Compact, wall-mountable LNG sample vaporization assembly

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a compact, wall-mountable cryogenic LNG sample revaporization system and method for analyzing the energy content of samples from steady-state storage sources in space-limited environments, such as the engine room of a cruise ship or cargo ship. The cryogenic LNG sample revaporization system includes a vertically mounted cabinet housing a controller having a cryogenic LNG sample input and a vaporized sample output, an input sample temperature detector, a flash vaporizer, a vaporized sample accumulator, a vaporized sample bypass stream for flow measurement, a heated pressure regulator for adjusting and regulating the pressure of the vaporized sample, and an output for delivering the regulated vaporized sample to an analytical device.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This PCT international application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 425,018, filed November 14, 2022.

[0002] The present invention relates to an LNG sample vaporization system suitable for use where space is limited, particularly when used in, for example, engine rooms on ships / vessels. More specifically, the present invention relates to a compact, intelligent revaporization system for cryogenic LNG sampling from steady-state storage tanks for powering marine engines. [Background technology]

[0003] For LNG-fueled shipboard applications, systems involving relatively complex heat exchangers have been designed and proposed to achieve the re-vaporization of cryogenic LNG from storage supplies. For example, U.S. Patent Application Nos. 11,136,103 and 10,823,335, both assigned to Hyundai Heavy Industries, represent current thinking in achieving the re-vaporization of LNG for powering LNG tankers using heat exchange from seawater. These entire systems are not easily portable for sampling and sample conditioning of LNG for analysis in the context of converting LNG as fuel for conventional cruise ships and cargo ships. Furthermore, these descriptions make no mention of the need to sample vaporized LNG for analysis of methane number or BTU energy content to meet regulatory or manufacturer operational requirements. Little attention is paid to addressing the requirement for sample analysis of LNG re-vaporization to ensure effective energy content analysis and record-keeping to meet manufacturer engine warranty or regulatory reporting requirements.

[0004] The publication, titled "Marine LNG Fuel Systems for Small Vessels" (Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Volume 119, June 2023, patent searched 103766), is a study that qualitatively evaluates the features of various existing LNG fuel system designs, focusing specifically on the applicability of such systems to small and medium-sized vessels, such as fishing boats. The study recognizes that fuel systems not only need to be operationally robust, but also compact to fit within the available space on vessels such as ships. However, it does not describe the technology or structure that would achieve such goals.

[0005] Indeed, this study highlights the need for a small footprint for the sample regasification system to conserve the space required for physical regasification equipment installation onboard the ship. This indicates that due to the inherent constraints of shipboard construction, it is desirable to minimize, if not completely eliminate, the engine room floor space footprint of the sample regasification equipment for sample processing. Because space in the engine room is at a premium, and the space limitations imposed by the nature of typical cruise and cargo ships essentially equate to sacrificing floor space to reduce revenue from other uses, it is desirable to provide a compact LNG sample conditioning vaporizer system that requires a minimal footprint while incorporating the necessary components to achieve effective vaporization for energy content verification. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application No. 11,136,103 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent Application No. 10,823,335 [Non-patent literature]

[0007] [Non-Patent Document 1] Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Volume 119, June 2023, 103766 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to assist users and operators of cryogenic liquid natural gas (LNG) equipment in space-constrained environments by providing a sampling vaporizer assembly that utilizes minimal space.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide the operational efficiency of a conventional full-size cryogenic liquid sample revaporization system, including essential functions such as LNG regulation for maintaining pressure, temperature, and flow control during the LNG and sample vaporization process.

[0010] It is yet another object of the present invention to be used in marine applications where engine room space is limited, such as cruise ships and cargo ships, while allowing for vaporization and conditioning of LNG samples for analysis.

[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to minimize the space / footprint required for installation of an LNG regasification system on a ship.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a complete, compact and intelligent LNG sample revaporization system suitable for use in space-constrained environments. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] While the illustrative, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention may overcome some or all of the above-mentioned drawbacks and other drawbacks associated with related art LNG vaporization and measurement systems, the present invention does not necessarily overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks, and the illustrative, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention may not overcome all of the above-mentioned problems.

