Storage of compressible fluid in gaseous form in storage tank involves supplying temperature and pressure lower than final conditions to obtain denser, cooled fluid, which is released as gas into storage tank to fill it

摘要

Compressible fluid is supplied at a temperature and pressure lower than the final conditions to obtain a denser, cooled fluid. A preset quantity of fluid is admitted into a closed, thermally-insulated vessel inside the storage tank, and then released as a gas into the storage tank to fill it and bring the fluid progressively to the desired final temperature and pressure conditions The cooled fluid is a refrigerated gas, liquid or solid and transfer to the internal volume of the storage tank involves heating the refrigerated gas, evaporating the refrigerated liquid or sublimation of the refrigerated solid respectively. Alternatively, the fluid may be a two-phase mixture (solid/liquid or liquid/gas) and transfer to the storage tank involves a melting/evaporation or an evaporation/heating process. The fluid is admitted into the vessel in a controlled manner as a function of the required final temperature and pressure conditions. The fluid can be provided from a cryogenic source. The fluid can be released from the vessel into the tank in a series of admissions of preset quantities of denser refrigerated fluid to optimize the storage conditions of the fluid. An Independent claim is included for a device for carrying out the above process, comprising a closed, thermally-insulated vessel inside a storage tank; an inlet valve for admitting a preset quantity of fluid supplied preferably in a denser, refrigerated form; and means of connecting the space containing the denser refrigerated fluid to the internal volume of the storage tank to allow passage of the preset quantity progressively into the storage tank in the form of a gas at the required final temperature and pressure. The device also includes means of controlling the means of admission The storage tank is cylindrical, and the closed vessel is made of a cylindrical metal skin held inside the storage tank on thermally insulated supports. The axis of revolution of the tank and vessel are parallel, horizontal and offset. The means of connecting the vessel to the internal volume of the tank comprises an escape valve with a throttle. The tank also has a distribution valve for the gas stored. The inlet valve and distribution valve are placed along the axis of symmetry of the tank. The vessel is connected to the inlet valve via a rotating joint. The assembly formed by the vessel and the denser refrigerated fluid admitted into it rotates about the tank's axis of symmetry, to allow the horizon of the saturated vapor pressure space to stay below the inlet valve, thus reducing the risk of direct expansion of the fluid into the reservoir in case of shock or uncontrolled displacement of the storage tank.