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U.S. Department of Energy
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Apparatus and method for recovering liquefied natural gas vapor boiloff by reliquefying during startup or turndown

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6180185

This patent describes a method for recovering vapor boiloff from the vapor space of a liquefied natural gas storage container containing liquefied natural gas and a nitrogen contaminant by feeding a portion of the vapor boiloff to a reliquefier and returning the effluent from the reliquefier to the storage container. The improvement comprising avoiding upsets in the operation of the reliquefier during startup and turndown conditions by: (a) removing at least a portion of the effluent from the reliquefier to form a recycle product so as to control the concentration of the nitrogen contaminant and/or to limit the temperature rise in the vapor space of the storage container; (b) warming the recycle product in a revaporizer where any condensed portion of the recycle product is vaporized; and (c) returning the recycle product to the inlet of the reliquefier.

Assignee:
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA
Patent Number(s):
US 4675037
OSTI ID:
6180185
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English