With Conservation Of Cryogen By Reduction Of Vapor To Liquid Within Storage Receptacle Patents (Class 62/47.1)
  • Patent number: 11892124
    Abstract: A closure is configured for use with a portable cryogenic container or dewar, such as a dry vapor shipper (DVS). The closure has advanced insulating properties which enhances cryogen residence time and also minimizes negative effects on residence time when the dewar is placed on its side, such as during shipping. The closure includes a gas vent in the form of a fluid passage which is particularly sized to minimize thermal leakage and located away from the closure-to-neck interface. Embedded electronics can detect, record, and/or communicate information pertinent to a condition of the storage container in which the closure is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SAVSU TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Bruce McCormick
  • Patent number: 11774042
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for transporting fuel and carbon dioxide (CO2) in a dual-fluid vessel thereby minimizing transportation between locations are disclosed. In an embodiment, the dual-fluid vessel has an outer shell with two or more inner compartments, positioned within the outer shell, including a first inner compartment for storing CO2 and a second inner compartment for storing fuel. The dual-fluid vessel may connect or attach to a transportation vehicle to thereby allow transportation of the fuel and CO2. Insulation may provide temperature regulation for the fuel and CO2 when positioned in the respective first and second inner compartments. One or more ports having an opening in and through the outer shell and a fluid pathway to one or more of the first inner compartment or the second inner compartment may provide fluid communication through the opening and fluid pathway for loading/offloading the fuel and/or CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventor: Zachary D. Thobe
  • Patent number: 11619350
    Abstract: A sealed and thermally insulating storage tank for a fluid that is anchored in a load-bearing structure built into a ship, the ship having a longitudinal direction, the tank having a loading/unloading tower suspended from a ceiling wall of the load-bearing structure, the loading/unloading tower including first, second and third vertical pylons defining a prism of triangular section, the loading/unloading tower carrying at least a first pump, the tank having a support foot that is fastened to the load-bearing structure, the tank having at least one sump, the first pump being arranged outside the triangular prism and being aligned with the support foot in a first transverse plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the ship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: GAZTRANSPORT ET TECHNIGAZ
    Inventors: Mickael Herry, Pierre Charbonnier, Mohammed Oulalite, Emmanuel Hivert
  • Patent number: 11619146
    Abstract: A fluid storage tank can be configured to store a cooling fluid in a liquid state and a gas state. A first heat exchanger can be configured to release heat into the fluid storage tank. A second heat exchanger can be disposed fluidly downstream of the fluid storage tank and configured to exchange heat between the cooling fluid and a heat load. A pressure control device can be disposed fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger can be fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger such that cooling fluid, after being heated in the second heat exchanger, passes through the first heat exchanger and thereby heats upstream cooling fluid resident in the fluid storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Charles Jansen, Jeffrey Wen-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 11530862
    Abstract: A storage plant for storing objects at the temperature of liquid nitrogen comprises a plurality of storage tanks arranged in a cooled chamber. A nitrogen withdrawal apparatus is provided to carry off evaporated nitrogen directly from the storage tanks before it can enter the chamber. The pressure in the storage tanks is kept below the pressure in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas Malin
  • Patent number: 11338943
    Abstract: Concurrent rocket engine pre-conditioning and tank filling is disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes an inlet valve to supply a rocket propellant tank that is associated with a rocket engine with rocket propellant, and a flow director to direct at least a portion of a flow of the rocket propellant from the inlet valve to a chill line of the rocket engine to thermally condition the rocket engine as the rocket propellant tank is being filled with the rocket propellant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Swenson, Henry Rodriguez, Jr., Brian Vaniman, Martin Edward Lozano
  • Patent number: 11300248
    Abstract: In a tank filling process for filling a refrigerant tank of a vehicle with a cryogenic refrigerant, firstly a liquefied cryogenic refrigerant stored at a pressure p1 in a storage tank is supplied to a conditioning vessel, subsequently the flow connection between storage tank and conditioning vessel is interrupted, and the pressure in the conditioning vessel is increased, for example by virtue of a flow connection to a pressure build-up vessel being produced, to a pressure p2, wherein p2>p1, whereby the liquefied refrigerant is present in the conditioning vessel in the supercooled state. Subsequently, the supercooled, liquefied refrigerant is supplied to the tank to be filled. By means of the device according to the invention and the process according to the invention, evaporation losses during the filling process can be substantially avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignees: Messer SE & Co. KGaA, Messer France S.A.S.
