Cargo handling system, separation method, and cargo handling starting method

Abstract

To provide a cargo handling system that can prevent solidification of nitrogen gas at the time of gas replacement.SOLUTION: A cargo handling system performs cargo handling of a low-temperature cargo handling fluid that is liquefied hydrogen or low-temperature hydrogen gas, between itself and a transportation device, and comprises: a cargo handling device including a movable mechanism for adjusting the position of a connection port capable of being attached to and detached from the transportation device; a cargo handling line connected to the cargo handling device; a first opening / closing valve located in the cargo handling line; a second opening / closing valve located in a portion closer to the cargo handling device than the first opening / closing valve in the cargo handling line; an intermediate gas supply line for supplying intermediate gas that is hydrogen gas or helium gas, into the cargo handling line from an intermediate region located between the first opening / closing valve and the second opening / closing valve in the cargo handling line, or an outside region located between the second opening / closing valve in the cargo handling line and a connection part connected to the cargo handling device; and a nitrogen gas supply line for supplying nitrogen gas into the cargo handling line from the outside region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cargo handling system, a uncoupling method, and a cargo handling initiation method. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a gas replacement technique in which flammable gas remaining in a transfer pipe or a return gas pipe after a liquefied fuel gas has been transferred is replaced with an inert gas. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-79998 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Nitrogen gas can be used as the inert gas for the gas replacement described above. Nitrogen gas is characterized by being cheaper and easier to handle than other inert gases. However, when nitrogen gas is used in a loading and unloading system for loading and unloading liquefied hydrogen or low-temperature hydrogen gas, there is a risk that the nitrogen gas will be cooled by the liquefied hydrogen or low-temperature hydrogen gas in the adjacent area and solidify.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a loading and unloading system that can prevent solidification of nitrogen gas during gas replacement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A loading / unloading system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a loading / unloading system that loads and unloads a low-temperature loading fluid, which is liquefied hydrogen or low-temperature hydrogen gas, between transportation equipment and the loading / unloading system, and includes a loading / unloading device including a movable mechanism that adjusts the position of a connection port that is detachable from the transportation equipment, a loading line connected to the loading / unloading device, a first on-off valve located on the loading / unloading line, a second on-off valve located in a portion of the loading / unloading line closer to the loading / unloading device than the first on-off valve, an intermediate gas supply line that supplies an intermediate gas, which is hydrogen gas or helium gas, into the loading / unloading line from an intermediate area located between the first on-off valve and the second on-off valve of the loading / unloading line, or from an outer area located between the second on-off valve of the loading / unloading line and a connection portion that connects the loading / unloading device, and a nitrogen gas supply line that supplies nitrogen gas into the loading / unloading line from the outer area. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the above configuration, solidification of the nitrogen gas during gas replacement can be prevented. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a piping diagram of the loading and unloading system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the open / closed states of each valve during loading and unloading. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method for uncoupling after loading. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the open / closed states of each valve corresponding to step S1 in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the open / closed states of each valve corresponding to step S2 in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the open / closed states of each valve corresponding to step S3 in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the open / closed states of each valve corresponding to step S4 in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a loading and unloading initiation method. [Figure 9]FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the open / closed states of each valve corresponding to step S11 in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the open / closed states of each valve corresponding to step S12 in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the open / closed states of each valve corresponding to step S13 in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the open / closed states of each valve corresponding to step S14 in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the open / closed states of each valve corresponding to step S15 in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] (Overall configuration of the cargo handling system) First, the overall configuration of the loading / unloading system 100 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a piping diagram of the loading / unloading system 100. The loading / unloading system 100 loads / unloads a low-temperature loading fluid between the loading / unloading system 100 and a transport device 101. The low-temperature loading fluid is liquefied hydrogen or low-temperature hydrogen gas. In this embodiment, the temperature of the liquefied hydrogen and the low-temperature hydrogen gas is lower than the temperature at which nitrogen gas solidifies, for example, about minus 253°C. Note that the loading / unloading in this embodiment includes both the transportation of the low-temperature loading fluid from the loading / unloading system 100 to the transport device 101 and the transportation of the low-temperature loading fluid from the transport device 101 to the loading / unloading system 100.

