Apparatus for storing a multi-component cryogenic liquid

Abstract: An apparatus 1 for storing a multi-component cryogenic liquid such as 'liquid air' includes a storage tank 10. Headspace vapour 14 flows to an external condensation tank 26 and is condensed therein through indirect heat exchange with liquid being vented from the storage tank 10. The resulting condensate can then be re-introduced into the storage tank through a pressure building circuit 30 applied to the external condensation tank 26. In such manner, the pressure within the storage tank 10 is regulated and the composition of the liquid stored within the storage tank is held constant with some degree of consistency. The use of an external condensation tank allows prior art cryogenic storage tanks and dewars to be retrofitted to store a multi-component cryogenic liquid.

Description: The present invention relates to an apparatus for storing a multi-component cryogenic liquid within a storage tank. More particularly, the present invention relates to such an apparatus in which headspace vapour within the storage tank is condensed by indirect heat transfer with the cryogenic liquid. More particularly, the present invention relates to such an apparatus in which the headspace vapour is condensed within an external condensation tank and the resulting condensate is returned to the storage vessel by a pressure building circuit. Cryogenic storage vessels and dewars are used to store cryogenic liquids, for instance, liquefied atmospheric gases, either at their point of use or for use in the transport of such cryogenic liquids. Although such storage tanks and dewars are insulated, there is still heat leakage into the storage tank or dewar. This heat leakage causes vaporisation of the liquid cryogen. Typically, the vapour is vented from a headspace region of the tank to prevent overpressurisation of the tank. Where the liquid cryogen is a multi-component mixture, for instance air, the venting of the vapour phase presents a problem because the more volatile components will vaporise before the less volatile components. As a result, the liquid being stored will have an ever increasing concentration of the less volatile components. For instance, if the liquid cryogen being stored is liquid air, nitrogen (as well as other components of the air but at a lower concentration) will be vented to cause the liquid to have an ever increasing oxygen content. In order to overcome this problem, US-A-3,260,060 discloses a cryogenic dewar in which liquid is vented through a heat exchanger located within the headspace region of the dewar. As pressure within the dewar increases, the liquid passing through the heat exchanger condenses the vapour to stabilise the concentration of the liquid. Since the liquid, now vaporised, is at the same concentration of the bulk liquid, there is no concentration change. The problem with the cryogenic dewar illustrated in US-A-3,260,060 is that it involves manufacturing dewars with heat exchangers in the headspace region and thus, cannot easily serve as a retrofit to existing cryogenic dewars. As will be discussed, the present invention solves the retrofitting problem by providing a cryogenic storage apparatus that is easily adapted as a retrofit for conventional cryogenic storage tanks and dewars. According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for storing a multi-component cryogenic liquid comprising, a storage tank for said multi-component cryogenic liquid; a condensation tank located external to said storage tank for condensing headspace vapour; heat exchange means located within said condensation tank for condensing said headspace vapour, said heat exchange means in communication with said storage tank and venting to atmosphere so that a liquid stream from said storage tank is able, in use, to vaporise within said heat exchange means in indirect heat exchange with condensing headspace vapour and vent to atmosphere; first actuable valve means for permitting said liquid stream to flow to said heat exchange means when pressure within said headspace region is above a predetermined value; said condensation tank having an inlet communicating with the headspace of the storage tank and an outlet communicating with the storage tank; and means for driving said condensed headspace vapour back into said storage tank after said pressure falls below said predetermined value. The term "multi-component" as used herein means having two or more components. Since the condensation occurs within an external condensation tank, such external condensation tank can be retrofitted with appropriate plumbing to existing storage tanks and dewars. The apparatus according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing. With reference to the Figure, an apparatus 1 in accordance with the present invention is provided for storing a multi-component cryogenic liquid, for instance, liquid air. Apparatus 1 utilises a conventional storage tank 10 containing a multi-component liquid cryogen 12. Storage tank 10, is thermally insulated in a conventional manner. Nonetheless, there is still some "heat inleakage" into the tank 10. Due to this heat leakage into the tank 10, liquid cryogen 12 vaporises to form vapour within a headspace region 14 thereof. Liquid cryogen 12 flows to a user through conduit 1 5. A pressure sensor 16 is provided typically within storage tank 10 to sense pressure within its headspace region 14. Pressure sensor 16 is linked to a controller 18 which is responsive to a pressure signal generated by pressure sensor 16 to control remotely operated valves 20 and 22. When pressure within headspace region 14 reaches a pre-determined value, the signal generated by pressure sensor 16 causes controller 18 to set control valve 20 into an open position. Vapour flows from headspace region 14 via a conduit 24 to a condensation tank 26. The opening of control valve 20 allows liquid to flow from the bottom of storage tank 10 into a conduit 28 which by indirect heat exchange causes headspace vapour within condensation tank 26 to condense into a liquid shown in the drawings as condensed headspace vapour 29. When the pressure falls below the pre-determined value, control valve 22 opens and control valve 20 closes. The opening of control valve 22 causes the subsidiary stream of the condensed headspace vapour 29 to flow within a pressure building circuit 30 (having an ambient vaporiser 31) and pressurise condensation tank 26. This pressure drives or urges the condensed headspace vapour 29 from condensation tank 26 through return line 32 back into storage tank 14. It is to be noted that although condensed headspace vapour 29 is illustrated as flowing back in to headspace region 14, it could by appropriate piping flow back into multi-component liquid cryogen 12. As the pressure approaches a pre-determined value, controller 18 commands control valve 22 to close. A check (non-return) valve 34 within conduit 24 prevents backflow of vapour to the headspace 14. The check valve 34 could be replaced with a solenoid or other type of control valve. Although the pressure building circuit 30 uses an ambient vaporiser 31 to generate the pressure, alternatives, such as an electric heater, may be used to vaporise the cryogen. The illustrated apparatus enables the pressure in the storage tank 10 to be regulated and the composition of the liquid cryogen held therein to be maintained constant with some degree of consistency. In addition to the foregoing, numerous control strategies could be employed to optimise the venting process and maintain pressure. For example, the level of the condensate or the temperature of the vent gas could be monitored to determine that the condensate level had risen too far. Appropriate control logic could then cause a switch to the pressure building circuit to pump the liquid back into the storage vessel, prior to further venting. Alternatively, a timer could be employed where pressure building/pumping could be initiated after a fixed time, then switching back to further venting for a fixed time.

