Apparatus and process for fog mitigation

Abstract

To provide processes and systems for mitigation of fog that can be formed as a result of processing a cryogenic liquid to vaporize the liquid.SOLUTION: An apparatus and process for fog mitigation can include a mechanism to reduce fog formation and / or condense the fog into water to prevent fog from being formed and moving through a site. Embodiments can be configured to utilize at least one fog collection mechanism positioned adjacently to a vaporizer utilized to vaporize a cryogenic liquid so that fog that may form adjacently to the vaporizer is removed from air surrounding the vaporizer and prevented from spreading beyond the vaporizer to other areas of a site having the vaporizer (e.g., a hydrogen fueling station, etc.).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a process and system for the mitigation of fog that may form as a result of processing cryogenic liquids to vaporize the liquid. [Background technology]

[0002] U.S. Patent 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, Examples of hydrogen generation and / or supply systems can be seen in US Patent Publication Nos. 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 seen in US Patent Publication Nos. 2023 / 0137335 and 2023 / 0107342. Such systems can provide hydrogen to a vehicle for use as a fuel to power the operation of the vehicle. Summary of the Invention

[0003] We have determined that hydrogen storage and distribution systems, as well as other systems utilizing 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 can heat oxygen to form an oxidant stream for the combustion of the fuel), can result in operations that can often contribute to the formation of fog and / or cold shells around the ambient evaporator that cool nearby air to form fog (e.g., condensation of water vapor in the air). Furthermore, we have found that when stored cryogenic liquid is utilized in fuel distribution operations, ambient air evaporators that may be utilized for such processes can also contribute to the formation of undesirable fog. We have found that such fog can form due to the cold shell of the evaporator used to heat the cryogenic liquid into a vapor that condenses water vapor in the air into water droplets, which can contribute to significant fog around the evaporator. In some cases, the fog can spread over a relatively large area around the evaporator (e.g., more than 10 meters around the evaporator, more than 15 meters around the evaporator, etc.).

[0004] We have determined that fog formation is undesirable. For example, fog formation can reduce visibility and pose possible safety issues. Additionally, we have determined that fog formation can create an undesirable appearance and contribute to customer anxiety and fear regarding gas stations or other locations. Such factors can result in customers not wanting to use a particular gas station or choosing to stay away from a particular location.

[0005] Embodiments of our processes, apparatus, and systems may be provided that can help mitigate the formation and / or spread of fog (e.g., avoid the formation of fog or minimize the formation of fog and / or minimize the spread of fog). Embodiments may also be adapted to minimize the overall footprint that may be associated with fog mitigation or fog avoidance so that such features may be provided without requiring a significant amount of additional space on-site. Embodiments may also be adapted to provide such functionality with low noise, low power usage, and / or the ability to reuse water generated from fog formed adjacent to the vaporizer that has undergone fog mitigation via at least one fog mitigation device or apparatus.

[0006] In a first aspect, an apparatus for mist mitigation is provided. An embodiment of the apparatus can include at least one mist collection device positionable adjacent to a vaporizer configured to vaporize a cryogenic liquid. The at least one mist collection device can be configured to collect mist that can form adjacent to the vaporizer and remove water from the mist for mist mitigation.

[0007] Fog mitigation can, for example, help to avoid fog formation or to avoid the spread of fog. Mitigation can include, for example, avoiding fog formation, minimizing fog formation, and / or minimizing the spread of fog.

[0008] In a second aspect, the at least one mist collection device can include a mesh body positionable adjacent to the vaporizer and / or at least one fan positionable adjacent to or below the bottom of the vaporizer. The body of the at least one fan can be movable to mitigate fog. For example, the fan can include a disk having one or more apertures that can be rotated to break up the fog and minimize its spread. As another example, the fan can include a body having rotatable blades that can help break up the fog or otherwise mitigate fog formation.

[0009] In a third aspect, the at least one mist collection device can include a housing having at least one sidewall extending from a bottom to define a chamber. An upper portion of the at least one sidewall can define a mouth through which a mist flow of mist can pass to collect the mist in the chamber. In some embodiments, at least one support of the vaporizer can be positionable in the chamber in some embodiments. In other embodiments, one or more supports of the vaporizer may not be within the chamber.

[0010] Embodiments may also include one or more other mist collection devices. For example, the apparatus may also include a fan positioned adjacent to the chamber that is rotatable to assist in driving the mist flow into the chamber, a funnel positioned adjacent to the chamber to direct the mist flow into the chamber, and / or a nozzle apparatus positioned to spray water to form a water curtain in the chamber. The nozzle apparatus may include a single nozzle or multiple nozzles. In some embodiments, for example, the apparatus may include all of these elements (e.g., the apparatus may include a fan positioned adjacent to the chamber that is rotatable to assist in driving the mist flow into the chamber, a funnel positioned adjacent to the chamber to direct the mist flow into the chamber, and / or a nozzle apparatus positioned to spray water to form a water curtain in the chamber).

[0011] In other embodiments, only one or two of these additional units may be utilized. For example, an embodiment may include a fan positioned adjacent to the chamber that is rotatable to help drive the mist flow into the chamber, and / or a funnel positioned adjacent to the chamber to direct the mist flow into the chamber.

[0012] In some embodiments, a water recirculation system may be connected to the housing such that water from within the chamber may pass to a nozzle arrangement positioned to spray water to form a water curtain within the chamber. The water recirculation system may include, for example, a pump in fluid communication with the chamber via a pump recirculation supply conduit connected between the pump and the chamber of the housing.

