Chart Inc.

Mve, Inc.

Chart Industries, Inc.

Minnesota Valley Engineering, Inc.

Thomas Karl Drube

Claus D Emmer

Jesse Richard Gamble

Paul A Drube

Gilbert J Bily

Duane Preston

Audrey Duane Preston

Paul Arnold Drube

Brian Bostrom

Eric Joel Thor

Jon R Turner

A Duane Preston

James Michael Weiler

Lyle Holsinger

Petr Zaruba

Matthew D Sasse

Craig Zelasko

Kristy M Malecha

A storage tank system features a tank made of rigid material and an insulation assembly. The insulation assembly includes an inner membrane and an outer membrane wherein the inner membrane is located within the outer membrane and at least one of the inner membrane and outer membrane is made of a flexible material. An insulation medium is located in a space between the inner membrane and the outer membrane and a vacuum is applied to the space.

Tank systems with an insulation assembly

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.

Cryogenic fluid dispensing system having a chilling reservoir

A system for dispensing a cryogenic liquid includes a storage tank containing a supply of the cryogenic liquid and a metering chamber. A liquid inlet line is in communication with the storage tank and the metering chamber so that the metering chamber receives cryogenic liquid from the storage tank. A meter run is in communication with the metering chamber and includes a metering element, a dispensing line and a dispensing valve. A stabilizing column is positioned within the metering chamber and includes vertically spaced openings. Vertically spaced first and second pressure sensors are in communication with the interior of the stabilizing column. A controller is in communication with the metering element, the first and second pressure sensors and the dispensing valve.

Metering system and method for cryogenic liquids

A system for dispensing a cryogenic fluid includes a bulk tank containing a supply of cryogenic fluid. A heating circuit includes an intermediate tank and a heating device and has an inlet in fluid communication with the bulk tank and an outlet. A bypass junction is positioned between the bulk tank and the inlet of the heating circuit. A bypass circuit has an inlet in fluid communication with the bypass junction and an outlet so that a portion of cryogenic fluid from the bulk tank flows through the heating circuit and is warmed and a portion flows through the bypass circuit. A mixing junction is in fluid communication with the outlets of the bypass circuit and the heating circuit so that warmed cryogenic fluid from the heating circuit is mixed with cryogenic fluid from the bypass circuit so that the cryogenic fluid is conditioned. A dispensing line is in fluid communication with the mixing junction so that the conditioned cryogenic fluid may be dispensed. Warmed cryogenic fluid remaining in the heating circuit after dispensing is directed to the intermediate tank and used to warm cryogenic fluid directed through the heating circuit.

Heat management system and method for cryogenic liquid dispensing systems

A cryogenic fluid delivery system includes a pump having a pumping cylinder within which a sliding pumping piston is positioned. The pump also includes an actuating cylinder within which a sliding actuating piston is positioned and a supplemental linear actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder. The pumping and actuating pistons and supplemental linear actuator are joined by connecting rods. A portion of the cryogenic liquid pumped from a storage tank is vaporized in a heat exchanger and introduced into the actuating cylinder to power the pump with the assistance of the supplemental linear actuator so that high pump discharge pressures may be obtained.

Cryogenic fluid delivery system

A system dispenses both liquid natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG). A bulk tank contains a supply of LNG which is pumped to a smaller storage tank. After the storage tank is refilled, LNG from the bulk tank is pumped to a vaporizer so that CNG is produced. The CNG may be routed to the LNG in the storage tank to condition it. It is also used to recharge a pressurizing cylinder that is placed in communication with the head space of the storage tank when it is desired to rapidly dispense LNG to a vehicle. A bank of cascaded storage cylinders alternatively may receive CNG from the vaporizer for later dispensing through the system CNG dispenser. The CNG from the vaporizer may also be dispensed directly via the system CNG dispenser.

Liquid and compressed natural gas dispensing system

A system for dispensing cryogenic liquid to a use device includes a bulk storage tank providing LNG to a sump containing a meter submerged in LNG. A temperature probe is also submerged in the LNG. A dispensing line is positioned between the meter and dispensing hose and includes a dispensing valve. A drain line bypasses the dispensing valve and features a check valve so that LNG trapped in the hose after dispensing is returned to the sump due to pressurization by ambient heat. A capacitance probe is submerged in the LNG in the sump and provides a dielectric that is compared by a microprocessor with the dielectric for pure methane at the same temperature to determine the purity of the LNG. An approximate linear relation between density and dielectric may be used to determine density and mass flow for the LNG from the measured dielectric. Alternatively, a density compensation factor based upon the dielectrics may be calculated and applied to the density of pure methane to obtain the density and mass flow of the LNG. A further alternative embodiment substitutes a compensating meter for the capacitor and the equations for the resulting two meters may be solved to determine density and mass flow for the LNG.

Accurate cryogenic liquid dispenser

A breakaway device joins a portion of a dispensing hose that is connected to a fueling station with a portion of a dispensing hose that is joined to a coupling that connects to a vehicle during fueling. The breakaway device includes a pair of leg members that are joined by their proximal ends to the dispensing hose portions. The distal ends of the leg members are joined at an angle to a frangible member that includes a pair of inner segments that are joined in an abutting fashion by a surrounding frangible sleeve. When a driveaway occurs, the leg members are pulled apart and exert a bending moment on the frangible member. As a result, the frangible member breaks which prevents significant damage to the station. A pneumatic line that provides pressurized air to open the station dispensing valve is attached to each leg member so that when the frangible member breaks, the pneumatic line is ruptured so that pressurized air is no longer delivered to the dispensing valve. As a result, the dispensing valve closes and fuel is no longer delivered to the dispensing hose.

