Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C9/00—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure
  • F17C9/02—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure with change of state, e.g. vaporisation
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C6/00—Methods and apparatus for filling vessels not under pressure with liquefied or solidified gases
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C9/00—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
  • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
  • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
  • F17C2205/0323—Valves
  • F17C2205/0326—Valves electrically actuated
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
  • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
  • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
  • F17C2205/0323—Valves
  • F17C2205/0329—Valves manually actuated
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
  • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
  • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
  • F17C2205/0323—Valves
  • F17C2205/0332—Safety valves or pressure relief valves
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
  • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
  • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
  • F17C2205/0352—Pipes
  • F17C2205/0355—Insulation thereof
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
  • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
  • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
  • F17C2205/0352—Pipes
  • F17C2205/0358—Pipes coaxial
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
  • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
  • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
  • F17C2205/0352—Pipes
  • F17C2205/0364—Pipes flexible or articulated, e.g. a hose
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
  • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
  • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
  • F17C2205/037—Quick connecting means, e.g. couplings
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
  • F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
  • F17C2221/014—Nitrogen
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
  • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
  • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
  • F17C2223/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2265/00—Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
  • F17C2265/01—Purifying the fluid
  • F17C2265/015—Purifying the fluid by separating
  • F17C2265/017—Purifying the fluid by separating different phases of a same fluid
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2270/00—Applications
  • F17C2270/02—Applications for medical applications
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2270/00—Applications
  • F17C2270/05—Applications for industrial use
  • F17C2270/0545—Tools

