Natural Gas Solvent Mixture Storage Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for transporting and storing natural gas, such as LNG and CNG, have high energy demands due to the need for cryogenic conditions and high pressures, which are inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A method involving mixing natural gas with a liquid solvent like ethane, propane, or butane to form a liquid phase mixture, stored at specific temperature and pressure ranges, allowing for efficient storage and transport with reduced energy requirements, and subsequent separation and offloading for delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If natural gas is transported using LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) ships, then the gas can be stored and transported in liquid form, but the energy demand is high due to cryogenic temperatures of -162.2°C
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature and pressure parameters from LNG cryogenic conditions (-162.2°C) to moderate cooling conditions (-40°C to -62.22°C) combined with pressurization (75.86 Bar to 148.27 Bar), achieving high storage density without the high energy demand of cryogenic cooling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a liquid solvent (ethane, propane, or butane) as an intermediary medium to dissolve natural gas, forming a liquid phase mixture that enables high-density storage at moderate temperatures and pressures, avoiding both LNG cryogenic requirements and CNG high-pressure requirements
2Quantity of substance
If natural gas is transported using CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) ships, then the gas can be stored at high pressures (124.13 Bar to 248.27 Bar), but the energy demand is high and storage density is limited to 600 to 1 ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the storage parameters by combining moderate pressurization (75.86 Bar to 148.27 Bar, lower than CNG) with moderate cooling (-40°C to -62.22°C) and the addition of liquid solvent, achieving superior storage density without the high energy demand of CNG compression
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite liquid phase mixture of natural gas dissolved in liquid solvent (ethane, propane, or butane), which combines the benefits of liquid-phase high density with moderate storage conditions, surpassing both pure CNG and LNG approaches
3Device complexity
If natural gas is stored as a gaseous medium by pipeline, then the infrastructure is simple, but the storage density is low and remote reserves cannot be economically transported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition by cooling natural gas and dissolving it in liquid solvent to form a liquid phase mixture, dramatically increasing storage density while maintaining infrastructure simplicity suitable for pipeline and marine transport
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
This approach achieves higher storage densities and lower energy demands compared to traditional methods, optimizing the handling and transportation of natural gas while maintaining the quality of the gas for delivery.
Implementation Method 1
mixing the natural gas with a liquid solvent to form a liquid phase natural gas-solvent mixture
Implementation Method 2
storing the liquid phase natural gas-solvent mixture for transport in a looped pipeline system at temperatures in a range from -40° C to more than -62.22° C and pressures in a range of 75.86 Bar to 148.27 Bar
Implementation Method 3
storing the liquid phase natural gas-solvent mixture for transport in a looped pipeline system at temperatures in a range from -40° C to more than -62.22° C
Implementation Method 4
separating the natural gas from the liquid phase natural gas-solvent mixture
Data Source
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AI summary
An integrated ship mounted system for loading a gas stream, separating heavier hydrocarbons, compressing the gas, cooling the gas, mixing the gas with a desiccant, blending it with a liquid carrier or solvent, and then cooling the mix to processing, storage and transportation conditions. After transporting the product to its destination, a hydrocarbon processing train and liquid displacement is provided to unload the liquid from the pipeline and storage system, separate the liquid carrier, and transfer the gas stream to a storage or transmission system.