초록 ▼

The method for loading pressurized compressed natural gas into a storage element on a floating vessel entails introducing compressed natural gas from a source into a storage element located on the floating vessel raising the storage element pressure from about 800 psi to about 1200 psi at an ambient

The method for loading pressurized compressed natural gas into a storage element on a floating vessel entails introducing compressed natural gas from a source into a storage element located on the floating vessel raising the storage element pressure from about 800 psi to about 1200 psi at an ambient temperature; allowing a portion of the compressed natural gas to cool forming a liquid in the storage element; removing remaining vapor phase compressed natural gas from the storage element to a refrigeration plant, wherein the refrigeration plant is adapted to cool the vapor; removing the liquid from the storage element to the refrigeration plant; wherein the refrigeration plant is adapted to cool the liquid; mixing the cooled vapor phase with the cooled liquid phase and returning the mixture to the storage element; repeating the steps until the vapor has been cooled and is substantially a liquid.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for loading pressurized compressed natural gas into a storage element on a floating vessel comprising the steps of:a. introducing compressed natural gas from a source into a storage element located on the floating vessel raising the storage element pressure to about 800 psi to about 1200

1. A method for loading pressurized compressed natural gas into a storage element on a floating vessel comprising the steps of:a. introducing compressed natural gas from a source into a storage element located on the floating vessel raising the storage element pressure to about 800 psi to about 1200 psi at an ambient temperature;b. allowing a portion of the compressed natural gas to cool forming a liquid in the storage element;c. removing remaining vapor phase compressed natural gas from the storage element to a refrigeration plant, wherein the refrigeration plant is adapted to cool the vapor;d. removing the liquid from the storage element to the refrigeration plant; wherein the refrigeration plant is adapted to cool the liquid;e. mixing the cooled vapor phase with the cooled liquid phase and returning the mixture to the storage element; andf. repeating steps (c) through (e) until the vapor has been cooled and is substantially a liquid.2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of ballasting the floating vessel on one end in order to orientate the storage element on an incline.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the source is located on a land-based facility, a floating facility, a platform-based facility, or combinations thereof.4. The method of claim 1, wherein the refrigeration plant is located on a land-based facility, a floating facility, a platform-based facility, or combinations thereof.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of flowing the vapor mixture from the storage element to the refrigeration plant is completed using a gas compressor.6. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage element is a double-walled tubular member comprising an inner load bearing wall, an outer wall, and an insulating layer.7. The method of claim 6, wherein the inner load bearing wall is constructed of a low-alloy steel comprising about 3.5 wt % or less of nickel, wherein the low-alloy steel improves tensile strength of the inner load bearing wall to 115 ksi or less.8. The method of claim 6, wherein the inner load bearing wall comprises a diameter ranging from about 8 feet to about 15 feet.9. The method of claim 6, wherein the outer wall is a steel, stainless steel, an aluminum, a thermoplastic, a fiberglass, or combinations thereof.10. The method of claim 6, wherein the outer wall comprises a diameter that is up to four feet larger in diameter than the inner wall.11. The method of claim 6, wherein the insulating layer is perlite.