Abstract: Systems and apparatus for providing long-term cold storage of solid materials such as dry ice are disclosed. The solid materials are stored in a tank configured to maintain the materials in their solid state. The tank is designed with a port sufficiently large to facilitate ingress and egress of the solid materials. A cryogenic liquid is used within the tank to substantially prevent the solid materials from sticking to each other, and to maintain the solid materials at a low temperature.

Abstract: Certain embodiments include a screen assembly of a vessel, where the screen assembly includes a plurality of fixed elements and a retainer, and the retainer includes a ring, a plurality of wedges disposed about the ring, and a plurality of keyholes at spaced locations about the ring. Each keyhole includes a bore and a slot extending from the bore into an adjacent wedge of the plurality of wedges, the slots have a width less than the bores, and the retainer may receive the fixed elements through the bores and may be rotated in a relation with the plurality of fixed elements to bring the plurality of fixed elements into simultaneous engagement with the wedges.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process that produces solid methane gas that is stable at room temperature such that the solid methane gas is capable of storage and shipment without specialized equipment. The process includes an apparatus for preparing solid methane gas, a method for using the apparatus, a method for preparing mixtures for use with the apparatus and resulting compositions. Solid methane gas is obtained by using a sophisticated apparatus and solid methane gas complexes having many different ingredients and ingenious methods. Methane gas flows through the sophisticated apparatus to be cooled and ultimately mixed with the solid methane bed complex at subzero Celsius conditions to create solid methane that is stable at room temperature. This solid methane is capable of being turned back into methane gas.

Abstract: CO2 in the liquid or super-critical state is delivered by at least one carrier vessel from at least one CO2 storage site, which may be an onshore site, to an integrated offshore facility. The integrated offshore facility is provided with at least one on-site storage tank or vessel adapted to store CO2 in the liquid or super-critical state and with equipment for marine transfer of CO2 in the liquid or super-critical state. CO2 is utilised as required from said at least one on-site storage tank or vessel for EOR at said offshore site or for EGR at said offshore site by injection into a sub-sea oil or natural gas bearing reservoir and recovery of oil and/or natural gas from a resulting production stream.

Abstract: A gas generator and a method of generating a gas are provided. A gas generator includes a cartridge having a solid reactant and a liquid reactant distributor provided therein, and a liquid reactant supply in fluid communication with the liquid reactant distributor. The liquid reactant supply is configured to provide a liquid reactant under pressure to the liquid reactant distributor. The liquid reactant distributor comprises a plurality of normally closed holes configured to open at a predetermined fluid pressure to disperse the liquid reactant for reaction with the solid reactant in the cartridge.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for constructing a cryogenic storage tank (700) having a welded inner tank (702), an outer shell (704) surrounding the welded inner tank (702), a concrete foundation (728) comprising a raised portion (752), a plurality of cellular glass blocks (734) positioned directly on top of the raised portion (752) of the concrete foundation (728), a leveling course of concrete (736) poured on top of the uppermost layer of the plurality of cellular glass blocks (734), and a mounting apparatus (718) affixed to the concrete foundation (728), where the welded inner tank (702) is positioned on top of the leveling course of concrete (736) and the outer shell (704) is affixed to the mounting apparatus (718) at locations around the periphery of the outer shell (704).

Abstract: A gasification apparatus is provided which enables gas hydrate pellets to be transported and gasified in the same vessel and enables a gas to be generated by pellet decomposition in a controlled amount. The apparatus is free from bridging. The apparatus includes a heat-in-saluted vessel main body and, disposed therein, a tubular structure which is open at the top and bottom. This tubular structure holds therein gas hydrate pellets obtained by compression-molding a gas hydrate produced by the hydration reaction of a raw-material gas with raw-material water. The tubular structure becomes wider in diameter from the upper opening toward the lower opening. A channel for passing a heat carrier therethrough has been disposed between the lower end of the tubular structure and the inner bottom surface of the vessel main body.

Abstract: A refrigerating method and a refrigerating system utilizing a large decomposition heat absorbed at the time of decomposition of the gas hydrate and building up, by a pump, the pressure of liquid components generated due to the decomposition of gas hydrate and compressing only gas components by a compressor, the refrigerating method comprising the steps of generating the gas hydrate (H) by a hydrate generating reactor (11), decomposing the gas hydrate (H) into the liquid components (L) and the gas components (G) after depressurization to absorb heat, separating the decomposed liquid components (L) and gas components (G) from each other, building up the pressure of the liquid components (L) by the pump (16) and transferring to the hydrate generating reactor (11), and pressurizing and compressing only the gas components (G) by the compressor (17) and transferring to the hydrate generating reactor (11).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of storing hydrogen that employs a mixture of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon that can both be used as fuel. In one embodiment, the method involves maintaining a mixture including hydrogen and a hydrocarbon in the solid state at ambient pressure and a temperature in excess of about 10 K.

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.

Abstract: Methods of, and apparatus for, storing and transporting a hazardous fluid, such as a combustible fuel, include methods and means, respectively, for: (a) treating the fluid to reduce its hazardous condition; (b) storing and/or transporting the treated fluid in such a manner that the risk of its hazardous condition remains reduced; (c) thereafter retreating the fluid to restore it to its original hazardous condition so that the fluid may be used in its restored condition. The hazardous fluid may be treated by adding a substance to, or removing a substance from, the fluid, or by changing the state of the fluid. For example, if the fluid is a fuel, it may be treated by cooling it to near or below its freezing temperature to reduce its combustibility, volatility, explosivity and/or ease of ignition.

Abstract: A cryogenic cooling system (12) for cooling electromagnetic energy detectors (50). The cooling system (12) includes a first mechanism (18) that accommodates cryogen fluid in one or more spaces (58, 60). A second mechanism (16, 42) freezes the cryogen fluid in the one or more spaces (58, 60) adjacent to the electromagnetic energy detectors (50). In a specific embodiment, the electromagnetic energy detectors (50) comprise an infrared focal plane array (50). The second mechanism (16, 42) includes a heat exchanger (16) that is mounted separately from the first mechanism (18). The one or more spaces (58, 60) are fitted with three-dimensional cooling interface surfaces (62, 64). The three-dimensional cooling surfaces (62, 64) are implemented via a thermally conductive matrix (62, 64). The thermally conductive matrix (62, 64) is a copper metal matrix or carbon/graphite matrix, and the solid cryogen reservoir (18) is a beryllium reservoir (18).

Abstract: Apparatuses which, in steady-state operation, are at temperatures very different from ambient temperature, are each supported by a base support device, or are secured by a separating support device, and are linked by a pipe device. In order to reduce the mechanical stresses on the pipe device, at least two components of the structure among the support devices and the pipe device are made of different materials having an expansion coefficient and/or a thermal conductivity coefficient which are different so that when the plant goes from inactivity at ambient temperature to steady-state operation the variations in length of the components made of different materials are concomitant. Such structures are usable in air distillation plants.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing gas hydrates includes a reactor vessel having a fluidized or expanded bed reaction zone. The reactor vessel has an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein a cross-sectional area of the upper portion is larger than a cross-sectional area of the lower portion. Water is introduced into the reactor vessel, and hydrate-forming gas is introduced, under an elevated pressure, into the lower portion of the reactor vessel. Preferably, the water and gas flow in a countercurrent manner through the reactor and into the fluidized or expanded bed reaction zone. The apparatus can include a mechanism for withdrawing unreacted hydrate-forming gas from the upper portion of the reactor vessel and recycling it back into the fluidized or expanded reaction bed. A defrosting device can be included with the reactor so that at least a portion of at least one wall of the reactor vessel can be defrosted.