    Inventors: Émilien Frère, Frank Gockel
  • Patent number: 11174991
    Abstract: A system for dispensing a cryogenic fluid includes a bulk storage tank configured to contain a supply of the cryogenic fluid. A heat exchanger coil is positioned in the headspace of at least one intermediate fluid tank, which contains an intermediate fluid, and is configured to receive and warm a cryogenic fluid from the bulk storage tank via heat exchange with intermediate fluid vapor in the headspace. A buffer tank receives fluid from the heat exchanger coil. A chiller coil is positioned within the intermediate fluid tank and is submerged within intermediate fluid liquid contained within the at least one intermediate fluid tank. The chiller coil receives fluid from the buffer tank and cools it via heat exchange with intermediate fluid liquid within which the chiller coil is submerged for dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Chart Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Thor, Thomas Drube, Paul Drube
  • Patent number: 11111910
    Abstract: Cryogenic pump apparatuses include nanostructure material to achieve an ultra-high vacuum level. The nanostructure material can be mixed with either an adsorbent material or a fixed glue layer which is utilized to fix the adsorbent material. The nanostructure material's good thermal conductivity and adsorption properties help to lower working temperature and extend regeneration cycle of the cryogenic pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Surendra Babu Anantharaman, Wen-Cheng Yang, Chung-En Kao, Victor Y. Lu, Wei Chin
  • Patent number: 10894174
    Abstract: The following relates generally to use of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging as guidance in radiation therapy, and more specifically to use of MR imaging as guidance in proton therapy. In some embodiments, a cryogenic dewar is provided with multiple channels allowing a proton beam from a proton beam source to pass through. The proton beam may first be aligned with a first channel, and the dewar may then be rotated along with the proton source. The dewar may then be rotated to align a second channel with the proton beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Forthmann, Philip Alexander Jonas, Johannes Adrianus Overweg
  • Patent number: 10731914
    Abstract: A cryocooler includes: a magnetic shield axially extending along a second-stage cylinder from a second-stage cooling stage outside the second-stage cylinder and disposed separated from a first-stage cooling stage by an axial separation distance, wherein an annular space open to a helium atmosphere is formed between the second-stage cylinder and the magnetic shield, and the axial depth of the annular space is longer than the axial separation distance; and a convection suppression member, for suppressing axial convection of helium gas in the annular space caused by temperature difference between the second-stage cylinder and the magnetic shield, is disposed in the annular space and is of longer axial length than the axial separation distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Takaaki Morie
  • Patent number: 10704830
    Abstract: A reliquefaction system and process for innovative reliquefaction of LNG boil-off gas (BOG), where the reliquefaction is propelled by LNG gas fuel. The reliquefaction system is preferably installed on shipboard including LNG carrier or harbor tug, where the LNG carrier and harbor tug use a gas fuel engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Gas Technology Development Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Ravindu Atapattu, Erine Siew Pheng Teh, Kok Seng Foo
  • Patent number: 10696884
    Abstract: The cryogenic liquid medium provided by the present invention includes at least one of an alkane composition, an olefin composition, an alcohol composition and an ether composition, and each of the alkane composition, the olefin composition, the alcohol combination and the ether composition includes a corresponding non-toxic and harmless substance having a melting point lower than ?110° C. and a standard boiling point higher than 50° C. Since the cryogenic liquid medium is formed by the non-toxic and harmless single substance having the melting point lower than ?110° C. and the standard boiling point higher than 50° C. or a binary, ternary and multi-component mixture thereof, the cryogenic liquid medium has a lower atmospheric boiling point, and is difficult to volatilize. The eutectic crystal of the specific mixture can be used to achieve the liquid requirements of low temperature, especially the temperature below ?110° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TECHNICAL INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Maoqiong Gong, Yanxing Zhao, Xueqiang Dong