[0013] In a fourth aspect, an air drying system may be positioned to remove water from the air before the air is supplied to an evaporator as a heating medium for vaporizing a cryogenic liquid. In some embodiments, the air drying system may include a dryer positionable to remove water vapor from the air and output a flow of dry air for supplying as a heating medium to an evaporator configured to vaporize a cryogenic liquid. At least one mist collection device may be configured to collect mist that may form adjacent to the evaporator and remove water from the mist for fog mitigation. A refrigerant cooling device may be positioned to supply a flow of refrigerant to the dryer at a preselected dryer supply temperature such that one or more elements of the dryer are coolable to contact air passing through the dryer and condense water vapor in the air to remove water vapor from the air to form a flow of dry air. Also, a recirculation device may be positioned to increase the pressure of the refrigerant output from the dryer to a preselected refrigerant cooling device supply pressure for supply to the refrigerant cooling device via a refrigerant cooling device supply conduit connected between the recirculation device and the refrigerant cooling device such that the refrigerant output from the dryer can be passed to the refrigerant cooling device to undergo cooling to a preselected dryer supply temperature.

[0014] In some embodiments, the refrigerant may be or include D-limonene or hydrogen, while other embodiments may utilize another suitable type of refrigerant.

[0015] In a fifth aspect, the device of the first aspect can include one or more features of the second aspect, the third aspect, and / or the fourth aspect. Apparatus embodiments can also include other features. For example, examples of such additional features can be seen from the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.

[0016] In a sixth aspect, an apparatus for mist mitigation can include a drying system having a dryer positionable to remove water vapor from air and output a flow of dry air for supply as a heating medium to an vaporizer configured to vaporize a cryogenic liquid. The dry air can be utilized, for example, to help mitigate mist formation.

[0017] In a seventh aspect, a drying system can include a refrigerant cooling device positioned to supply a flow of refrigerant to the dryer at a preselected dryer supply temperature such that one or more elements of the dryer can be cooled to contact air passing through the dryer and condense water vapor in the air to remove water vapor from the air to form a flow of dry air.

[0018] Embodiments can also include other features, such as a recirculation device may be positioned to increase the pressure of the refrigerant output from the dryer to a preselected refrigerant cooling device supply pressure for supply to the refrigerant cooling device via a refrigerant cooling device supply conduit connected between the recirculation device and the refrigerant cooling device such that the refrigerant output from the dryer can be passed to the refrigerant cooling device to undergo cooling to a preselected dryer supply temperature.

[0019] In an eighth aspect, a process for mist mitigation is provided that can include positioning at least one mist collection device adjacent to a vaporizer configured to vaporize a cryogenic liquid, and collecting mist formed by operation of the vaporizer via the at least one mist collection device for mist mitigation.

[0020] An embodiment of the process may include other steps. For example, the process may also include collecting liquid water from at least one mist collecting device for using the liquid water. As another example, the process may further (or alternatively) include drying air to form a stream of dry air for supply to an evaporator as a heating medium for vaporization of the cryogenic liquid, and supplying a refrigerant to the drier to dry the air to form a stream of dry air.

[0021] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of our apparatus for mist mitigation can be configured to implement an embodiment of our process for mist mitigation. For example, the process can utilize at least one mist collection device that can include a mesh body positionable adjacent to the vaporizer and / or at least one fan positionable adjacent to or below the bottom of the vaporizer. The body of the at least one fan can be configured to rotate to mitigate mist formation.

[0022] As another example, the process may utilize at least one mist collection device including a housing having at least one sidewall extending from a bottom to define a chamber, with an upper portion of the at least one sidewall defining an aperture through which a mist flow of the mist may pass to collect the mist within the chamber. Some embodiments may be configured such that at least one support of the vaporizer is positionable within the chamber.

[0023] As yet another example, the process may utilize at least one mist collection device including a fan positioned adjacent the chamber that is rotatable to assist in driving a mist flow of mist into the chamber, a funnel positioned adjacent the chamber to direct the mist flow into the chamber, and / or a nozzle arrangement positioned to spray water to form a water curtain within the chamber.

[0024] In a tenth aspect, the process of the eighth aspect can include one or more features of the ninth aspect and / or the tenth aspect. Embodiments can additionally or alternatively utilize other process steps or features. Examples of such additional features or process steps can be discerned from the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.

[0025] It should be appreciated that process and apparatus embodiments can utilize a variety of conduit arrangements and process control elements. Embodiments may utilize sensors (e.g., pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow sensors, concentration sensors, etc.), controllers, valves, piping, and other process control elements. Some embodiments can utilize, for example, an automatic process control system and / or a distributed control system (DCS). A variety of different conduit arrangements and process control systems can be utilized to meet a particular set of design criteria. A DCS or automatic process control system can utilize one or more computing devices including a processor coupled to a non-transitory computer readable medium and at least one transceiver configured to monitor, supervise, and / or control a process according to at least one predefined algorithm, which may be defined in code stored on the computer readable medium that is executable by the processor.

[0026] Other details, objects, and advantages of our process for mist mitigation, apparatus for mist mitigation, hydrogen distribution system, cryogenic fluid distribution system, and methods of making and using the same will become apparent as the following description of certain exemplary embodiments thereof proceeds.

[0027] Exemplary embodiments of our process for mist mitigation, apparatus for mist mitigation, hydrogen distribution system, cryogenic fluid distribution system, and methods of making and using the same are illustrated in the drawings included herein, it being understood that like reference characters used in the drawings may identify like components. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a cryogenic fluid distribution system having an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for mist mitigation, some optional elements of this exemplary embodiment are shown in dashed lines in FIG.

[0029] [Diagram 2] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for mist mitigation that may be utilized in the first exemplary embodiment of the cryogenic fluid distribution system and / or the second exemplary embodiment of the cryogenic fluid distribution system shown in FIG.

[0030] [Diagram 3] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for mist mitigation that may be utilized in the first exemplary embodiment of the cryogenic fluid distribution system and / or the second exemplary embodiment of the cryogenic fluid distribution system shown in FIG.

