Cryogen Stored In Both Phases (e.g., As Slush Or Gel) Patents (Class 62/54.1)
  • Patent number: 10571187
    Abstract: A method for liquefying gas involving pre-treating the gas stream in a pre-treater to remove impurities, and then passing the gas stream through a first flow path of a first heat exchanger to lower a temperature of the gas stream. The gas stream is then passed through the gas expansion turbine to lower a pressure of the gas stream and further decrease the temperature of the gas stream. The gas stream is then passed into a primary separator to separate the gas stream into a liquid stream and a cold gas stream. The liquid stream is collected. Selected quantities of the cold gas stream are passed through a second flow path of the first heat exchanger whereby a heat exchange takes place to cool the gas stream flowing through the first flow path to maintain the temperature of the gas stream entering the gas expansion turbine at a temperature which promotes the production of liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd, 1304342 Alberta Ltd
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 10465565
    Abstract: A CO2 energy storage system includes a storage tank that stores a CO2 slurry, including dry ice and liquid CO2, at CO2 triple point temperature and pressure conditions. The storage system also includes a first pump coupled in flow communication with the storage tank. The first pump is configured to receive the CO2 slurry from the storage tank and to increase a pressure of the CO2 slurry to a pressure above the CO2 triple point pressure. The energy storage system further includes a contactor coupled in flow communication with the first pump. The contactor is configured to receive the high pressure CO2 slurry from the pump and to receive a first flow of gaseous CO2 at a pressure above the CO2 triple point pressure. The gaseous CO2 is contacted and then condensed by the melting dry ice in the slurry to generate liquid CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Irina Pavlovna Spiry, Albert Santo Stella, John Brian McDermott, Stephen Sanborn
  • Patent number: 10274252
    Abstract: A system and method for an intermediate pressure vessel to receive a purge in a cryogenic distillation column system. The vessel operates at an intermediate pressure to reduce solidification of the purge. The cryogenic distillation column receives a natural gas having methane and acid gas. The column discharges an overhead stream rich in the methane, and a bottoms stream rich in the acid gas. An overhead system receives the overhead stream, and discharges a vapor methane product, and a cooled liquid for reflux to the cryogenic distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Jaime A. Valencia, Scott D. Kelman, E. Lawrence Kimble
  • Patent number: 10254041
    Abstract: Systems and methods for liquefying a gaseous fluid that comprises at least 50% by volume methane into a liquefied fluid that comprises at least 85% by volume methane. Processing can include increasing a pressure of the incoming gaseous fluid to between 10 and 50 bar; pre-treating the gaseous fluid using membrane filtering to a retentate stream having a methane content of at least 85% by volume; liquefying the retentate stream by cryogenic cooling to a temperature between ?100° C. and ?140° C.; flashing the liquefied fluid into a container; retrieving processed liquid fluid at a first container level at a pressure of between 1 and 10 bar, a temperature of between ?120° C. and ?160° C., and a methane concentration of at least 85% by volume into a storage device; and retrieving a slurry flow comprising solid CO2 and water ice at a second container level below the first container level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: ILNG B.V.
