Patent ID: 7581405

Claim:
A storage vessel for cryogenic liquid having a lower portion for storing said cryogenic liquid and a vapor space provided thereabove, said vessel having: a condenser for condensing boil-off vapor by direct heat exchange with an external cryogenic liquid supply feed to the vessel, said condenser comprising a packed arrangement of vapor-liquid contact packing, said arrangement comprising a top end portion and a bottom end portion, wherein at least said top end portion is open to the vapor space to allow entry of boil-off vapor into the arrangement and said bottom end portion is in fluid flow communication with the lower portion of the storage vessel; an inlet for providing the external cryogenic liquid supply feed to the top end portion of the packed arrangement of vapor-liquid contact packing; and an outlet for removing cryogenic liquid from the lower portion of the vessel wherein substantially all of the refrigeration for condensing the boil-off vapor is supplied by the external cryogenic liquid supply feed to the vessel.