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US3661542A - Short term peak shaving of natural gas - Google Patents

Short term peak shaving of natural gas Download PDF

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US3661542A
US3661542A US1744A US3661542DA US3661542A US 3661542 A US3661542 A US 3661542A US 1744 A US1744 A US 1744A US 3661542D A US3661542D A US 3661542DA US 3661542 A US3661542 A US 3661542A
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gas
pressure
cryogenic medium
heat
gas storage
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Michael H Collins
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Shell USA Inc
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Shell Oil Co
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C7/00—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass
    • F17C7/02—Discharging liquefied gases
    • F17C7/04—Discharging liquefied gases with change of state, e.g. vaporisation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C9/00—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure
    • F17C9/02—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure with change of state, e.g. vaporisation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0022—Hydrocarbons, e.g. natural gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0221—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using the cold stored in an external cryogenic component in an open refrigeration loop
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0228—Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes
    • F25J1/0232—Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes integration within a pressure letdown station of a high pressure pipeline system
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0244—Operation; Control and regulation; Instrumentation
    • F25J1/0245—Different modes, i.e. 'runs', of operation; Process control
    • F25J1/0251—Intermittent or alternating process, so-called batch process, e.g. "peak-shaving"
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0244—Operation; Control and regulation; Instrumentation
    • F25J1/0254—Operation; Control and regulation; Instrumentation controlling particular process parameter, e.g. pressure, temperature
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0257—Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J1/0261—Details of cold box insulation, housing and internal structure
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0257—Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J1/0275—Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments, e.g. valves, machines adapted for special use of the liquefaction unit, e.g. portable or transportable devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
    • F17C2201/01—Shape
    • F17C2201/0104—Shape cylindrical
    • F17C2201/0119—Shape cylindrical with flat end-piece
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
    • F17C2201/06—Vessel construction using filling material in contact with the handled fluid
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
    • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2225/00—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2225/01—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2225/0107—Single phase
    • F17C2225/0123—Single phase gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/20—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using solidification of components
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/24—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using regenerators, cold accumulators or reversible heat exchangers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2280/00—Control of the process or apparatus
    • F25J2280/40—Control of freezing of components
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/44—Particular materials used, e.g. copper, steel or alloys thereof or surface treatments used, e.g. enhanced surface
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/62—Details of storing a fluid in a tank

