阅读说明：本技术 浮式低温液化气填充装置及使用该装置输送低温液化气的方法 (Floating type low-temperature liquefied gas filling device and method for conveying low-temperature liquefied gas by using same ) 是由 结城百代 尾崎诚 于 2019-12-27 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供了一种浮式低温液化气填充装置及使用该装置输送低温液化气的方法。所述浮式低温液化气填充装置包括要填充低温液化气以暂时储存该气体的驳船罐、将低温液化气从液化气供给设施转移到驳船罐以及将低温液化气从驳船罐转移到位于地面的一辆或多辆运输卡车上的一个或多个容器的软管,可拆卸地连接到软管的一端部的低温液化气分配单元,在转移低温液化气期间将软管保持在预定高度的起重机；以及用于向至少一个容器填充低温液化气的填充装置。所述低温液化气分配单元包括连接软管一端部的低温液化气流入口、向容器同时排放低温液化气的排出口以及选择性地打开和关闭各排出口的开闭阀。(The invention provides a floating type low-temperature liquefied gas filling device and a method for conveying low-temperature liquefied gas by using the device. The floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling apparatus includes a barge tank to be filled with cryogenic liquefied gas to temporarily store the gas, a hose to transfer the cryogenic liquefied gas from a liquefied gas supply facility to the barge tank and to transfer the cryogenic liquefied gas from the barge tank to one or more containers on one or more transport trucks located on the ground, a cryogenic liquefied gas distribution unit detachably connected to an end of the hose, a crane to maintain the hose at a predetermined height during transfer of the cryogenic liquefied gas; and filling means for filling the at least one container with liquefied cryogenic gas. The low temperature liquefied gas distribution unit includes a low temperature liquefied gas inflow port connected to one end of a hose, discharge ports for simultaneously discharging low temperature liquefied gas to a container, and opening and closing valves for selectively opening and closing the discharge ports.)

1. A floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling apparatus for transporting cryogenic liquefied gas from sea to land, the apparatus comprising:

a barge tank filled with cryogenic liquefied gas to temporarily store the cryogenic liquefied gas;

hoses for conveying liquefied gas at a low temperature from a liquefied gas supply facility to the barge tank and for conveying liquefied gas at a low temperature from the barge tank to at least one container on at least one transport truck located at the ground;

a liquefied gas at low temperature distribution unit detachably connected to one end of the hose;

a crane that maintains the hose at a predetermined height during the transfer of the liquefied gas at a low temperature; and

a filling device for filling the at least one container with liquefied gas at a low temperature;

wherein the allocation unit includes: an inflow port of the low-temperature liquefied gas, the inflow port being connected to one end portion of the hose; a plurality of discharge ports which simultaneously discharge the low-temperature liquefied gases to the plurality of containers; open-close valves each selectively opening and closing one of the respective discharge ports; a plurality of injection hoses, each injection hose having a respective one end connected to one of the discharge ports and another end connected to a respective inlet of each of the plurality of containers; and a lifting hook for lifting the low-temperature liquefied gas distribution device by the crane;

connecting the liquefied gas distribution unit to the end of the hose and lifting it to a predetermined height by a crane to be used if liquefied gas at a low temperature is simultaneously filled in the plurality of containers;

the low-temperature liquefied gas distribution unit is in a funnel shape or a disc shape, the plurality of discharge ports are arranged in concentric circles at equal intervals, so that the low-temperature liquefied gas flowing out of each discharge port has the same outflow characteristic, and the valve opening degree of each opening and closing valve is adjusted to enable the discharge flow rates of the low-temperature liquefied gas of the discharge ports to be equal;

the injection hose is provided with: a sensor provided at a side of the injection hose connected to the container for detecting the connection of the injection hose to the container; or a switch which is activated when the filling hose is connected with the container; and

if the injection hose is not connected to the container, the opening and closing valve of the discharge port connected to the injection hose is not opened.

2. The floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device according to claim 1, wherein:

the distribution unit includes flow rate detection means for detecting a flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas discharged from each discharge port, and the distribution unit adjusts each discharge flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas based on each detected flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas by the on-off valve or flow rate adjustment means provided in place of the corresponding on-off valve.

3. The floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

cryogenic liquefied gas is transferred from the barge tank directly into one or more containers by the filling device via the hose and the cryogenic liquefied gas distribution unit.

4. The floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein:

the cryogenic liquefied gas is Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the liquefied gas supply facility is a liquefied natural gas carrier or a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU), and the filling device is a pressurized vaporizer or a pump.

5. A method for transferring cryogenic liquefied gas using the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device of claim 1, comprising:

a receiving stage comprising mooring a floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling unit to a liquefied gas supply facility, transferring cryogenic liquefied gas from the liquefied gas supply facility to a barge tank of the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling unit by means of a hose;

a transportation stage comprising moving the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device to a site where cryogenic liquefied gas is to be delivered;

a filling stage comprising filling cryogenic liquefied gas from the barge tank through the hose directly into at least one container on at least one transport truck located at the ground; and

a connection stage including connecting a cryogenic liquefied gas distribution unit to an end of the hose discharging cryogenic liquefied gas before the filling stage, the cryogenic liquefied gas distribution unit being provided with a plurality of discharge ports if cryogenic liquefied gas is simultaneously filled in a plurality of containers.

