Modular cryogenic liquid storage systems

Abstract

Piping skid for a cryogenic liquid customer station comprising a frame; a first pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end is adapted for flow communication with the top of a cryogenic liquid storage tank; a second pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end is adapted for flow communication with the bottom of a cryogenic liquid storage tank; and a tanker fill connection in flow communication with the second end of the first pipe section and the second end of the second pipe section, wherein the tanker fill connection is adapted to receive cryogenic liquid from a cryogenic liquid tanker.

1 . A piping skid for a cryogenic liquid customer station comprising 
 (a) a frame;    (b) a first pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end is adapted for flow communication with the top of a cryogenic liquid storage tank;    (c) a second pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end is adapted for flow communication with the bottom of a cryogenic liquid storage tank; and    (d) a tanker fill connection in flow communication with the second end of the first pipe section and the second end of the second pipe section, wherein the tanker fill connection is adapted to receive cryogenic liquid from a cryogenic liquid tanker.    
   
   
       2 . The piping skid of  claim 1  comprising a pressure gauge mounted on the frame and adapted to measure the gas pressure in the cryogenic storage tank.  
   
   
       3 . The piping skid of  claim 1  comprising a level gauge mounted on the frame and adapted to measure the liquid level in the cryogenic storage tank.  
   
   
       4 . The piping skid of  claim 1  comprising a pressure build coil mounted on the frame, having a first end in flow communication with the first pipe section at a point between the first end thereof and the valve installed therein, and having a second end in flow communication with the second pipe section at a point between the first end thereof and the valve installed therein.  
   
   
       5 . The piping skid of  claim 1  comprising one or more thermal relief devices, each installed on one of the pipe sections at a point between the first end of the pipe section and the valve installed in the pipe section.  
   
   
       6 . The piping skid of  claim 1  comprising one or both of 
 (e) a third pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first and the second end, wherein the first end is adapted for flow communication with the bottom of the cryogenic liquid storage tank the second end is adapted to discharge cryogenic liquid from the cryogenic liquid storage tank, and    (f) a fourth pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first and the second end, wherein the first end is adapted for flow communication with the cryogenic liquid storage tank at a predetermined liquid fill level and the second end is adapted to discharge cryogenic liquid when the valve is open and the liquid level reaches the predetermined liquid fill level during tank filling, whereby the valve serves as a liquid level trycock.    
   
   
       7 . The piping skid of  claim 1  comprising a fourth pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first and the second end, wherein the first end is adapted for flow communication with the top of cryogenic liquid storage tank and the second end is open to the atmosphere, whereby the fourth pipe section and valve are adapted to vent the cryogenic liquid storage tank when the valve is open.  
   
   
       8 . The piping skid of  claim 1  comprising a telemetry gauge system mounted on the frame and adapted to generate and transmit a signal that is proportional to the liquid level in the cryogenic liquid storage tank.  
   
   
       9 . The piping skid of  claim 1  wherein the pipe sections are made of types of pipe selected from the group consisting of bare copper pipe, mechanically insulated copper pipe, bare stainless steel pipe, mechanically-insulated stainless steel pipe, and vacuum-jacketed stainless steel pipe.  
   
   
       10 . The piping skid of  claim 1  wherein the pipe sections have nominal outside diameters of 1, 1.5, or 2 inch.  
   
   
       11 . The piping skid of  claim 1  comprising a pressure relief tree mounted on the frame and adapted to provide a safety relief function for a cryogenic liquid storage tank.  
   
   
       12 . The piping skid of  claim 1  comprising a pressure control manifold adapted to control the pressure of product gas delivered to a user or a pressure and temperature control manifold adapted to control the pressure of product gas delivered to a user and to shut off gas flow if the gas temperature falls below a predetermined minimum value.  
   
   
       13 . A customer station comprising 
 (a) a cryogenic liquid storage tank having an interior, a top end, a bottom end, a top nozzle in flow communication with the interior at the top end of the tank, a bottom nozzle in flow communication with the interior at the bottom end of the tank, and an intermediate nozzle in flow communication with the interior located at a point below and adjacent the top end of the tank;    (b) a piping skid comprising 
 (1) a frame;  
 (2) a first pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end is in flow communication with the top nozzle of the cryogenic liquid storage tank;  
 (3) a second pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end is in flow communication with the bottom nozzle of the cryogenic liquid storage tank; and  
 (4) a tanker fill connection in flow communication with the second end of the first pipe section and the second end of the second pipe section, wherein the tanker fill connection is adapted to receive cryogenic liquid from a cryogenic liquid tanker; and optionally  
   (c) a vaporizer adapted to vaporize the cryogenic liquid product discharged from the cryogenic liquid storage tank to provide a gaseous product if required.    
   