[0010] 1, the loading / unloading system 100 according to this embodiment includes a loading device 11, a loading line 12, a first on-off valve 13, a second on-off valve 14, an intermediate gas supply line 15, a nitrogen gas supply line 16, an outer discharge line 17, and an intermediate discharge line 18. Below, these components will be described in order.

[0011] <Cargo handling equipment> The loading device 11 is a device that is connected to the transport equipment 101 and loads and unloads low-temperature fluid between the transport equipment 101. The loading device 11 includes a connection port 21 that is detachable from the transport equipment 101, and a movable mechanism 22 that adjusts the position of the connection port 21. The loading device 11 in this embodiment is a loading arm. However, the loading device 11 does not have to be a loading arm. For example, the loading device 11 may be equipped with a flexible hose provided with the connection port 21, and the movable mechanism 22 may be a crane that supports the flexible hose.

[0012] <Loading line> The loading line 12 is a line connected to the loading device 11. One end of the loading line 12 is connected to the loading device 11, and the other end is connected to a storage tank 24 in which low-temperature loading fluid is stored. As a result, the low-temperature loading fluid transported from the transportation equipment 101 to the loading system 100 passes through the loading device 11 and the loading line 12 and is stored in the storage tank 24. Alternatively, the low-temperature loading fluid stored in the storage tank 24 is transported toward the transportation equipment 101 through the loading line 12 and the loading device 11.

[0013] <First opening / closing valve> The first on-off valve 13 is a valve located in the loading line 12. Hereinafter, the area located between the first on-off valve 13 of the loading line 12 and the storage tank 24 will be referred to as the "inner area 26."

[0014] <Second on-off valve> The second on-off valve 14 is a valve located in a portion of the loading line 12 closer to the loading equipment 11 than the first on-off valve 13. Hereinafter, the area located between the first on-off valve 13 and the second on-off valve 14 of the loading line 12 will be referred to as the "middle area 27." In addition, the area located between the second on-off valve 14 of the loading line 12 and the end of the loading line 12 on the loading equipment 11 side will be referred to as the "outer area 28."

[0015] <Intermediate gas supply line> The intermediate gas supply line 15 is a line that supplies the intermediate gas into the loading line 12. The intermediate gas is hydrogen gas. In this embodiment, the temperature of the hydrogen gas used as the intermediate gas is higher than the temperature at which nitrogen gas solidifies, for example, room temperature. However, the intermediate gas may be helium gas. Note that the temperature at which helium gas solidifies is lower than the temperature of the low-temperature loading fluid, and therefore, helium gas is not cooled by the low-temperature loading fluid and solidifies.

[0016] The intermediate gas supply line 15 in this embodiment is connected to the outer area 28 of the loading line 12, and supplies intermediate gas from the outer area 28 into the loading line 12. However, the intermediate gas supply line 15 may also be connected to the intermediate area 27 of the loading line 12, and supply intermediate gas from the intermediate area 27 into the loading line 12. Also, the intermediate gas supply line 15 in this embodiment merges with the nitrogen gas supply line 16, which will be described later, but the intermediate gas supply line 15 and the nitrogen gas supply line 16 may be independent of each other. An intermediate gas valve 31 is located in the intermediate gas supply line 15.

[0017] <Nitrogen gas supply line> The nitrogen gas supply line 16 is a line that supplies nitrogen gas into the loading line 12. The nitrogen gas supply line 16 in this embodiment is connected to the outer area 28 of the loading line 12, and supplies nitrogen gas from the outer area 28 into the loading line 12. As described above, the nitrogen gas supply line 16 in this embodiment merges with the intermediate gas supply line 15, but the intermediate gas supply line 15 and the nitrogen gas supply line 16 may be independent of each other. A nitrogen gas valve 32 is located in the nitrogen gas supply line 16.