6. A method of delivering liquefied gas at low temperature as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the low temperature liquefied gas distribution unit includes: an inflow port to be connected to the hose; a plurality of discharge ports from which the liquefied gas at a low temperature is simultaneously discharged to the plurality of containers; an opening and closing valve that selectively opens and closes the respective discharge ports, and flow rate detection means that detects respective flow rates of the low-temperature liquefied gas discharged from the respective discharge ports;

the filling stage includes selecting the number of on-off valves of the discharge port to be opened in accordance with the number of containers to be filled, and adjusting each discharge flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas based on each flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas detected by the flow rate detecting means by the on-off valves or flow rate adjusting means provided in place of each corresponding on-off valve.

7. The method of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein:

the cryogenic liquefied gas is Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the liquefied gas supply facility is a liquefied natural gas carrier or a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU), and the filling device is a pressurized vaporizer or a pump.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a floating type low-temperature liquefied gas filling device and a method for conveying low-temperature liquefied gas by using the device. In particular, the present invention relates to a floating type cryogenic liquefied gas filling apparatus and a method for transferring cryogenic liquefied gas using the same, which can directly fill cryogenic liquefied gas into containers on a plurality of transport trucks on the ground at the same time. Further, the apparatus and method can easily and efficiently deliver the liquefied gas at a low temperature to a place where there is no facility to receive the liquefied gas at a low temperature.

Background

In countries where oil and gas are produced in the country, if the production exceeds their own consumption, the remaining oil and gas can be exported after consuming the required amount of oil and gas. If the amount of oil and gas produced in one country is less than the amount consumed in that country, the required amount of oil and gas must be imported from other countries. In this case, the gas or oil desired to be purchased as the fuel is gas or oil having a low environmental load, such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). In particular, due to CO emissions from LNG as compared to petroleum products₂Less and less expensive, and therefore future LNG usage is expected to exceed petroleum products.

The cryogenically liquefied cryogenic liquefied gas is transported at sea using a special large transport vessel (LNG carrier). The transported liquefied gas at cryogenic temperature is typically transferred to a storage facility at the receiving party, which is the primary terminal. From this storage facility, the liquefied gas is either transported on the ground to another storage facility, i.e. a secondary terminal, or gasified by a gasification facility and delivered directly to the customer via a pipeline. If the receiving party does not have a storage facility or a gasification facility for use as a primary terminal, the following distribution method may be employed: the transported cryogenic liquefied gas is transferred from the large transport vessel to a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) for either (i) storage therein instead of at the primary terminal, or (ii) supply to surface pipelines after regasification.

However, there are a limited number of ports equipped with port facilities large enough and deep enough to allow LNG carriers or FSRU berthing, and a limited number of areas ready to receive cryogenic liquefied gas. In dispersed islands or resource-limited developing countries, it is not practical to build such large dedicated infrastructure in these areas even if one wants to use liquefied gas at low temperatures.

Patent document 1 (japanese unexamined patent application publication No.2009-191860) discloses a cryogenic liquefied gas transfer device that transfers gas to a remote island, which includes a floating transportation facility provided on a floating structure. A floating transport facility comprising:

(1) a storage facility that stores the low-temperature liquefied gas,

(2) a pump which takes out the stored cryogenic liquefied gas from the storage facility and delivers the taken-out gas to the receiving facility, and

(3) a supply facility with a vaporizer which delivers the cryogenic liquefied gas in the form of a vaporized gas to a receiving facility, whereby the transport facility can supply the cryogenic liquefied gas in the form of a liquid or a vaporized gas to the receiving facility.

The invention of patent document 1 has advantages in that: the vaporization unit can be removed from the receiving facility as the floating transport unit can supply cryogenic liquefied gas in the form of liquid or vaporized gas, which provides the option of a receiving means that can be utilized by the receiving facility. However, the invention of patent document 1 is premised on providing such a receiving facility in a port that receives low-temperature liquefied gas.

Therefore, the invention of patent document 1 has the following disadvantages:

(1) even if the facility is small, the cost for constructing the receiving facility is high, and the receiving facility cannot be easily constructed in each port for delivering the low-temperature liquefied gas; and

(2) if the port to which the cryogenic liquefied gas is to be delivered is located far from the area where the cryogenic liquefied gas is consumed as fuel, long pipelines must be constructed, which is not easy to achieve.

Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus and method that can easily and efficiently deliver cryogenic liquefied gas to a port to which the cryogenic liquefied gas is delivered, including to a port that does not have a cryogenic liquefied gas receiving facility.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese unexamined patent application publication No.2009-191860

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

The invention solves the problems of the existing floating type low-temperature liquefied gas filling device and low-temperature liquefied gas conveying method. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device and a cryogenic liquefied gas conveying method using the same, which can fill cryogenic liquefied gas directly into containers on a plurality of transport trucks on the ground at the same time, and can easily and efficiently convey cryogenic liquefied gas to a place where there is no facility for receiving cryogenic liquefied gas.

