Patent ID: 7540160

Claim:
A system for vaporizing a cryogenic liquid, said system comprising: means for producing an exhaust gas by flameless thermal oxidation of a fuel; an insulated duct having an inlet end coupled to an exhaust outlet of the exhaust gas producing means for receiving the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas producing means, said duct being thermally insulated; and means for transferring heat from the exhaust gas to the cryogenic liquid, said heat transferring means including an inlet end being coupled to an outlet end of the insulated duct for receiving the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas producing means; said inlet end of said insulated duct being coupled to the exhaust outlet of the exhaust gas producing means at a first elevation and said outlet end of said insulated duct being coupled to the inlet end of the heat transferring means at a second elevation, wherein the first elevation and the second elevation are not equal, wherein said means for transferring heat comprises a receptacle configured to hold a heat transfer medium, a conduit for cryogenic liquid extending into said receptacle, and a sparger positioned to deliver exhaust gas from said exhaust gas producing means to said receptacle.