[0018] <Outer discharge line> The outer discharge line 17 is a line that discharges gas in the loading line 12 from the outer area 28 to the outside as exhaust gas. The outer discharge line 17 in this embodiment is connected to the outer area 28 of the loading line 12. In addition, the outer discharge line 17 in this embodiment merges with the intermediate discharge line 18 described below, but the outer discharge line 17 and the intermediate discharge line 18 may be independent of each other. An outer discharge valve 37 is located in the outer discharge line 17.

[0019] <Intermediate discharge line> The intermediate discharge line 18 is a line that discharges gas in the loading line 12 from the intermediate section 27 to the outside as exhaust gas. The intermediate discharge line 18 in this embodiment is connected to the outer section 28 of the loading line 12. As described above, the intermediate discharge line 18 in this embodiment merges with the outer discharge line 17, but the outer discharge line 17 and the intermediate discharge line 18 may be independent of each other. An intermediate discharge valve 38 is located in the intermediate discharge line 18.

[0020] (Transportation equipment configuration) Next, a brief description will be given of the configuration of the transportation equipment 101 that performs loading and unloading between the loading and unloading system 100. The transportation equipment 101 is equipment that transports low-temperature loading and unloading fluid. In this embodiment, the transportation equipment 101 is a liquefied hydrogen carrier. However, the transportation equipment 101 may also be a liquefied hydrogen carrier that travels on land, etc.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the transportation equipment 101 is equipped with a transportation equipment loading line 103 including a transportation equipment connection port 102 connected to the loading system 100, a transportation equipment first on-off valve 104 located on the transportation equipment loading line 103, a transportation equipment second on-off valve 105 located in a portion of the transportation equipment loading line 103 closer to the transportation equipment connection port 102 than the transportation equipment first on-off valve 104, and a transportation equipment storage tank 106 to which the transportation equipment loading line 103 is connected and which stores a low-temperature loading fluid.

[0022] In the following, the area located between the transport equipment first on-off valve 104 and the transport equipment storage tank 106 of the transport equipment loading line 103 is referred to as the "transport equipment inner area 107", the area located between the transport equipment first on-off valve 104 and the transport equipment second on-off valve 105 is referred to as the "transport equipment intermediate area 108", and the area located between the transport equipment second on-off valve 105 and the transport equipment connection port 102 is referred to as the "transport equipment outer area 109".

[0023] (Open / close status of each valve during loading and unloading) Next, the open / closed state of each valve during loading / unloading will be described. That is, which valves are open and which valves are closed while loading / unloading low-temperature fluid between the loading / unloading system 100 and the transportation equipment 101 is being performed will be described.

[0024] Figure 2 shows the open / closed state of each valve during loading / unloading. In the figure, the open valve symbol indicates that the valve is open, and the filled valve symbol indicates that the valve is closed. In addition, the thick lines in the figure indicate the flow of low-temperature loading fluid, the dotted lines indicate the flow of intermediate gas, and the dashed lines indicate the flow of nitrogen gas. The above points are also the same for Figures 4 to 7 and Figures 9 to 13.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 2, during loading and unloading, the connection port 21 of the loading and unloading system 100 and the transport equipment connection port 102 of the transport equipment 101 are connected. The first on-off valve 13 and the second on-off valve 14 of the loading and unloading system 100 are open, and the first transport equipment on-off valve 104 and the second transport equipment on-off valve 105 of the transport equipment 101 are open. As a result, low-temperature loading and unloading fluid flows between the storage tank 24 of the loading and unloading system 100 and the transport equipment storage tank 106 of the transport equipment 101, and loading and unloading of the low-temperature loading and unloading fluid can be performed between the loading and unloading system 100 and the transport equipment 101.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, during loading and unloading, the intermediate gas valve 31, the nitrogen gas valve 32, the outer discharge valve 37, and the intermediate discharge valve 38 are closed.