Technical scheme for solving problems

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling apparatus. A floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling apparatus for transporting cryogenic liquefied gas from sea to land, comprising: a barge tank to be filled with cryogenic liquefied gas, which temporarily stores the liquefied gas; hoses for transferring cryogenic liquefied gas from the liquefied gas supply facility to the barge tank and from the barge tank to one or more containers on one or more transport trucks placed on the ground; a liquefied gas distribution unit detachably connected to one end of the hose; a crane which maintains the hose at a predetermined height during transfer of the liquefied gas at a low temperature; and a filling device for filling the one or more containers with liquefied gas at a low temperature. The cryogenic liquefied gas distribution unit includes: an inflow port of the liquefied gas at a low temperature connected to one end of the hose; a plurality of discharge ports which simultaneously discharge the low-temperature liquefied gases to the plurality of containers; opening and closing valves each of which selectively opens and closes each of the discharge ports; a plurality of injection hoses, each of which has one end connected to one of the discharge ports and the other end connected to each corresponding inlet of the plurality of containers; and a lifting hook with which the crane lifts the low-temperature liquefied gas distribution unit. If the liquefied gas at a low temperature is simultaneously injected into a plurality of containers, a liquefied gas distribution unit at a low temperature is connected to an end of a hose and lifted to a predetermined height by a crane for use. The low-temperature liquefied gas distribution unit is in a funnel shape or a disc shape, a plurality of discharge ports are arranged at equal intervals in a concentric circle, the low-temperature liquefied gas flowing out from each discharge port has the same outflow characteristic, and the valve opening degree of each opening and closing valve is adjusted to equalize the discharge flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas at each discharge port. A sensor is arranged on one side of the injection hose connected with the container to detect the connection of the hose and the container; or a switch is provided which is activated when the hose is connected to the container, and if the injection hose is not connected to the container, the opening and closing valve of the discharge port connected to the injection hose is not opened.

Preferably, the low temperature liquefied gas distribution unit includes flow rate detection means that detects each flow rate of the low temperature liquefied gas discharged from each discharge port. The distribution unit can adjust each discharge flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas based on each detected flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas by the on-off valve or a flow rate adjustment device provided in place of each on-off valve.

Preferably the cryogenic liquefied gas is transferred by filling means from the barge tank via hoses and the cryogenic liquefied gas distribution unit directly to the one or more containers.

Preferably, the cryogenic liquefied gas is Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the liquefied gas supply facility is a liquefied natural gas carrier, or a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU), and the filling device is a pressurized vaporizer or a pump.

A method of delivering a liquefied gas at a low temperature for the purpose of achieving the above object, comprising: a receiving stage comprising mooring the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling unit to a liquefied gas supply facility and transferring cryogenic liquefied gas from the liquefied gas supply facility via a hose to a barge tank of the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling unit; a transportation stage comprising moving the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device to a site to which cryogenic liquefied gas is to be delivered; a filling phase comprising filling cryogenic liquefied gas from a barge tank through a hose directly into one or more containers placed on one or more transport trucks on the ground; and a connection stage including connecting the low-temperature liquefied gas distribution unit to one end of the hose discharging the low-temperature liquefied gas before the filling stage, the low-temperature liquefied gas distribution unit being provided with a plurality of discharge ports if the low-temperature liquefied gas is simultaneously filled in a plurality of containers.

Preferably, the cryogenic liquefied gas distribution unit includes: an inflow port to be connected to a hose; a plurality of discharge ports from which the low-temperature liquefied gas is simultaneously discharged to the plurality of containers; an opening and closing valve that selectively opens and closes each discharge port; and a flow rate detection device that detects each flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas discharged from each discharge port. Preferably, the filling stage includes selecting the number of on-off valves of the discharge port that need to be opened in accordance with the number of containers to be filled, and adjusting each discharge flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas by the on-off valves or flow rate adjusting means provided in place of each on-off valve, based on each flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas detected by the flow rate detecting means.

Preferably, the cryogenic liquefied gas is Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the liquefied gas supply facility is a liquefied natural gas carrier, or a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU), and the filling device is a pressurized vaporizer or a pump.

The invention has the advantages of

The floating type low-temperature liquefied gas filling device and the method for conveying low-temperature liquefied gas by using the device directly fill low-temperature liquefied gas from the floating type low-temperature liquefied gas filling device into a container placed on a transport truck, and can convey the low-temperature liquefied gas to a port for receiving the low-temperature liquefied gas as long as the transport truck can be parked at the place. This eliminates the need to build expensive facilities for receiving cryogenic liquefied gas, whereby the apparatus and method of the present invention can deliver cryogenic liquefied gas to many areas where such facilities for receiving cryogenic liquefied gas are not available.

Further, according to the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling apparatus and the method for transporting cryogenic liquefied gas using the same of the present invention, the cryogenic liquefied gas stream is selectively branched from the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling apparatus into a plurality of injection hoses through the cryogenic liquefied gas distribution unit, so that the cryogenic liquefied gas stream is divided into the number of transport trucks that receive the cryogenic liquefied gas, which makes it possible to fill the containers at the same time. This allows efficient filling of the cryogenic liquefied gas. Further, there are provided: flow rate detection means for detecting flow rates of the low-temperature liquefied gas discharged from the respective discharge ports of the low-temperature liquefied gas distribution unit; and a flow rate adjusting device for eliminating the inconsistency of the filling time and efficiently performing the filling work in the case of simultaneously filling the low-temperature liquefied gas into the plurality of containers.

In addition, the floating type low-temperature liquefied gas filling device is also provided with a hose for receiving and conveying. Therefore, in liquefied gas supply facilities such as an lng carrier and a floating storage regasification facility, it is not necessary to provide a hose or a crane for transferring the liquefied natural gas. Similarly, the receiver receiving the cryogenic liquefied gas does not need to be provided with a hose or a crane. Therefore, as long as the port has an area where trucks can be parked, a single floating liquefied cryogenic gas filling apparatus can fill cryogenic liquefied gas into containers on trucks in a plurality of areas. Further, since the primary terminal having a facility for filling the container on the truck with cryogenic liquefied gas is built on the ground, if it is no longer necessary to directly fill those containers with cryogenic liquefied gas in the future, the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling apparatus can be moved to other areas or islands by towing or by self-navigation, and can deliver cryogenic liquefied gas to areas without the primary terminal.