  • Patent number: 10690387
    Abstract: A system and a method for recovery and recycling of gases which are utilized in their liquid state as refrigerants in applications that require low temperatures, throughout various pressure ranges, from slightly above atmospheric pressures to pressures near the critical point for the particular gas. The system and method are based on closed-cycle cryocoolers and utilize the thermodynamic properties of the gas to achieve optimal liquefaction rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Inventors: Conrado Rillo Millán, Leticia Tocado Martínez, Richard C. Reineman, Richard J. Warburton
  • Patent number: 10605203
    Abstract: A heat exchanger generally employs a method for supplying liquid having critical pressure or higher or high pressure in order to suppress boiling. However, gas obtained by a evaporator behind the heat exchanger has relatively low pressure, and therefore supplying the liquid to the heat exchanger requires a system for converting an energy form of the obtained gas into kinetic energy or electrical energy, and increasing the pressure by a mechanical pump. Thus, the complicated system involving an efficiency loss is only solution, and it is difficult to achieve simplification of a system or reduction in the weight of a propellant supply device in a moving body, specifically, a flying object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: PATCHED CONICS, LLC.
    Inventor: Junichiro Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 10591557
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method comprising, an airlock chamber; a cryogenic chamber; an equilibrator positioned between the airlock chamber and the cryogenic chamber that is configured to allow for the passage of a sample along to the cryogenic chamber; and a cooling unit that is thermally coupled to the equilibrator. Collectively, the airlock chamber, equilibrator, and the cryogenic chamber define a travel path. A machine-readable medium, comprising instructions which when executed by a controller causes a sample to be cooled, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Leach, James Richard Trigger, John Arthur Urbahn
  • Patent number: 10539364
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for increasing the efficiency of liquefied natural gas production and heavy hydrocarbon distillation. In one embodiment, air within an LNG production facility can be utilized as a heat source to provide heat to HHC liquid for distillation in a HHC distillation system. The mechanism of heat transfer from the air can be natural convection. In another embodiment, heat provided by natural gas, or compressed natural gas, can be used for HHC distillation. In other embodiments, various other liquids can be used to transfer heat to HHC liquid for distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John Michael Repasky
  • Patent number: 10533813
    Abstract: A method for semi-continuous operation of a heat exchange process that alternates between two heat exchangers is disclosed. The method comprises, first, providing a contact liquid to a first heat exchanger while the second heat exchanger is on standby. The contact liquid contains a dissolved gas, an entrained gas, or residual small particles that foul the first heat exchanger by condensing or depositing as a foulant onto the first heat exchanger, restricting free flow of the contact liquid. Second, detecting a pressure drop across the first heat exchanger. Third, switching flows of the coolant from the first to the second heat exchanger. Fourth, removing the foulant from the now standby first heat exchanger by providing heat to the heat exchanger, passing a non-reactive gas through the heat exchanger, or a combination thereof. In this manner, the heat exchange process operates semi-continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Eric Mansfield, Christopher Hoeger, Kyler Stitt, David Frankman, Stephanie Burt, Aaron Sayre, Nathan Davis
