pump cooling output conduit positioned between a pump and the gas storage device, the pump being positioned between the evaporator and the storage tank to supply the cryogenic liquid to the evaporator; as well as At least one trailer gas supply conduit is positionable between a trailer and the gas storage device, the trailer being connectable to the storage tank via a trailer connection to supply the cryogenic liquid from the trailer to the storage tank.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one trailer gas supply conduit is positioned and configured so that cryogenic gas formed when cryogenic liquid from the trailer passes through the trailer connection to cool elements of the trailer connection is feedable to the gas storage device as a purge flow; and / or The at least one storage container of the gas storage device is positioned and configured such that cryogenic gas within the trailer can reach the at least one storage container of the gas storage device through the trailer gas supply conduit during a trailer evacuation operation.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus comprises the at least one trailer gas supply conduit, the pressure relief conduit and the pump cooling output conduit.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus comprises the reduced pressure conduit and the pump cooling output conduit.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the output conduit arrangement of the boil-off gas recapture and recovery system comprises: a cooled heating medium output conduit connected to the evaporator to output gas that can be used as a heating medium in the evaporator, and At least one of the following: a low temperature gas recovery supply conduit connected between the cooled heating medium output conduit and a conduit or processing unit located downstream of the evaporator; a recovery pump supply conduit connected between the cooled heating medium output conduit and the pump; and / or A storage tank recovery conduit is connected between the cooled heating medium output conduit and the storage tank.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, comprising: At least one cooling device is connectable to the cooled heating medium output conduit to further cool the gas output from the evaporator via the cooled heating medium output conduit, the at least one cooling device being positioned between the storage tank and the evaporator.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one cooling device comprises: a cooling heat exchanger connected to the cooled heating medium output conduit and the refrigerant supply conduit to receive the refrigerant so as to cool the gas output from the evaporator received via the cooled heating medium output conduit; a refrigerant booster positioned to receive the warmed refrigerant output from the cooling heat exchanger to increase the pressure of the warmed refrigerant for supply to the evaporator as a heating medium; as well as a refrigerant pressure relief device positioned to receive refrigerant from the evaporator after the warmed refrigerant supplied to the evaporator as the heating medium is cooled via the evaporator, the pressure relief device being connected to the refrigerant supply conduit, the pressure relief device being configured to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant to supply the refrigerant to the cooling heat exchanger at a preselected refrigerant supply pressure.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the evaporator comprises a first heat exchanger connected to the evaporator heating medium supply conduit and a second heat exchanger connected between the refrigerant pressure relief device and the refrigerant pressure boosting device, the second heat exchanger being positioned to receive the warmed refrigerant and output the refrigerant to the refrigerant pressure relief device after the warmed refrigerant is used as a heating medium in the second heat exchanger.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the refrigerant consists of hydrogen or helium.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, comprising: At least one expansion mechanism is positioned between the evaporator and the storage tank and / or between the evaporator and the pump.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas storage device comprises a metal hydride storage container configured to store the gas and also increase the pressure of the gas to supply the gas to the evaporator as the heating medium to warm the cryogenic liquid.

14. A process for warming a cryogenic liquid and recooling a gas, the process comprising: supplying to the gas storage device gas formed from cryogenic liquid stored in a storage tank, gas formed from cryogenic liquid in a cryogenic liquid trailer, purge gas from a trailer connection for connecting the trailer to the cryogenic liquid storage tank, and / or gas from a pump cooling fluid; Outputting the gas from the gas storage device to a cryogenic liquid evaporator as a heating medium to warm the cryogenic liquid output from the cryogenic liquid storage tank and cool the heating medium; as well as Gas used as a heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator is supplied toward the cryogenic liquid storage tank, and / or a pump positioned to supply the cryogenic liquid stored in the storage tank to the evaporator for evaporation, and / or a conduit or other unit located downstream of the cryogenic liquid evaporator.

15. The process according to claim 14, wherein the supplying of gas used as a heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator toward the cryogenic liquid storage tank and / or the pump is performed, and the supplying of gas used as a heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator toward the cryogenic liquid storage tank comprises: At least a portion of the gas used as the heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator is supplied to (i) at least one cooling device and / or (ii) at least one pressure reducing device to supply fluid to the storage tank and / or the pump.

16. The process according to claim 15, wherein the fluid supplied to the storage tank is at least partially liquefied via the at least one cooling device and / or the at least one pressure reducing device.

17. The process according to claim 14, wherein the supplying of gas used as a heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator toward the cryogenic liquid storage tank, and / or the pump, and / or a conduit or other unit located downstream of the cryogenic liquid evaporator comprises: At least a portion of the gas used as the heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator is supplied to a conduit or other unit located downstream of the cryogenic liquid evaporator.

18. The process according to claim 14, wherein the supplying of gas used as a heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator toward the cryogenic liquid storage tank, and / or the pump, and / or a conduit or other unit located downstream of the cryogenic liquid evaporator comprises: At least a portion of the gas used as a heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator is supplied to (i) at least one cooling device and / or (ii) at least one pressure reducing device to supply the fluid to the storage tank and / or the pump, and the at least one pressure reducing device is positioned between the at least one cooling device and the cryogenic liquid storage tank and / or the pump.

19. The process according to claim 14, wherein the supplying of gas used as a heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator toward the cryogenic liquid storage tank, and / or the pump, and / or a conduit or other unit located downstream of the cryogenic liquid evaporator comprises: At least a portion of the gas used as the heating medium in the cryogenic liquid evaporator is supplied to at least one cooling device, and the process further comprises: supplying a refrigerant to a cooling heat exchanger of the at least one cooling device to cool the gas used as the heating medium; and The refrigerant is output from the cooling heat exchanger to be supplied to the evaporator, thereby cooling the refrigerant output from the cooling heat exchanger.

20. The process of claim 14, wherein the gas storage device comprises a metal hydride storage container configured to store the gas and increase the pressure of the gas during output of the gas from the gas storage device to the cryogenic liquid evaporator as the heating medium.

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