The container containing the liquefied cryogenic gas can be transported by truck, rail or cargo ship, so that the liquefied cryogenic gas can be delivered to small-scale users dispersed over a wide area, eliminating equipment such as pipelines, dedicated facilities, and primary or secondary terminals.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a floating liquefied cryogenic gas filling apparatus and a method of transferring liquefied cryogenic gas using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of a method of transferring cryogenic liquefied gas to a vessel on the ground using a floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic structural view of a cryogenic liquefied gas distribution unit.

Fig. 4 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method of delivering liquefied gas at low temperature in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of a floating liquefied cryogenic gas filling apparatus and a method for transferring liquefied cryogenic gas using the same according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a floating liquefied cryogenic gas filling apparatus and a method of transferring liquefied cryogenic gas using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 1, a floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a floating body 11 floating on the sea, wherein the floating body 11 includes a barge tank 12, a hose 13, a crane 14, a filling device 15, and a cryogenic liquefied gas distribution unit 20 provided thereon.

The floating liquefied gas filling device 10 can easily deliver liquefied gas at a low temperature to a delivery destination without a liquefied gas receiving facility at a low temperature. This is achieved by:

(1) transferring the cryogenic liquefied gas from the liquefied gas supply facility to the barge tank 12 where the liquefied gas is temporarily stored;

(2) the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 moves to a destination port; and

(3) the cryogenic liquefied gas is transferred by the filling device 15 from the barge tank 12 directly to the containers placed on the transport trucks waiting on the ground.

According to an embodiment, the floating liquefied cryogenic gas filling apparatus 10 enables the liquefied cryogenic gas to be simultaneously delivered to a plurality of containers on the ground at a delivery destination using the liquefied cryogenic gas distribution unit 20. This allows for efficient transfer of cryogenic liquefied gas in a short period of time.

Fig. 1(a) depicts the steps of a process of transferring cryogenic liquefied gas from a liquefied gas supply facility to a vessel on the ground, wherein cryogenic liquefied gas is transferred from the liquefied gas supply facility 1 into a barge tank 12 of a floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling plant 10 on the sea;

fig. 1(b) depicts a step of moving the floating liquefied cryogenic gas filling device 10 temporarily storing liquefied cryogenic gas to a delivery destination; and

fig. 1(c) depicts the step of filling the cryogenic liquefied gas stored in the barge tank 12 into containers placed on a transport truck waiting on the ground.

As shown in fig. 1(a), the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 is moored beside the liquefied gas supply facility 1 waiting at sea, wherein the barge tank 12 of the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 is connected to the cryogenic liquefied gas storage tank of the liquefied gas supply facility 1 through a hose 13. According to one embodiment, the cryogenic liquefied gas is Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and the liquefied gas supply facility 1 is a liquefied natural gas carrier, or a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU). When the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 is moored beside the liquefied gas supply facility 1 due to waves at sea, a buffer 18 including a buffer member such as rubber is provided between the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 and the supply facility 1 to prevent the floating device 10 from directly colliding with the supply facility 1. If the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 has a buffer on its side, the buffer 18 functioning as a buffer element is not additionally required. The damper 18 shown in fig. 1(a) is an air fender formed by providing a plurality of tire-shaped rubbers on the outer periphery of a cylindrical body thereof. However, any shape or material may be used for the bumpers 18 as long as the bumpers 18 prevent the floating device 10 from directly hitting the supply facility 1 when the floating device 10 is moored.

According to one embodiment, the liquefied gas supply installation 1 is moored to a mooring device at sea, such as a mooring cable, a submerged terminal or a harbour terminal, during the standby state of the supply installation 1. The floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 moves back and forth between the liquefied gas supply facility 1 and the transfer destination to which each cryogenic liquefied gas is to be transferred. Thus, the buffer 18 is provided as a fixed facility at the mooring of the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10. In this way, the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 can be quickly moored to the liquefied gas supply facility 1. The mooring of the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 to the liquefied gas supply facility 1 should be stably performed by the mooring line 19 so that the liquefied gas supply facility 1 and the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 are correctly aligned.

The lng needs to be maintained below-162 c in order to maintain its liquid phase at normal pressure, and the hose used as the hose 13 is a flexible hose. The liquefied gas supply facility 1 is large, and a discharge port for discharging liquefied gas at a low temperature from a storage tank of the supply facility 1 is located at a high level above the sea surface. Therefore, since the height difference between the discharge port and the barge tank 12 is large, a crane 14 provided in the floating liquefied gas filling device 10 is used to connect the hose 13 between the discharge port and the barge tank 12. The provision of the crane 14 on the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 eliminates the need to install a special crane 14 for connecting a transfer hose on the liquefied gas supply facility 1. This allows the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 to receive liquefied gas from various types of liquefied gas supply facilities 1. Since the hoist 14 is used to hang the hose 13 or the liquefied gas distribution unit 20 connected to the end of the hose 13, the weight of the hoist 14 to be hung is limited. Thus, the crane 14 is not necessarily large enough to suspend heavy objects, but since the crane 14 needs to raise the hose 13, it is preferable that the height thereof is high enough to reach the height. The crane 14 may be telescopic.