    Inventor: Jerom Ferdinandus Van Roosmalen
  • Publication number: 20140053576
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling superconductive magnets is disclosed by using gaseous helium to control the flow of liquefied helium from a container to a magnet. By measuring the pressure of the gaseous helium in the container of liquefied helium, it can be determined when to stop the flow of liquefied helium. This can reduce quenches and helium losses which can occur during the transfer of liquid helium from the dewar to the superconductive magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Niels Lose, Rudolf Kawasch, Nicholas Stanier
  • Publication number: 20120151943
    Abstract: A gas storage apparatus comprises a pressure vessel in the form of a cylinder, closed by a valve, containing a non-permanent gas having under its storage conditions a gas phase and a liquid phase. A jacket formed of plastics sachets surrounds and is in heat transfer relationship with the outer surface of the cylinder. The sachets define closed compartments containing a heat release substance which is liquid at 20° C. On opening the valve, the non-permanent gas is delivered from the cylinder. The liquid phase of the non-permanent gas absorbs heat from the heat release substance which undergoes fusion. The heat release substance may be water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Andrew Richard Thomas TATAREK
  • Publication number: 20110041518
    Abstract: A method and system of storing and transporting gases comprising mixing the gases with liquid natural gas to form a mixture. The mixture is a liquid-liquid mixture or slurry, and is stored in vessel configured for maintaining the mixture at a first location. The mixture is transported to a second location for storage in vessel for maintaining the mixture. The mixture is removed from the second location storage vessel for separation and use in additional processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: SYNFUELS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Edward R. Peterson, Thomas A. Rolfe
  • Patent number: 7875749
    Abstract: An aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium salt as a guest compound of a clathrate hydrate, having a property of producing the clathrate hydrate when cooled, and further containing a phosphate of an alkali metal added thereto. A clathrate hydrate produced by cooling an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium salt and a phosphate of an alkali metal, wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is the guest compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: JFE Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Tomura, Shingo Takao, Takao Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20100218510
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for supercooling and a method of maMng slush thr?gh supercooling which generate a supercooled liquid by supplying cool air and energy, control the state of the supercooled liquid, store and supply the supercooled liquid, generate slush by applying an external force to the supercooled liquid, maintain the state of the slush, and supply the slush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Su-Cheong Kim, Jong-Min Shin, Su-Won Lee, Cheol-Hwan Kim, Yong-Chol Kwon, Ku-Young Son
  • Publication number: 20100175638
    Abstract: The instant invention presents combustion of hydrogen with oxygen producing environmentally friendly combustion products, wherein management of energy and of combustion is improved. The instant invention presents improved thermodynamics, thereby improving combustion power and efficiency. The instant invention utilizes steam from combustion to: 1) maintain power output of combustion, 2) provide method(s) of energy transfer, 3) provide method(s) of energy recycle, 4) provide power, and 5) cool the combustion chamber. Steam is used as a potential energy source, both from kinetic and available heat energy, as well as conversion to H2 and O2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventor: Richard Alan HAASE
  • Publication number: 20090249800
    Abstract: A low-temperature-slush-fluid producing apparatus capable of achieving an increased weight solidification rate of slush fluid is provided. A low-temperature-slush-fluid producing apparatus includes a slush-fluid producing unit that includes a heat exchanger having a heat-transfer surface and disposed in a liquid-phase low-temperature fluid L stored in a container and scraping means for scraping a solid-phase low-temperature fluid formed on a surface of the heat-transfer surface; and a cryogenic-fluid generating unit for supplying into the interior of the heat-transfer surface a cryogenic fluid having a lower temperature than the liquid-phase low-temperature fluid L stored in the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takanobu Kamiya, Takashi Maemura, Ryo Nakamura, Kenji Nakamichi, Seiichiro Kimura, Shuichi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7591138
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a slush fluid wherein a liquid and solid particles are mixed together, comprising product tank (1) for storing the slush fluid (50) in its saturated condition; liquid nitrogen supply nozzle (10) provided at an upper part of the product tank (1); and compressor (15) for evacuating the interior of the product tank, which apparatus is adapted to spray a liquid in microparticulate form through the liquid nitrogen supply nozzle (10) into the product tank evacuated by the compressor (15) and to solidify the liquid particles by evaporative latent heat, thereby forming solid nitrogen (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masamitsu Ikeuchi, Akito Machida, Kouichi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 7541009