Definitions

  • gas in the chamber liquifies and is stored; when the pressure in the system is low gas in the chamber vaporizes and is available for use.
  • a natural gas distribution network it is usual practice to employ a large diameter line of high pressure pipe from the source (which may supply gas at pressures of the order of 35 atmospheres) to the main areas of consumption. If necessary, pumps may be provided at various points along the line to ensure that a suitably high pressure is maintained. From this trunk line, smaller lower pressure feeder lines are branched off to the various areas and these are further branched to supply individual consumers. At present trunk lines are usually maintained at a maximum pressure of about 30 atmospheres. Such pressures are experienced at periods of lowest consumption, while when consumption increases the pressure may drop to as low as 12 atmospheres. Provision is made for peak shaving of the supply when consumption is low, some of the gas in the line being removed, usually by liquefaction, and stored for regasification and, distribution in the network during periods of high consumption.
  • the gas pressure is of the order of 30 atmospheres at periods of low demand and at this pressure the boiling pointof natural gas (which is essentially a mixture of lower hydrocarbons, e. g. methane, ethane and propane; the major constituent is methane, which has a normal boiling point of 116 K) is, about 175 K.
  • the boiling pointof natural gas which is essentially a mixture of lower hydrocarbons, e. g. methane, ethane and propane; the major constituent is methane, which has a normal boiling point of 116 K
  • Maintenance of a temperature between the maximum and minimum boiling points of the gas under the pressure conditions likely to be found in a supply system may be, for example, by the provision of suitably controlled refrigeration means, but we prefer to use as the cooling medium a substance having a phase transition temperature (preferably a solid/liquid phase transition temperature) between the before mentioned maximum and minimum boiling points.
  • a phase transition temperature of the cooling medium (for convenience we shall hereinafter refer to this cooling medium as the cryogenic medium”) will lie about midway between the maximum and minimum boiling points of the natural gas.
  • a substantially reversible situation may be created whereby the heat gains and losses associated with changes in physical state at a constant temperature, the so-called latent heat changes, may be utilized so that under conditions of low consumption, when the pipeline pressure is high, gas from the pipeline which is in heat transfer contact with the cryogenic medium in one phase is liquefied, losing heat in the process tothe cryogenic medium, so that this also changes its phase; and when subsequently the pressure in the pipeline drops during a period of high consumption, a proportion of the stored liquefied gas vaporizes, withdrawing heat from the cryogenic medium which is thereby cooled and converted back to its original state.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a gas distribution system suitable for use according to theprocess of this invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section of one latent heat storage/exhange unit which may be used in practicing this invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section of an alternative latent heat storage/exchange unit which may be used in the practice of this invention.
  • a consumer demandresponsive device for storage of fuel gas controlled by the pressure of gas in the distribution system, comprises a storage chamber for the liquefied gas, for example a storage tube l0v branching (in a downwards direction so that gravity collection of the liquefied gas occurs) off from and open to a main gasline, 1-1 which is part of a system of gas lines (notshown) delivering gas from a source 12 to a point of consumption.
  • The. storage tube 10 is preferably surrounded at least in part. by a container l4 which holds a cyrogenicmedium 20thatis at a temperature near its freezing point.
  • an insulating material e.g. foamed polyurethane
  • the gas inadistribution system will normally be ata temperature closely approximating ambient and the difference between this temperature and that of the cryogenic medium 20 will be so great thatthe quantity of heat required by the cryogenic medium 20to complete its phase change will be reached while just cooling down the bulk of the gas and before much of it is condensed.
  • vOn subsequent revaporization of the liquefied gas little of-the cryogenic medium 20 will be able to return to its original phase, and thus the efficiency of the liquefaction-vaporization cycle and the number of cycles that can be successively carried out without the requirement to return the cryogenic medium to its original phase and temperature will be reduced.
  • a precooler means 17 which may be a pebble-bed heat exchanger or some other heat storage/exchange system between the main gas line 11 and that regionv of the storage tube 10 surrounded by the'cryogenic medium container 14.
  • the container 14 houses a second cooling means which is preferably a latent heat storage/exchange system comprising a device whereby the cooled'gas passing down the storage tube from the precooler 17 (in the direction of arrow 19) is brought into heat exchange contact with a suitable cryogenic medium 20 at a temperature which is below its phase transition temperature, this being approximately midway between the boiling points of the gas at the maximum and minimum pressures that occur at that point in the system.
  • a suitable cryogenic medium 20 at a temperature which is below its phase transition temperature, this being approximately midway between the boiling points of the gas at the maximum and minimum pressures that occur at that point in the system.
  • the walls of the storage tube 10 act as the inner wall of the container 14 and, thus, provide a surface for heat exchange between the cryogenic medium 20 and gas inside the storage tube 10.
  • FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the latent heat storage/exchange unit in which a cryogenic medium 20 is contained within small substantially spherical containers 22 which may, for example, be of gelatine.