  • Patent number: 10444301
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a magnetoencephalography (MEG) measurement device. In the method there is determined the ending of a scheduled inactivity period of the MEG device. At the ending of the inactivity period a cryocooler of the MEG device is switched off. Helium is allowed to boil in the Dewar vessel of the MEG device when the MEG device is active and used to perform patient measurements. The boiled helium is collected via a compressor to an external storage tank. When a new inactivity period for the MEG device commences, the cryocooler is started anew and helium is let from the external storage tank in-to the Dewar vessel, where it is re-liquefied by the cryocooler. The compressor may be switched off when the cryocooler is switched on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Megin Oy
    Inventors: Antti Ahonen, Rob Blaauwgeers, Pasi Petteri Laine, Sami Antero Lähteenmäki
  • Patent number: 10184614
    Abstract: A method for managing boil-off from an LNG tank located on board of an aircraft. The method, including removing the boil-off from the aircraft and disposing of the removed boil-off from the aircraft and an equipment assembly for use with an aircraft having an on-board LNG tank with a vent system having an outlet coupling, including a removal system configured to remove boil-off from the aircraft and a disposal system configured to dispose of the boil-off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Jay Epstein, Robert Harold Weisgerber
  • Patent number: 10151809
    Abstract: In order to extend the lifetime of a cooler and reduce down periods of an MRI apparatus due to the maintenance, a cooling capacity of the cooler 107 of the superconducting magnet is controlled so that cooling heat absorption almost equivalent to an amount of heat penetrating into the refrigerant vessel 202 of the superconducting magnet is exerted, and pressure in the refrigerant vessel 202 is maintained within an acceptable pressure range. In addition to this, at least either change amount of magnetic field strength or magnetic field homogeneity in an imaging space due to a pressure change in the refrigerant vessel 202 is compensated by the magnetic field adjustment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventor: Munetaka Tsuda
  • Patent number: 10107543
    Abstract: A method, a system, and an article of manufacture are disclosed for cryogenic cooling of systems operating at cryogenic temperatures or higher. Applications of this disclosure are as varied as trucking of meat and vegetable to mine sweeping and MRI systems. A cooling network is formed by coupling blocks of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) modules together with optional thermal switches or valves and optionally with an active cooling component to maintain a cryogenic temperature in a cryostat. The TES modules are combinations of thermal conducting elements to conduct heat and solid storage elements to absorb heat. The cooling component may be one or more cryocoolers for steady state and transient heat transfer conditions and may be coupled with the TES modules via thermal shunt connections. The thermal switches or valves may be deployed within the thermal shunts to control the flow of heat between different TES modules and cooling components, thus reconfiguring the cooling network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Inventors: Shahin Pourrahimi, Leslie Bromberg
  • Patent number: 10066884
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for maintaining a steady flow rate and pressure of a carbon dioxide stream at high pressure when a low-pressure source of the carbon dioxide varies with time. Liquid level in an accumulator that is sized to accommodate variations in supply rate is controlled by sub-cooling of liquid entering the accumulator and heating in the accumulator, the sub-cooling and heating being controlled by a pressure controller operable in the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Denbury Resources Inc.
