Method for transporting liquified natural gas

Abstract

A method of transporting natural gas by cooling and pressurizing retained natural gas to liquefy the retained natural gas within a fiber reinforced plastic pressure vessel.

1 . A method of transporting natural gas, comprising: 
 providing a source of natural gas;    providing a fiber reinforced plastic pressure vessel for retaining said natural gas; and    cooling and pressurizing retained natural gas to liquefy said retained gas within said fiber reinforced plastic pressure vessel.    
   
   
       2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further including adjusting the concentration of at least one of C2 and C3+ present in said natural gas during storage of said natural gas to decrease the vapor pressure thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further including maintaining said C2 and said C3+ in a liquid state during storage for recycling to said source of natural gas.  
   
   
       4 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further including maintaining said C2 and said C3+ in a liquid state in said source of said pressurized and liquefied natural gas during discharge of said fiber reinforced plastic pressure vessel.  
   
   
       5 . The method as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said natural gas is discharged/de-pressurized in a controlled manner for controlling the boil rate of pressurized and liquefied natural gas to increase the concentration of C2 and C3+ remaining in said vessel during discharge/de-pressurization.  
   
   
       6 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said C2 and said C3+ remaining in said fiber reinforced pressure vessel subsequent to discharge of said natural gas is further cooled during return journey to the source of natural gas.  
   
   
       7 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein chilled C2 and said C3 are retained in said vessel and mixed with natural gas during reloading of said natural gas into said pressure vessel to lower the temperature of reloaded natural gas and the resulting mixture.  
   
   
       8 . The method as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein retained and super-chilled C2 and said C3+ collectively lower the vapor pressure of the mixture of C2 and said C3+ and natural gas.  
   
   
       9 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein in alternation, pressurized and liquefied natural gas is discharged from said vessel through a lower most manifold connected thereto.  
   
   
       10 . Use of a fiber reinforced plastic pressure vessel for retaining pressurized and liquefied natural gas.  
   
   
       11 . The use as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said vessel includes valve means for admitting and discharging said gas, said means composed of a steel selected from duplex, super duplex and/or precipitation hardened stainless steel.  
   
   
       12 . The use as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said vessel is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of glass, carbon, and aramid filament fiber.  
   
   
       13 . The use as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said vessel has an operating temperature below at least −50 C.  
   
   
       14 . A system for transporting natural gas having fluid management apparatus and transport apparatus, said fluid management apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of fiber reinforced plastic pressure vessels for retaining said natural gas;    fluid connection means interconnecting said pressure vessels;    valve means in fluid communication with said fluid connection means for admitting and discharging said gas exteriorly of said vessels or between said vessels;    support means for supporting said plurality of fiber reinforced plastic pressure vessels;    cooling means for cooling said natural gas; and    pressurizing means for pressurizing said natural gas.    
   
   
       15 . The system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said support means comprises a cassette frame.  
   
   
       16 . The system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said fluid connection means comprises a manifold network interconnecting individual vessels.  
   
   
       17 . The system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein each said vessel includes at least one set of first and second opposed valves.  
   
   
       18 . The system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a marine vessel, automobile and train.  
   
   
       19 . A system for land based storage of natural gas, comprising: 
 a plurality of fiber reinforced plastic pressure vessels for retaining said natural gas;    fluid connection means interconnecting said pressure vessels;    valve means in fluid communication with said fluid connection means for admitting and discharging said gas exteriorly of said vessels or between said vessels;    support means for supporting said plurality of fiber reinforced plastic pressure vessels;    cooling means for cooling said natural gas; and    pressurizing means for pressurizing said natural gas.