Cryogenic Manifold Pressure Balancing via Vaporizer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for delivering cryogenic fluids like LNG from multiple portable containers to a rail locomotive engine face challenges such as pressure imbalances, uneven flow rates, and heat management issues due to the horizontal design of ISO containers, leading to inefficient pressure distribution and potential venting of boil-off gas.
Innovation Solution
A cryogenic fluid delivery manifold system with a liquid flow manifold and a vapor pressure manifold that balances pressure across multiple tanks, utilizing a dedicated pusher tank with a vaporizer to regulate vapor pressure and a scavenging compressor to manage empty tanks, ensuring coordinated pressure and minimizing heat addition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple portable cryogenic containers are connected to a single fluid line for delivering LNG to a locomotive engine, then the quantity of substance delivered can be increased, but pressure imbalances and uneven flow rates occur across the containers
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the fluid delivery function into two separate manifolds: a liquid manifold for LNG delivery and a vapor manifold for pressure equalization. This segmentation allows independent control of liquid flow and vapor pressure, resolving the pressure imbalance issue while maintaining the ability to deliver from multiple containers
Solution Approach 2:
Vapor is introduced as an intermediary substance to mediate pressure distribution across all containers. The vapor manifold connects all container vapor spaces, allowing vapor to flow between containers and equalize pressure differences, thereby stabilizing the system while liquid is being delivered
2Quantity of substance
If multiple portable cryogenic containers are connected to a single fluid line, then the quantity of substance delivered can be increased, but heat management issues and potential venting of boil-off gas occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful boil-off vapor, which would normally need to be vented, into a useful resource for pressure equalization. The vapor manifold captures boil-off vapor from all containers and uses it to maintain pressure balance, thereby eliminating the need for venting while improving heat management efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding boil-off vapor through venting, the system recovers it by routing it through the vapor manifold where it serves the beneficial function of pressure equalization across containers, thereby recovering energy that would otherwise be lost
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves balanced pressure distribution across multiple tanks, stabilizes flow rates, reduces heat management issues, and prevents venting, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of cryogenic fluid delivery to the locomotive engine.
Implementation Method 1
The pusher tank includes a vaporizer that vaporizes liquid from the tank
Implementation Method 2
The vapor pressure manifold is also fluidly coupled to a compressor that regulates and/or balances pressure across the tanks
Data Source
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AI summary
A cryogenic fluid delivery manifold system includes a plurality of cryogenic supply tanks. A liquid flow manifold permits flow of liquid a use device. A vapor pressure manifold is coupled to the supply tanks and to a pusher tank for regulating and/or balancing pressure across the plurality of supply tanks.