[0027] (How to separate) Next, a method for disconnecting the loading / unloading system 100 and the transport equipment 101 after loading / unloading will be described. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, if the connection port 21 of the loading / unloading system 100 and the transport equipment connection port 102 of the transport equipment 101 are disconnected in a state where low-temperature loading / unloading fluid remains in the loading / unloading line 12, the loading device 11, and the transport equipment loading / unloading line 103, the low-temperature loading / unloading fluid may leak from the connection port 21 and the transport equipment connection port 102, and flammable gas (hydrogen gas) may spread around the connection port 21 and the transport equipment connection port 102.

[0028] To prevent this, in this embodiment, gas replacement is performed to replace the low-temperature loading fluid in the loading line 12, the loading device 11, and the transport equipment loading line 103 with nitrogen gas as described below, and then the loading system 100 and the transport equipment 101 are separated. Note that in this embodiment, not only the gas replacement in the loading system 100 but also the gas replacement in the transport equipment 101 is performed using the equipment of the loading system 100. However, the gas replacement in the transport equipment 101 may be performed using the equipment of the transport equipment 101 not shown in the figure.

[0029] <Step S1> Fig. 3 is a flow diagram of the uncoupling method. As shown in Fig. 3, in order to uncouple the loading system 100 and the transport equipment 101 after loading, first, the low-temperature loading fluid in the intermediate area 27, the outer area 28, and the loading device 11 of the loading system 100 is replaced with intermediate gas (step S1). In addition, the low-temperature loading fluid in the transport equipment intermediate area 108 and the transport equipment outer area 109 of the transport equipment 101 is also replaced with intermediate gas.

[0030] Specifically, the open / closed state of each valve during loading and unloading shown in Fig. 2 is changed to the open / closed state of each valve shown in Fig. 4. That is, as shown in Fig. 4, the first on-off valve 13 and the transport equipment first on-off valve 104 are closed, and the intermediate gas valve 31 is opened. As a result, intermediate gas flows into the intermediate zone 27, the outer zone 28, the loading equipment 11, the transport equipment intermediate zone 108, and the transport equipment outer zone 109 (hereinafter collectively referred to as "first replacement zones"), and the pressure in the first replacement zone increases.

[0031] Thereafter, by closing the intermediate gas valve 31 and opening the outer discharge valve 37 and the intermediate discharge valve 38, the low-temperature cargo fluid in the first replacement zone is discharged to the outside via the outer discharge line 17 and the intermediate discharge line 18. Further thereafter, the outer discharge valve 37 and the intermediate discharge valve 38 are closed and the intermediate gas valve 31 is opened. By alternately repeating the opening and closing of the intermediate gas valve 31 and the opening and closing of the outer discharge valve 37 and the intermediate discharge valve 38, the low-temperature cargo fluid in the first replacement zone is replaced with intermediate gas.

[0032] <Step S2> After the low-temperature cargo handling fluid in the first replacement zone is replaced with the intermediate gas in step S1, the intermediate gas is sealed in the intermediate zone 27 of the cargo handling system 100 (step S2). In addition, the intermediate gas is also sealed in the transport equipment intermediate zone 108 of the transport equipment 101. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the second on-off valve 14 and the transport equipment second on-off valve 105 are closed.

[0033] <Step S3> After the intermediate gas is sealed in the intermediate area 27 and the transportation equipment intermediate area 108 in step S2, the intermediate gas in the outer area 28 of the loading system 100 and the loading equipment 11 is replaced with nitrogen gas (step S3). In addition, the intermediate gas in the transportation equipment outer area 109 of the transportation equipment 101 is also replaced with nitrogen gas. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the nitrogen gas valve 32 is opened. This causes nitrogen gas to flow into the outer area 28, the loading equipment 11, and the transportation equipment outer area 109 (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "second replacement area"), and the pressure in the second replacement area increases.