    Abstract: An apparatus produces hydrate slurry, which is a mixture of aqueous solution and hydrate, by cooling aqueous solution containing a guest compound, which generates the hydrate at temperature higher than 0° C., by using a cooling medium. The apparatus includes a first heat exchanger for supercooling the aqueous solution while holding the aqueous solution in a liquid state and in a second heat exchanger, which is provided on the downstream side of the first heat exchanger for cooling hydrate slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: JFE Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Takao, Shigenori Matsumoto, Hidemasa Ogoshi, Naoyuki Furumoto
  • Patent number: 7526925
    Abstract: A method for producing slush nitrogen comprises the steps of: spraying liquid nitrogen from a nozzle into a vessel kept under a reduced pressure with a nozzle diameter and a spraying pressure being so adjusted as for the liquid nitrogen to maintain the form of droplets, to thereby form liquid nitrogen fine particles having a uniform particle diameter and disperse said particles in the vessel; vaporizing nitrogen from the droplet particles during the stay thereof in the space of the vessel, to solidify liquid nitrogen particles by vaporization latent heat and form fine solid nitrogen particles having a uniform particle diameter; and mixing the solid nitrogen particles with liquid nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akito Machida, Kazuhiro Hattori, Kouichi Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20090095016
    Abstract: In a hydrogen consuming system and a method for the operation thereof wherein the system comprises a hydrogen-consuming unit and a hydrogen storage arrangement comprising a compressed gas storage part and a solid material storage part and a cooling circuit with a radiator extending through the solid material storage part and the consuming unit, hydrogen bypass lines are provided for the solid material storage part and for the hydrogen consuming unit together with control valves for selectively by-passing the solid material storage part and the hydrogen consuming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Eberhard Schmidt-Ihn, David Wenger
  • Publication number: 20090032225
    Abstract: Method for cooling in a controlled manner a fluid agglomerate or polyphase fluid, with a continuous or discontinuous flow, consisting of liquid and solid components, such as pressed grapes, said fluid being introduced and present inside an associated receptacle, it is envisaged removing from this agglomerate at least a part thereof, extracting it from the abovementioned receptacle, cooling it and then introducing it again inside the receptacle so as to use it again as a heat carrier or means for removing heat from the remaining part of the said fluid agglomerate present in the abovementioned receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Maurizio Frati
  • Patent number: 7370481
    Abstract: Liquid nitrogen is filled in a low temperature vessel; an ejector that sucks liquid nitrogen by blowing a cooling agent (liquid or gas) such as low temperature helium gas or liquid helium of pressure higher than in the space within the vessel is disposed in the vessel; the liquid nitrogen blown with the cooling agent is cooled by the cooling agent to become fine particles of solid nitrogen which fall down; and gas in a space of the vessel is discharged out of the vessel so as to maintain the pressure of the space higher than the atmospheric pressure. A gaseous phase of liquid nitrogen in an adiabatic vessel is depressurized to vaporize nitrogen in a liquid phase so that the temperature of the nitrogen reaches the triple point of nitrogen by lowering the temperature to thereby produce solid nitrogen by keeping the temperature at the triple point, and that the produced solid nitrogen is transformed into slush by stirring the content of the adiabatic vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuniaki Kawamura, Akito Machida, Masamitsu Ikeuchi, Kazuhiro Hattori, Kouichi Matsuo, Hideharu Yanagi
  • Publication number: 20080072607
    Abstract: A densifier is provided which in one embodiment can simultaneously densify two cryogenic liquids at different temperatures. The densifier has an oscillatory power source for generating oscillatory power and a two stage pulse tube refrigerator. The oscillatory power source can be a thermoacoustic heat engine or a mechanical oscillatory power source such as a linear flexure bearing compressor. The first stage densifies a first cryogenic liquid to a first cryogenic temperature, and the second stage densifies a second cryogenic liquid to a second, lower cryogenic temperature. A densified propellant management system also is provided which has a densifier for simultaneously densifying two cryogenic liquids at different temperatures, and a cryogenic temperature probe for measuring the temperature gradient in a cryogenic liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Mark Steven Haberbusch, Adam John Culler
  • Patent number: 7347053