Claims: An apparatus for storing a multi-component cryogenic liquid comprising: a storage tank (10) for said multi-component cryogenic liquid (12); a condensation tank (26) located external to said storage tank for condensing headspace vapour (14); heat exchange means (18) located within said condensation tank (26) for condensing said headspace vapour (14), said heat exchange means (18) in communication with said storage tank (10) and venting to atmosphere so that a liquid stream from said storage tank is able, in use, to vaporise within said heat exchange means in indirect heat exchange with condensing headspace vapour and vent to atmosphere; first actuable valve means (20) for permitting said liquid stream to flow to said heat exchange means when pressure within said headspace region is above a predetermined value; said condensation tank having an inlet communicating with the headspace (14) of the storage tank and an outlet communicating with the storage tank; and mean (36) for driving said condensed headspace vapour back into said storage tank after said pressure falls below said predetermined value. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said outlet communicates with the headspace of the storage tank. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said condensed headspace vapour driving means comprises actuable means for building pressure within said condensation tank. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said actuable pressure building means comprises a pressure building circuit to vaporise a portion of the condensed headspace vapour and thereby pressurise said condensation tank. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: said actuable pressure building means includes a second actuable valve means (22). Apparatus according to claim 5, additionally including a pressure sensor (16) for sensing said headspace pressure of said storage tank to generate a signal related to said pressure; a controller (18), responsive to said signal, for remotely controlling said first (20) and second (22) valve means, the arrangement being such that above said predetermined pressure the first valve means (20) is in an open position and the second valve means (22) is in a closed position and below said predetermined pressure the second valve means (22) is in an open position and the first valve means (20) is in a closed position. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the inlet to the condensation tank communicates with the headspace via a conduit (24) in which is located a check valve to prevent backflow of vapour.

Inventors: LEE RON C, LEE, RON C.
Applicants: BOC GROUP INC, THE BOC GROUP, INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: F17C13
IPC codes: F17C9, F17C5, F25J1, F17C13