If the hose 13 is in contact with the surface of the sea, the heat input from the seawater may raise the temperature of the lng. Thus, the crane 14 suspends and holds the hose 13 at a predetermined height so that it does not fall on the sea surface. According to another embodiment, the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 includes a hose support 16, and the hose support 16 supports the hose 13 from below at a predetermined height to prevent the hose 13 from dropping.

It is preferred that the capacity of the barge tank 12 is not unnecessarily large, as the floating vessel 10 is primarily used to transfer cryogenic liquefied gas to a small port without cryogenic liquefied gas receiving facilities. According to an embodiment, the barge tank 12 has dimensions of about 3m in diameter and about 20m in length, which correspond to the volume of four containers on a transport truck. The size of the container is not limited thereto and may be determined according to the terrain and facility conditions of the area where the cryogenic liquefied gas is to be delivered, the number of carriers receiving the cryogenic liquefied gas, and the traffic conditions around the truck. Thus, the barge tanks 12 may be sized larger or smaller than the above-specified sizes.

As shown in fig. 1(b), the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 storing cryogenic liquefied gas is moved to a port receiving liquefied gas through the sea. In the embodiment of fig. 1(b), the floating body 11 is a barge having no power for navigation such as an engine, and is towed by being connected to a tow vessel 30 by a tow line 31. The floating body 11 may be provided with an engine to sail under its own power.

As shown in fig. 1(c), when the floating liquefied cryogenic gas filling device 10 is docked at a port of a transportation destination, the barge tank 12 is connected to a container 41 placed on a transport truck 40 waiting on the ground through a hose 13, and the liquefied cryogenic gas in the barge tank 12 is filled in the container 41 by the filling device 15.

The filling device 15 is a pressurized evaporator or a pump. In embodiments utilizing a pressurized vaporizer, the pressurized vaporizer vaporizes a portion of the cryogenic liquefied gas to return the portion to the barge tank 12. The evaporated part raises the internal pressure of the barge tank 12 so that the liquefied gas at low temperature is sent out from the barge tank 12. In the embodiment using a pump, since the pump directly raises the pressure of the cryogenic liquefied gas, it must be provided on the flow path from the barge tank 12 to the container 41, and the hose 13 is arranged to connect the pump to the container 41. The filling device 15 may be a pressurized vaporizer or a pump as long as the filling device 15 can deliver the liquefied gas at a low temperature. However, since the device 15 is shaken by waves at sea, a pressurized vaporizer is preferable as the filling device 15 because it can pressurize the low-temperature liquefied gas more stably than a pump.

If the number of the containers 41 receiving the liquefied gas at low temperature is one, the end of the hose 13 at one side of the container 41 is directly connected to the inlet of the container 41. If there are a plurality of containers 41 for receiving the liquefied cryogenic gas, a liquefied cryogenic gas distribution unit 20 is used to which the end of the hose 13 is connected. The liquefied gas at low temperature distribution unit 20 has a single inflow port connected to the hose 13, which is located on the upstream side of the liquefied gas flow at low temperature of the liquefied gas distribution unit 20. The flow passage from the single inlet port is branched into a plurality of flow passages in the liquefied low temperature gas distribution unit 20, thereby discharging the liquefied low temperature gas from a plurality of discharge ports.

Further, the low-temperature liquefied gas distribution unit 20 is provided with opening and closing valves each of which selectively opens and closes each outlet of the discharge ports, and each of the opening and closing valves is connected to an injection hose 22, which injection hose 22 connects each discharge port to each container 41. Among the plurality of discharge ports, an opening and closing valve connected to the discharge port of the container 41 to be filled simultaneously is selected and opened. Thus, the plurality of containers 41 are simultaneously filled with the low-temperature liquefied gas.

A typical size container 41 with liquefied cryogenic gas takes about an hour. For example, if only one container can be filled at a time using the conventional technology, it takes four hours or more to fill the liquefied gas at a low temperature into the four containers 41. With the liquefied gas at low temperature distribution unit 20, simultaneous filling of four containers 41 can be completed in about one hour.

When filling the cryogenic liquefied gas from the barge tank 12 to the container 41, the hose 13 connecting the two is suspended by the crane 14 and maintained at a predetermined height. If the liquefied gas at a low temperature distribution unit 20 is connected to the hose 13 as shown in fig. 1(c), the liquefied gas at a low temperature distribution unit 20 is suspended by the crane 14, and the injection hose 22 does not contact the ground, thereby not interfering with traffic and preventing operability from being degraded.

According to another embodiment, the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 includes a hose support 17, and the hose support 17 supports the hose 13 from below at a predetermined height to prevent the hose 13 from dropping. Fig. 1(c) depicts an embodiment in which float 11 includes a hose support 16 on one edge thereof, and a hose support 17 on the edge opposite hose support 16. However, if the hose 13 is fixedly connected in either direction, the hose support is defined as either of the hose supports 16 or 17. In this case, the hose support is preferably configured such that the height at which the hose 13 is supported is variable.

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a method of transferring cryogenic liquefied gas to a vessel on the ground using a floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 depicts a state where liquefied gas at a low temperature is simultaneously injected into four delivery trucks 40 stopped on the ground. The transport truck 40, shown as an example in fig. 2, is of the trailer type, configured such that a tractor 42 pulls a wheeled platform on which a container 41 is placed.