[0034] Thereafter, the nitrogen gas valve 32 is closed and the outer discharge valve 37 is opened, and the intermediate gas in the second replacement zone is discharged to the outside via the outer discharge line 17. After that, the outer discharge valve 37 is closed and the nitrogen gas valve 32 is opened. By alternately repeating the opening and closing of the nitrogen gas valve 32 and the opening and closing of the outer discharge valve 37, the intermediate gas in the second replacement zone is replaced with nitrogen gas.

[0035] <Step S4> After the intermediate gas in the second replacement zone is replaced with nitrogen gas in step S3, the loading / unloading system 100 and the transport equipment 101 are separated (step S4). Specifically, as shown in Fig. 7, the nitrogen gas valve 32 is closed to separate the connection port 21 of the loading / unloading system 100 and the transport equipment connection port 102 of the transport equipment 101. In this embodiment, since the second replacement zone is filled with nitrogen gas, even if the loading / unloading system 100 and the transport equipment 101 are separated, low-temperature loading / unloading fluid will not leak from the connection port 21 and the transport equipment connection port 102, and flammable gas will not spread around the connection port 21 and the transport equipment connection port 102.

[0036] In addition, in this embodiment, the outer area 28 and the loading equipment 11 filled with nitrogen gas by gas replacement in the loading system 100 are not adjacent to the inner area 26 filled with low-temperature loading fluid. In other words, the intermediate area 27 filled with intermediate gas is located between the outer area 28 and the inner area 26. Therefore, the nitrogen gas is not cooled and solidified by the low-temperature loading fluid, and the solidification of the nitrogen gas does not damage valves, etc.

[0037] (How to start loading / unloading) Next, a method of starting loading and unloading of a low-temperature loading fluid by connecting the loading and unloading system 100 and the transport equipment 101, which are separated from each other, will be described. For example, when the loading and unloading system 100 and the transport equipment 101 are separated as shown in Fig. 7, air (air containing oxygen) flows into the loading device 11 and the loading line 12 from the connection port 21, and air flows into the transport equipment loading and unloading line 103 from the transport equipment connection port 102. Therefore, if loading and unloading of a low-temperature loading and unloading fluid is started immediately after connecting the loading and unloading system 100 and the transport equipment 101, a mixture of air and flammable gas may be generated in the loading and unloading system 100 and the transport equipment 101, which is not preferable.

[0038] In order to prevent this, in this embodiment, the air in the loading line 12 and the transport equipment loading line 103 is replaced with nitrogen gas, and the replaced nitrogen gas is then replaced with intermediate gas before starting loading and unloading of the loading system 100 and the transport equipment 101. This will be explained in detail below.

[0039] <Step S11> Fig. 8 is a flow diagram of a method for starting loading / unloading. As shown in Fig. 8, when loading / unloading is started between the loading / unloading system 100 and the transport equipment 101, which are separated from each other, the loading / unloading system 100 and the transport equipment 101 are first connected (step S1). Specifically, as shown in Fig. 9, the connection port 21 of the loading / unloading system 100 is connected to the transport equipment connection port 102 of the transport equipment 101. At this time, it is assumed that air remains in the outer area 28, the loading device 11, and the transport equipment outer area 109 (i.e., in the second replacement area).

[0040] <Step S12> After the loading / unloading system 100 and the transportation equipment 101 are connected in step S11, the air in the outer area 28 of the loading / unloading system 100 and the air in the loading equipment 11 are replaced with nitrogen gas (step S12). In addition, the air in the transportation equipment outer area 109 of the transportation equipment 101 is also replaced with nitrogen gas. That is, in step S12, the air in the second replacement area is replaced with nitrogen gas.