    Abstract: A densifier is provided which in one embodiment can simultaneously densify two cryogenic liquids at different temperatures. The densifier has an oscillatory power source for generating oscillatory power and a two stage pulse tube refrigerator. The oscillatory power source can be a thermoacoustic heat engine or a mechanical oscillatory power source such as a linear flexure bearing compressor. The first stage densifies a first cryogenic liquid to a first cryogenic temperature, and the second stage densifies a second cryogenic liquid to a second, lower cryogenic temperature. A densified propellant management system also is provided which has a densifier for simultaneously densifying two cryogenic liquids at different temperatures, and a cryogenic temperature probe for measuring the temperature gradient in a cryogenic liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Sierra Lobo, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Steven Haberbusch, Adam John Culler
  • Patent number: 7330029
    Abstract: A cryostat configuration has at least three centering elements (4) which are distributed about the periphery of a cryocontainer (1). Each end (6) of the centering elements (4) facing away from an outer jacket (3) of the cryostat configuration is connected to an actuator (7) which exerts a pressure or tensile force on the respective centering element (4) to generate a mechanical tension in a corresponding centering element (4) which loads the centering elements (4) with a nearly constant pressure or tension, irrespective of the temperature changes within the cryostat configuration. This yields a cryostat configuration which permits pressure centering without overloading the centering elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin AG
    Inventors: Beat Mraz, Johannes Boesel
  • Publication number: 20070245750
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for gelling liquid propane and other liquefied gasses. The apparatus includes a temperature controlled churn mixer, vacuum pump, liquefied gas transfer tank, and means for measuring amount of material entering the mixer. The method uses gelling agents such as silicon dioxide, clay, carbon, or organic or inorganic polymers, as well as dopants such as titanium, aluminum, and boron powders. The apparatus and method are particularly useful for the production of high quality rocket fuels and propellants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Adam Elliott, Roberto DiSalvo, Phillip Shepherd, Ryan Kosier
  • Patent number: 7246506
    Abstract: A thermal storage apparatus for using a hydrate thermal storage medium including: (a) a storage tank for storing a cooling medium liquid; (b) a refrigerating machine, connected with the storage tank via a pipe for cooling the cooling medium liquid, the cooling medium liquid circulating between the storage tank and the refrigerating machine; and (c) a thermal storage body immersed in the cooling medium liquid, wherein the thermal storage medium comprises a hermetically sealed container containing an aqueous solution which generates at least one hydrate selected from the group consisting of a primary hydrate and a secondary hydrate, wherein the primary hydrate has a smaller hydration number and a small heat capacity than the secondary hydrate, and wherein the secondary hydrate has a larger hydration number and a larger heat capacity than the primary hydrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: JFE Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Takao, Hidemasa Ogoshi, Shinichiro Fukushima, Shigenori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7201018
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for delivering an ultra high purity fluid comprising at least one component to a point of use at a required pressure without mechanical pumping. In one embodiment, a high purity feed comprising at least one component in gaseous or liquid form is charged into a vessel and at least partially converted to a solid phase source. As the feed is converted to a solid phase source, additional feed may be added until the vessel is at least substantially filled with a solid phase source or slush. Once filled, the solid phase source or slush may be isochorically heated whereby the solid phase source is converted to a product at an elevated pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Yliy Gershtein, Alexander Schwarz, Wayne Thomas McDermott, John Frederick Cirucci, John Christopher Ivankovits
  • Patent number: 7155930
    Abstract: Liquid nitrogen is filled in a low temperature vessel; an ejector that sucks liquid nitrogen by blowing a cooling agent (liquid or gas) such as low temperature helium gas or liquid helium of pressure higher than in the space within the vessel is disposed in the vessel; the liquid nitrogen blown with the cooling agent is cooled by the cooling agent to become fine particles of solid nitrogen which fall down; and gas in a space of the vessel is discharged out of the vessel so as to maintain the pressure of the space higher than the atmospheric pressure. A gaseous phase of liquid nitrogen in an adiabatic vessel is depressurized to vaporize nitrogen in a liquid phase so that a temperature of the nitrogen is reached to the triple point of nitrogen by lowering temperature thereby and solid nitrogen is produced by keeping at the triple point, and that the produced solid nitrogen is transformed into slush by stirring the content of the adiabatic vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuniaki Kawamura, Akito Machida, Masamitsu Ikeuchi, Kazuhiro Hattori, Kouichi Matsuo, Hideharu Yanagi
  • Patent number: 7137260
    Abstract: This invention relates to the storage under pressure in a container and subsequent transport of the filled pressurized container of particular natural gas or natural gas-like mixtures that contain methane or natural gas plus an additive, and which mixtures have been refrigerated to less than ambient temperature. (This invention also relates to a similar mixture which has been created by the removal of methane or a lean gas from a richer natural gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Zedgas, Inc.
