An LNG vaporizer
By designing a three-chamber cascade heat exchange structure and heat pipe components, the problems of easy icing and insufficient dynamic matching capability of LNG vaporizers were solved, achieving a stable and efficient LNG vaporization process and improving the operating performance and fuel utilization efficiency of LNG vehicles.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202521920867.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-08
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-25
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-09-08
AI Technical Summary
Existing LNG vaporizers are prone to freezing at extremely low temperatures during the LNG vaporization stage, and are difficult to dynamically match the vehicle's operating conditions, leading to increased system complexity and unstable fuel consumption.
The system employs a three-chamber cascade heat exchange structure and heat pipe assembly. The chambers are divided into an LNG heat exchange chamber, a first medium heat exchange chamber, and a second medium heat exchange chamber by a partition assembly. The heat pipe assembly enables orderly heat exchange between LNG and the two different heat exchange media. Combined with the counter-flow design of the first and second media, a highly efficient heat conduction channel is formed and the heat exchange effect is enhanced.
It effectively avoids the problem of medium icing, improves the stability and reliability of the unit's operation, enhances heat exchange efficiency, and can flexibly adjust the medium flow rate and temperature to adapt to the LNG vaporization load requirements, thereby improving the economy and efficiency of the entire vehicle operation.
Smart Images
Figure CN224680555U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of vaporizer technology, specifically relating to an LNG vaporizer. Background Technology
[0002] Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a liquid fuel obtained by deeply cooling gaseous natural gas at atmospheric pressure to -162°C. Its main component is methane. The liquefaction process significantly improves the storage and transportation efficiency of natural gas while retaining its high calorific value and excellent combustion characteristics. As an important area of clean energy application, LNG vehicles play a crucial role in building a low-carbon transportation system.
[0003] In LNG vehicle fuel systems, the vaporizer is a core component, and its performance directly affects the overall vehicle's operating efficiency and economy. However, currently widely used LNG vaporizers generally suffer from two major technical bottlenecks: First, the extremely low temperature during LNG vaporization easily causes the heat exchange medium to freeze, requiring additional de-icing measures, increasing system complexity and cost; second, relying on fixed flow channels or a single heat exchange medium makes it difficult to dynamically match the vehicle's operating conditions, resulting in a surge in fuel consumption when the vaporization volume is too large, and power fluctuations or even gas supply interruptions when the volume is too small. Utility Model Content
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a novel LNG vaporizer.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows:
[0006] This utility model provides an LNG vaporizer, comprising:
[0007] The shell contains a closed chamber.
[0008] The partition assembly includes a first partition and a second partition spaced apart, which divide the chamber into three independent heat exchange chambers along the axial direction: an LNG heat exchange chamber, a first medium heat exchange chamber, and a second medium heat exchange chamber.
[0009] The LNG heat exchange chamber has an LNG inlet and an LNG outlet on its opposite side walls, the first medium heat exchange chamber has a first medium inlet and a first medium outlet on its opposite side walls, and the second medium heat exchange chamber has a second medium inlet and a second medium outlet on its opposite side walls. The LNG inlet, the first medium inlet, and the second medium outlet are located on the same side of the shell, and the LNG outlet, the first medium outlet, and the second medium inlet are also located on the same side of the shell.
[0010] The heat pipe assembly includes multiple pipes that penetrate the first and second partitions, with each pipe extending to the LNG heat exchange chamber and the second medium heat exchange chamber at both ends.
[0011] When LNG flows into the LNG heat exchange chamber through the LNG inlet, it undergoes phase change vaporization by absorbing heat from the first medium and heat from the second medium through the condensation section of the pipe fittings (the pipe section extending into the LNG heat exchange chamber). Simultaneously, the first medium achieves a self-sustaining cycle within the first medium heat exchange chamber through dual phase changes—absorbing the cooling energy from LNG vaporization to condense, and absorbing heat from the second medium to re-vaporize. Compared to a single heat exchange method, this better solves the problem of medium icing, fully utilizes heat, and achieves a more efficient heat exchange process.
[0012] In some embodiments, the pipe fitting comprises a plurality of ellipsoidal structures connected in series. More preferably, the minimum radial diameter of the ellipsoidal structure is 1 / 3 to 2 / 3 of its maximum diameter.
[0013] In some embodiments, the pipe is spirally twisted.
[0014] In some embodiments, multiple pipe fittings are arranged in an alternating pattern. Preferably, the central axes of the multiple pipe fittings are parallel to each other, and the line connecting the central axes of three adjacent pipe fittings forms an equilateral triangle.