[0041] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 10, the nitrogen gas valve 32 is opened. Thereafter, the nitrogen gas valve 32 is closed and the outer discharge valve 37 is opened, and the air in the second replacement zone is discharged to the outside via the outer discharge line 17. After that, the outer discharge valve 37 is closed and the nitrogen gas valve 32 is opened. By alternately repeating the opening and closing of the nitrogen gas valve 32 and the opening and closing of the outer discharge valve 37, the air in the second replacement zone is replaced with nitrogen gas.

[0042] <Step S13> After the air in the second replacement zone is replaced with nitrogen gas in step S12, the nitrogen gas in the outer zone 28 of the loading system 100 and in the loading equipment 11 is replaced with the intermediate gas (step S13). In addition, the nitrogen gas in the transport equipment outer zone 109 of the transport equipment 101 is also replaced with the intermediate gas. That is, in step S13, the nitrogen gas in the second replacement zone is replaced with the intermediate gas.

[0043] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 11, the nitrogen gas valve 32 is closed and the intermediate gas valve 31 is opened. This causes intermediate gas to flow into the second replacement zone, increasing the pressure in the second replacement zone. Thereafter, the intermediate gas valve 31 is closed and the outer discharge valve 37 is opened, and the nitrogen gas in the first replacement zone is discharged to the outside via the outer discharge line 17. Further thereafter, the outer discharge valve 37 is closed and the intermediate gas valve 31 is opened. By alternately repeating the opening and closing of the intermediate gas valve 31 and the outer discharge valve 37, the nitrogen gas in the first replacement zone is replaced with intermediate gas.

[0044] <Step S14> After the nitrogen gas in the first replacement zone is replaced with the intermediate gas in step S13, the intermediate zone 27, the outer zone 28, and the loading equipment 11 are cooled (step S14). In addition, the transport equipment intermediate zone 108 and the transport equipment outer zone 109 of the transport equipment 101 are also cooled. That is, in step S14, the first replacement zone is cooled.

[0045] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 12, the first on-off valve 13, the second on-off valve 14, the transport equipment first on-off valve 104, and the transport equipment second on-off valve 105 are opened. This causes the low-temperature cargo handling fluid in the storage tank 24 to flow into the first replacement zone, and the first replacement zone is cooled. At this time, the first on-off valve 13 may be slightly opened rather than fully opened.

[0046] As described above, the intermediate gas in this embodiment is hydrogen, and the low-temperature cargo fluid is liquefied hydrogen or low-temperature hydrogen gas. Therefore, even if the intermediate gas is mixed with the low-temperature cargo fluid, there is no problem of contamination. On the other hand, if the intermediate gas is helium gas, step S14 may be performed after replacing the intermediate gas in the first replacement zone with hydrogen gas.

[0047] <Step S15> After the first replacement area is cooled in step S14, the low-temperature fluid is started to be unloaded (step S15). As a result, as shown in FIG. 13, the low-temperature fluid is transported between the unloading system 100 and the transport equipment 101, and the low-temperature fluid is unloaded.

[0048] (summary) The first item disclosed in this specification is a loading / unloading system for loading / unloading a low-temperature loading fluid, which is liquefied hydrogen or low-temperature hydrogen gas, between a transport device and the loading / unloading device, the loading / unloading system comprising: a loading device including a movable mechanism for adjusting the position of a connection port that is detachable from the transport device; a loading line connected to the loading device; a first on-off valve located on the loading line; a second on-off valve located in a portion of the loading line closer to the loading device than the first on-off valve; an intermediate gas supply line that supplies an intermediate gas, which is hydrogen gas or helium gas, into the loading line from an intermediate area located between the first on-off valve and the second on-off valve of the loading line, or from an outer area located between the second on-off valve of the loading line and a connection portion that connects the loading line to the loading device; and a nitrogen gas supply line that supplies nitrogen gas into the loading line from the outer area.