The liquefied gas at low temperature distribution unit 20 includes a liquefied gas at low temperature distributor 21 and an injection hose 22. The cryogenic liquefied gas distributor 21 includes: a single inflow port through which the low-temperature liquefied gas flows, which is connected to the hose 13; and four discharge ports forming a substantially base-base enclosure. The distributor 21 of liquefied low temperature gas is suspended at a predetermined height by the crane 14, and the distributor 21 is located behind four transport vehicles 40. Four injection hoses 22 respectively connected to the four discharge ports are connected to the respective corresponding containers 41.

According to an embodiment, in injecting the liquefied low temperature gas into the seven containers 41, as shown in fig. 2, the four containers 41 are connected to the respective injection hoses 22 at a first time, so that the liquefied low temperature gas is simultaneously injected into the four containers 41, and then, at a second time, the three containers 41 are connected to the injection hoses 22. As will be explained later with reference to fig. 3, each discharge port of the liquefied gas at low temperature distribution unit 20 is provided with an opening and closing valve. At the time of the second filling, one opening and closing valve not connected to the discharge port of the container 41 is closed, so that the three containers 41 can be selectively filled with the liquefied gas at the same time.

The container 41 can be transported in a variety of transportation modes depending on the traffic situation at the site of the receiving container 41. For example, the carrier vehicle 40 may directly transport the container 41 containing the liquefied gas at a low temperature to the next destination. In addition, the container 41 may be transferred to a truck at the nearest station for transportation by rail. In addition, the container 41 may be transferred to a container ship of the nearest freight port for marine transportation.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a cryogenic liquefied gas distribution unit. Since the low-temperature liquefied gas distribution unit 20 is detachably connected to one end portion of the hose 13, an inflow port of the low-temperature liquefied gas distributor 21 into which the low-temperature liquefied gas flows is provided with an end portion to which the hose 13 is connected. Fig. 3 illustrates that a flange is provided at the end portion of the hose 13, and a flange is also provided at the inflow port, which is fixed to the flange of the hose 13 with bolts and nuts. The connection between the end portion of the hose 13 and the inflow port is not limited to this structure, but may be so long as the structure enables the end portion to be detachably connected to the inflow port. For example, a screw thread may be used instead of the bolt and the nut, so that if the end portion of the hose 13 is provided with an internal thread, the inflow port is provided with an external thread to match the internal thread.

The liquefied gas at low temperature distributor 21 has a flow passage structure in which a flow passage is divided into a plurality of flow passages. The flow passage in the liquefied gas at low temperature distributor 21 shown in fig. 3 is branched into four flow passages so that the distributor 21 has four discharge ports. The four discharge ports are each provided with an open-close valve 23, so that the dispenser 21 can select a discharge port from which the liquefied gas at a low temperature is to be discharged by selecting the open-close valve 23 to be opened.

The opening and closing valve 23 may be manually operated or electrically operated. If the electric motor is used, power is supplied from a power supply device such as a battery provided in the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 to the on-off valve 23 via a power line routed along the hose 13. Further, if electrically powered, the operation of the opening and closing valve 23 may be controlled wirelessly or by wire.

According to an embodiment, an indicator lamp is provided near each opening-closing valve 23, or at a position where the lamp corresponding to the opening-closing valve 23 is identified, so that it is possible to visually check whether the opening-closing valve 23 is open or closed. The indicator lamp indicates whether each opening-closing valve 23 is open or closed by being opened or closed, or the like, or changes the color of the lamp according to the state of the valve 23. An indicator lamp is provided to prevent erroneous operation of the opening-closing valve 23, and even if the opening-closing valve 23 not connected to the discharge port of the container 41 is opened, the user can easily confirm by the indicator lamp that the discharge port is not connected to the container 41, so that the user can close the opening-closing valve 23 before filling is performed.

Each of the opening and closing valves 23 is also provided with a flow rate detecting device 24 on the downstream side thereof. The discharge flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas from each discharge port may be different depending on the shape of the flow path and the selection manner of the opening/closing valve 23. If the discharge flow rate is different, even if the containers 41 are filled at the same time, the time required for filling differs between the containers 41, which may result in a reduction in working efficiency. Therefore, according to an embodiment, the flow rate detection device 24 detects the discharge flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas discharged from each corresponding discharge port, and based on the detection result, individually adjusts the valve opening degree of each opening and closing valve 23 so as to equalize the discharge flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas for each discharge port. A flow rate adjusting device different from the on-off valve 23 may be provided to adjust the discharge flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas. In this case, the discharge flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas is adjusted by the flow rate adjusting means in accordance with the discharge flow rate detected by the flow rate detecting means 24.

The filling hose 22 is a flexible hose like the hose 13. The filling hose 22 does not need to be connected and disconnected as frequently as the hose 13. But the injection hose 22 should be replaced when it is deteriorated, so that the end portion of the injection hose 22 may be formed in, for example, a flange shape such that the end portion is detachably connected to the liquefied gas at low temperature dispenser 21 using a bolt and a nut.

The top of the liquefied gas dispenser 21 is provided with a hook 25. When filling of the liquefied gas at a low temperature is performed, the liquefied gas at a low temperature dispenser 21 is suspended by lifting the hook 25 by the crane 14 as shown in fig. 1(c) and 2, and is held at a height that provides good workability to facilitate the filling work. The provision of the hook 25 also allows the height of the hose 13 to be adjusted when the hose 13 is separated from the container 41 after the filling of the cryogenic liquefied gas is completed, so that the cryogenic liquefied gas does not remain in the hose 13 and is completely transferred to the barge tank 12.