[0014] In this regard, the present invention describes a fully functional vaporization unit characterized by reduced dimensions while providing performance and operability comparable to a full-size sample vaporization and conditioning system, which conforms to applicable safety requirements in certain situations (e.g., Class I, Division 1, flame-resistant enclosure, or even ATEX explosion-proof enclosure), and includes a wall / bulkhead-mountable cabinet assembly that effectively improves utilization of limited shipboard space. Because the present invention is directed to use in conjunction with LNG supplied from a steady-state source, such as an onboard storage tank, or for storage, transportation, or bunkering, rather than a variable source, such as a pipeline, the cabinet assembly eliminates unnecessary components, such as filters, liquid blocks, and auxiliary cabinet heating units. Such space-saving characteristics may also be desirable in non-shipboard environments where LNG or natural gas liquids are used as fuel for power / heating applications and where extra space is at a premium, such as in arctic research facilities.

[0015] As described in applicant's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10,976,295 regarding a methane number generation method, many manufacturers and government agencies require reporting of the energy content of LNG to meet warranty and / or regulatory requirements. The present invention also provides an integrated design that significantly reduces the system footprint, minimizing the occupation of valuable floor space, while providing a complement of system components necessary to record, measure, and monitor the quality of the energy content (methane number and / or BTU value) of LNG to meet regulatory and / or engine operating and manufacturer warranty requirements.

[0016] To achieve these and other objectives, embodiments of the present invention include a compact system for vaporizing a sample of cryogenic liquid natural gas (LNG) used to power an engine in a space-constrained environment, the compact system comprising: a) a cabinet having a rear wall, side walls, top wall, bottom wall, and front access door defining a generally rectangular configuration, the side wall having a cryogenic liquid sample input, a vaporized gas sample output, and a vaporized gas sample bypass outlet; b) an electric control unit housed within the cabinet; c) a resistance temperature detector (RTD) electrically connected to the control unit and in fluid communication with the liquid sample input for generating a signal corresponding to the temperature of the liquid sample input; d) an electrically powered flash vaporizer electrically connected to the control unit and in fluid communication with the liquid sample input for receiving and flash vaporizing the liquid sample; e) an accumulator having an input for receiving and accumulating the vaporized sample from the flash vaporizer and an output line for outputting the accumulated vaporized sample; f) an inline connector associated with the output line of the accumulator that connects one stream of the accumulated vaporized sample to an inline downstream heated pressure regulator having an inlet line and an outlet line to regulate the pressure of the accumulated vaporized sample before sending the vaporized sample through the outlet line to a downstream analytical device via a vaporized gas sample output within the cabinet, the inline connector including a bypass streamline that directs the accumulated vaporized sample past an inline flow meter that measures the flow rate of the accumulated vaporized sample and to a bypass outlet of the cabinet.

[0017] A further embodiment of the above-described embodiment of the present invention is characterized by including a shut-off valve disposed in the bypass line to stop the flow of accumulated vaporized sample through the bypass streamline to the in-line flow meter.

[0018] A further embodiment of the above-described embodiment of the present invention is characterized by including a pressure gauge and an in-line shut-off valve disposed between the flash vaporizer and the accumulator to stop the flow of vaporized sample to the accumulator.

[0019] A further embodiment of the above-described embodiment of the present invention further includes a pressure gauge and an in-line shut-off valve disposed between the pressure regulator and the vaporized gas sample output to stop the flow of vaporized sample to a downstream analytical device.

[0020] A further embodiment of any of the previous embodiments according to the invention is characterized in that the shut-off valve and the flow control valve are electrically actuated and activated / deactivated by a control unit.

[0021] A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the invention is characterized by including an accumulator pressure relief outlet associated with the burst disc relief valve.

[0022] A further embodiment of any of the previous embodiments according to the invention is characterized in that the in-line connector associated with the output line of the accumulator is a T-connector.

