Floating structure comprising a system for supplying a consumer with a fuel prepared from liquefied natural gas or a mixture of methane and an alkane comprising at least two carbon atoms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryogenic liquid storage and transport structures are limited to a specific type of cryogenic liquid, as the boil-off gas from different types of liquids cannot be universally used as fuel due to differences in methane number, making it difficult to alternate between different cryogenic liquids for fuel supply.
Innovation Solution
A floating or onshore structure with a supply system that includes a conversion device and heat exchange module, allowing the system to alternate between configurations to process and utilize boil-off gas from both liquefied natural gas and a mixture of liquid methane and alkane as fuel, adjusting the methane number to match the consumer's requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the structure is dedicated to a specific type of cryogenic liquid, then the fuel supply system can be optimized for that liquid, but the structure cannot store or transport multiple types of cryogenic liquids
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel supply system is designed to handle multiple types of cryogenic liquids (liquefied natural gas and mixtures of liquid methane with alkanes) through a universal processing approach. The system uses a common boil-off gas collection mechanism that can process different liquid types by adjusting operational parameters rather than requiring dedicated systems for each liquid type, thereby achieving multi-functionality without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system adjusts operational parameters such as temperature, pressure, and composition ratios to accommodate different cryogenic liquids. By changing these parameters, the same fuel supply infrastructure can process various liquid types and produce suitable fuel mixtures, enabling versatility while maintaining system simplicity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the supply system is configured for one type of cryogenic liquid, then the fuel preparation is optimized, but the system cannot adapt when another type of cryogenic liquid is stored or transported
Solution Approach 1:
The supply system incorporates dynamic reconfiguration capabilities through movable components and adjustable connections. The system can transition between different operational configurations to match the stored cryogenic liquid type, enabling adaptability while maintaining ease of operation through automated or semi-automated reconfiguration processes
Solution Approach 2:
The system is pre-designed with multiple possible configurations and pre-positioned components that can be activated based on the cryogenic liquid type. This preliminary preparation allows for quick switching between configurations without complex reassembly, making the system both adaptable and easy to operate
3Productivity
If boil-off gas from different cryogenic liquids is used directly as fuel, then the fuel supply is simple, but the methane number may not meet consumer requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary processing stage that collects boil-off gas from different cryogenic liquids and processes them through a common fuel preparation system. This intermediary step allows for composition adjustment and quality control, ensuring the final fuel meets methane number requirements while maintaining efficient supply from multiple sources
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel system creates composite fuel mixtures by combining boil-off gases from different cryogenic liquids in controlled proportions. By blending these gases and adjusting the composition ratios, the system achieves the desired methane number while utilizing all available boil-off resources efficiently, thereby controlling fuel quality without sacrificing productivity
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
Enables the storage and transportation of multiple types of cryogenic liquids, allowing the system to adapt and supply fuel to consumers by modifying the boil-off gas to a usable fuel with a higher methane number, enhancing flexibility and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchange module configured to at least partially liquefy the gas resulting from the boil-off of the mixture contained in the tank
Implementation Method 2
The phenomenon of natural evaporation is called boil-off, and the gas resulting from this natural evaporation is called boil-off gas (BOG)
Data Source
AI summary
A floating or onshore structure includes at least one tank in which is contained liquefied natural gas or a mixture of liquid methane and an alkane comprising at least two carbon atoms and being in the liquid state, at least one consumer, and at least one supply system for supplying a fuel to the consumer in a first configuration, the fuel being prepared from a gas resulting from the boil-off of the liquefied natural gas contained in the tank, and for supplying the fuel to the consumer in a second configuration, the fuel being prepared from a gas resulting from the boil-off of the mixture contained in the tank.