Patent ID: 12241592

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows an arrangement1for a cryogenic system. The arrangement1comprises a cryogenic tank2for storing a cryogenic liquid and a trycock pipe3arranged on the cryogenic tank2. The arrangement1further comprises a sensor4attached to the trycock pipe3for measuring a temperature of the trycock pipe3. The temperature sensor4is connected to a control unit5.

The control unit5receives signals6from the temperature sensor4, and the control unit5is configured to provide control signals7based on the received signals6from the temperature sensor4, for controlling filling equipment8used for filling the cryogenic tank2with cryogenic liquid. The filling equipment8is only schematically illustrated but may comprise any suitable component for filling such a cryogenic tank2used in the technical field of cryogenic systems.

The control unit5can be configured to detect a temperature decrease based on the signals6received from the temperature sensor4, and for a detected temperature decrease exceeding a predetermined setpoint value, the control unit5can be configured to provide the control signals7for shutting down the filling of the cryogenic tank2.

The control unit5may comprise one or more microprocessors and/or one or more memory devices or any other components for executing computer programs to perform the temperature measurements and control the filling equipment. The control unit5is preferably provided with a computer program comprising program code means for performing the steps of any example embodiment of the method described hereinafter.

FIG.2is an enlarged view of the trycock pipe illustrated inFIG.1. The trycock pipe3is shown in a cut view. The trycock pipe3extending from the tank2has a first end9mechanically connected to the cryogenic tank2. Further, the trycock pipe3comprises a tube10with a first end11fluidly connected to the cryogenic tank2for receiving cryogenic liquid from the cryogenic tank2. In other words, when the level of liquid in the cryogenic tank2reaches the trycock pipe3, liquid can flow into the tube10by gravity.

The arrangement1comprises the temperature sensor4for measuring the temperature of the tube10. The tube10has a second free end12opposite to the first end11of the tube10, which second free end12is closed. The second free end12is closed to the surrounding atmosphere, i.e. not fluidly connected to the atmosphere or any other receptacle. The temperature sensor4is arranged outside the tube10for measuring the temperature at the second free end12of the tube10.

The second free end12of the tube10has an end wall13closing the tube10, and the temperature sensor4is suitably arranged to measure the temperature of the end wall13, by direct measurement of the end wall temperature or indirect measurement by measuring the temperature of the closest surrounding to the end wall13. The temperature sensor4can be arranged to contact a surface14of the end wall13, preferably an axial surface14. By axial surface14is meant a surface with a surface normal directed substantially in parallel with the longitudinal extension direction of the tube10.

In the example embodiment illustrated inFIG.2, the temperature sensor4is arranged to be assembled to the trycock pipe3and disassembled from the trycock pipe3by axially movement of the temperature sensor4relative to the trycock pipe3. The axial direction15indicated by an arrow, is the same direction as the longitudinal extension direction of the tube10.

The arrangement1comprises an outer portion16which is mechanically connected to a second end25of the trycock pipe. The outer portion16is mechanically connected to the second free end12of the tube10. The outer portion16can be connected by welding for instance. The outer portion16has a through hole17and the temperature sensor4has a part18extending axially via the through hole17to the second free end12of the tube10. The temperature sensor4is arranged such that a sensing part19of the temperature sensor4is arranged at the second free end12of the tube10. The outer portion16can be a solid portion provided with the through hole which solid portion is welded to the tube. This means that a space accommodating the sensing part19of the temperature sensor4can be created. For attachment of the temperature sensor4to the trycock pipe3, the outer portion16and the temperature sensor4can be provided with screw threads, i.e. they can be connected to each other by a screw joint20.

FIG.3shows a further example embodiment of the arrangement1′ for a cryogenic system with a variant of the trycock pipe illustrated inFIG.2. For this example embodiment, only components different from the example embodiment illustrated inFIG.2are explicitly described, and for the remaining components reference is also made to what is previously described hereinabove.

The arrangement1′ can be adapted for handling liquid hydrogen (H2) by using a vacuum insulated double wall tank2′. The trycock pipe30is an insulated double walled trycock pipe30comprising the tube being a first inner tube100and a second outer tube21enclosing the first inner tube100. The first inner tube100and the second outer tube21are suitably vacuum tight enabling an annular space22between an outer surface23of the first inner tube100and an inner surface24of the second outer tube21to be vacuum pumped. In other words; the trycock pipe30can be a vacuum insulated double wall trycock pipe.

The arrangement1′ suitably comprises equipment (not shown) for creating vacuum in the annular space22between the first inner tube100and the second outer tube21, such as a pump, pipe connections, valves, seals and any further component used in the technical field of cryogenic systems that is required.

In the example embodiment illustrated inFIG.3, in addition to be mechanically connected to the second free end120of the first inner tube100, the outer portion160is also mechanically connected to the second outer tube21at a second end250of the trycock pipe30. The outer portion160can be connected by welding for instance. The outer portion160is arranged to close the second outer tube21.

In a way similar to what has been described hereinabove with reference toFIG.2, the outer portion160has a through hole170and the temperature sensor40has a part180extending axially via the through hole170to the second free end120of the first inner tube100. The through hole170and the space accommodating the sensing part190of the temperature sensor40are separated from the annular space22.

The temperature sensor40is arranged to be assembled to the trycock pipe30and disassembled from the trycock pipe30by axially movement of the temperature sensor40relative to the trycock pipe30. The axial direction150indicated by an arrow, is the same direction as the longitudinal extension direction of the first inner tube100. The temperature sensor40can be attachable to the outer portion160by the screw joint200.

FIG.4shows an example embodiment of a method illustrated in a flow chart. See alsoFIGS.1,2and3. The method comprises the steps of measuring300the temperature of the tube10;100outside the tube at the second free end12;120of the tube, and based on the temperature measurements, controlling600filling equipment8used for filling the cryogenic tank2;2′ with cryogenic liquid. Preferably, the method comprises the steps of detecting400a temperature decrease based on the temperature measurements, comparing500the measured temperature decrease to a predetermined setpoint or threshold value, and for a detected temperature decrease exceeding the predetermined setpoint value, i.e. “YES” inFIG.4, controlling600the filling equipment8to shut down the filling of the cryogenic tank2;2′, otherwise, i.e. “NO” inFIG.4, detection of the temperature decrease is repeated.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.