    Inventor: Peter D. Guerra
  • Patent number: 10030815
    Abstract: Natural gas boiling off from LNG storage tanks located on board a sea-going vessel, is compressed in a plural stage compressor. At least part of the flow of compressed natural gas is sent to a liquefier operating on a Brayton cycle in order to be reliquefied. The temperature of the compressed natural gas from the final stage is reduced to below 0° C. by passage through a heat exchanger. The first compression stage is operated as a cold compressor and the resulting cold compressed natural gas is employed in the heat exchanger to effect the necessary cooling of the flow from the compression stage. Downstream of its passage through the heat exchanger the cold compressed natural gas flows through the remaining stages of the compressor. If desired, a part of the compressed natural gas may be supplied to the engines of the sea-going vessel as a fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: CRYOSTAR SAS
    Inventors: Vincent Fuchs, Mathias Ragot
  • Patent number: 10008313
    Abstract: In a cryostat, in particular for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, and a method for reducing heat input into such a cryostat, an insert is provided that is adapted to be inserted into an opening of the cryostat. The insert is adapted to provide one or more passageways for a cryogen through the opening by defining at least one space between the outer surface of the insert and at least one part of the inner surface of the opening. This space allows the cryogen to pass over the part of the inner surface of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Patrick William Retz, Neil Charles Tigwell
  • Patent number: 9909804
    Abstract: A method of cooling using an extended binary refrigerant system containing methane and a C3 hydrocarbon such as propylene and/or propane is disclosed. The extended binary refrigerant from a compressor final discharge is separated into a methane-rich vapor fraction and at least one C3 rich liquid fraction so as to provide various temperatures and levels of refrigeration in various heat exchange stages. The method and corresponding refrigeration system can be utilized in plants utilizing low pressure or high pressure demethanizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Sumner
  • Patent number: 9863697
    Abstract: Described herein is a method and system for liquefying a natural gas feed stream to produce an LNG product. The natural gas feed stream is liquefied, by indirect heat exchange with a gaseous methane or natural gas refrigerant circulating in a gaseous expander cycle, to produce a first LNG stream. The first LNG stream is expanded, and the resulting vapor and liquid phases are separated to produce a first flash gas stream and a second LNG stream. The second LNG stream is then expanded, with the resulting vapor and liquid phases being separated to produce the second flash gas stream and a third LNG stream, all or a portion of which forms the LNG product. Refrigeration is recovered from the second flash gas by using said stream to sub-cool the second LNG stream or a supplementary LNG stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Julian Roberts, Yang Liu, Fei Chen
  • Patent number: 9829244
    Abstract: A small scale natural gas liquefaction plant is integrated with an LNG loading facility in which natural gas is liquefied using a multi-stage gas expansion cycle. LNG is then loaded onto an LNG truck or other LNG transport vehicle at the loading facility using a differential pressure control system that uses compressed boil off gas as a motive force to move the LNG from the LNG storage tank to the LNG truck so as to avoid the use of an LNG pump and associated equipment as well as to avoid venting of boil off vapors into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Patent number: 9625209
    Abstract: A method for separating a feed gas, containing nitrogen and carbon monoxide as main components, in a distillation column: the feed gas is cooled in a heat exchanger; at least a portion of the feed gas, or at least a portion of a gas derived from the feed gas, is sent to a reboiler of the distillation column so as to condense the gas while producing a liquid, and optionally a gas; at least a portion of the liquid is sent to the distillation column; a nitrogen gas-rich flow is extracted from the distillation column; a carbon monoxide-rich flow is extracted from the distillation column, heated in the heat exchanger, and compressed so as to provide a carbon monoxide-rich material at production pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Arthur Darde, Antoine Hernandez, Bernard Saulnier
  • Patent number: 9528758
