STEAM DISPERSION SYSTEM FOR CARGO CONTAINERS
A cargo shipping system is provided with a steam dispersion system, a cargo carrier and a shipping container. The steam dispersion system may include a manifold and a plurality of steam diffusers for expelling steam into the shipping container in order to heat the entire surface area of the cargo carrier substantially, instantaneously and completely in order to heat a liquid cargo within the cargo carrier. Methods of making and using the steam dispersion system are also provided.
Various systems and procedures are used to transport liquids in bulk quantities. For instance, reusable thermoplastic tanks for use in shipping containers are available from Powertex Inc. of Houston, Tex., as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/737,651.
When shipping fluids or viscous cargo in tanks through colder environments, the fluids may begin to change state, freeze, solidify, congeal, or harden thereby making unloading of the cargo difficult. Attempts have been made to heat cargo to ease discharge and unloading but known methods often are inefficient or are cumbersome and time consuming to employ.
What is needed in the cargo shipping industry is a system for conditioning cargo temperatures that is cost effective and easy to manufacture, install and use.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure is directed in general to systems and methods of conditioning cargo temperatures within transport tanks or containers. The components of the systems are simple to manufacture, install and use.
For example, in one embodiment according to the present disclosure, a steam dispersion system for conditioning liquid cargo in a container is provided, which may include a steam generator for generating steam. The steam dispersion system may also include a diffuser in communication with the steam generator. The diffuser may be positioned around, under and/or in proximity to a container carrying a liquid cargo. The diffuser may have a plurality of apertures therethrough for expelling the steam into the container and about the liquid cargo to adjust a temperature of the cargo to facilitate unloading the cargo from the container. A permeable sheet may be positioned between the diffuser and the cargo to help with temperature regulation and to protect the cargo container from heat damage and/or wear.
The diffuser of the exemplary steam dispersion system may have a first end and a second end. The first end and the second may be connected to the distribution junction to expel the steam from the apertures. One or more diffusers may be placed between the container and the cargo.
The steam dispersion system may also include a distribution junction for directing the steam to the diffuser. The steam generator and the diffuser may be connected to the distribution junction.
The steam dispersion system may also include a thermoplastic tank for carrying the liquid cargo.
In another embodiment according to the disclosure, a cargo shipping system may include a first container and a second container positioned in the first container. The second container may contain a liquid cargo. The cargo shipping system may include a steam dispersion system with a diffuser located in the first container in proximity to the second container. The diffuser may have a plurality of apertures formed in the diffuser for expelling steam into the first container and around the second container to adjust a temperature of the liquid cargo. A permeable sheet may be placed between the steam dispersion system and the second container.
In this aspect of the disclosure, one or more diffusers may be placed between the first container and the second container. A steam generator may be provided for generating steam and a distribution junction may be provided for directing steam to the diffusers. The steam generator may be in communication with the diffusers to control the rate and flow of the steam from the diffusers.
In another aspect of the disclosure, a method of conditioning liquid cargo in a container may include positioning a steam dispersion system in a first container; loading a second container into the first container, the second container holding a liquid cargo proximate the steam dispersion system; and directing a quantity of steam through the steam dispersion system to expel the steam into the first container about the second container to adjust a temperature of the liquid cargo.
According to the exemplary method, the steam dispersion system may include one or more vents for venting the steam into the first container. One or more of the vents may be adjustable. Furthermore, a pressure regulator may be adjusted to regulate flow rate and pressure of the steam.
A sheet may be placed between the steam dispersion system and the second container according to this aspect of the disclosure.
The method may include off-loading the liquid cargo when the temperature reaches an optimal level.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a cargo shipping system may include a steam dispersion system including a wicking sheet; a cargo carrier; and a shipping container. The cargo carrier may be placed within the shipping container and exposed to the steam dispersion system such that the steam dispersion system expels steam about the cargo carrier and the wicking sheet to heat the contents of the cargo carrier for discharge.
Additional aspects of the present subject matter are set forth in, or will be apparent to, those of ordinary skill in the art from the detailed description herein. Also, it should be further appreciated that modifications and variations to the specifically illustrated, referred and discussed features and elements hereof may be practiced in various embodiments and uses of the disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter. Variations may include, but are not limited to, substitution of equivalent means, features, or steps for those illustrated, referenced, or discussed, and the functional, operational, or positional reversal of various parts, features, steps, or the like. Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of such variations upon review of the remainder of the specification.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present subject matter, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
Detailed reference will now be made to the drawings in which examples embodying the present subject matter are shown. The detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features of the drawings. Like or similar designations of the drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar parts of various exemplary embodiments.