[0023] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cabinet having a back wall, side walls, top wall, and bottom wall including elements mounted on vertical surfaces, defining a generally rectangular configuration, and a front access door, the side wall having a cryogenic liquid sample input, a vaporized gas sample output, and a vaporized gas sample bypass outlet; an electrically powered control unit housed within the cabinet; a resistance temperature detector (RTD) in fluid communication with the cryogenic liquid sample input for generating a signal corresponding to a temperature at the cryogenic liquid sample input; an electrically powered flash vaporizer electrically connected to the control unit and in fluid communication with the liquid sample input for receiving and flash vaporizing the liquid sample; an input for receiving and storing the vaporized sample from the flash vaporizer; and an output for outputting the stored vaporized sample. 1. A method for conditioning a sample vapor from a steady-state cryogenic natural gas source for energy content sampling using a compact system mounted on a vertical surface including: an accumulator having an inlet line and an outlet line; an in-line connector associated with an output line of the accumulator communicating one stream of the accumulated vaporized sample to an in-line downstream pressure regulator having an inlet line and an outlet line to regulate the pressure and condition of the accumulated vaporized sample before passing the vaporized sample through an outlet line to a downstream analytical device via a vaporized gas sample output, the in-line connector including a bypass streamline directing the accumulated vaporized sample past an in-line flow meter measuring a flow rate of the accumulated vaporized sample and to a bypass outlet of a cabinet, the method comprising: a) extracting a cryogenic liquid sample from a steady-state liquid natural gas source; b) passing at least a portion of the cryogenic liquid sample through an RTD to generate a signal representative of the temperature of the cryogenic liquid sample; c) passing the cryogenic liquid sample through a flash vaporizer to produce a vaporized gas sample; d) passing the vaporized gas sample through the input of the accumulator to mix with the vaporized gas stored in the accumulator; e) extracting the mixed vapor sample from the accumulator through an output line of the accumulator and passing it through an in-line connector associated with the output of the accumulator; f) passing at least a portion of the vaporized gas sample through a bypass streamline to an in-line flow meter to measure the flow rate of the vaporized gas sample to ensure operation at proper operating parameters before passing the vaporized gas sample to a bypass outlet of the cabinet; g) passing at least a portion of the vaporized sample through an in-line downstream pressure regulator and then through a vaporized gas sample output to deliver the regulated vaporized gas sample from the vertical surface mounted cabinet to a downstream analytical device.

[0024] In a further embodiment of the aforementioned method according to the present invention, the compact system further comprises a shut-off valve disposed in the bypass line, and the method further comprises the step of activating the shut-off valve to stop the flow of accumulated vaporized sample through the bypass streamline to the in-line flow meter.

[0025] In a further embodiment of the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the compact system further includes a pressure gauge and an in-line shut-off valve disposed between the flash vaporizer and the accumulator, and the method further includes the step of activating the shut-off valve to stop the flow of vaporized sample to the accumulator.

[0026] In yet another embodiment of the above embodiment, the compact system includes a pressure gauge and an in-line shut-off valve disposed between the pressure regulator and the vaporized gas sample output, and the method includes a step of stopping the flow of vaporized sample to a downstream analytical device.

[0027] In a further embodiment of any of the aforementioned method embodiments of the present invention, the shut-off valve is electrically actuated, and the method further comprises a step of activating or deactivating the shut-off valve by a control unit to control the flow of the vaporized gas sample through the compact system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The illustrated embodiments below are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made based on presently known structural and / or functional equivalents without departing from the scope of the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] Aspects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the detailed description of illustrative, non-limiting embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0030] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention for vaporizing and conditioning an LNG sample in the form of a wall-mountable cabinet. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the physical structure according to FIG. 1 without the front cabinet door. [Figure 3] 2 is a right side view of the physical structure according to FIG. 1 with the handle attached and the cabinet door closed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Exemplary, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. While specific configurations and dimensions are described for clarity, it should be understood that such disclosed dimensions and configurations are provided for illustrative purposes only. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other dimensions and configurations can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, unless otherwise specified.

