Apparatus, system and method for the capture, utilization and sendout of latent heat in boil off gas onboard a cryogenic storage vessel

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for capture, utilization and sendout of latent heat in boil off gas (“BOG”) onboard a cryogenic storage vessel is described. A liquefied gas vessel comprises a cryogenic cargo tank onboard a liquefied gas vessel, the cargo tank comprising a liquefied gas and a BOG, a latent heat exchanger fluidly coupled to a stream of the liquefied gas and a stream of the BOG, wherein the latent heat exchanger transfers a heat between the BOG stream and the liquefied gas stream to produce a condensed BOG, means for combining the condensed BOG and the liquefied gas stream to obtain a combined stream, the means for combining the condensed BOG and the liquefied gas stream fluidly coupled to the latent heat exchanger, and a liquefied gas regasifier onboard the vessel and fluidly coupled to the combined stream, wherein the liquefied gas regasifier regasifies the combined stream.

1 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising utilizing a second stream of the BOG as fuel for a power unit of the regasification vessel. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising venting uncondensed gas from the heat exchanger to the second stream of the BOG and burning the vented uncondensed gas in a heater. 
     
     
         30 . A method for regasifying a liquefied gas on a regasification vessel comprising:
 removing a boil-off gas (“BOG”) from a cargo tank onboard a regasification vessel, the cargo tank comprising a liquefied gas and the BOG;   passing a stream of the BOG in heat exchange with a feed stream of the liquefied gas to condense the stream of the BOG, wherein heat is transferred from the BOG stream to the liquefied gas stream in a heat exchanger;   a step for combining the condensed BOG with the feed stream after the feed stream exits the heat exchanger;   regasifying the combined feed stream onboard the regasification vessel for delivery as regasified gas; and   assuring a minimum level of liquefied gas is maintained in an accumulator drum, the accumulator drum fluidly coupled between a discharge side of the heat exchanger and a suction side of one of an eductor or a drain pump.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising venting uncondensed gas from the accumulator drum to the cargo tank.