The drawings and detailed description provide a full and written description of the present subject matter, and of the manner and process of making and using various exemplary embodiments, so as to enable one skilled in the pertinent art to make and use them, as well as the best mode of carrying out the exemplary embodiments. However, the examples set forth in the drawings and detailed description are provided by way of explanation only and are not meant as limitations of the disclosure. The present subject matter thus includes any modifications and variations of the following examples as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
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The apertures 32 of the steam diffusers 22 shown in
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Various tests were conducted to determine the efficacy of the steam dispersion systems according to various aspects of the disclosure. In one series of tests conducted over three days, one embodiment of the system produced results as shown in
The test results in
As shown most clearly in the test data of
While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
Claims
1. A steam dispersion system for conditioning liquid cargo in a container, the steam dispersion system comprising:
- a steam generator for generating steam;
- a diffuser in communication with the steam generator, the diffuser being disposed in a container carrying a liquid cargo, the diffuser having a plurality of apertures therethrough for expelling the steam into the container and about the liquid cargo to adjust a temperature of the cargo to facilitate unloading the cargo from the container; and
- a permeable sheet interposed between the diffuser and the cargo.
2. The steam dispersion system as in claim 1, wherein the diffuser has a first end and a second end, the first end and the second being connected to the distribution junction to expel the steam from the apertures.
3. The steam dispersion system as in claim 1, wherein the diffuser is interposed between the container and the cargo.
4. The steam dispersion system as in claim 1, wherein the diffuser is a plurality of diffusers.
5. The steam dispersion system as in claim 1, further comprising a distribution junction for directing the steam to the diffuser, the steam generator and the diffuser being connected to the distribution junction.
6. The steam dispersion system as in claim 1, further comprising a thermoplastic tank, the liquid cargo being contained in the thermoplastic tank.
7. A cargo shipping system, comprising:
- a first container;
- a second container disposed in the first container, the second container holding a liquid cargo;
- a steam dispersion system including a diffuser disposed in the first container in proximity to the second container, the diffuser having a plurality of apertures therethrough configured for expelling steam into the first container and about the second container to adjust a temperature of the liquid cargo; and
- a permeable sheet interposed between the steam dispersion system and the second container.
8. The cargo shipping system as in claim 7, wherein the diffuser is interposed between the first container and the second container.
9. The cargo shipping system as in claim 7, wherein the diffuser is a plurality of diffusers.
10. The cargo shipping system as in claim 7, further comprising a distribution junction for directing steam to the diffuser.
11. The cargo shipping system as in claim 7, further comprising a steam generator for generating the steam.
12. The cargo shipping system as in claim 11, wherein the steam generator is in communication with the diffuser.
13. A method of conditioning liquid cargo in a container, comprising:
- positioning a steam dispersion system in a first container;
- loading a second container into the first container, the second container holding a liquid cargo proximate the steam dispersion system; and
- directing a quantity of steam through the steam dispersion system to expel the steam into the first container about the second container to adjust a temperature of the liquid cargo.
14. The method of conditioning liquid cargo in a container as in claim 13, wherein the steam dispersion system includes a plurality of vents for venting the steam into the first container.
15. The method of conditioning liquid cargo in a container as in claim 14, wherein each of the vents is adjustable.
16. The method of conditioning liquid cargo in a container as in claim 13, further comprising adjusting a pressure regulator to regulate the steam.
17. The method of conditioning liquid cargo in a container as in claim 15, further comprising interposing a sheet between the steam dispersion system and the second container.
18. The method of conditioning liquid cargo in a container as in claim 15, further comprising off-loading the liquid cargo when the temperature reaches an optimal level.
19. A cargo shipping system, comprising:
- a steam dispersion system including a wicking sheet;
- a cargo carrier; and
- a shipping container, the cargo carrier being disposed within the shipping container and exposed to the steam dispersion system such that the steam dispersion system expels steam about the cargo carrier and the wicking sheet to heat the contents of the cargo carrier for discharge.
20. The cargo shipping system, as in claim 21, wherein the steam dispersion system includes a distribution junction connected to a steam generator.
21. The cargo shipping system, as in claim 21, further comprising a steam diffuser being configured to expel steam within the shipping container.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 30, 2011
Publication Date: Oct 4, 2012
Inventors: Stephen D. Podd (Rouses Point, NY), Victor I. Podd (Boca Raton, FL)
Application Number: 13/075,874
International Classification: B65B 63/08 (20060101); B65D 88/74 (20060101);