Breakaway device for fueling stations

A portable self-contained liquid natural gas (LNG) dispensing system is housed in a container featuring opposing side and end walls and a bottom panel. The container is divided into a ventilated portion and a covered portion. A roof is over the covered portion while the ventilated portion features an open top. A bulk tank positioned within the container contains a supply of LNG with a head space thereabove and a pump is submerged in LNG within a sump that is also positioned within the container and communicates with the bulk tank. The container is lined with stainless steel sheets to define a containment volume that is capable of holding the entire supply of LNG in the bulk tank. A vent valve communicates with the head space of the bulk tank and is positioned under the open top of the ventilated portion of the container. The electric controls are positioned on the lower portion of the end wall of the covered portion of the container so as to be located in accordance with the appropriate safety guidelines.

Containment module for transportable liquid natural gas dispensing station

A system for transferring and conditioning a cryogenic liquid includes a replenishing tank containing a supply of cryogenic liquid, a bulk tank and a pump positioned there between. The pump causes a stream of the cryogenic liquid to flow from the replenishing tank to the bulk storage tank. A heat exchanger and parallel by-pass line are positioned between the pump and bulk storage tank. A flow control valve diverts a portion of the stream to the heat exchanger so that it is warmed and rejoined with the remaining cryogenic liquid flowing through the flow control valve. The warmed stream then flows to the bulk storage tank. The flow control valve is adjusted based upon pressures within the bulk storage tank via a pressure line in communication with the head space of the bulk storage tank and a pneumatic controller or a pressure sensor in the bulk tank head space and a programmable logic controller.

Storage pressure and heat management system for bulk transfers of cryogenic liquids

A cryogenic system that off-loads cryogenic liquid from a delivery vehicle and pumps the cryogenic liquid to a storage tank includes an interlock that enables the pneumatic valves which control the flow of the cryogen. The interlock includes a pneumatic relay, a pneumatic line and a pressure sensing line. The pneumatic line transfers pressurized air to the pneumatic relay while the pressure sensing line pressurizes the pneumatic relay when hoses from a delivery truck are connected to the system. The pneumatic relay includes a housing that defines a chamber with a piston having an arcuate passage located therein. When a hose from the delivery truck is connected to the system, the pressure sensing line detects a change in pressure and pressurizes the pneumatic relay. The pressure displaces the piston of the pneumatic relay which aligns the arcuate passage of the relay with the pneumatic valve to allow pressurized air to travel to the pneumatic valve thereby opening the pneumatic valve.

Interlock for cryogenic liquid off-loading systems

A liquefaction system includes a source tank containing a supply of liquid nitrogen with a head space there above filled with nitrogen vapor. A pump transfers the liquid nitrogen to a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger also receives natural gas that has been processed in a purifier. The natural gas is liquefied by free cold from the liquid nitrogen so that liquid natural gas (LNG) is produced. The LNG travels to an LNG destination tank for storage and/or transport. The liquid nitrogen is vaporized in the heat exchanger. The resulting nitrogen gas is directed to a process system that may include, for example, cylinders for welding or other applications. Between liquefaction cycles, the purifier is regenerated by a vacuum and nitrogen vapor from the head space of the source tank. Steel shot is mixed with absorbent in the purifier so that the absorbent is cooled for increased performance.

Sacrificial cryogen gas liquefaction system

A system for dispensing cryogenic liquid to a use device includes a bulk storage tank providing liquid natural gas (LNG) to a sump containing a meter submerged in LNG. A temperature probe is also submerged in the LNG. A dispensing line is positioned between the meter and dispensing hose and includes a dispensing valve. A drain line bypasses the dispensing valve and features a check valve so that LNG trapped in the hose after dispensing is returned to the sump due to pressurization by ambient heat. A capacitance probe is submerged in the LNG in the sump and provides a dielectric that is compared by a microprocessor with the dielectric for pure methane at the same temperature to determine the purity of the LNG. An approximate linear relation between density and dielectric may be used to determine density and mass flow for the LNG from the measured dielectric.

A cryogenic fluid delivery system includes an insulated storage tank containing a supply of cryogenic liquid, a pump, a heat exchanger and a gas and liquid mixer. The pump includes a pumping cylinder within which a sliding pumping piston is positioned. The pump also includes an actuating cylinder within which a sliding actuating piston is positioned. The pumping and actuating pistons are joined by a connecting rod. A portion of the cryogenic liquid pumped from the storage tank by the pumping piston and cylinder is vaporized in the heat exchanger and introduced into the actuating cylinder on alternating sides of the actuating piston to power the pump. The vaporized cryogen is also used to heat the pumped cryogenic liquid in the mixer. The conditioned cryogenic liquid is then dispensed from the mixer via a dispensing line.

Growing community of inventors

Lakeville, MN, United States of America

Thomas Karl Drube