[0032] As used herein, "significantly," "relatively," "generally," "about," and "approximately" are relative modifiers intended to indicate acceptable variations from the property so modified. They are not intended to be limited to the absolute value or property that they modify, but rather to approach or approximate such physical or functional property.

[0033] In the detailed description, references to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or "in an embodiment" mean that the referenced feature is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, separate references to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or "in an embodiment" do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but such embodiments are not mutually exclusive unless so stated and unless readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the present invention may include any various combinations and / or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

[0034] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to encompass the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, as used herein, the base terms "comprise" and / or "have" specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but are understood not to exclude the presence or addition of at least one other feature, integer, step, operation, element, component, and / or group thereof.

[0035] As used herein, the terms "features," "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," "has," "having," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus characterized by a list of features is not necessarily limited to only those features but may include other features not expressly recited or inherent in such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0036] It should also be understood that, as used herein, reference to a range of values ​​is intended to encompass all values ​​within that range, including the endpoints of the range, unless specifically stated to the contrary.

[0037] As used herein, "connected" includes a physical connection, whether direct or indirect, permanently fixed or adjustably attached. Thus, unless specified otherwise, "connected" is intended to encompass any operationally functional connection.

[0038] As used herein, "wall mounted" refers to mounting of a system cabinet that is placed on a wall / bulk above a horizontal supporting surface such as a floor or deck to preserve limited floor / deck space for other uses.

[0039] In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which are provided for purposes of illustration as representative of specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The illustrated embodiments below are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made based on presently known structural and / or functional equivalents without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0040] It will become apparent to those skilled in the art, upon consideration of the following detailed description, that the invention herein provides a novel liquid vaporization apparatus and method for improving efficiency while alleviating problems of the prior art.

[0041] In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the system cabinet does not need to occupy floor space, for example the engine room of a ship, as it has a small footprint and can be mounted on a wall above the floor of the facility.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 , the vaporizer assembly 10 includes a cabinet housing 12. The cabinet housing 12 is a fire-resistant container with a back wall, side walls, top wall, and bottom wall, defining a generally rectangular or square perimeter accessible through a hinged front cabinet door 50. The cabinet may include a mounting element of known construction (not shown) on the back wall for securing to a vertical surface, such as a wall or bulkhead. Such mounting elements may be in the form of a bracket-type mount that interlocks with a complementary rail attached to the surface to which the cabinet 12 is secured, or may be in the form of simple corner-located tabs 54 with bolt holes for bolting the cabinet to a lower unistrut so that it cannot move relative to the wall. The cabinet is configured to be fire-resistant and may also be explosion-proof. The vaporizer assembly cabinet housing 12 features a power inlet 14 that supplies power to a controller 15 attached to the bottom of the back wall of the cabinet 12. The controller 15 is a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) controller or PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) control system used to provide robust control over connected components, improve response time, and enable data logging.

[0043] An electrical supply is provided through electrical conduit 17 to resistance temperature detector (RTD) 16, which is fed directly from controller 15 to vaporizer 18. RTD 16 is programmable, improving the accuracy of inlet temperature measurement compared to conventional thermocouples and minimizing pressure loss through the measurement device. The RTD detects the temperature of a liquid sample from a source input 20 originating from a steady-state storage vessel / tank (not shown) and generates a signal representative of the temperature that is sent to controller 15. The RTD is entirely contained within an explosion-proof housing sealed with a screw cover connection head 22.

[0044] Downstream of the RTD is an electric LNG vaporizer 18, which may be of conventional / known construction, such as the sampling vaporizer described in applicant's patent US8,056,399, or of an improved construction, such as that described in applicant's patent US10,613,006, which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0045] LNG enters cabinet 12 as a cryogenic liquid through a sidewall through insulated, vacuum-jacketed tubing at input 20. The vacuum-jacketed tubing is of the type described in applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 8,056,399 and provides effective thermal isolation of the cryogenic liquid from the ambient environment. The cryogenic liquid passes through a valved T-connector (not shown), which directs a sample portion to RTD 16. Cryogenic LNG enters vaporizer 18 through the top of the vaporizer, where the liquid is flash-vaporized and exits through tubing 24, which incorporates an in-line shut-off valve 26 (illustrated as a manual control valve). Tube 24 includes an in-line pressure gauge and delivers the vaporized gas to inlet port 28, located at the top of vapor gas accumulator 30.