Although fig. 3 shows the liquefied gas distribution unit 20 having four discharge ports, the number of discharge ports is not limited to four. The number may be more or less than four. Fig. 3 depicts a structure in which the discharge ports are arranged in a horizontal row. According to an embodiment, the plurality of discharge ports can be arranged in concentric circles at equal intervals so that the liquefied gas at a low temperature flowing out of each discharge port has the same outflow characteristic. At this time, if the discharge port is disposed at a diagonal angle to the inflow port, the low temperature liquefied gas distributor 21 is formed in a funnel shape, and if the discharge port is disposed radially from the inflow port, the low temperature liquefied gas distributor 21 is formed in a disk shape.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart explaining a method of delivering a liquefied gas at a low temperature according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 4, the receiving stage includes the step (S400 to S420) of receiving the liquefied cryogenic gas by the floating liquefied cryogenic gas filling device 10, wherein the liquefied cryogenic gas is transferred from the liquefied gas supply facility 1 to the barge tank 12 of the floating liquefied cryogenic gas filling device 10 through the hose 13.

In S400, the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 is moored to the liquefied gas supply facility 1 with the buffer 18 interposed therebetween. According to an embodiment, the buffer 18 is permanently arranged at the mooring position of the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 on the liquefied gas supply facility 1. Therefore, the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 does not need to prepare the buffer 18 each time it receives cryogenic liquefied gas from the liquefied gas supply facility 1. The floating vessel 10 is connected to the supply facility 1 at several points by mooring lines 19 so that the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 is securely moored to the liquefied gas supply facility 1.

In S405, the liquefied gas supply facility 1 is connected to the hose 13 of the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10. At this time, the hose 13 is lifted by the crane 14 provided on the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 to be connected to the supply facility 1, so that the crane 14 maintains the hose 13 at a predetermined height during transfer of cryogenic liquefied gas from the supply facility 1 to the floating device 10. This allows the floating installation 10 to receive cryogenic liquefied gas directly from a large vessel without a crane 14 and hose 13 for transporting cryogenic liquefied gas.

In S410, transfer of the liquefied gas at low temperature from the liquefied gas supply facility 1 to the barge tank 12 of the floating liquefied gas filling apparatus 10 is started. In S415, a required amount of the low-temperature liquefied gas is transferred to complete the transfer of the low-temperature liquefied gas. Next, at S420, the hose 13 of the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 is disconnected from the liquefied gas supply facility 1. The disconnected hose 13 is retrieved to the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 using crane 14, and finally the mooring line 19 is removed when the receiving phase is completed.

The stage following the receiving stage is a transportation stage including steps S425 and S430 in which the floating liquefied gas filling device 10 is moved to a port of transfer of the liquefied gas. In S425, the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 is moved to a position where the transportation truck 40 waits on the port floor, which is a transfer destination of the cryogenic liquefied gas. According to one embodiment, the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 has no power means for self-propulsion, and therefore the floating device 10 is towed by a tug boat 30. For this purpose, the floating unit 10 is provided with towing hooks at the front and rear thereof, on each of which a towing cable 31 is suspended. This makes it possible to connect a plurality of floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling devices 10 one behind another in a row using a streamer 31. Therefore, the tug boat 30 drags the guide unit, and can move a plurality of floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling devices 10 together at a time.

According to another embodiment, the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 is provided with a power device for self-propulsion so that the floating device 10 can move to a delivery destination by itself without the tug boat 30. In S430, the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10, whether towed by a tug 30 or moving by itself, when arriving at a port of a transfer destination, is docked at a dock where a transport truck 40 waits.

This stage is followed by a filling stage comprising steps S435 to S470, wherein cryogenic liquefied gas is filled from the barge tank 12 directly to the container 41 on the transport truck 40 placed on the ground through the hose 13 by using the filling device 15. In S435, it is first determined whether a plurality of containers 41 are to be filled simultaneously. If a plurality of containers 41 are filled at the same time, one end of the hose 13 is connected to the liquefied gas at low temperature distribution unit 20 in S440.

Next, in S445, among the injection hoses 22 of the liquefied gas distribution unit 20, hoses corresponding to the number of containers 41 that need to be filled with the liquefied gas at the same time are connected to the containers 41 on the truck in the port. The liquefied gas at low temperature distribution unit 20 has a plurality of discharge ports, each of which can be opened and closed by an opening and closing valve 23 provided thereon. Therefore, even if the number of containers 41 filled at the same time is less than the number of discharge ports of the liquefied gas at low temperature distribution unit 20, only the connected containers 41 can be filled by closing the open/close valve 23 of the unused discharge port. In S455, the opening and closing valve 23 is opened for the low-temperature liquefied gas distribution unit 20 corresponding to the container 41 to be filled.

According to an embodiment, the end portion of the injection hose 22 on the side connected to the container 41 is provided with: a sensor that detects connection of the hose 22 to the container 41; or a push-on switch is provided which is activated when the hose 22 is connected to the container 41. The sensor or switch is configured to: if the injection hose 22 is not connected to the container 41, the opening and closing valve 23 connected to the discharge port of the injection hose 22 is not opened. This prevents the liquefied gas at low temperature from being discharged into the injection hose 22 not connected to the container 41 by accident.