  • the walls of the spherical containers 22 provide a surface for heat exchange between the cryogenic medium 20 and gas which has passed down the storage tube 10 from the precooler l7 and entered a heat exchange chamber 23 in a container 24 which holds the cryogenic medium filled spherical containers 22.
  • some or all of the equipment used in the gas storage system may be insulated as considered necessary. Because of the relatively small size and compact nature of the units of the present invention, they may be made transportable and therefore sufficiently mobile to be of use to meet temporary requirements or possibly as a means of facilitating tramsportation of gases by ship in the liquid form and revaporization upon delivery.
  • a storage unit in accordance with the invention could be used to liquefy gas in the vicinity of a supply source and the liquefied gas could then be transported to a suitable consumer supply station where, by reduction of pressure, evaporation of the liquefied gas would result in cooling of the cryogenic medium, which could be used subsequently to liquefy a further supply of gas at high pressure.
  • the design of the area in which liquefaction and storage of the gas takes place will have an effect on the overall efficiency of the system, since some shapes will assist the rapid transfer of heat into and out of the cryogenic medium by ofiering a large surface and enabling the cryogenic medium to remain in contact with the surface during and after its phase change. That is, the usual rules regarding heat exchange techniques are adhered to.
  • the material from which the surface between the gas and the cryogenic medium is manufactured should have as large a heat conductivity as possible in order to facilitate the heat transfer through it.
  • Examples of heat exchange units according to the above, preferably having the surfaces between gas and cryogenic medium fabricated from a metal such as copper, include those where gas is contained within a space surrounded almost completely by the cryogenic medium .(as in the embodiment of FIG.
  • the short-term peak shaving systems of the present invention will, because of the very low temperature at which they will be operating and the fact that perfect insulation will not be possible to achieve, together with the fact that the phase change cycles involved will not be completely reversible, tend to use up the cold" from the cryogenic medium 20 and therefore require the latter to be cooled from time to time.
  • This will most conveniently. be efie'cted by the addition to the unit of liquefied. gas from some outside source as through valves 25 and 26 in FIGS. 2 and 3. it is thought that the quantities of liquefied gas needed for this purpose will be quite small, amounting, perhaps, when the system is applied to a natural gas nationwide distribution system, to about 1,250 gallons for every 78,000 gallons produced by the unit. This is about onesixtieth of the amount required when peak shaving is carried out by revaporization of liquefied gas into the system.
  • cryogenic medium 20 is dependent upon consideration of the phase change to be used, temperature of phase change required, which is dependent upon the type of gas encountered and the pressures of it, and the resources and finance available, we have found that for a unit to be used for the short-term peak shaving of natural gas in a distribution network operating at a maximum line pressure in the region of 30 atmospheres, iso-octane, which has a melting point in the required pressure range about K, is particularly suitable. It should be noted though that by the use of suitable pressure equipment for its storage natural gas itself could be utilized as the cryogenic medium 20. Of course, where different ranges of boiling point, for example where the gas to be stored is not natural gas, are encountered, selection of the cryogenic medium 20 will be made accordingly in the light of the preceding comments.
  • a method for the storage of gas comprising the steps of:
  • cryogenic medium is iso-octane
  • the method of claim 1 including the step of periodically removing liquified gas from said gas storage chamber for separate storage.
  • gas storage container means forming a chamber in open fluid communication with said gas distribution system whereby the pressure in said gas storage container means is maintained substantially equal to the pressure in said gas distribution system;
  • heat storage/exchange means operatively associated with said gas storage container means for liquifying gas in the gas storage container means when the pressure in said gas storage container means is substantially in the upper half of the pressure range through which pressure in the gas distribution system varies and for vaporizing gas in the gas storage container means when the pressure in said gas storage container means is substantially in the lower half of said pressure range;
  • said heat storage/exchange means including a cryogenic medium having a phase transition temperature midway between the boiling point of said gas when the pressure in the system is at said maximum pressure and the boiling point of said gas when the pressure in the system is at said minimum pressure.
  • conduit means including valve means opening into said gas storage means and disposed so that liquified gas may be periodically withdrawn from or added to said gas storage means through said conduit means.
  • the apparatus of claim 9 including precooler heat exchange means disposed to precool gas moving into said gas storage container means.
  • the heat storage/exchange means includes a cryogenic medium container substantially surrounding said gas storage container means, the cryogenic medium container having heat insulating exterior walls in spaced relationship with heat conductive interior walls to form a closed space between said exterior and interior walls to contain said cryogenic medium.
  • said heat storage/exchange means includes a plurality of cryogenic medium containers having heat conductive walls disposed within said gas storage container means so that each of said cryogenic medium containers may be substantially surrounded by the gas.
  • precooler heat exchange means is a pebble-bed heat exchanger.
  • cryogenic medium is a hydrocarbon
  • cryogenic medium is iso-octane