    Abstract: A method and associated system for regulation of the cooling capacity of a cooling system that uses a gas expansion cooling circuit where the cooling principle is expansion of one or more gaseous cooling medium streams from a higher pressure to a lower pressure are described, characterised by the following steps: —reducing the amount of cooling medium which is circulated in the cooling circuit (100) temporarily in that a fraction of gaseous cooling medium is pre-cooled at a higher pressure and is extracted from the cooling circuit (100), —expanding the fraction of cooled gaseous cooling medium across an expansion device (102) to a lower pressure so that at least one part of liquid cooling medium separates, —separating the liquid from the non-condensed gas for temporary storage in a storage unit (104) so that the liquid is temporarily not circulated in the otherwise closed cooling circuit (100), —thereafter to return temporarily stored gaseous cooling medium from the storage unit (104) to the cooling circuit (
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: ARAGON AS
    Inventor: Inge L. Nilsen
  • Patent number: 9447751
    Abstract: A hybrid fuel supply system for an engine of a vessel is provided. The hybrid fuel supply system for the engine of the vessel includes: a compression device configured to compress boil-off gas (BOG) generated from liquefied natural gas (LNG) stored in an LNG cargo tank; a high pressure pump configured to compress LNG supplied from the LNG cargo tank; a vaporizer configured to vaporize the LNG compressed by the high pressure pump; and a dual fuel (DF) engine to which the BOG compressed through the compression device is supplied as fuel. The engine of the vessel uses high pressure gas compressed at 150 to 400 bar as fuel and is driven by at least one of the BOG compressed in the compression device and the LNG compressed in the high pressure pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: DAEWOO SHIPBUILDING & MARINE ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joon Chae Lee, Dong Kyu Choi, Young Sik Moon, Seung Kyo Jung, Jeheon Jung, Nam Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9422147
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser has a housing in which fluid flow control components are located and at least one fluid conduit completing first and second fluid flow paths between the at least one fluid storage tank and a nozzle coupled to the housing. The fluid dispenser also has a fluid flow meter located along said fluid flow path, a control system, and a recirculation subsystem. The recirculation subsystem has a bypass valve located along one of the first and second flow paths. The bypass valve is operative to prevent fluid communication between the first and second fluid flow paths when the fluid dispenser is in use and to allow fluid communication between the first and second fluid flow paths when the fluid dispenser is not in use. Methods of measuring the flow rate of a fluid in the fluid dispenser are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Francis Bartlett, Jonathan E. Deline, John E. Ingold, Michael Lawrence Jennings
  • Patent number: 9230724
    Abstract: A cooling system and a superconducting magnet apparatus employing the same. The cooling system includes: a thermal shield unit for thermally shielding a superconducting coil; a recondensing unit for recondensing an extremely low temperature refrigerant that cools down the superconducting coil. A cryocooler includes a body and an end portion extending from the body and inserted into the recondensing unit in order to directly contact the extremely low temperature refrigerant. A refrigerator chamber penetrates through the thermal shield unit and to which the cryocooler is attachably and detachably provided. A sealing member is disposed between the cryocooler and the refrigerator chamber to seal the recondensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephen M. Harrison
  • Patent number: 9163784
    Abstract: A device for reducing the temperature of a bombe, which stores liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel and may be connected to a fuel supply line for supplying the fuel to an injector, using latent heat of LPG vaporization, may include a fuel pump installed in the bombe and connected to an end of the fuel supply line for pressurizing the fuel, a cut-off valve installed in the fuel supply line for selectively cutting off fuel supply to the injector, a fuel collection line branched from the fuel supply line to the inside of the bombe for collecting the supplied fuel into the bombe when the cut-off valve may be closed, and an injection nozzle connected to the fuel collection line and injecting the fuel collected through the fuel collection line into the inside of the bombe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ju Tae Song, Cheol Hun Cho, Myeong Hwan Kim, Chang Han Kim
  • Patent number: 9145848
    Abstract: A pressure sustaining system for an LPG bombe may include the LPG bombe, in which an LPG fuel may be injected and which may be equipped with a ventilation tunnel for emitting the air inside the LPG bombe, and a check valve unit, installed at an opening of the ventilation tunnel, with a fixed conversion pressure so as to keep an air pressure inside the LPG bombe above a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ju-Tae Song
  • Publication number: 20150128617