    Inventor: Glen F. Perry
  • Patent number: 7043925
    Abstract: A densifier (10) for simultaneously densifying two cryogenic liquids at different temperatures is provided. The densifier (10) has a thermoacoustic heat engine (20), a resonance tube (18) and a two stage pulse tube refrigerator (40). The thermoacoustic heat engine (20) generates oscillatory acoustical power required to generate net refrigeration power in the two-stage pulse tube refrigerator (40). The first stage (100) densifies a first cryogenic liquid to a first cryogenic temperature, and the second stage (200) densifies a second cryogenic liquid to a second, lower cryogenic temperature. The thermoacoustic heat engine (20) converts thermal energy to the oscillatory acoustical power required to generate net refrigeration in the first (100) and second (200) stages of the pulse tube refrigerator (40). No mechanical energy input is required, and therefore the invented densifier (10) has no moving parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Sierra Lobo, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark S. Haberbusch
  • Publication number: 20040154333
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process and apparatus for delivering an ultra high purity fluid comprising at least one component to a point of use at a required pressure without pumping. In one embodiment, a high purity feed comprising at least one component in gaseous or liquid form is charged into a vessel and at least partially solidified, i.e., converted to a solid phase source. As the feed is converted to a solid phase source, additional feed may be added until the vessel is at least substantially filled with a solid phase source or slush. Once filled, the solid phase source or slush may be isochorically heated whereby the solid phase source is converted to a product at an elevated pressure. In other embodiments, an apparatus and a method for the production and collection of a high purity solid phase source or slush comprising at least component is disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Vladimir Yliy Gershtein, Alexander Schwarz, Wayne Thomas McDermott, John Frederick Cirucci, John Christopher Ivankovits
  • Publication number: 20040123606
    Abstract: This invention relates to the storage under pressure in a container and subsequent transport of the filled pressurized container of particular natural gas or natural gas-like mixtures that contain methane or natural gas plus an additive, and which mixtures have been refrigerated to less than ambient temperature. (This invention also relates to a similar mixture which has been created by the removal of methane or a lean gas from a richer natural gas mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Glen F. Perry
  • Publication number: 20040112067
    Abstract: Stranded natural gas is sometimes liquefied and sent to other countries that can use the gas in a transport ship. Conventional receiving terminals use large cryogenic storage tanks to hold the liquefied natural gas (LNG) after it has been offloaded from the ship. The present invention eliminates the need for the conventional cryogenic storage tanks and instead uses uncompensated salt caverns to store the product. The present invention can use a special heat exchanger, referred to as a Bishop Process heat exchanger, to warm the LNG prior to storage in the salt caverns or the invention can use conventional vaporizing systems some of which may be reinforced and strengthened to accommodate higher operating pressures. In one embodiment, the LNG is pumped to higher pressures and converted to dense phase natural gas prior to being transferred into the heat exchanger and the uncompensated salt caverns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: CONVERSION GAS IMPORTS, L.P.