Definitions

• the present invention addresses this first concern for cryogenic transfer lines with a coaxial or "tube-in-tube” geometry where a first portion of the cryogenic fluid flows through the inner tube while a second portion flows through an annulus between the inner tube and outer tube which annulus is at a lower pressure than the inside tube.
• the liquid in the annulus can provide a refrigeration duty to the liquid inside the inner tube (e.g. such as by boiling) such that this inner liquid is cooled and stays a saturated liquid.
• the liquid is even subcooled slightly such that a "cushion" of refrigeration is available to fight heat leak.
• the transfer line be lightweight and flexible. This provides for maximum degrees of freedom during installation, operation and maintenance and also enables the line to withstand repeated bending.
• the present invention addresses this second concern for cryogenic transfer lines by making at least a portion of the line out of a flexible material (for example a polymeric material).
• Chang et al. teaches non-metallic, flexible cryogenic transfer lines for use in cryosurgical systems where the cryogen is used to cool the cryoprobe in a cryosurgical system ("Development of a High-Performance Multiprobe Cryosurgical Device", Biomedical Instrumentation and Technology, Sept./Oct. 1994, pp. 383 -390). Due to the heat leak boil-off resulting from the design of the flexible lines in Chang, combined with intrinsically poor insulation, such lines must be short and fed with a substantially subcooled cryogenic liquid (e.g. liquid nitrogen at -214 °C) in order to work properly. This requires the up-stream usage of complex and expensive cryogenic storage, supply and control systems.
• a substantially subcooled cryogenic liquid e.g. liquid nitrogen at -214 °C
• Cryogenic transfer lines are also taught for use in machining applications where the cryogen is used to cool the interface of the cutting tool and the workpiece. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,635,399 (West), 5,103,701 (Lundin), 5,509,335 (Emerson), 5,592,863 (Jaskowiak), 5,761,974 (Wagner) and 5,901 ,623 (Hong). Similar to Chang, such lines must be short and fed with a substantially subcooled cryogenic liquid to combat heat leak boil-off and thus requires an expensive up-stream subcooling system.
• U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,028 discloses a coaxial system for conveying cryogenic fluids over substantial distances in pure single phase.
• the liquid is admitted to the outer line where it vaporizes when subject to an external heat leak.
• a thermal sensor-based flow control unit mounted at the exit end of this coaxial line, chokes the flow of the vapor in the outer line depending on the value of temperature required, usually 50 to 100 deg. F more than the boiling point of the liquid in the inner line.
• the outer line pressure may be near the cryogenic source pressure, and its vapor always will be warmer than the inner line liquid.
• high heat leaks cannot be fully countered since the amount of liquid admitted to the outer line for evaporation is permanently limited by the fixed-size inlet orifices.
• JP 06210105 A teaches a polymeric coaxial transfer line for non-cryogenic degassing applications.
• the tube material characteristics preclude the use of the transfer line in cryogenic applications.
• the present invention is a method and apparatus for transferring a cryogenic fluid.
• a polymeric, coaxial transfer line is utilized where a first portion of the cryogenic fluid flows through an inner conduit while a second portion flows through the annulus between the inner conduit and outer conduit which annulus is at a lower pressure than the inside conduit.
• the inner conduit is substantially non-porous and the transfer line is preceded by a flow control means to distribute at least part of the first and second portions of the cryogenic fluid to the inner conduit and annulus respectively.
• a least a portion of the inner conduit is porous with respect to both gas permeation and liquid permeation such that both a gaseous part and a liquid part of the first portion permeates into the annulus to form at least a part of the second portion.
• Transfer line 22 comprises an inner tube 72 surrounded by an outer tube 74 surrounded by insulation 70 surrounded by flexible protective casing 68.
• a first portion of the cryogenic fluid flows through the inner tube while a second portion flows through the annulus between the inner tube and outer tube. The first portion is at a higher pressure than the second portion.
• At least a portion of the transfer line is made of a flexible material, for example a polymeric material.
• substantially all of the inner tube and substantially all of the outer tube are made of a flexible, polymeric material.
• substantially all of the outer tube can be made of a flexible polymeric material while substantially all of the inner tube can be made of a flexible non- polymeric material that do not become brittle at cryogenic temperatures such as (i) copper and its alloys, (ii) aluminum and its alloys, (iii) nickel and its alloys, (iv) austenitic stainless steels, (v) dense graphite or (vi) ceramic fiber textile-woven tubing products.
• substantially all of the inner tube and substantially all of the outer tube are made of a flexible non-polymeric material selected from the group consisting of (i) copper and its alloys, (ii) aluminum and its alloys, (iii) nickel and its alloys, (iv) austenitic stainless steels, (v) dense graphite or (vi) ceramic fiber textile- woven tubing products.
• substantially all of the outer tube can be made of a flexible insulating material.
• the inner and/or outer conduits could have cross sections that are substantially in the shape of a rectangle, polygon, oval or other regularly shaped geometric figure.
• the inner tube can be substantially non-porous such that little, if any, of the second portion of the fluid in the annulus is a result of permeation through the inner tube.
• at least a portion of the inner tube can have holes drilled into it and/or be porous with respect to both gas permeation and liquid permeation such that both a gaseous part and a liquid part of the first portion permeates into the annulus to form at least a part of the second portion.
• certain sections of the inner tube perhaps spaced equally along the length of the inner tube, could be of enhanced porosity.
• the transfer line is advantageously preceded by a flow control means to distribute at least part of the first and second portions of the cryogenic fluid to the inner tube and annulus respectively such as flow control box 20 in Figure 1.
• the flow control means would also typically integrate the means (e.g. valve) to reduce the pressure of the second portion of fluid that is distributed to the annulus, at least a fraction of which second portion of fluid is distributed into the annulus as a liquid.
• the liquid in the annulus can provide a refrigeration duty to the fluid inside the inner tube.
• the permeation from the inner tube into the annulus gas can supplement at least a portion of the fluid distribution performed by the flow control box.
• the connections and internal components of the flow control box include three on/off (e.g. solenoid) valves (61, 62, 63) and a manual metering valve 64, which valves are in fluid communication with the inlet 30 to the flow control box and adapted to receive and pressure regulate a flow of the cryogenic fluid.
• a key internal component of flow control box 20 is 3-way coupling 66 which introduces the first and second portions of the cryogenic fluid to the inner tube and annulus respectively.
• Thread connection 78 connects the 3-way coupling 66 to the outer tube 74.
• An optional line clamp 76 may be used to clamp the outer tube to the thread connection.
• Flow control box 20 has an insulated casing and optionally contains insulating filler.
• Pressure relief valve 84 is optional.
• On/off valves 62 and 63 have an internal bypass orifice (86, 88) drilled in their internal wall or valve seat. At least a fraction of the second portion of fluid in the annulus can be transferred to the transfer destination and/or cooling target along with the liquid stream in the inner tube. Optionally, at least a fraction of the second portion of fluid in the annulus can be vented away from the transfer destination/cooling target. In the former case, this can be accomplished via the use of a coaxial nozzle having an inner conduit in fluid communication with the inner tube of the transfer line and an outer conduit in fluid communication with the annulus of the transfer line. In the latter case where all of the annulus fluid is vented, this would remove the constraint that the flow direction in the annulus be concurrent with the flow direction in the inner tube. Preferably, any nozzle should include thermal shrink connectors to prevent leaks between the interface of the transfer line and nozzle.
• suitable polymeric materials for the present invention's transfer line include carbon based polymers, carbon-fluorine based polymers, co-polymers and composites thereof such as TeflonTM products. (TeflonTM is a registered trademark of E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company).
• cryogenic fluids that can be transferred by the present invention's transfer line include nitrogen, argon or mixtures thereof.
• the present invention's apparatus and method for transferring a cryogenic fluid is particularly suitable for transfer locations and/or cooling targets that require a relatively low flow rate and a rapid liquid response.
• transfer destinations and/or cooling targets for the present invention's transfer line include: (i) an environmental test chamber used for stress screening electronic components;

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Thermal Insulation (AREA)
• Rigid Pipes And Flexible Pipes (AREA)
• Pipeline Systems (AREA)
• Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

Priority Applications (10)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

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Families Citing this family (4)

Citations (7)

• 2001
  • 2001-11-08 JP JP2002542800A patent/JP4242645B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-11-08 BR BRPI0115316-1A patent/BR0115316B1/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-11-08 CN CN01818843.5A patent/CN1237303C/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-08 MX MXPA03004259A patent/MXPA03004259A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2001-11-08 CA CA002428777A patent/CA2428777C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-08 EP EP01990051A patent/EP1334306B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-08 AU AU2892502A patent/AU2892502A/xx active Pending
  • 2001-11-08 DE DE60108415T patent/DE60108415T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-08 WO PCT/US2001/047516 patent/WO2002040915A2/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2001-11-08 AU AU2002228925A patent/AU2002228925B9/en not_active Expired
  • 2001-11-08 AT AT01990051T patent/ATE287064T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-11-12 TW TW090127992A patent/TW536601B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (7)

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