    Abstract: In a cryogen cooling system for cooling a superconducting magnet, a cryogen vessel is linked to a cooling loop arrangement in thermal contact with the superconducting magnet. A recondensing chamber is arranged such that a lower extremity of the cryogen vessel is above a lower extremity of the recondensing chamber. A recondensing refrigerator is arranged to recondense cryogen gas within the recondensing chamber. A heater is positioned to heat gaseous cryogen within the recondensing chamber, and wherein the recondensing chamber is hydraulically connected to the cryogen vessel by a cryogen supply pipe. An upper end of the cryogen supply pipe is exposed to cryogen gas in the cryogen vessel and a lower end of cryogen supply pipe is exposed to an interior of the recondensing chamber towards or at its lower extremity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS PLC
    Inventor: Vladimir Mikheev
  • Publication number: 20150080222
    Abstract: A cryogen recondensing system and a superconducting magnet apparatus including the cryogen recondensing system are provided. The cryogen recondensing system includes a primary reservoir configured to store cryogen for cooling a superconducting coil, a refrigerator configured to recondense gas cryogen of cryogen stored in the primary reservoir, a secondary reservoir configured to store gas cryogen, and a secondary reservoir tube configured to connect the primary reservoir to the secondary reservoir, and wherein the gas cryogen flows through the secondary reservoir tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Oh-soo KWON, Do-woon KIM, Jae-hyun SHIN
  • Patent number: 8973378
    Abstract: Systems and methods from removing heat generated by a heat sink of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system are provided. One system includes a coldhead sleeve cooling arrangement for a coldhead of the MRI system. The coldhead sleeve cooling arrangement includes a coldhead sleeve configured to receive therein a coldhead of an MRI system and a cooling system surrounding an outer surface of the coldhead sleeve. The cooling system uses helium gas to remove heat from the coldhead sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Longzhi Jiang, Jalal Zia, John Scaturro, Jr., William Einziger
  • Publication number: 20150063409
    Abstract: A method of heating a cryogenic liquid contained in a cryogenic tank including a gas headspace. The method includes heating the cryogenic liquid by injecting gas at higher temperature under a free surface of the cryogenic liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Bernard Juery, Arnaud Fournet, Pascal Bennetot, Ronan Gauther
  • Publication number: 20150033765
    Abstract: An apparatus for storing liquid air (a cryogenic mixture of about 80% liquid nitrogen and about 20% liquid oxygen) in a stable condition within a storage vessel by providing a heat exchanger in fluid communication with vaporized liquid air within vessel condense the vaporized liquid air back to liquid form. This will result in condensing the nitrogen-rich vapor into the mass as a liquid, thereby reducing ullage pressure, cooling the mass, and ultimately precluding oxygen-enrichment through boil-off. A cryocooler may be mounted externally to the vessel and in fluid communication with an interior of the vessel to condense liquid air vaporized within the vessel. The system may be used to supply air to safe haven areas of a mine or building, or piped in through a building HVAC system and/or mounted on vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Clayton E. Blalock
  • Publication number: 20140366561
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vaporizing and recovering LNG are provided. One method includes: a) heating at least a portion of the LNG to provide a boil-off gas stream and a liquid quench stream; b) routing the boil-off gas stream and the liquid quench stream to a quench system, wherein the quench system cools the boil-off gas stream to provide a quenched stream; and c) compressing the quenched stream to provide a compressed quenched stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul Raymond DAVIES, James Lee HARRIS, JR.
  • Patent number: 8893514
    Abstract: A cryogenic liquid storage system for a spacecraft comprising at least one liquid tank with an outer casing and an evacuated space arranged between the tank and the outer casing. The system further comprises a propellant management device made of material that is a good conductor of heat and that is cooled by a cryorefrigerator to localize the liquid inside the tank when in microgravity, a filler pipe situated in the portion of the tank that is at the bottom when the tank is on the ground, and that is surrounded by an evacuated insulating double wall and a purge pipe connecting the tank to the outer casing and presenting an internal length that is not less than half the diameter of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Dominique Valentian
  • Publication number: 20140338370
