LNG Refueling Parallel Reservoirs and Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ship refuelling methods for liquefied natural gas (LNG) are slow and expensive due to the need for sequential use of reservoirs, complex pump operation control, and inefficiencies in pressure management, leading to lost vaporized LNG and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A refuelling device and method that uses multiple reservoirs in parallel, with a pressurization system employing boil-off gas to maintain constant pressure and a fluid feed system with pumps and regulating valves to control the flow, allowing simultaneous refuelling and pressurization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If sequential use of reservoirs is used to fill a ship, then pump operation control is simplified, but refuelling duration increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the refuelling operation into multiple parallel reservoirs (at least two reservoirs), each capable of independent operation. This segmentation allows simultaneous refuelling from multiple sources, increasing productivity while maintaining simplified control through modular, independent units.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple reservoirs are merged into a single refuelling system that operates in parallel, combining their capacities to fill the ship's tank simultaneously. This merging increases refuelling speed while the unified control system maintains operational simplicity.
2Productivity
If multiple reservoirs are used in parallel, then refuelling speed increases, but pressure management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains equal pressure levels across all parallel reservoirs through coordinated operation, creating equipotential conditions. This simplifies pressure management by ensuring uniform operating conditions throughout the system, eliminating complex pressure balancing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Pressure sensors and control systems continuously monitor and adjust the operation of each reservoir to maintain equal pressure levels. This feedback mechanism automatically manages pressure distribution, simplifying operation while enabling parallel reservoir use for increased productivity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If vaporizer is used to counterbalance pressure lowering, then pressure stability is improved, but vaporized LNG is lost and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding the vaporized LNG as waste, the system captures and utilizes it to counterbalance pressure losses during refuelling. This converts what would be a harmful loss into a beneficial pressure-maintaining resource, stabilizing pressure without additional costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers vaporized LNG that would otherwise be discarded, using it to maintain pressure stability in the reservoirs. This recovery process eliminates substance loss while maintaining pressure, turning a waste stream into a useful resource.
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 simplifies and accelerates the refuelling process by maintaining equal pressures across reservoirs, reducing operational complexity and costs, and utilizing boil-off gas to counteract pressure losses, resulting in efficient and cost-effective LNG transfer.
Implementation Method 1
a pressurization system (3) adapted to counteract the lowering of the pressure in the reservoir (1a) due to the withdrawal of liquefied gas, preferably by keeping the pressure in the reservoir (1a) substantially constant during refuelling
Implementation Method 2
at least one pump (25) suitable for controlling the exit from said reservoir (1a) of the liquefied gas which thus passes through the feed system (2)
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A refuelling device (1) for supplying liquefied gas is provided, comprising a feed system (2) adapted to place each reservoir (1a) in fluidic through connection with a tank (1b) and comprising withdrawal ducts (21) for withdrawing the liquefied gas from the reservoirs (1a); an inlet duct (22) for introducing said liquefied gas into the tank (1b); a collection manifold (23) for conveying the withdrawal ducts (21) into the inlet duct (22); a pump (25) adapted to move the liquefied gas in the feed system (2); and a pressure gauge (26) to measure the inlet pressure of the liquefied gas in the pump (25); and a valve (27) adapted to regulate the flow in the inlet duct (22) according to the inlet pressure.