[0015] In some embodiments, the pipe is sealed at both ends and filled with a low-boiling-point working fluid. The low-boiling-point working fluid is a conventional low-boiling-point working fluid in the art, including but not limited to propane, Freon refrigerant, chloroethane, or isobutane.
[0016] In some embodiments, the shell is a regular hexagonal prism structure, and the LNG inlet, the first medium inlet, and the second medium outlet are sequentially distributed along the axial direction at the first corner of the regular hexagonal prism shell, and the LNG outlet, the first medium outlet, and the second medium inlet are sequentially distributed along the axial direction at the second corner, with the first corner and the second corner located at the two ends of the diagonal of the regular hexagonal prism shell.
[0017] In some embodiments, the first medium heat exchange cavity is filled with a first medium, and the second medium heat exchange cavity is filled with a second medium. The first medium is a phase-change heat exchange medium, and the second medium is a non-phase-change heat exchange medium.
[0018] In some specific embodiments, the first medium is propane or tetrafluoroethane (R134a).
[0019] In some specific embodiments, the second medium is seawater.
[0020] In some embodiments, the first partition and the second partition are arranged in parallel.
[0021] In some embodiments, the outer side of the housing has an insulation layer.
[0022] Due to the application of the above technical solution, this utility model has the following advantages compared with the prior art:
[0023] This invention employs a three-chamber tiered heat exchange structure. A partition assembly sequentially divides the chambers into an independent LNG heat exchange chamber, a first medium heat exchange chamber, and a second medium heat exchange chamber. This achieves orderly heat exchange between LNG and two different heat exchange media, effectively avoiding the low-temperature icing problem caused by a single heat exchange medium, and improving the operational stability and reliability of the device. Furthermore, the tiered heat exchange structure allows for flexible adjustment of the flow rate and temperature of the two heat exchange media according to actual needs, adapting to the LNG vaporization load requirements.
[0024] This invention also uses a heat pipe assembly that runs through the three heat exchange chambers, which not only forms a highly efficient heat conduction channel, but also increases the fluid disturbance on the surface of the pipe, enhances the heat exchange effect, and improves the heat exchange efficiency, making the heat exchange between LNG, the first medium, and the second medium more complete and uniform. Attached Figure Description
[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the LNG vaporizer provided in Example 1;
[0026] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the LNG vaporizer provided in Example 1;
[0027] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the LNG vaporizer provided in Example 1 from another angle;
[0028] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the pipe fitting provided in Example 1;
[0029] Wherein, 1. Shell; 11. LNG inlet; 12. LNG outlet; 13. First medium inlet; 14. First medium outlet; 15. Second medium outlet; 16. Second medium inlet; 17. LNG heat exchange chamber; 18. First medium heat exchange chamber; 19. Second medium heat exchange chamber;
[0030] 21. First partition; 22. Second partition;
[0031] 3. Pipe fittings; 31. Ellipsoidal structure. Detailed Implementation
[0032] The present invention will be further described below with reference to embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. The implementation conditions used in the embodiments can be further adjusted according to different requirements of specific use, and the implementation conditions not specified are conventional conditions in the industry. The technical features involved in the various embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.
[0033] In the following description, only certain exemplary embodiments are briefly described. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the described embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the drawings and description are considered to be exemplary in nature and not restrictive.
[0034] In the description of the embodiments of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "inner" and "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship defined by the distance relative to the center of the device or component. In this case, "inner" is the position closer to the center of the device or component, and "outer" is the position farther away from the center of the device or component. This is only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this utility model and simplifying the description, and is not intended to indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation on the embodiments of this utility model.
[0035] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of embodiments of this utility model, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0036] The following disclosure provides many different implementations or examples for different structures of the embodiments of the present invention. To simplify the disclosure of the embodiments of the present invention, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. Of course, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or reference letters may be repeated in different examples of the embodiments of the present invention; such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various implementations and / or arrangements discussed.