[0031] [Figure 4] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for mist mitigation that may be utilized in the first exemplary embodiment of the cryogenic fluid distribution system and / or the second exemplary embodiment of the cryogenic fluid distribution system shown in FIG.

[0032] [Diagram 5] 1 is a top schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a mist collection mechanism that may be utilized in an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for fog mitigation.

[0033] [Figure 6] 6 is a block diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of a cryogenic fluid distribution system having an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for mist mitigation.Some optional elements of this exemplary embodiment are shown in dashed lines in FIG.

[0034] [Figure 7] 1 is a flow chart illustrating an example embodiment of a process for fog mitigation.

[0035] [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for mist mitigation that may be utilized in the first exemplary embodiment of the cryogenic fluid distribution system and / or the second exemplary embodiment of the cryogenic fluid distribution system shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] 1-8 and the disclosure provided herein, exemplary embodiments of our apparatus for mist mitigation 2 may be utilized in embodiments of a cryogenic fluid distribution system 1. An embodiment of the apparatus for mist mitigation 2 may include one or more mist collection devices. An embodiment of the apparatus for mist mitigation 2 may further (or alternatively) include at least one air drying system 50.

[0037] For example, the cryogenic fluid distribution system 1 may include a storage tank 3 (ST) that may be in fluid communication with a pump 5 such that a cryogenic liquid stored in the tank 3 may be supplied to the pump 5 via at least one tank outlet conduit 4 connected between the tank 3 and the pump 5. The tank 3 may store the cryogenic fluid at a preselected storage pressure, which may be a pressure in the range of 0.1 MPa to 1 MPa, 0.1 MPa to 3 MPa, or other suitable pressure range. The tank 3 may store the cryogenic liquid and a cryogenic gas that may boil off from the cryogenic liquid or may otherwise be formed as the liquid may be warmed during storage. The cryogenic fluid stored in the tank may be comprised of hydrogen or other suitable cryogenic fluid (e.g., oxygen or liquid natural gas, etc.). In some embodiments, the cryogenic liquid may be, for example, liquid hydrogen, and the cryogenic gas formed via evaporation of the liquid may be hydrogen gas.

[0038] Pump 5 may output cryogenic liquid at an elevated preselected vaporizer supply pressure for delivery to vaporizer 7 via a vaporizer supply conduit connected between pump 5 and vaporizer 7. The preselected vaporizer supply pressure may be a pressure within the range of 1 MPa to 35 MPa, 0.1 MPa to greater than 80 MPa, 0.1 MPa to greater than 70 MPa, or other suitable pressure for delivering cryogenic liquid to vaporizer 7 to undergo vaporization.

[0039] The vaporizer 7 can include at least one heat exchanger. For example, the vaporizer 7 can include at least one ambient air heat exchanger, multiple ambient air heat exchangers, multiple heat exchangers, at least one ambient air vaporizer, or any other type of suitable vaporizer 7.

[0040] The vaporizer 7 can receive at least one heating medium for heating the cryogenic liquid to vaporize it and output cryogenic gas for supply to the distribution system 9 via a distribution system supply conduit 8 connected between the vaporizer 7 and the distribution system 9. The cooled heating medium that has heated the cryogenic liquid is output from the vaporizer and can be vented or supplied to another process for further use (e.g., as a cooling medium, etc.).

[0041] In some embodiments, the heating medium supplied to the vaporizer 7 to vaporize the cryogenic liquid may be ambient air supplied to the vaporizer via free convection, a fan, or other heating medium flow device that may be positioned to supply air surrounding the vaporizer 7 to the vaporizer 7 to act as the heating medium to heat the cryogenic liquid to vaporize it and form the cryogenic gas output from the vaporizer 7. The cooled air may then be vented from the vaporizer 7 to the atmosphere after being used as the heating medium in the vaporizer 7.

[0042] In some embodiments, the distribution system 9 may be arranged and configured to supply cryogenic gas to at least one vehicle 11 via at least one vehicle connection mechanism 9f positioned between the distribution system 9 and the vehicle 11. In such embodiments, the distribution system 9 may include a flow control manifold connected to at least one distributor, each distributor including a nozzle for connecting to a vehicle fuel tank for supplying cryogenic gas to the vehicle fuel tank. Each nozzle may be connected to the distributor via, for example, a hose for supplying cryogenic gas from the distributor to the vehicle's fuel tank. In some embodiments, the distribution system 9 may also include at least one buffer tank positioned between the vaporizer 7 and the distributor of the distribution system 9 to provide temporary storage of cryogenic gas for subsequent supply to the distributor.

[0043] In other embodiments, distribution system 9 may be configured to receive cryogenic gas and output the gas for other downstream uses via downstream process units (e.g., supplying oxygen gas as an oxidizer to a furnace or combustor to combust fuel for melting metals or to generate heat for another purpose, etc.) In such embodiments, distribution system 9 may be considered a cryogenic gas distribution system or an oxidizer distribution system.

[0044] The cryogenic fluid distribution system 1 can include an apparatus for mist mitigation 2. The mist mitigation apparatus 2 can include a mist collection device 17, which can include one or more mist collection mechanisms. Examples of mist collection devices 17 that can be utilized can best be seen from Figures 2-5.

[0045] The vaporizer 7 in some embodiments may be configured to be at a height between 3 meters and 10 meters above ground, or other suitable height in some embodiments. The vaporizer 7 in some embodiments may be supported at ground level via one or more supports 7s, and at least one mist collection device 17 in some embodiments may be positioned adjacent to the bottom of the vaporizer 7 and / or adjacent a lower portion of the vaporizer 7.