[0049] According to this configuration, in the gas replacement performed when the cargo handling system and the transport equipment are separated, the outer area and the cargo handling equipment can be filled with nitrogen gas while the intermediate area is filled with the intermediate gas. Therefore, since the area filled with nitrogen gas is not adjacent to the area filled with the low-temperature cargo handling fluid, the nitrogen gas is not cooled to the low-temperature cargo handling fluid and does not solidify.

[0050] A second item disclosed in this specification is the loading and unloading system according to the first item, wherein the intermediate gas supply line supplies the intermediate gas from the outer area into the loading and unloading line.

[0051] According to this configuration, when the loading system and the transportation equipment, which are separated from each other, are connected and the loading and unloading of the low-temperature loading fluid is started, the intermediate gas can be easily supplied into the outer area.

[0052] A third item disclosed in this specification is a loading and unloading system according to the first or second item, further comprising an outer discharge line that discharges gas in the loading and unloading line from the outer area to the outside.

[0053] This configuration makes it possible to easily perform gas replacement in the outer region.

[0054] A fourth item disclosed in this specification is a loading and unloading system described in any one of items 1 to 3, further comprising an intermediate discharge line that discharges gas in the loading and unloading line from the intermediate area to the outside.

[0055] This configuration makes it possible to easily perform gas replacement in the intermediate region.

[0056] A fifth item disclosed in this specification is a loading and unloading system according to any one of the first to fourth items, in which the intermediate gas is hydrogen gas.

[0057] According to this configuration, even if intermediate gas is mixed into the low-temperature cargo handling fluid, the problem of foreign matter mixing does not occur.

[0058] The sixth item disclosed in this specification is a method for disconnecting the cargo handling system according to any one of the first to fifth items from the transport equipment after the low-temperature cargo handling fluid is loaded and unloaded, the method comprising: supplying an intermediate gas into the intermediate zone, the outer zone, and the cargo handling equipment through the intermediate gas supply line after the low-temperature cargo handling fluid is loaded and unloaded, thereby replacing the low-temperature cargo handling fluid in the intermediate zone, the outer zone, and the cargo handling equipment with the intermediate gas; This is a separation method in which, after replacing the fluid with an intermediate gas, the first on-off valve and the second on-off valve are closed to seal the replaced intermediate gas in the intermediate zone, and after sealing the intermediate gas in the intermediate zone, nitrogen gas is supplied into the outer zone and the loading and unloading equipment via the nitrogen gas supply line, thereby replacing the intermediate gas in the outer zone and the loading and unloading equipment with nitrogen gas, and after replacing the intermediate gas in the outer zone and the loading and unloading equipment with nitrogen gas, the loading and unloading system and the transport equipment are disconnected.

[0059] According to this method, the area filled with nitrogen gas is not adjacent to the area filled with low-temperature cargo fluid, so that the nitrogen gas is not cooled to the low-temperature cargo fluid and is not solidified.

[0060] The seventh item disclosed in this specification is a method for starting loading and unloading of the low-temperature loading fluid by connecting the loading and unloading system described in any one of items 1 to 5 and the transport equipment, which are separated from each other, and after connecting the loading and unloading system to the transport equipment with an intermediate gas sealed in the intermediate area, nitrogen gas is supplied into the outer area and the loading and unloading equipment through the nitrogen gas supply line, thereby replacing the air in the outer area and the loading and unloading equipment with nitrogen gas, After the replacement, the nitrogen gas in the outer zone and the loading equipment is replaced with intermediate gas via the intermediate gas supply line, and after the nitrogen gas in the outer zone and the loading equipment is replaced with intermediate gas, the first on-off valve and the second on-off valve are opened to supply low-temperature loading fluid into the intermediate zone, the outer zone, and the loading equipment, thereby cooling the intermediate zone, the outer zone, and the loading equipment, and after cooling the intermediate zone, the outer zone, and the loading equipment, loading of the low-temperature loading fluid is started.This is a loading and unloading start method.