[0037] Example 1
[0038] An LNG vaporizer, such as Figures 1 to 4 As shown, it includes a housing 1, a partition assembly, and a heat pipe assembly. A closed chamber is formed within the housing 1. The partition assembly includes a first partition 21 and a second partition 22 arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart, the first partition 21 and the second partition 22 dividing the chamber axially ( Figure 1The structure (shown vertically) is sequentially divided into three independent heat exchange chambers: an LNG heat exchange chamber 17, a first medium heat exchange chamber 18, and a second medium heat exchange chamber 19. The LNG heat exchange chamber 17 has an LNG inlet 11 for introducing LNG and an LNG outlet 12 for discharging gaseous natural gas on its opposite side walls. The first medium heat exchange chamber 18 has a first medium inlet 13 for introducing the first medium and a first medium outlet 14 for discharging the first medium on its opposite side walls. The second medium heat exchange chamber 19 has a second medium inlet 16 for introducing the second medium and a second medium outlet 15 for discharging the second medium on its opposite side walls. The LNG inlet 11, the first medium inlet 13, and the second medium outlet 15 are located on the same side of the shell 1, as are the LNG outlet 12, the first medium outlet 14, and the second medium inlet 16. The heat pipe assembly includes multiple pipes 3 that penetrate the first partition 21 and the second partition 22. Each pipe 3 extends to both ends into the LNG heat exchange chamber 17 and the second medium heat exchange chamber 19, respectively. The pipe section located in the LNG heat exchange chamber 17 is defined as the condensation section, and the pipe section located in the second medium heat exchange chamber 19 is defined as the evaporation section. The condensation section is preferably located at the end face of the LNG heat exchange chamber 17 furthest from the first medium heat exchange chamber 18 (i.e., the end face of the first medium heat exchange chamber 18). Figure 2 The upper end face shown is flush with the evaporation section, which is preferably the end face of the second medium heat exchange chamber 19 that is furthest from the first medium heat exchange chamber 18. Figure 2 The lower end face shown is flush with the tube. Each tube 3 is sealed at both ends and filled with a low-boiling-point working fluid. The low-boiling-point working fluid is a conventional low-boiling-point working fluid in the art, including but not limited to propane, Freon refrigerant, chloroethane, or isobutane. The heat exchange process of each heat exchange chamber of this vaporizer is as follows:
[0039] The heat exchange process in the first medium heat exchange chamber 18 is as follows: When the gaseous first medium enters the second medium heat exchange chamber 19 from the first medium inlet 13, it absorbs the cold energy released from the LNG heat exchange chamber 17 during its flow, gradually decreasing in temperature and condensing into a liquid state. Subsequently, the liquid first medium absorbs heat from the second medium during its flow, increasing in temperature and re-vaporizing into a gaseous state. The vaporized first medium then exchanges heat with the LNG heat exchange chamber 17 again, acting as an intermediate heat medium to continuously transfer the heat from the second medium to the LNG, causing the LNG temperature to rise. As the LNG flows within the LNG heat exchange chamber 17, the released cold energy may cause localized freezing of the heat exchange medium. By designing the first medium and the second medium and their flow directions in opposite directions, it is ensured that the first medium in the outlet area can fully absorb the heat from the second medium, thereby avoiding freezing and maintaining its gaseous state. This design achieves autonomous circulation operation without an external heat source. Preferably, the first medium is a phase change heat medium, such as propane or tetrafluoroethane (R134a).
[0040] The heat exchange process of the second medium heat exchange chamber 19 is as follows: When the second medium flows into the second medium heat exchange chamber 19 from the second medium inlet 16, it exchanges heat with the pipe 3 that runs through the chamber, transferring its own heat to the low-boiling-point working medium inside the pipe 3. The low-boiling-point working medium absorbs heat, vaporizes, and flows to the LNG heat exchange chamber 17, releasing heat in the condensation section, causing the LNG to heat up and vaporize. Simultaneously, the second medium heat exchange chamber 19 provides auxiliary heat to the first medium heat exchange chamber 18, ensuring that the first medium maintains gaseous circulation and achieving stable heat exchange without relying on an external heat source. By adjusting the flow rate of the second medium flowing into the second medium heat exchange chamber 19, the vaporization demand of LNG can be matched in real time, thereby achieving dynamic adjustment of the vaporizer's operating conditions. Preferably, the second medium is a non-phase-change heat medium, such as seawater.
[0041] The heat exchange process in LNG heat exchange chamber 17: When LNG is introduced into LNG heat exchange chamber 17 through LNG inlet 11, the low-boiling-point working medium in pipe 3 partially or completely vaporizes due to absorbing heat from the second medium, and then flows to the condensation section to exchange heat with LNG. Simultaneously, the first medium heat exchange chamber 18 exchanges heat with LNG heat exchange chamber 17. After absorbing heat, the LNG gradually heats up until it reaches room temperature or near room temperature near LNG outlet 12, and finally exits as gaseous natural gas from LNG outlet 12, completing the vaporization process.
