Sytem and method for liquefying a fluid and storing the liquefied fluid

Abstract

A Dewar system is configured to liquefy a flow of fluid, and to store the liquefied fluid. The Dewar system is disposed within a single, portable housing. Disposing the components of the Dewar system within the single housing enables liquefied fluid to be transferred between a heat exchange assembly configured to liquefy fluid and a storage assembly configured to store liquefied fluid in an enhanced manner. In one embodiment, the flow of fluid liquefied and stored by the Dewar system is oxygen (e.g., purified oxygen), nitrogen, and/or some other fluid.

1 . A system configured to liquefy a fluid, and to store the liquefied fluid, the system comprising:
 a housing configured to substantially seal the interior of the housing from atmosphere;   a heat exchange assembly disposed within the housing, the heat exchange assembly comprising a fluid conduit that passes from inside the housing to outside the housing, the fluid conduit being configured to receive a flow of fluid in its gaseous state from a fluid flow generator located outside the housing, the heat exchange assembly being configured to liquefy the flow of fluid received into the heat exchange assembly via the fluid conduit; and   a fluid storage assembly disposed within the housing, the fluid storage assembly being in fluid communication with the heat exchange assembly, the fluid storage assembly being configured to store fluid that has been liquefied by the heat exchange assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a first piece and a second piece, wherein the first piece and the second piece are configured to be selectably coupled together to substantially seal the interior of the housing from atmosphere, wherein the heat exchange assembly is formed integrally or securely with the first piece of the housing, and wherein the fluid storage assembly is formed integrally or securely with the second piece of the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second piece of the housing forms a cavity having an opening formed by a rim of the second piece of the housing, and wherein the first piece of the housing is a lid that is selectably coupled to the rim of the second piece of the housing to substantially seal the cavity formed by the first piece of the housing from atmosphere. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage assembly comprises a reservoir neck that extends from a storage reservoir to the housing enable liquefied fluid to be released from the storage reservoir, wherein a vacuum space is formed between the housing and the storage assembly, and wherein the heat exchange assembly is disposed in the vacuum space. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is oxygen. 
     
     
         6 . A method of liquefying a fluid, and storing the liquefied fluid, the method comprising:
 substantially sealing a cavity from atmosphere;   receiving a flow of fluid in a gaseous state into the cavity from outside the cavity through a fluid conduit, wherein the flow of fluid is received into the cavity in a gaseous state;   liquefying the flow of fluid received into the cavity via the fluid conduit;   directing the liquefied fluid into a reservoir disposed within the cavity; and   storing the liquefied fluid within the reservoir.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein substantially sealing the cavity from atmosphere is performed by a first piece of a housing selectably coupled to a second piece of the housing to substantially seal the cavity, which is formed in the interior of the housing, from atmosphere, wherein a heat exchange assembly that performs the liquefaction of the flow of fluid is formed integrally or securely with the first piece of the housing, and wherein the reservoir is formed integrally or securely with the second piece of the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second piece of the housing forms the cavity such that the cavity has an opening formed by a rim of the second piece of the housing, and wherein the first piece of the housing is a lid formed such that selectably coupling the lid to the rim of the second piece of the housing substantially seals the cavity formed by the first piece of the housing from atmosphere. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a heat exchange assembly that performs the liquefaction of the flow of fluid is disposed within a portion of the cavity this is under vacuum, and is external to the reservoir. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid is oxygen. 
     
     
         11 . A system configured to liquefy a fluid, and to store the liquefied fluid, the system comprising:
 means for substantially sealing a cavity from atmosphere;   means for receiving a flow of fluid in a gaseous state into the cavity from outside the cavity, wherein the flow of fluid is received into the cavity by the means for receiving in a gaseous state;   means for liquefying the flow of fluid received into the cavity, wherein the means for liquefying the flow of fluid is disposed within the cavity;   means storing the liquefied fluid within the cavity.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the means for sealing the cavity from atmosphere comprises a first piece and a second piece, the first piece and second piece being selectably coupled to seal the cavity from atmosphere, wherein the means for liquefying is formed integrally or securely with the first piece of the means for substantially sealing, and wherein the means for storing is formed integrally or securely with the second piece of the means for substantially sealing. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second piece of the means for substantially sealing forms the cavity such that the cavity has an opening formed by a rim of the second piece of the means for substantially sealing, and wherein the first piece of the means for substantially sealing is a lid formed such that selectably coupling the lid to the rim of the second piece of the means for substantially sealing substantially seals the cavity from atmosphere. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the portion of the cavity that is external to the means for storing is under vacuum, thereby creating a vacuum space, and wherein the means for liquefying is disposed in the vaccum space. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid is oxygen.