Apparatus and method for improving vacuum insulated joints

Abstract

A fitting (1) for liquefied gas, comprising a first component (1a) and a second component (1b), the first component (1a) and the second component (1b) being connected to each other by insertion of the first component (1a) into the second component (1b), wherein each component (1a, 1b) includes an internal liquefied gas conduit (13) to which fluid connections are made for the transfer of liquefied gas through the fitting (1), and the fitting (1) further comprises a worm seal (7) and a cold seal (8), wherein the fitting (1) further comprises a hot gas inlet (10) arranged to receive a flow of heated gas for heating the worm seal (7).

Claims

1. A fitting (1) for liquefied gas, comprising a first component (1a) and a second component (1b), the first component (1a) and the second component (1b) being connected to each other by insertion of the first component (1a) into the second component (1b), wherein each component (1a, 1b) includes an internal liquefied gas conduit (13) to which fluid connections are made for the transfer of liquefied gas through the fitting (1), and the fitting (1) further comprises a worm seal (7) and a cold seal (8), wherein the fitting (1) further comprises a hot gas inlet (10) arranged to receive a flow of heated gas for heating the worm seal (7).

2. A joint according to claim 1, wherein the worm seal (7) and the cold seal (8) are arranged to seal the interface between the first component (1a) and the second component (1b), forming a space (16) between the components (1a, 1b) located between the worm seal (7) and the cold seal (8), the worm seal (7) is arranged to seal the space (16) from the external atmosphere, and the cold seal (8) is arranged to seal the liquefied gas conduit (13) from the space (16).

3. A joint according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a leak detection seal (43) disposed between the worm seal (7) and the external atmosphere, and forming a leak detection space (45) between itself and the worm seal (7).

4. A fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising two or more worm seals.

5. A fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hot gas inlet (10) is fluidly connected to the external atmosphere via an interface between the first component (1a) and the second component (1b).

6. A joint according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the hot gas inlet (10) is fluidly connected to a hot gas flow path (11) defined on one side of an intermediate component (9), the intermediate component (9) is positioned between the hot gas flow path (11) and the worm seal (7), and the intermediate component (9) is heated by the heated gas flow.

7. The joint according to claim 6, wherein the intermediate component (9) is arranged such that the intermediate component (9) heats the worm seal (7).

8. A joint according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the hot gas flow path (11) further includes an outlet position (12) located at the open end (15) of the interface between the first component (1a) and the second component (1b).

9. A joint according to claim 8, wherein the outlet position (12) is an opening formed in the interface between the first joint component and the second joint component that is open to the outside atmosphere.

10. A joint according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein joint (1) is a vacuum insulated joint.

11. A joint according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the joint (1) is a joint (1) for phasing a cryogenic liquefied gas.

12. A joint component (1a; 1b) of a joint according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising an internal liquefied gas conduit fluidly connected for the transfer of liquefied gas through the joint (1), wherein the joint includes a worm seal (7) and a cold seal (8) when the first and second components (10, 40) are interconnected, the joint component (1a; 1b) further comprises a hot gas inlet (10) configured to receive heated gas, wherein the hot gas inlet (10) is connected to a hot gas flow path (11) that heats a portion of the joint, thereby indirectly heating the worm seal (7).

13. A method for a fitting for liquefied gas, comprising a first component (1a) and a second component (1b), wherein the first component (1a) and the second component (1b) are connected to each other by insertion of the first component (1a) into the second component (1b), wherein each component (1a, 1b) includes an internal liquefied gas conduit (13) to which fluid is connected for the transfer of liquefied gas through the fitting (1), and the fitting (1) further comprises a worm seal (7) and a cold seal (8), wherein the fitting (1) further comprises a hot gas inlet (10), and the method, The step of supplying a heated gas flow to the hot gas inlet (10) A method characterized by including the following.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the heated gas flow enters the fitting from the hot gas inlet (10), flows through the hot gas flow path (11), and leaves the fitting at the interface between the first component (1a) and the second component (2a).

15. A method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the joint is the joint described in any one of claims 1 to 11.

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