[0046] Accumulator 30 is preferably of the type described in Applicant's U.S. Patent Application No. 7,484,404 (incorporated herein by reference) and includes an internal input tube that directs vapor to an internal location within accumulator 30, thereby promoting thorough mixing with the gas vapor already present in accumulator 30 and improving the integrity of the accumulated sample for energy content analysis. Accumulator 30 includes a relief line exiting the side of cabinet 12 with a rupture disk to prevent overpressure within the accumulator. The relief line may lead to a collection tank or to atmosphere.

[0047] The thoroughly mixed vapor gas in the accumulator tank 30 is removed through additional tubing 32, passed through a T-connector 34 to a heated pressure regulator 36, and output through a vaporized sample output line 38, which is routed through the sidewall of the cabinet 12 to an associated analyzer / chromatograph (not shown) for sample analysis. The vaporized sample output line 38 includes both an in-line shutoff valve (illustrated as a manual control valve) and a complementary in-line pressure gauge (illustrated as an analog dial). Descending from the connector 34 is a sample bypass line 39, which includes a flow control valve 41 that controls or stops the flow of mixed vapor gas from the accumulator, and an in-line flow meter 40 that monitors the vapor flow rate through the assembly. If the detected flow rate exceeds appropriate operating parameters, the excess vapor flow is directed through the bypass line 39 to a bypass outlet 42 on the side of the cabinet 12. The bypass outlet 42 may lead to a collection tank or to the atmosphere.

[0048] Selective operation of flow control valve 41, shut-off valve 26, and the in-line shut-off valve in line 38 may be performed manually or, if desired, may be fully automated, assuming electrical and signal connections to controller 15 are provided. Full automation can be achieved through the use of electronically controlled solenoid valves that can shut off sample output to the associated analytical / chromatographic equipment and / or isolate particular segments of the assembly if an anomaly is detected.

[0049] While only a single embodiment of the invention has been described in the foregoing specification, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that numerous modifications and embodiments of the invention will come to mind within the scope of this invention having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, and many modifications and other embodiments of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. [Industrial Applicability]

[0050] The present invention is useful in space-limited environments such as ships to provide a fully functional, compact LNG sample revaporization and conditioning system that can be mounted on a wall / bulkhead, enabling on-board sample energy content analysis from on-board cryogenic LNG storage tanks while significantly reducing the system's footprint and minimizing the occupation of valuable floor space.

Claims

1. In a compact system for vaporizing samples of cryogenic liquid natural gas (LNG) used to power engines in space-limited environments, a) a cabinet having a rear wall, side walls, top wall, bottom wall, and front access door defining a generally rectangular configuration, the side wall having a cryogenic liquid sample input, a vaporized gas sample output, and a vaporized gas sample bypass outlet; b) an electric control unit housed within said cabinet; c) a resistance temperature detector (RTD) electrically connected to the control unit and in fluid communication with the liquid sample input for generating a signal corresponding to the temperature of the liquid sample input; d) an electrically powered flash vaporizer electrically connected to the control unit and in fluid communication with the liquid sample input for receiving and flash vaporizing a liquid sample; e) an accumulator having an input for receiving and accumulating the vaporized sample from the flash vaporizer and an output line for outputting the accumulated vaporized sample; f) an inline connector associated with the output line of the accumulator, connecting one stream of the accumulated vaporized sample to an inline downstream heated pressure regulator having an inlet line and an outlet line to regulate the pressure of the accumulated vaporized sample before sending the vaporized sample through an outlet line to a downstream analytical device via the vaporized gas sample output within the cabinet, the inline connector including a bypass streamline that directs the accumulated vaporized sample past an inline flow meter that measures the flow rate of the accumulated vaporized sample and to the bypass outlet of the cabinet.

