Tanker truck filling procedure
The method addresses inefficiencies in CO2 tanker truck filling by using a gas return pipe and liquid detection device for automated fill level detection, ensuring complete and timely tank filling without manual operation.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2025002179
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-06
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-03-04
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for filling tanker trucks with CO2 are inefficient and non-automated due to inaccuracies in detecting fill levels, leading to incomplete or overfilled tanks and the need for manual intervention.
A method using a gas return pipe with an upward-facing opening and a liquid detection device to automatically detect the fill level by detecting liquid overflow into the gas return pipe, eliminating the need for additional connections beyond the standard two pipes.
Enables precise and automated filling, ensuring tanks are fully utilized without manual intervention, reducing delays and inefficiencies.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Method for filling a tanker truck
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for filling a tanker truck.
[0002] This method improves the robustness of automated filling of tanker trucks for the transport of CO2.
[0003] CO2 capture and sequestration can be implemented for an industrial CO2 emitter that is landlocked and far from waterways. In this case, the captured CO2 is generally transported to the sequestration site by pipeline or rail.
[0004] The quantities of CO2 captured (thousands of tonnes / day) are such that the transport of CO2 must as far as possible be an automated and reproducible process.
[0005] In the case of transporting CO2 by rail, the typical method (also used by other systems for transporting bulk liquids under pressure) used to fill tank trucks includes: 1. Connect the filling station to the truck using two hoses, one to transport the liquid and the other to return the gas from the CO2 capture unit. 2. Fill the tanker truck with liquid CO2, 3. Detect when the tanker truck is full to stop filling and disconnect the hoses.
[0006] Point 3 is the most important and most problematic step for fully automating the tanker truck filling sequence.
[0007] STATE OF THE ART
[0008] To date, the CO2 capture market and infrastructure are in their infancy. As such, the state-of-the-art benchmark is established with other bulk gas or chilled liquid markets such as LNG and LNG. The logistics of these two products generally include pipelines, liquefaction, tank trucks, tank ships, and regasification facilities.
[0009] Typical methods used to detect when a tanker truck has finished filling include: • measuring the amount of liquid charged using flow meters - inaccurate due to the low accuracy of flow meters for cryogenic liquids under pressure. • Differential pressure level gauges - inaccurate due to the low height of liquid available for measurement. • Needle valves used to dispense the liquid (non-flammable, non-toxic) in a controlled manner once the liquid is inside the tank the truck reached a predetermined level, a system which is not suitable for automatic operation.
[0010] PROBLEM SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0011] The disadvantages of these methods are both an inefficient filling procedure and the impossibility of fully automating the filling process: - the tanks are not fully filled, meaning that the transport volume is not fully utilized. - the tanks are too full, requiring partial emptying and thus causing delays. - need for an operator to detect when the tank is full (in the case of the tap valve) and to discharge the liquid at the end of each filling.
[0012] The invention aims to solve these problems and to provide a more precise and simpler automatic means of detecting the fill level in the liquid reservoir.
[0013] According to one object of the invention, a method for filling a tank truck is provided in which the tank of the tank truck is connected to a service station by a liquid inlet pipe and a gas return pipe, the gas return pipe being constituted by a vertical cylinder in the tank, an opening of which opens into an upper part of the tank, and into which the liquid arrives in the tank by the liquid inlet pipe and accumulates in the tank and, once it reaches the height of the opening of the gas return pipe, overflows into the gas return pipe where its presence is detected by a liquid presence detector.
[0014] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the figures in which:
[0016] [Fig.1] shows a method according to the invention.
[0017] [Fig.2] shows the opening of a gas return pipe into the gaseous sky above a liquid level.
[0018] As shown in [Fig. 1], the invention uses two parts: - in the tank of truck C, the gas return pipe Tl with the inlet section facing upwards (possibly with at least one VK cut as illustrated in [Fig.2] to allow a gradual flow of the liquid in the gas line), protected by a cap F against splashing at the opening of the inlet section at the elevation corresponding to the full tank, - in service station S, a liquid detection device D detects the presence of liquid in the gas return line 1.
[0019] During filling, the liquid flows from station S to the truck through pipe 3 and enters the tank via pipe T2, which has a lower opening. than that of the pipe Tl. When the liquid reaches the opening of the gas pipe Tl, corresponding to the full level height, it will begin to flow into the gas pipe Tl and will be detected by the liquid detection device D and trigger the end of the loading sequence.
[0020] Device D can operate by the methods described in FR2706579 or US6505470, for example by measuring the temperature in the pipe 1.
[0021] As can be seen, this method and apparatus are simple, robust, cost-effective, and easy to fully automate. Furthermore, they require no additional connections other than the two pipes T1, T2 between the tank and the filling station S.
Claims
Demands
1. A method for filling a tank truck (C) in which the tank of the tank truck is connected to a service station (S) by a liquid inlet pipe (1) and a gas return pipe (3), the gas return pipe being constituted by a vertical cylinder in the tank having an opening open into an upper part of the tank and into which the liquid arrives in the tank by the liquid inlet pipe and accumulates in the tank and, once it reaches the height of the opening of the gas return pipe, overflows into the gas return pipe where its presence is detected by a liquid presence detector (D).