[0046] For example, the mist collection device 17 may include at least one mist collection mechanism configured to facilitate collection of mist that may be formed adjacent to the vaporizer 7. The mist that is formed may be from condensation of water vapor in air adjacent to the vaporizer envelope and / or formation of water in cooled air output from the vaporizer 7 after being used as a heating medium for vaporization of the cryogenic liquid. The mist collection device 17 may be positioned adjacent to a bottom of the vaporizer 7 to collect the mist flow 20 within the housing of the mist collection device 17. The housing 17g may include a bottom 17b positioned on a platform on the ground or at ground level and may include at least one sidewall 17h extending from the bottom 17b to define an interior chamber for collection of mist and capture of liquid water from the mist. The housing sidewall 17h may extend to define a chamber in which a support 7s that supports the vaporizer 7 on the ground is positioned. The support 7s may have an upper portion that may be positioned within the chamber of the housing 17g and above an upper portion of the sidewall 17h.

[0047] The upper portion of the one or more side walls 17h can define an opening for receiving the mist flow 20 into the chamber of the housing 17g. The upper portion of the one or more side walls 17h can define the opening such that the opening is adjacent to the bottom of the vaporizer 7 and below or above the top of one or more supports 7s that can support the vaporizer 7 on the ground. The side walls 17h of the housing can help hide any mist formed by the operation of the vaporizer from view outside the chamber of the housing 17g. In some embodiments, the housing 17g can also help reduce or limit any noise that may be generated through the use of the fan 25 and / or nozzle device 28.

[0048] The mist collection device 17 may include a fan 25 that may be positioned adjacent to the vaporizer or below the vaporizer 7 in a chamber of the housing 17g such that rotation of the fan 25 (e.g., via rotation of the blades of the fan 25 or rotation of the body 31 of the fan 25) may drive the mist flow 20 into the chamber of the housing 17g. The rotation of the fan 25 may be provided such that the rotation occurs with relatively low noise. Utilization of the fan 25 near or within the housing 17g may also help limit noise from use of the fan 25.

[0049] In some embodiments (e.g., the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 8 ), the fan 25 may be utilized as the mist collection device 17 without the use of any housing 17g or pump or water sprayer or other mist mitigation features. For example, the fan 25 may be positioned adjacent to the bottom of the vaporizer 7 and / or near the support of the vaporizer 7. For mist collection, the fan 25 may be rotated to draw mist that may form near the vaporizer toward the fan, so that the mist may be dispersed or mitigated by water droplets suspended within the mist via the rotation of the fan and / or contact of the fan blades or body.

[0050] In other arrangements, the fan 25 may be configured to rotate to break up fog (e.g., remove water droplets from the ambient air to mitigate fog). For example, the body of the fan 25 may include a rotatable disk, or a rotating disk that does not necessarily draw in air, but still functions to contact and break up the fog water droplets for fog mitigation. Other embodiments of the fan may include a body that includes a rotatable disk with apertures, or may include a body having elongated blades extending from a hub.

[0051] An example of one type of fan 25 that may be utilized is shown in FIG. 5. The body 31 of the fan 25 may be defined to include one or more apertures 31b through which mist and / or air around the vaporizer 7 may pass as the body 31 of the fan 25 rotates. The body 31 may include at least one portion 31a positioned between the apertures 31b to facilitate shaping the apertures to a desired size and / or geometry. In some configurations, each aperture 31b may be located within the periphery of the body 31 such that each aperture 31b is surrounded by at least one portion 31a of the body to define the shape of the aperture 31b and to position the aperture 31b completely within the body 31 of the fan 25. The one or more apertures 31b may be positioned and shaped such that rotation of the body 31 drives the movement of the fog in the fog flow 20 and drives the fog and other nearby air through the one or more apertures 31b and into contact with the body 31, removing the fog water from the air and collecting the liquid water below the fan 25 in the chamber of the housing 17g, thereby removing the water in the fog to reduce the formation of fog or eliminating fog being formed by the operation of the vaporizer 7.

[0052] The body 31 of the fan 25 may be coated. The coating positioned on the body 31 may be configured to contact the water droplets of the mist and facilitate driving the liquid water in the mist out of the air toward the bottom 17b of the housing 17g or toward the ground below the fan 25. In some configurations, the coating may be, for example, a hydrophobic coating.

[0053] The body 31 of the fan 25 shown in FIG. 5 is illustrated as being disk-shaped. However, the body 31 of the fan 25 can alternatively include other geometries and shapes as well. In alternative embodiments, the fan 25 can also include a rotatable body that can include or have multiple blades extending from the body and that can be rotatable. Also, the embodiment of the fan 25 shown in FIG. 5 has multiple apertures 31b including a first aperture and a second aperture. It is envisioned that the embodiment may utilize only a single aperture or can utilize more than two apertures (e.g., including a third aperture and / or additional apertures).

[0054] The mist collection device 17 may further or alternatively include a funnel 18 that may be positioned in the chamber. The funnel 18 may be attached to one or more of the side walls 17h, for example, to be positioned in the chamber to help direct the mist flow 20 toward the bottom 17b of the housing 17g. The mist flow may be directed via the funnel 18 and / or the fan 25 so that the mist contacts the water collection mechanism WC. The water collection mechanism WC may include a nozzle arrangement 28 that may include one or more liquid water injectors (e.g., one or more liquid water spray nozzles or liquid water sprayers) that may inject a spray of liquid water onto the mist in the chamber to form a water curtain for collecting the mist water droplets. The liquid water from the mist may be removed from the mist air and may be collected in the chamber. In some embodiments, the nozzle arrangement 28 may include a single injector, such as a liquid water injector, positioned in a central or intermediate region of the chamber to distribute a spray of water to contact the mist and form a water curtain for collecting the water in the mist in the chamber.