    Abstract: A compressed natural gas storage and dispensing system having bulk storage tanks in fluid communication with a natural gas supply source; a compressor to produce compressed natural gas; dispensing storage tanks in fluid communication with the bulk storage tanks and in fluid communication with fuel dispensers; a liquified natural gas storage tank in fluid communication with the bulk storage tanks, wherein compressed natural gas resulting from vaporization of the liquified natural gas within the liquified natural gas storage tank is transferred to the bulk storage tanks as a supplemental source of compressed natural gas, or wherein liquified natural gas is vaporized in an ambient vaporizer and delivered to the bulk or dispensing storage tanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: R. Keith Barker
  • Publication number: 20140260337
    Abstract: A method of producing natural gas from at least one reservoir, the method including the steps of producing the natural gas from the at least one reservoir; liquefying a first tranche of the natural gas to produce liquefied natural gas; and compressing a second tranche of the natural gas to produce a compressed natural gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: TULLOW GROUP SERVICES LIMITED
  • Publication number: 20140274723
    Abstract: A cooling device for a superconductor, in particular a high-temperature superconductor of a synchronous machine includes a cooling circuit for a coolant, wherein the coolant liquefied in a cold head having a condenser is conveyed to the superconductor to be cooled, and is returned to the condenser in a gaseous state. In order to convey the coolant to the superconductor to be cooled, pressure is applied to the coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Markus Hösle
  • Patent number: 8671698
    Abstract: A cryocooler for liquefying gas in which the neck of the dewar or cryostat includes a cold end of a cryocooler with the first stage cooling station, the first stage regenerator, the second stage cooling station, the second stage regenerator, and a condenser thermally coupled to the second cooling station. Radiation baffles are also present within the neck portion of the dewar between the storage portion for the dewar and the condenser, such that when the cryocooler is turned off, the radiation baffles reduce heat radiation on the cryogen in the storage section of the dewar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Cryomech, Inc.
    Inventor: Chao Wang
  • Patent number: 8650887
    Abstract: A cryogenic storage tank comprises a partition that divides a cryogen space into a main storage space and an auxiliary space. A valve disposed inside the cryogen space is associated with a first fluid passage through the partition. The valve comprises a valve member that is actuatable by fluid forces within the cryogen space. A second fluid passage through the partition comprises a restricted flow area that is dimensioned to have a cross-sectional flow area that is smaller than that of a fill conduit such that there is a detectable increase in back-pressure when the main storage space is filled with liquefied gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Westport Power Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Charles Harper, Adrian Post
  • Patent number: 8643367
    Abstract: A cryogenic system for a superconducting magnet comprises a closed-loop cooling path. The closed-loop cooling path comprises a magnet cooling tube thermally coupled to the superconducting magnet. The magnet cooling tube comprises a cryogen flow passage. The closed-loop cooling tube further comprises a re-condenser is fluidly coupled to the magnet cooling tube through tube sections and a liquid cryogen container fluidly coupled between the magnet cooling tube and the re-condenser. At least one gas tank is fluidly coupled to the magnet cooling tube through a connection tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xianrui Huang, Yan Zhao, Tao Zhang, Anbo Wu, Evangelos Trifon Laskaris, Paul St. Mark Shadforth Thompson
  • Publication number: 20130327500
    Abstract: A method of improving the efficiency in delivery of a cryogenic liquid (160) to the surface of a metal body in a furnace, the method comprising the steps of delivering a first liquid cryogen and a vaporized cryogen gas to a cooling coil (180) which is in heat transfer contact with a second liquid cryogen (140) at a lower temperature than the first liquid cryogen and a vaporized cryogen (160, 170), maintaining the first liquid cryogen and the vaporized cryogen gas in the cooling coil (180) for an amount of time sufficient to condense part of the vaporized cryogen gas to an additional amount of the first liquid cryogen, delivering the first liquid cryogen and the additional amount of first liquid cryogen to the surface of a metal body in a furnace (190, 150).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventors: Rozalia PAPP, David C. Braithwaite
  • Publication number: 20130298572
    Abstract: Energy efficiency and stability of LNG sendout operations in LNG terminals is increased by addition of a surge tank and booster pump downstream of a boil-off gas condenser to produce a subcooled condensate that is used to provide refrigeration to an LNG transfer line and that can be fed to the high-pressure LNG sendout pump without impacting the pressure of the main LNG sendout line, and/or without necessitating a pressure reduction device in the main LNG sendout line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Mak