LNG ship tank inert gas generation system

Patent · Tue Nov 26 04:00:00 EST 1974

OSTI ID:6220340

Locke, S A

Chicago Bridge and Iron Co.'s new inert-gas system, designed for safely emptying LNG from storage tanks and avoiding potentially explosive gas/air mixtures in case of catastrophic ship collision, does not require the usual additional machinery such as an internal-combustion engine and a compressor. The inert-gas system consists of a supply tank for a liquefied inert gas such as nitrogen, an LNG cargo tank, and a heat pipe for transferring heat from the supply tank to the storage tank. One end of the heat pipe extends into the vapor space in the supply tank above the liquefid nitrogen and the other end is submerged in the LNG in the storage tank. The heat pipe consists of a closed tube containing a partially liquefid inert gas for transferring heat from the supply tank to the storage tank, thereby helping condense the vaporized gas in the enclosed supply tank. An extended-surface heat exchanger is provided at each end of the heat pipe to increase the efficiency of the heat flow. Thus as heat leaks into the supply tank, the liquefied nitrogen is vaporized and confined to the space adjacent to the end of the heat pipe. The inert gas in the heat pipe is vaporized and flows to the end of the heat pipe located in the storage tank. There the vapor is condensed by the cooler cryogenic LNG and transfers its heat to the LNG. A wick provided on the inner surface of the heat pipe transports the cooled liquefied inert gas in the closed heat pipe back to the end positioned in the supply tank. Heat is drawn from the vaporized gas in the supply tank to condense the vaporized gas present there, and the inert gas within the heat pipe is again vaporized.

• Assignee: Chicago Bridge and Iron Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3850001
• OSTI ID: 6220340
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
032000* -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
CONTAINERS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HEAT PIPE WICKS
HEAT PIPES
HEAT TRANSFER
LIQUEFIED GASES
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
MATERIALS HANDLING
NATURAL GAS
NONMETALS
RARE GASES
SAFETY
SHIPS
STORAGE FACILITIES
TANKS