[0055] FIG. 4 illustrates one example of such a nozzle device 28. In other embodiments, the nozzle device 28 can include a plurality of spray nozzles attached to a nozzle ring positioned within a chamber of the housing 17g. A plurality of such nozzles can be positioned adjacent to the inside of the sidewall(s) 17h to form a water curtain of sprayed water output from the spray nozzles so that the water can be collected from the mist for subsequent use. The formed water curtain can be a continuous spray of water output from one or more injectors of the nozzle device 28, such that the falling water is sprayed downwardly in the curtain toward the bottom 17b of the housing 17g in the chamber, from the injectors to a lower location adjacent to the bottom 17b of the housing 17g or to a lower portion of a chamber of the housing 17g used to collect the mist for mist mitigation. This type of mist collection and collection of liquid water from the collected mist air can mitigate the formation of mist and avoid mist forming adjacent to the vaporizer. This type of fog collection can also avoid the fog from migrating from the vaporizer 7 to other areas significantly beyond the vaporizer, creating undesirable aesthetic effects, and can prevent loss of visibility due to other objects to avoid safety risks associated with low visibility (e.g., a vehicle driver not being able to see pedestrians, personnel not being able to see adjacent equipment and be aware of the status of that equipment, and / or whether any type of dangerous situation may exist due to unauthorized presence of pedestrians near the structure, etc.). The housing 17g and its location can also help hide fog that may form, such that nearby personnel or customers may not see the fog or may not see any significant amount of fog that may form during operation of the vaporizer 7.

[0056] The mist collection device 17 may also include a water recirculation system. The recirculation system may include a pump 21 that may be in fluid communication with a chamber of the housing 17g such that liquid water collected adjacent the lower or bottom portion 17b of the housing 17g may be supplied to the pump 21 via a pump recirculation supply conduit 19 connected between the pump 21 and the chamber of the housing 17g. The pump 21 may be positioned and configured to supply liquid water to the nozzle arrangement 28 via a pump outlet conduit 23 connected between the pump 21 and the nozzle arrangement 28 for output in at least one spray to form the water curtain.

[0057] In some configurations, the pump 21 may be connected to and / or supported on the housing 17g. In such configurations, the pump 21 may function like a sump pump and supply water collected at the bottom of the chamber to the nozzle arrangement. The embodiment of FIG. 3 illustrates such an arrangement for a recirculation system having such a pump 21 arrangement. In such a configuration, the inlet of the pump recirculation supply conduit 19 may be positioned within the chamber of the housing 17g such that the inlet of this conduit is located below a preselected liquid water line WL for the collected liquid water within the housing 17g.

[0058] In other embodiments, the recirculation system may be positioned and configured such that the pump 21 is positioned adjacent to the housing 17g. The pump 21 may be connected to a water reservoir 22 positioned between the chamber of the housing 17g and the pump 21 such that water received from the housing 17g via the pump recirculation supply conduit 19 passes through the pump recirculation supply conduit 19 to the reservoir 22 via gravity and / or operation of the pump 21. The pump 21 may be connected to the reservoir 22 such that water stored in the reservoir 22 is supplied to the pump 21 when the pump 21 is actuated to drive the flow of water from the pump 21 to the nozzle arrangement 28 via the pump outlet conduit 23. The embodiments of Figures 2 and 4 illustrate examples of such pump 21 and recirculation system arrangements.

[0059] In other embodiments, the pump 21 and / or recirculation system may not be utilized. Instead, the bottom 17b of the housing 17g may include at least one grate, at least one drain, or other type of aperture configuration to facilitate the flow of liquid water extracted from the mist to a drainage system.

[0060] Some embodiments of the housing 17g may utilize one or more liquid water outlet conduits 33 for outputting water from the water collection mechanism of the mist collection device 17. For example, a lower liquid water outlet conduit 33 may be connected to the housing 17g and communicate with a chamber in the housing 17g from which liquid water is discharged and distributed to another process element of the system. As another example, an upper liquid water outlet conduit 33 may be connected to the housing 17g and communicate with a chamber in the housing 17g from which liquid water is discharged and distributed to another process element of the system. The upper outlet conduit 33 may have an inlet that may be positioned to collect liquid water that may be retained in the chamber to prevent an overflow condition in which the liquid water line WL of the water collected in the chamber of the housing rises above a preselected height in the housing 17g. The collected liquid water may be relatively pure and may be available, for example, to some process units that may utilize the water. Additional conduits may be connected between the liquid water outlet conduit 33 of the mist collection device and a processing unit for transporting the liquid water to the processing unit. In some contemplated embodiments, the liquid water may be collected and stored in a tank for subsequent use as water for cleaning operations, greening operations (e.g., watering grass or other plants on the grounds of a facility having the mist collection device 17), and / or to supply to another plant process element that may utilize the liquid water (e.g., as a refrigerant or heating medium for heat exchanger applications), such that the use of other water from other sources may be avoided or limited.

[0061] The mist collection device 17 may also include at least one body of mesh shaped and configured to contact mist liquid water droplets that may pass through holes in the mesh body 40 such that the liquid water is removed from the mist air and passes downwardly along the mesh body 40 for collection within the housing 17g or for passage to a drain or onto the ground below the vaporizer 7. An embodiment that may utilize such a mesh body mist collection mechanism may best be appreciated from Figures 1, 4, and 6.

[0062] The mesh body 40 having holes shaped and configured to collect mist water droplets to reduce the formation of mist by removing liquid water droplets from the misty air may be a water collection mechanism of the mist collection device 17 and / or may be considered a mist collection mechanism since the mist collected via the mesh body positioned adjacent to the vaporizer 7 can collect the mist, remove liquid water from the mist to reduce mist formation, and / or avoid the formed mist passing outside the mesh body.