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
US1744A 1969-01-23 1970-01-09 Short term peak shaving of natural gas Expired - Lifetime US3661542A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB395569 1969-01-23

Publications (1)

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US3661542A true US3661542A (en) 1972-05-09

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US (1) US3661542A (uk)
AR (1) AR195260A1 (uk)
BE (1) BE744726A (uk)
CA (1) CA928630A (uk)
DE (1) DE2002552A1 (uk)
ES (1) ES375722A1 (uk)
FR (1) FR2037049B1 (uk)
GB (1) GB1289551A (uk)
NL (1) NL7000811A (uk)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3760597A (en) * 1971-08-06 1973-09-25 Linde Ag Short term storage of natural gas
US4056231A (en) * 1975-08-07 1977-11-01 British Steel Corporation Scrap treatment
US4274851A (en) * 1976-08-16 1981-06-23 The University Of Sydney Gas recovery of sulphur hexafluoride
US4611474A (en) * 1984-05-14 1986-09-16 Kms Fusion, Inc. Microminiature refrigerator
EP1048891A3 (de) * 1999-04-30 2002-09-11 Messer Griesheim Gmbh Verfahren zur Bereitstellung einer kontinuierlichen Erdgasversorgung
US20030036990A1 (en) * 2001-03-14 2003-02-20 Sprehe Paul R. Method and system for financing natural gas utility inventories in underground reservoirs
CN100451437C (zh) * 2007-04-06 2009-01-14 罗东晓 一种集调峰、仓储、汽车加气、事故应急供气于一体的lng多功能站
US20110297346A1 (en) * 2009-02-11 2011-12-08 Moses Minta Methods and Systems of Regenerative Heat Exchange
CN110511799A (zh) * 2019-08-26 2019-11-29 青岛科技大学 一种以ngh为媒介的lng调峰方法
CN115419831A (zh) * 2022-08-10 2022-12-02 中国石油化工股份有限公司 一种降低低压氮压机蒸汽消耗的装置

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JPH024332B2 (uk) * 1980-09-01 1990-01-26 Emu Ai Wai Hoomushisutemuzu Ltd
US7165408B2 (en) * 2004-02-19 2007-01-23 General Motors Corporation Method of operating a cryogenic liquid gas storage tank

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US3006155A (en) * 1960-09-06 1961-10-31 Gen Electric Heat pump including charge modifying means
US3302416A (en) * 1965-04-16 1967-02-07 Conch Int Methane Ltd Means for maintaining the substitutability of lng

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DE877747C (de) * 1951-02-23 1953-05-26 Hoechst Ag Verfahren zur Herbeifuehrung eines Ausgleiches bei im Verbundbetrieb arbeitenden Chloranlagen
GB1144550A (en) * 1967-12-19 1969-03-05 Shell Int Research Apparatus and process for liquefying and revaporizing gases

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3006155A (en) * 1960-09-06 1961-10-31 Gen Electric Heat pump including charge modifying means
US3302416A (en) * 1965-04-16 1967-02-07 Conch Int Methane Ltd Means for maintaining the substitutability of lng

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3760597A (en) * 1971-08-06 1973-09-25 Linde Ag Short term storage of natural gas
US4056231A (en) * 1975-08-07 1977-11-01 British Steel Corporation Scrap treatment
US4274851A (en) * 1976-08-16 1981-06-23 The University Of Sydney Gas recovery of sulphur hexafluoride
US4611474A (en) * 1984-05-14 1986-09-16 Kms Fusion, Inc. Microminiature refrigerator
EP1048891A3 (de) * 1999-04-30 2002-09-11 Messer Griesheim Gmbh Verfahren zur Bereitstellung einer kontinuierlichen Erdgasversorgung
US20030036990A1 (en) * 2001-03-14 2003-02-20 Sprehe Paul R. Method and system for financing natural gas utility inventories in underground reservoirs
CN100451437C (zh) * 2007-04-06 2009-01-14 罗东晓 一种集调峰、仓储、汽车加气、事故应急供气于一体的lng多功能站
US20110297346A1 (en) * 2009-02-11 2011-12-08 Moses Minta Methods and Systems of Regenerative Heat Exchange
CN110511799A (zh) * 2019-08-26 2019-11-29 青岛科技大学 一种以ngh为媒介的lng调峰方法
CN115419831A (zh) * 2022-08-10 2022-12-02 中国石油化工股份有限公司 一种降低低压氮压机蒸汽消耗的装置

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ES375722A1 (es) 1972-07-01
NL7000811A (uk) 1970-07-27
CA928630A (en) 1973-06-19
GB1289551A (uk) 1972-09-20
FR2037049B1 (uk) 1973-10-19
AR195260A1 (es) 1973-09-28
FR2037049A1 (uk) 1970-12-31
DE2002552A1 (de) 1970-07-30
BE744726A (nl) 1970-07-22

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