    Inventors: William M. Bishop, Michael M. McCall
  • Patent number: 6688115
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a process and apparatus for delivering ultra high purity liquid carbon dioxide to a point of use at pressures above ambient without pumping. In the process a high purity carbon dioxide feed in gaseous or liquid form is charged to a vessel and at least partially solidified, i.e., converted to a solid phase. As the liquid is converted to a solid phase, additional liquid is added until the vessel is at least substantially filled with slush. Once filled, the slush or solid is isochorically heated, i.e., heated at constant volume whereby the solid phase carbon dioxide is converted to a liquid. Liquid, then, is withdrawn from the vessel at a desired pressure at a rate at which the solid phase carbon dioxide is converted to a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir Yliy Gershtein
  • Patent number: 6584781
    Abstract: The methods and apparatus for transporting compressed gas includes a gas storage system having a plurality of pipes connected by a manifold whereby the gas storage system is designed to operate in the range of the optimum compressibility factor for a given composition of gas. The pipe for the gas storage system is preferably large diameter pipe made of a high strength material whereby a low temperature is selected which can be withstood by the material of the pipe. Knowing the compressibility factor of the gas, the temperature, and the diameter of the pipe, the wall thickness of the pipe may be calculated for the pressure range of the gas at the selected temperature. The gas storage system may either be modular or be part of the structure of a vessel for transporting the gas to the storage system. Since the pipe provides a bulkhead around the gas, the gas storage system may be used in a single hull vessel. The gas storage system further includes enclosing the pipes in a nitrogen atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Enersea Transport, LLC
    Inventors: William M. Bishop, Charles N. White, David J. Pemberton
  • Patent number: 6560971
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a hydrate slurry, which involves the preparation of an aqueous solution of a guest compound for forming a clathrate hydrate, cooling the aqueous solution, and contacting the aqueous solution with nuclear particles. A thermal storage method, a thermal storage apparatus, and a thermal storage medium using an aqueous solution of a clathrate hydrate, in a concentration which provides a congruent melting point or lower. A refrigerating apparatus and an air conditioner using the thermal storage apparatus and the thermal storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: NKK Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Takao, Hidemasa Ogoshi, Shigenori Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20020083720
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for making a hydrate slurry, which prepare an aqueous solution of a guest compound for forming a clathrate hydrate, cool the aqueous solution, and contact a nuclear particles; furthermore, a thermal storage method, a thermal storage apparatus, and a thermal storage medium by using an aqueous solution of clathrate hydrate, whose concentration is a congruent melting point or lower; furthermore, an refrigerating apparatus and an air conditioner for using the thermal storage method, the thermal storage apparatus and the thermal storage medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Applicant: NKK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shingo Takao, Hidemasa Ogoshi, Shigenori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6405541
    Abstract: A method for producing slush from liquefied gas wherein solid crystals are formed and mixed with the liquefied gas to produce slush. The solid crystals are produced from liquid particles which are released into or enter a gas atmosphere under pressure, wherein the temperature of the gas atmosphere is below the freezing point of the liquid particles. A device is also provided for producing the slush from liquefied gas in a cryostat container which is partly filled with the liquefied gas which mixes with the solid crystals to produce slush. The device has an atomizing device for producing the liquid particles from the liquefied gas supplied to it. The liquid particles enter a gas atmosphere which exists above the liquefied gas in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: MI Developments Austria AG & CO KG
    Inventor: Klaus Brunnhofer
  • Patent number: 6381967
    Abstract: The invention relates to method and apparatus for the hyper-rapid freezing of liquid samples. The samples are converted into droplets or vapor and rapidly driven directly onto the surface of a solid or slushed refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Randall H Craig
  • Patent number: 6260361
    Abstract: A combination liquid or slush carbon dioxide system, which receives warm carbon dioxide and then cools it to −69° F. before use, making carbon dioxide slush. The percentage of solid carbon dioxide in the slush is controlled. Slush is useful when subsequent carbon dioxide snow is being sought for refrigeration purposes. The system is versatile enough to be used successively to deliver slush and then cold liquid, or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Inventor: Lewis Tyree, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6170269
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for freeze granulation of a medium such as a biopharmeceutical product. The medium is put into a chamber and mixed using a pair of counter rotating agitators. The agitators have angled blades or paddles on them in order to induce motion in the medium parallel to the axis of the agitator shafts. A set of liquid nitrogen and liquid carbon dioxide nozzles are attached to the chamber. The liquid nitrogen nozzles spray a mist of liquid nitrogen into the medium. The liquid carbon dioxide nozzles spray carbon dioxide snow into the chamber. The liquid nitrogen and the carbon dioxide can be sprayed into the chamber at the same time or alternately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Integrated Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Wisniewski