[0063] In some embodiments utilizing the mesh body 40, the housing 17g, the fan 25, the nozzle apparatus 28, and / or the funnel 18 may also not be utilized. For example, in some embodiments, the mist collection device 17 may be the mesh body 40 without using the fan 25, the housing 17g, the nozzle apparatus 28, and the funnel 18. For example, the mesh body 40 may be positioned around a fence surrounding the vaporizer 7, or may be positioned near a fence line for such a fence. Such a positioning of the mesh body 40 may be adjacent to the vaporizer 7. Adjacent positioning may also include a positioning that allows the mesh body to collect and remove mist that forms near the vaporizer 7 (e.g., within a fence line of a fence that may surround the vaporizer, or the vaporizer and other equipment, etc.). In such embodiments, the pump 21 or recirculation system may also not be utilized.

[0064] In other embodiments, the mesh body 40 may be utilized in conjunction with one or more other mist collection mechanisms. For example, the mesh body 40 may be positioned adjacent to the vaporizer and utilized in conjunction with the fan 25. As another example, the mesh body 40 may be positioned adjacent to the vaporizer and utilized in conjunction with the fan 25, the funnel 18, the housing 17g, and the nozzle device 28. As yet another example, the mesh body 40 may be positioned adjacent to the vaporizer and utilized in conjunction with a combination of the funnel 18, the housing 17g, and the nozzle device 28. In such an embodiment, a recirculation system having a pump 21 may also be utilized.

[0065] In some configurations, the mesh body 40 can have a surface area that is 50%-70% open and 50%-30% structure defining those openings. For example, in some embodiments, the open area of ​​the mesh body can be 60%-70% of the surface area of ​​the body. The material of the mesh body can be configured to have a relatively low surface tension in some embodiments. Other embodiments may utilize other open surface area configurations and / or can utilize higher surface tension surfaces as well. Some embodiments can utilize a mesh body having a hydrophobic surface and a hydrophilic surface opposite the hydrophobic surface. Other embodiments can utilize yet other types of mesh body configurations. The mesh material of the mesh body can be constructed from polyester, polymeric material, raschel mesh material, tricot mesh material, coated material, metal filament, coated metal filament material, or other types of suitable materials.

[0066] The mist collection mechanism in the form of mesh body 40 may be an independent mist collection device 17 that is passively present and attached to a portion of the vaporizer 7 or support 7s to suspend the mesh body around a portion of the vaporizer 7 for collection of the mist and removal of airborne liquid water of the mist for mist mitigation. The mesh body 40 may also be positionable within the housing 17g or may be utilized in conjunction with the housing 17g by being positioned between the housing 17g and the vaporizer 7 for collection of the mist and facilitating passage of liquid water removed from the mist through the mesh body and into the chamber of the housing 17g and promoting the mist flow 20 toward the chamber of the housing 17g. In such an embodiment, the mesh body 40 may be attached to the housing 17g and / or the vaporizer 7 for positioning in a desired location adjacent to the housing 17g and / or within the chamber of the housing 17g. In some configurations, one or more supports may be positioned to facilitate support of the mesh body 40 in a desired location.

[0067] Our embodiment of the apparatus for mist mitigation 2 may also include at least one air drying system 50. The drying system 50 may be configured to facilitate drying of the air to help minimize possible mist formation from the ambient air output from the vaporizer 7 after being utilized to heat the cryogenic liquid. As can be best appreciated from FIG. 6 , the drying system 50 may be utilized alone as the apparatus for mist mitigation 2 or may be utilized in conjunction with at least one mist collection device 17 as the apparatus for mist mitigation 2.

[0068] For example, for an vaporizer 7 configured to use ambient air as a heating medium for vaporization of a cryogenic liquid, a drying system 50 may be utilized to pretreat the air supplied to the vaporizer as a heating medium to dry or dehumidify the air to remove water vapor from the air. Such water vapor removal (or dehumidification) may help reduce moisture in the air and mitigate possible fog formation as the cooled air is output from the vaporizer by reducing the moisture in the air that may be available to condense to form fog as a result of the cooler output temperature of the output cooled air.

[0069] For example, the air drying system 50 may include a dryer 41 positioned to receive a supply of ambient air 41 to dry the air by removing water vapor therefrom, and to output a flow of dry air 41 having less water vapor in the air compared to the supply of ambient air 41 received by the dryer 41. The dryer 41 may be connected to the vaporizer 7 such that the flow of dry air 41 output from the dryer may be supplied to the vaporizer 7 as a heating medium for the vaporization of the cryogenic liquid. The drying process, or dehumidification process, provided by the dryer 41 may also result in a change in the temperature of the air in some embodiments. In some configurations, the dryer 41 may be operated such that the removal of water from the air may also heat the air, which may also help facilitate the vaporization of the cryogenic liquid in the vaporizer 7.

[0070] The dryer 41 may also receive a flow of refrigerant 52 via a refrigerant supply conduit connected between the dryer 41 and a refrigerant cooling device 51 (RC). The refrigerant cooling device 51 may be configured to cool the refrigerant to a preselected dryer supply temperature for supply to the dryer, such that the elements of the dryer are cooled and contact ambient air passing through the dryer, condensing water vapor in the air and removing water vapor from the air. In some configurations, the elements may be movable or adjustable such that some elements are cooled due to contact with ambient air and other elements undergo defrosting to help improve efficiency and performance of the dryer 41.

[0071] The warmed refrigerant used to cool the elements of the dryer 41 may be output from the dryer 41 for supply to the recirculation device 53 via a water condensing medium output conduit 54 connected between the recirculation device 53 (RP) and the dryer 41. In some embodiments, the recirculation device 53 may be a pump in situations where the refrigerant is a liquid, or a compressor in situations where the refrigerant may be a vapor. The recirculation device 53 increases the pressure of the refrigerant to a preselected refrigerant cooling device supply pressure for supply to the refrigerant cooling device 51 (RC) via a refrigerant cooling device supply conduit 56 connected between the recirculation device 53 and the refrigerant cooling device 51, allowing the refrigerant to undergo cooling to a preselected dryer supply temperature for supply to the dryer 41. The preselected dryer supply temperature may be a temperature between -80°C and -100°C, a temperature below -40°C and above -253°C, or other suitable temperature. In some embodiments, the refrigerant cooling device 51 may be configured as a heat exchanger or a chiller. The refrigerant utilized in the refrigerant cycle to supply the dryer 41 may be any suitable refrigerant, such as, for example, D-limonene, dipentene, liquid nitrogen, helium, liquid hydrogen, cryogenic fluid, or other suitable refrigerant. Also, to account for losses of refrigerant that may occur during operation, a buffer tank 57 (BT) capable of holding additional refrigerant may be connected to the refrigerant cooling device supply conduit 56 to provide make-up refrigerant that may be required during operation of the dryer 41.

