Patent ID: 7264025
Filing Date: 2007-09-04
Classification: F17C,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method for supplying a cryogenic fluid to a network of two or more cryogenic fluid receiving stations, the method comprising: (a) routing a cryogenic storage vessel containing a liquefied cryogenic fluid to a cryogenic fluid receiving station; (b) determining whether the cryogenic fluid receiving station is adapted to receive the cryogenic fluid as either a cryogenic liquid, a compressed gas, both a cryogenic liquid and a compressed gas, or as a mixture of a cryogenic liquid and a compressed gas; (c) dispensing the cryogenic fluid from the cryogenic storage vessel to the cryogenic fluid receiving station as either a cryogenic liquid, a compressed gas, both a cryogenic liquid and a compressed gas, or as a mixture of a cryogenic liquid and a compressed gas in accordance with the determination made in step (b); (d) (1) determining (i) whether another cryogenic fluid receiving station in the network is in need of cryogenic fluid and (ii) whether the amount of cryogenic fluid remaining in the cryogenic storage vessel is adequate to meet such need, (2) where another cryogenic fluid receiving station in the network is determined to be in need of cryogenic fluid and the amount of cryogenic fluid remaining in the cryogenic liquid storage vessel is determined to be adequate to meet such need, implementing steps (a)-(c) to supply cryogenic fluid to that cryogenic fluid receiving station, or (3) where another cryogenic fluid receiving station in the network is determined to be in need of cryogenic fluid and the amount of cryogenic fluid remaining in the cryogenic storage vessel is determined to be inadequate to meet such need, (i) routing the cryogenic storage vessel to a cryogenic fluid supply facility which dispenses cryogenic fluid to the cryogenic storage vessel, and (ii) thereafter implementing steps (a)-(c) to supply cryogenic fluid to that cryogenic fluid receiving station; and (e) repeating steps (a)-(d) until (1) it is determined that no other cryogenic fluid receiving station in the network is need of cryogenic fluid, or (2) routing of the cryogenic storage vessel within the network is otherwise terminated; wherein cryogenic fluid is in dispensed as a compressed gas to a cryogenic fluid receiving station by (1) increasing the pressure of at least a portion of the liquefied cryogenic fluid in the cryogenic storage vessel to a pressure sufficient to form a supercritical fluid; and (2) heating at least a portion of the supercritical fluid, thereby forming a compressed gas.