[0042] In this embodiment, the shell 1 is a regular hexagonal prism structure. Compared with the traditional vaporizer structure, the regular hexagonal prism structure is more compact, reducing the floor space required and facilitating installation and integration into LNG application systems with limited space. Simultaneously, this structure has a larger heat exchange area, which helps improve the overall working efficiency of the vaporizer. The LNG inlet 11, the first medium inlet 13, and the second medium outlet 15 are sequentially distributed along the axial direction at the first corner of the regular hexagonal prism shell 1, and the LNG outlet 12, the first medium outlet 14, and the second medium inlet 16 are sequentially distributed along the axial direction at the second corner. The first and second corners are located at the two ends of the diagonal of the regular hexagonal prism shell 1, thus providing a longer heat exchange channel.
[0043] Multiple pipe fittings 3 are arranged in an alternating pattern. Preferably, the central axes of the multiple pipe fittings 3 are parallel to each other, and the lines connecting the central axes of three adjacent pipe fittings 3 form an equilateral triangle, i.e., a honeycomb-like structure. This arrangement is more compact in structure and has better heat exchange effect. Taking one pipe fitting 3 as an example, the pipe fitting 3 includes multiple ellipsoidal structures 31 connected in series, and the heat exchange area of the pipe fitting 3 with the ellipsoidal structure 31 is larger. Preferably, the minimum radial diameter of the ellipsoidal structure 31 is 1 / 3 to 2 / 3 of its maximum diameter. Furthermore, the pipe fitting 3 is spirally twisted, which has a better turbulence effect.
[0044] The materials of the housing 1, the baffle assembly, and the heat pipe assembly can refer to the existing technology in this field. Preferably, an insulation layer is provided on the outside of the housing, which reduces energy loss and improves energy utilization efficiency, and also reduces the impact of heat or cold loss on the surrounding environment, which helps to maintain stable heat exchange conditions inside the vaporizer and extend the service life of the equipment.
[0045] The present utility model has been described in detail above, with the aim of enabling those skilled in the art to understand its contents and implement it. However, this description should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present utility model. All equivalent changes or modifications made in accordance with the spirit and essence of the present utility model should be included within the scope of protection of the present utility model.
Claims
1. An LNG vaporizer, characterized in that, include: The shell (1) has a closed chamber inside; The partition assembly includes a first partition (21) and a second partition (22) spaced apart, wherein the first partition (21) and the second partition (22) sequentially divide the chamber along the axial direction into three independent heat exchange chambers, namely an LNG heat exchange chamber (17), a first medium heat exchange chamber (18), and a second medium heat exchange chamber (19). The LNG heat exchange chamber (17) has an LNG inlet (11) and an LNG outlet (12) on its opposite side walls, the first medium heat exchange chamber (18) has a first medium inlet (13) and a first medium outlet (14) on its opposite side walls, and the second medium heat exchange chamber (19) has a second medium inlet (16) and a second medium outlet (15) on its opposite side walls. The LNG inlet (11), the first medium inlet (13), and the second medium outlet (15) are located on the same side of the shell (1), and the LNG outlet (12), the first medium outlet (14), and the second medium inlet (16) are located on the same side of the shell (1). as well as, The heat pipe assembly includes multiple pipes (3) that penetrate the first partition (21) and the second partition (22), with each pipe (3) extending to both ends of the LNG heat exchange chamber (17) and the second medium heat exchange chamber (19).
2. The LNG vaporizer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pipe fitting (3) includes multiple ellipsoidal structures (31) connected in series.
3. The LNG vaporizer according to claim 2, characterized in that, The minimum radial diameter of the ellipsoidal structure (31) is 1 / 3 to 2 / 3 of its maximum diameter.
4. The LNG vaporizer according to claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple of the aforementioned pipe fittings (3) are arranged in an alternating pattern; And / or, the pipe fitting (3) is spirally twisted.
5. The LNG vaporizer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pipe fitting (3) is closed at both ends and filled with a low-boiling-point working fluid.
6. The LNG vaporizer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The shell (1) is a regular hexagonal prism structure. The LNG inlet (11), the first medium inlet (13), and the second medium outlet (15) are distributed in sequence along the axial direction at the first corner of the regular hexagonal prism shell (1). The LNG outlet (12), the first medium outlet (14), and the second medium inlet (16) are distributed in sequence along the axial direction at the second corner. The first corner and the second corner are located at the two ends of the diagonal of the regular hexagonal prism shell (1).
7. The LNG vaporizer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first medium heat exchange chamber (18) is filled with a first medium, and the second medium heat exchange chamber (19) is filled with a second medium. The first medium is a phase change heat exchange medium, and the second medium is a non-phase change heat exchange medium.
8. The LNG vaporizer according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first medium is propane or tetrafluoroethane; And / or, the second medium is seawater.
9. The LNG vaporizer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first partition (21) and the second partition (22) are arranged in parallel.
10. The LNG vaporizer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer side of the shell (1) has a heat insulation layer.