[0072] The cooling provided to cool the warmed refrigerant to a preselected dryer feed temperature for delivery to the dryer 41 may be provided via the low temperature of the cryogenic liquid stored in the storage tank 3. Utilizing the low temperature of the stored cryogenic fluid may allow for more efficient utilization of the energy utilized to cool the cryogenic fluid, such that the energy invested in having the cryogenic fluid at a low temperature is not lost, or such energy loss is minimized.

[0073] In other configurations, the dryer 41 can operate without a refrigeration loop. Instead of a refrigerant, a cryogenic fluid or a portion of the cryogenic fluid (e.g., liquid hydrogen that passes through the dryer before being fed to the vaporizer 7 for vaporization) can be fed to the dryer to act as the refrigerant and preheated before being fed to the vaporizer 7 for vaporization.

[0074] The dehumidified air (or dried air) passed to the vaporizer 7 as the dry air 41 dry flow may be used as a heating medium in the vaporizer 7 and then output from the vaporizer as the cooled heating medium flow 41. The cooled air output from the vaporizer 7 may have a lower moisture content to help reduce or eliminate the formation of fog. Additionally, the output air may pass through a mist collection device 17 to collect fog that may be formed by the operation of the vaporizer 7 and remove liquid water from the fog for fog mitigation to avoid fog that may be formed to be present enough to cause visual obstruction, a perceived safety issue, or an actual safety issue. As discussed above, such fog mitigation may be provided by the utilization of at least one mist collection device 17, which may include, for example, the utilization of a fan 25, a funnel 18, a housing 17g, a recirculation system having a pump 21, a mesh body 40, and / or a nozzle apparatus 28 that may be positioned to provide a water curtain.

[0075] An embodiment of our apparatus 2 for mist mitigation may be utilized in conjunction with an embodiment of a cryogenic fluid distribution system and / or a cryogenic fluid distribution system. An embodiment of our apparatus 2 for mist mitigation may be designed and configured to implement an embodiment of our process for mist mitigation. An example of such a process may be appreciated from the exemplary embodiment of our process shown in FIG. 7 in addition to FIGS. 1-6. In a first step S1, at least one mist collection device may be positioned adjacent to a vaporizer that may be positioned and configured to vaporize a cryogenic liquid. The mist collection device may include one or more mist collection mechanisms. In a second step S2, mist that may be formed during operation of the vaporizer 7 may be collected via at least one mist collection device 17 and / or at least one mist collection mechanism of that device.

[0076] Some embodiments may utilize other steps. For example, in the third step S3, the process may also include collecting liquid water from at least one mist collecting mechanism for use therein. For example, the water collected via the chamber of the housing 17g may be recirculated for use in the nozzle arrangement 28 for the formation of the water curtain and / or may be fed to other elements for use therein. Alternatively, the water removed from the mist may be drained or otherwise directed below the vaporizer 7 to avoid the formation of mist or to minimize the amount of mist that may form near the vaporizer during operation of the vaporizer.

[0077] Embodiments of the process can also include other steps. For example, the air supplied to the vaporizer as the heating medium can be dried via at least one drying system 50 before being supplied to the vaporizer, e.g., as discussed above. As another example, the cryogenic fluid vaporized via the vaporizer 7 can be output from the vaporizer for downstream use (e.g., filling a vehicle fuel tank, supplying to a furnace or other process unit, as discussed above, etc.).

[0078] Embodiments of our processes, apparatus, and systems may be provided that can help mitigate the formation of fog (e.g., avoid the formation of fog or minimize the formation of fog). The embodiments may be configured to minimize the overall footprint that may be associated with fog mitigation or fog avoidance. As can be appreciated from the above, the embodiments may also be adapted to provide such functionality with low noise, low power usage, and / or the ability to reuse water generated from fog formed adjacent to the vaporizer 7 that has undergone fog mitigation via at least one fog collection device 17 or apparatus for fog mitigation 2.

[0079] It should be appreciated that additional or other modifications to the embodiments explicitly shown and contemplated herein may be made to meet a particular set of design goals or a particular set of design criteria. For example, the arrangement of valves, piping, and other conduit elements (e.g., conduit connections, tubes, seals, valves, etc.) for interconnecting different units for fluid communication of fluid flow between different elements (e.g., pumps, heat exchangers, compressors, storage vessels, etc.) may be arranged to meet a particular plant layout design that takes into account the available area of ​​the plant or facility having the apparatus for mist mitigation, the sized equipment of the plant or facility, and other design considerations. As another example, the flow rates, pressures, and temperatures of fluids passing through various apparatus or system elements may vary to account for different design configurations and other design criteria.

[0080] Our process, apparatus, and system embodiments may each be configured to include process control elements positioned and configured to monitor and control operation (e.g., an automated process control system having temperature and pressure sensors, flow sensors, at least one workstation including a processor, non-transitory memory, and at least one transceiver for communication with the sensor elements, valves, and a controller, the controller providing a user interface for the automated process control system, which may be executed on the workstation and / or another computing device of the plant, etc.). It should be appreciated that embodiments may similarly utilize a distributed control system (DCS) for implementing one or more processes and / or controlling operation of the apparatus.