2. 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a shut-off valve disposed in the bypass line to stop the flow of accumulated vaporized sample through the bypass streamline to the in-line flow meter.

3. 3. The system of claim 2, further characterized by a pressure gauge and an in-line shut-off valve disposed between said flash vaporizer and said accumulator to stop the flow of vaporized sample to said accumulator.

4. 4. The system of claim 3, further characterized by a pressure gauge and an in-line shut-off valve disposed between said pressure regulator and said vaporized gas sample output for stopping the flow of vaporized sample to a downstream analytical device.

5. 10. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the isolation valves and flow control valves are electrically actuated and activated / de-actuated by the control unit.

6. 10. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the pressure relief outlet from the accumulator is associated with a burst disc relief valve.

7. 10. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the in-line connectors associated with the output lines of the accumulators are T-type connectors.

8. a cabinet having a rear wall, side walls, top wall, bottom wall including elements attached to vertical surfaces, defining a generally rectangular configuration, and a front access door, the side walls having a cryogenic liquid sample input, a vaporized gas sample output, and a vaporized gas sample bypass outlet; an electric control unit housed within the cabinet; a resistance temperature detector (RTD) in fluid communication with the cryogenic liquid sample input for generating a signal corresponding to a temperature of the cryogenic liquid sample input; an electrically powered flash vaporizer electrically connected to the control unit and in fluid communication with the liquid sample input for receiving and flash vaporizing a liquid sample; an accumulator having an input for receiving and accumulating the vaporized sample from the flash vaporizer and an output line for outputting the accumulated vaporized sample; an in-line connector associated with an output line of the accumulator communicating one stream of the accumulated vaporized sample to an in-line downstream pressure regulator having an inlet line and an outlet line for regulating the pressure and condition of the accumulated vaporized sample before sending the vaporized sample out an outlet line to a downstream analytical device via the vaporized gas sample output, the in-line connector including a bypass streamline directing the accumulated vaporized sample past an in-line flow meter measuring the flow rate of the accumulated vaporized sample and to the bypass outlet of the cabinet; 1. A method for conditioning a sample vapor from a steady-state cryogenic natural gas source for energy content sampling using a compact system mounted on a vertical surface, comprising: a) extracting a cryogenic liquid sample from a steady-state liquid natural gas source; b) passing at least a portion of the cryogenic liquid sample through the RTD to generate a signal representative of the temperature of the cryogenic liquid sample; c) passing the cryogenic liquid sample through a flash vaporizer to produce a vaporized gas sample; d) passing the vaporized gas sample through the input of the accumulator to mix with the vaporized gas stored in the accumulator; e) extracting the mixed vapor sample from the accumulator through an output line of the accumulator and passing it through the in-line connector associated with the output of the accumulator; f) passing at least a portion of the vaporized gas sample through the bypass streamline to an in-line flow meter to measure the flow rate of the vaporized gas sample to ensure operation at proper operating parameters before passing the vaporized gas sample to a bypass outlet of the cabinet; g) passing at least a portion of the vaporized sample through the in-line downstream pressure regulator and then through the vaporized gas sample output to deliver the regulated vaporized gas sample from the vertical surface-mounted cabinet to a downstream analytical device.

9. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the compact system further includes a shut-off valve disposed in the bypass line, the method further comprising the step of actuating the shut-off valve to stop the flow of accumulated vaporized sample through the bypass streamline to the in-line flow meter.

10. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the compact system further includes a pressure gauge and an in-line shut-off valve disposed between the flash vaporizer and the accumulator, the method further comprising the step of activating the shut-off valve to stop the flow of vaporized sample to the accumulator.

11. 4. The system of claim 3, further characterized by a pressure gauge and an in-line shut-off valve disposed between said pressure regulator and said vaporized gas sample output for stopping the flow of vaporized sample to a downstream analytical device.

12. 12. The method of any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the shut-off valve is electrically actuated, further characterized by the step of activating or deactivating the shut-off valve by the control unit to control the flow of vaporized gas sample through the compact system.

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