Abstract: An integrated sampling probe, valve and vaporiser (16) for a liquefied natural gas container is provided which comprises a vaporiser body (24) having a vaporisation chamber (66), a fluid inlet (40) in communication with the vaporisation chamber (66), a fluid outlet (58), and a vaporised-fluid flow path extending from the vaporisation chamber (66) to the fluid outlet (58). The fluid inlet (40) is formed as a critical orifice dimensioned to enable vaporisation of fluid passing into the vaporisation chamber (66), and there is a valve member (63) which is drivable to open and close the critical orifice, along with a heating assembly (50) for heating the valve member (63) to enable vaporisation of fluid passing through the critical orifice and into the vaporisation chamber (66). A sampling probe body (18) is also provided extending from the vaporiser body (24), the sampling probe body (18) having a sampling bore (36) which is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet (40).

Abstract: A method of vapourising a sample of liquefied natural gas so as to retain the proportions of components of the liquefied natural gas on vapourisation, the method comprising the steps of: introducing liquefied natural gas into a liquid inlet (112) of a liquefied natural gas vapouriser (110); vapourising the liquefied natural gas at a vapourisation element (134) of the liquid inlet (112); and directing vapourised liquefied natural gas into a vapourisation conduit portion (120) directly after the liquid inlet, the vapourisation conduit portion (120) having a fall, thereby encouraging vapourised liquid natural gas to be directed against a flow direction of liquid or liquid-gas phase natural gas in the vapourisation conduit portion to encourage remixing of the vapourised liquid natural gas and liquid or liquid-gas phase natural gas A liquefied natural gas vapouriser (110) suitable for the above method is also provided.

Abstract: A fluid container (10) for fluid containment. The internal surface of the container body (12) defines a fluid-containment chamber (14), which has at least one fluid inlet and/or outlet port (18). Associated with at least one fluid inlet and/or outlet port (18), there is a fluid-flow control device, having a control body (16) integrally formed with the container body (12) as one piece.