[0081] As another example, it is contemplated that certain features described individually or as part of an embodiment can be combined with other individually described features or parts of other embodiments. Thus, elements and acts of various embodiments described herein can be combined to provide further embodiments. Thus, while certain illustrative embodiments of our processes, apparatus, systems, and methods of making and using the same have been shown and described above, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not limited thereto and may be variously embodied and carried out otherwise within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for fog mitigation, said apparatus comprising:

1. An apparatus comprising: at least one mist collection device positionable adjacent to a vaporizer configured to vaporize a cryogenic liquid, the at least one mist collection device configured to collect mist that may form adjacent to the vaporizer and remove water from the mist for fog mitigation.

2. The at least one mist collecting device comprises: a mesh body positionable adjacent to the vaporizer; and / or 10. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising at least one fan positionable adjacent to a lower portion of the vaporizer or below the vaporizer, a body of the at least one fan being movable to reduce the mist.

3. The at least one mist collecting device comprises:

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a housing having at least one sidewall extending from a bottom to define a chamber, wherein at least one support of the vaporizer is positionable within the chamber, and an upper portion of the at least one sidewall defines an opening through which a mist flow of the mist can pass to collect the mist within the chamber.

4. a fan positioned adjacent to the chamber, the fan being rotatable to assist in driving the fog flow into the chamber; a funnel positioned adjacent to the chamber to direct the mist flow into the chamber; and / or The apparatus of claim 3 comprising a nozzle arrangement positioned to spray water to form a water curtain within the chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the nozzle arrangement comprises a single nozzle or a plurality of nozzles.

6. a fan positioned adjacent to the chamber, the fan being rotatable to help drive the fog flow into the chamber; a funnel positioned adjacent the chamber to direct the mist flow into the chamber; and The apparatus of claim 3 comprising a nozzle arrangement positioned to spray water to form a water curtain within the chamber.

7. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising a water recirculation system connected to the housing such that water from within the chamber can pass to a nozzle arrangement positioned to spray water to form a water curtain within the chamber.

8. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the water recirculation system comprises a pump in fluid communication with the chamber via a pump recirculation supply conduit connected between the pump and the chamber of the housing.

9. a fan positioned adjacent to the chamber that is rotatable to help drive the fog flow into the chamber; and / or The apparatus of claim 7 comprising a funnel positioned adjacent to the chamber to direct the mist flow into the chamber.

10. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising an air drying system positioned to remove water from the air before the air is supplied to the vaporizer as a heating medium for vaporizing the cryogenic liquid.

11. The air drying system comprises: a dryer positionable to remove water vapor from air and output a flow of dry air for supply as a heating medium to an vaporizer configured to vaporize a cryogenic liquid, the at least one mist collection device configured to collect mist that may form adjacent the vaporizer and remove water from the mist for fog mitigation; a refrigerant cooling device positioned to supply a flow of refrigerant to the dryer at a preselected dryer supply temperature such that one or more elements of the dryer can be cooled to contact the air passing through the dryer and condense water vapor therein to remove water vapor from the air to form the dry air stream; 11. The apparatus of claim 10, comprising: a recirculation device positioned to increase a pressure of the refrigerant output from the dryer to a preselected refrigerant cooling device supply pressure for supply to the refrigerant cooling device via a refrigerant cooling device supply conduit connected between the recirculation device and the refrigerant cooling device such that the refrigerant output from the dryer can be passed to the refrigerant cooling device to undergo cooling to the preselected dryer supply temperature.

12. 1. An apparatus for fog mitigation, said apparatus comprising: An apparatus comprising: a drying system having a dryer positionable to remove water vapor from air and output a flow of dry air for supply as a heating medium to an vaporizer configured to vaporize a cryogenic liquid.

13. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the drying system includes a refrigerant cooling device positioned to supply a flow of refrigerant to the dryer at a preselected dryer supply temperature such that one or more elements of the dryer can be cooled to contact the air passing through the dryer and condense water vapor in the air to remove water vapor from the air to form the dry air flow.

14. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, comprising a recirculation device positioned to increase a pressure of the refrigerant output from the dryer to a preselected refrigerant cooling device supply pressure for supply to the refrigerant cooling device via a refrigerant cooling device supply conduit connected between the recirculation device and the refrigerant cooling device, such that the refrigerant output from the dryer can be passed to the refrigerant cooling device to undergo cooling to the preselected dryer supply temperature.

15. 1. A process for fog mitigation, comprising: Positioning at least one mist collection device adjacent to a vaporizer configured to vaporize a cryogenic liquid; collecting mist formed by operation of the vaporizer via the at least one mist collection device for mist mitigation.

16. The process of claim 15 including collecting liquid water from the at least one mist collection device for use of the liquid water.

17. 16. The process of claim 15, including drying air to form a stream of dry air for supply to the vaporizer as a heating medium for vaporization of the cryogenic liquid.

18. 20. The process of claim 17, including supplying a refrigerant to a dryer for said drying of said air to form said stream of dried air.

19. The at least one mist collecting device comprises: a mesh body positionable adjacent to the vaporizer; and / or 16. The process of claim 15, further comprising at least one of: at least one fan positionable adjacent to a lower portion of the vaporizer or below the vaporizer, wherein a body of the at least one fan is configured to rotate to reduce mist formation.

20. The at least one mist collecting device comprises: a housing having at least one sidewall extending from a bottom to define a chamber, wherein at least one support of the vaporizer is positionable within the chamber, and an upper portion of the at least one sidewall defines an aperture through which a mist flow of the mist may pass to collect the mist within the chamber; a fan positioned adjacent to the chamber, the fan being rotatable to help drive the fog flow into the chamber; a funnel positioned adjacent to the chamber to direct the mist flow into the chamber; and / or and a nozzle device positioned to spray water to form a water curtain within the chamber.

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