Gas Supply System for Floating Structures

The patent replaces the mechanical compression system (high-pressure compressor) with a thermal phase change system (evaporator). Liquid gas is vaporized in the evaporator to produce high-pressure gas directly, eliminating the need for mechanical compression. This substitution resolves the contradiction by achieving the required gas supply capability through phase change rather than mechanical compression, thereby reducing cost and maintenance requirements.

The patent implements a BOG recovery system where boil-off gas is captured and fed into the evaporator. The evaporator uses the BOG as a heat source to vaporize liquid gas, and the BOG itself is then utilized as fuel or processed further. This recovery mechanism resolves the contradiction by converting the harmful BOG accumulation into a useful resource, maintaining system productivity while keeping the compressor-free architecture.

The patent introduces the evaporator as an intermediary device between the reliquefaction process and the tank. Instead of returning reliquefied gas directly to the tank where expansion causes vaporization, the gas is routed through the evaporator which maintains pressure and temperature control. The evaporator acts as a buffer that prevents premature expansion and vaporization, allowing the gas to be properly integrated into the system without productivity loss.

The patent eliminates the mechanical compression system that generates vibrations by substituting it with a thermal phase change system. The evaporator uses heat transfer to vaporize liquid gas and generate high-pressure gas without moving parts or mechanical compression. This substitution resolves the contradiction by achieving the required gas pressure through thermodynamic processes rather than mechanical means, thereby eliminating vibration generation.