Pressurized liquid natural gas filling system and associated method

Abstract

A liquid natural gas filling system structured to store a cryogenic fluid at a low pressure and fill a use vessel at a high pressure. The filling system includes a first, low pressure vessel, at least one second, high pressure vessel, a plurality of conduits, each conduit in the plurality having a valve, extending between, and in fluid communication within the first, low pressure vessel and the at least one second, high pressure vessel, a pressure building means coupled to the at least one second, high pressure vessel and structured to raise the pressure of a cryogenic liquid within the at least one second, high pressure vessel, and an outlet nozzle structured to be coupled to a use vessel, the outlet nozzle coupled via the plurality of conduits to, and in fluid communication with, the first, low pressure vessel and the second, high pressure vessel. The filling system is structured so that a cryogenic liquid may be stored in the first, low pressure vessel at a low pressure. The cryogenic liquid at a low pressure may further be transferred to the at least one second, high pressure vessel via the plurality of conduits. The pressure of the cryogenic liquid at a low pressure in the at least one second, high pressure vessel may be increased to a high pressure by actuating the pressure building means. Thus, the cryogenic liquid at a high pressure in the at least one second, high pressure vessel may be transferred from the at least one second, high pressure vessel to a use vessel via the plurality of conduits and the nozzle.