[0061] According to this method, when the loading system is connected to the transportation equipment and the loading of the low-temperature fluid is started, it is possible to prevent a mixture of air and flammable gas from being generated in the loading system. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 11 Cargo handling equipment 12 Loading Line 13 First opening and closing valve 14 Second opening and closing valve 15 Intermediate gas supply line 16 Nitrogen gas supply line 17 Outer discharge line 18 Intermediate discharge line 21 Connection port 22 Movable mechanism 24 Storage Tank 26 Inner area 27 Intermediate Area 28 Outer area 31 Intermediate gas valve 32 Nitrogen gas valve 37 Outer discharge valve 38 Intermediate discharge valve 100 Cargo Handling System 101 Transportation equipment

Claims

1. A loading and unloading system for loading and unloading a low-temperature loading fluid, which is liquefied hydrogen or low-temperature hydrogen gas, between a transportation device, A cargo handling device including a movable mechanism for adjusting a position of a connection port that is detachable from the transport equipment; A loading line connected to the loading device; A first on-off valve located in the loading line; a second on-off valve located in a portion of the loading line closer to the loading device than the first on-off valve; an intermediate gas supply line that supplies an intermediate gas, which is hydrogen gas or helium gas, into the loading line from an intermediate area located between the first on-off valve and the second on-off valve of the loading line, or from an outer area located between the second on-off valve of the loading line and a connection portion that connects to the loading device; a nitrogen gas supply line for supplying nitrogen gas from the outer area into the loading line.

2. The cargo handling system of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate gas supply line supplies the intermediate gas from the outer area into the cargo handling line.

3. The cargo handling system according to claim 1 , further comprising an outer discharge line for discharging gas in the cargo handling line from the outer area to the outside.

4. The cargo handling system according to claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate discharge line for discharging gas within the cargo handling line from the intermediate area to the outside.

5. The cargo handling system of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate gas is hydrogen gas.

6. A method for separating the cargo handling system according to claim 1 from the transportation equipment after loading and unloading the low-temperature cargo fluid, comprising: After the low-temperature cargo fluid is loaded, an intermediate gas is supplied to the intermediate zone, the outer zone, and the cargo handling device through the intermediate gas supply line, thereby replacing the low-temperature cargo fluid in the intermediate zone, the outer zone, and the cargo handling device with the intermediate gas; After replacing the low-temperature cargo handling fluid in the intermediate zone, the outer zone, and the cargo handling device with an intermediate gas, the first on-off valve and the second on-off valve are closed to seal the replaced intermediate gas in the intermediate zone; After sealing the intermediate gas in the intermediate zone, nitrogen gas is supplied to the outer zone and the loading device through the nitrogen gas supply line, thereby replacing the intermediate gas in the outer zone and the loading device with nitrogen gas; a disconnection method for disconnecting the cargo handling system from the transportation equipment after replacing the intermediate gas in the outer area and in the cargo handling equipment with nitrogen gas.

7. A method for starting loading of the low-temperature loading fluid by connecting the loading system according to claim 1 and the transportation equipment, which are separated from each other, comprising the steps of: After connecting the loading system to the transportation equipment with the intermediate gas sealed in the intermediate area, nitrogen gas is supplied to the outer area and the loading device via the nitrogen gas supply line to replace the air in the outer area and the loading device with nitrogen gas; After replacing the air in the outer area and the loading device with nitrogen gas, the nitrogen gas in the outer area and the loading device is replaced with intermediate gas through the intermediate gas supply line; After replacing the nitrogen gas in the outer zone and the loading device with the intermediate gas, the first on-off valve and the second on-off valve are opened to supply a low-temperature loading fluid into the intermediate zone, the outer zone, and the loading device, thereby cooling the intermediate zone, the outer zone, and the loading device; A method for starting loading / unloading the low-temperature loading fluid after cooling the intermediate zone, the outer zone, and the loading device.

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