After the preparation for filling with the liquefied cryogenic gas is completed, the filling device 15 of the floating liquefied cryogenic gas filling device 10 is activated to fill the vessel 41 with the liquefied cryogenic gas in S460. There are also cases where the inflation is not completed at once, for example, a parking lot for the delivery truck 40 is small so that the number of containers 41 that can be filled at the same time is limited, or a demand for cryogenic liquefied gas is so large that the simultaneous filling of the cryogenic liquefied gas distribution unit 20 at once cannot satisfy the demand. In this case, when the first filling is completed, the opening and closing valve 23 is closed once, and then the original delivery truck 40 is replaced with a new delivery truck 40, and a new container 41 is connected to the dispensing unit 20. Thereafter, the padding operations of S435 to S460 are repeated.

Further, when the discharge flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas is adjusted by the flow rate detection device 24, in S460 in which the filling of the low-temperature liquefied gas is started, each discharge flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas flowing through each discharge port is detected, and each discharge flow rate of the low-temperature liquefied gas is adjusted by each corresponding on-off valve 23 or another flow rate adjustment device provided in place of the on-off valve 23 according to the detection result. This is achieved by:

(1) the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling device 10 is provided with a remote control opening and closing valve 23 or a control device of a flow rate adjusting device,

(2) the output of the flow rate detection device 24 is input to the control device by wire or wirelessly, an

(3) A control signal based on the input value is output from the control device to the corresponding on-off valve 23 or flow rate adjusting device by wired or wireless means.

If the number of the containers 41 to be filled is one, the cryogenic liquefied gas does not need to be dispensed in S435. Therefore, in S450, the hose 13 is directly connected to the container 41 instead of the liquefied gas at low temperature distribution unit 20. Then, in S460, the filling device 15 of the floating liquefied cryogenic gas filling device 10 is operated to fill the vessel 41 with the liquefied cryogenic gas.

In the case where the liquefied low temperature gas filled in the barge tank 12 is to be continuously transferred to a plurality of destinations, there is a possibility that the filling is performed while the liquefied low temperature gas distribution unit 20 is connected to the end of the hose 13 at the first transfer destination, and the filling is started in a state where the liquefied low temperature gas distribution unit 20 is connected to the end of the hose 13 at the next transfer destination. If the liquefied cryogenic gas is charged into the single container 41 in this state, the filling of the liquefied cryogenic gas may be performed as follows: (i) disconnecting the cryogenic liquefied gas distribution unit 20, connecting the hose 13 directly to the container 41; or (ii) while the cryogenic liquefied gas distribution unit 20 remains connected, selectively connecting one injection hose 22 to the container 41, and opening the on-off valve 23 connected to the injection hose 22.

Further, if cryogenic liquefied gas is more frequently delivered to a plurality of containers 41 according to the delivery state of cryogenic liquefied gas, the same hose 13 should not be used for both receiving cryogenic liquefied gas from the liquefied gas supply facility 1 and filling cryogenic liquefied gas into the containers 41. Instead, the hose 13 is configured separately in two types: a hose 13-1 dedicated to receiving cryogenic liquefied gas from the liquefied gas supply facility 1; and a hose 13-2 permanently connected to the cryogenic liquefied gas distribution unit 20. In this case, the steps of S435, S440, and S450 are unnecessary.

When the filling of the cryogenic liquefied gas into the container 41 of liquefied gas to be filled is completed in S465, the hose 13 or the injection hose 22 connected to the container 41 is disconnected in S470 and stored in the floating cryogenic liquefied gas filling apparatus 10. Thereafter, the floating installation 10 goes to the next delivery destination to fill the vessel with cryogenic liquefied gas, or returns to the liquefied gas supply facility 1, and receives cryogenic liquefied gas from the supply facility 1 to repeat the above-described steps of the receiving stage.

In addition, if the empty container 41 is filled with the low-temperature liquefied gas, the temperature inside the container 41 is not usually cooled to the temperature of the low-temperature liquefied gas, so that a part of the low-temperature liquefied gas is vaporized, and in addition, a residual gas such as methane gas is usually left in the container 41, and the pressure in the container 41 temporarily increases in the initial stage of filling. However, as the filling of the cryogenic liquefied gas proceeds, the temperature in the container 41 decreases, and the pressure in the container 41 decreases accordingly.

In order to suppress the influence caused by the increase in pressure in the container 41 due to the filling of the cryogenic liquefied gas, the gas in the container 41 may be returned to the barge tank 12 that supplies the liquefied gas when the filling is performed. However, this method has a disadvantage in that the final composition of the filled liquefied low temperature gas may be changed since easily gasified components are recovered to the barge tank 12.

If the gas in the container 41 can be cooled and dissolved in the low-temperature liquefied gas, the pressure increase in the container 41 can be suppressed. Since the process does not recycle the gas components to the barge tank 12, the final composition of the cryogenic liquefied gas does not change. This also eliminates the need to install a hose dedicated to the recovery of gas.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described with reference to the drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects.

Description of the reference numerals

1. Liquefied gas supply facility

10. Floating type low-temperature liquefied gas filling device

11. Floating body

12. Barge tank

13. Flexible pipe

14. Crane with a movable crane

15. Filling device

16. Hose support

17. Hose support

18. Buffer device

19. Mooring cable

20. Low-temperature liquefied gas distribution unit

21. Low-temperature liquefied gas distributor

22. Injection hose

23. Opening and closing valve

24. Flow rate detection device

25. Lifting hook

30. Tugboat

31. Towing cable

40. Transport truck

41. Container with a lid

42. A tractor.