Liquefied Gas Carrier Fuel Supply Apparatus with Compressor and Decompressor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquefied gas carriers waste energy and incur economic losses due to the accumulation and disposal of natural boiled-off gas when moored or anchored, as they require burning or dumping this gas to regulate tank pressure, leading to potential accidents and environmental hazards.
Innovation Solution
A fuel supply apparatus comprising a compressor to store high-pressure gas fuel in a tank and a decompressor to supply the gas as needed to the propulsion system, eliminating the need for burning off accumulated gas and reducing pressure regulation waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If natural boiled-off gas is continuously accumulated in the cargo tank when the liquefied gas carrier is moored or anchored, then the pressure inside the cargo tank increases, but various accidents such as a crack or explosion of the cargo tank occur
Solution Approach 1:
The gas fuel is compressed into high pressure and stored in advance in a compressed gas storage tank during periods when the propulsion system is not operating (mooring/anchoring). This preliminary storage action prevents the need to accumulate gas in the cargo tank to dangerous levels, thereby maintaining cargo tank safety while preserving the fuel energy.
2Loss of energy
If the natural boiled-off gas is used as fuel when the liquefied gas carrier is operated, then the gas fuel is utilized, but the gas fuel is wasted by using a dumping device or burnt up by using a gas burner when the liquefied gas carrier is moored or anchored
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the previously harmful or wasted accumulated gas fuel into a beneficial resource by compressing and storing it in high pressure. The gas that would have been dumped or burned is now preserved as usable fuel energy, transforming a waste problem into an energy recovery solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the pressure parameter of the gas fuel from low pressure (where it accumulates in the cargo tank) to high pressure (where it is stored in the compressed gas storage tank). This parameter change enables the gas to be stored in a compact form and readily available for future use, eliminating the need for dumping or burning.
3Productivity
If a compressor and decompressor system is added to store and retrieve gas fuel, then the gas fuel can be stored at high pressure and used when needed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compressed gas storage tank serves multiple functions: it acts as both a storage vessel for high-pressure gas fuel and a pressure regulation device. The system can operate in different modes (compressing during mooring, decompressing during operation), making the apparatus versatile and reducing the need for separate dedicated systems for each function.
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 apparatus efficiently stores and utilizes natural or artificially evaporated gas as fuel, reducing energy waste, preventing hazardous gas production, and saving oil-based fuels, thereby enhancing the competitiveness and safety of liquefied gas carriers.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor (108) for compressing gas fuel into a high pressure
Implementation Method 2
a decompressor (116) for decompressing the stored high-pressure gas fuel into a pressure to be used in a propulsion system
Implementation Method 3
The compressed gas storage tank (114) may include an explosion-proof film (115) disposed at the outside thereof, to prevent an accident by explosion of the high-pressure gas fuel in an emergency
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel supply apparatus of a liquefied gas carrier includes: a compressor for compressing gas fuel into a high pressure; a compressed gas storage tank being filled with the compressed high-pressure gas fuel, for storing the gas fuel; and a decompressor for decompressing the high-pressure gas fuel drawn from the compressed gas storage tank into a pressure suitable to be used in a propulsion system, to supply fuel to the propulsion system. The gas fuel is at least one of a natural boiled-off gas which is naturally evaporated in the cargo tank, a forced boiled-off gas which is artificially evaporated, and a gas additionally supplied for the use of fuel. Further, the compressor is a multistage high-pressure compressor and the decompressor is a multistage decompressor.