   
       14 . The customer station of  claim 13  wherein the cryogenic liquid is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and hydrogen.  
   
   
       15 . The customer station of  claim 13  wherein the piping skid comprises a pressure gauge mounted on the frame and adapted to measure the gas pressure in the cryogenic storage tank.  
   
   
       16 . The customer station of  claim 13  wherein the piping skid comprises a level gauge mounted on the frame and adapted to measure the liquid level in the cryogenic storage tank.  
   
   
       17 . The customer station of  claim 13  wherein the piping skid comprises a pressure build coil mounted on the frame, having a first end in flow communication with the first pipe section at a point between the first end thereof and the valve installed therein, and having a second end in flow communication with the second pipe section at a point between the first end thereof and the valve installed therein.  
   
   
       18 . The customer station of  claim 13  wherein the piping skid comprises one or more thermal relief devices, each installed on one of the pipe sections at a point between the first end of the pipe section and the valve installed in the pipe section.  
   
   
       19 . The customer station of  claim 13  wherein the piping skid comprises either or both of 
 (5) a third pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first and the second end, wherein the first end is in flow communication with the bottom nozzle of the cryogenic liquid storage tank and is adapted to discharge cryogenic liquid product from the cryogenic liquid storage tank; and    (6) a fourth pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first and the second end, wherein the first end is adapted for flow communication with the intermediate nozzle of the cryogenic liquid storage tank and is adapted to discharge cryogenic liquid when the valve is open and the liquid level in the tank reaches the predetermined liquid fill level during tank filling, whereby the valve serves as a liquid level try cock.    
   
   
       20 . The customer station of  claim 13  wherein the piping skid comprises a fourth pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first and the second end, wherein the first end is adapted for flow communication with the top of a cryogenic liquid storage tank and the second end is open to the atmosphere, whereby the fourth pipe section and valve are adapted to vent the cryogenic liquid storage tank when the valve is open.  
   
   
       21 . The customer station of  claim 13  wherein the piping skid comprises a telemetry gauge system mounted on the frame and adapted to generate and transmit a signal that is proportional to the liquid level cryogenic liquid storage tank.  
   
   
       22 . The customer station of  claim 13  wherein each of at least the top nozzle and the bottom nozzle of the cryogenic liquid storage tank is connected to a piping run that extends to an end at or near ground level, and wherein the piping runs are oriented relative to the piping skid such that the end of each respective piping run is adjacent the first end of the first pipe section and the first end of second pipe section, respectively, such that the ends of the piping runs can be readily connected to the first end of the first pipe section and the first end of second pipe section, respectively.  
   
   
       23 . A modularized customer station comprising 
 (a) a cryogenic storage tank of a type selected from the group consisting of a liquefied atmospheric gas storage tank and a liquefied hydrogen storage tank, wherein the tank has a top end, a bottom end, an interior, a top end, a bottom end, a top nozzle at the top end of the tank, a bottom at the bottom end of the tank, wherein each of the top nozzle and the bottom nozzle of the cryogenic liquid storage tank is connected to a piping run that extends to an end at or near ground level, and wherein the ends define first and second connection locations, respectively; and    (b) a piping skid located adjacent the cryogenic storage tank, the piping skid comprising 
 (1) a frame;  
 (2) a first pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first end and the second end;  
 (3) a second pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first end and the second end; and  
 (4) a tanker fill connection in flow communication with the second end of the first pipe section and the second end of the second pipe section, wherein the tanker fill connection is adapted to receive cryogenic liquid from a cryogenic liquid tanker;  
 wherein the first end of the first pipe section and the first end of the second pipe section are adjacent the first and second connection locations, respectively, of the piping runs on the cryogenic liquid storage tank when the piping skid is placed beside the cryogenic storage tank.  
   
   
   
       24 . A method of installing a modularized customer station comprising 
 (a) providing a piping skid including 
 (1) a frame;  
 (2) a first pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first end and the second end;  
 (3) a second pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first end and the second end; and  
 (4) a tanker fill connection in flow communication with the second end of the first pipe section and the second end of the second pipe section, wherein the tanker fill connection is adapted to receive cryogenic liquid from a cryogenic liquid tanker;  
   (b) providing a cryogenic storage tank of a type selected from the group consisting of a liquefied atmospheric gas storage tank and a liquefied hydrogen storage tank, wherein the tank has a top end, a bottom end, a top nozzle at the top end of the tank, and a bottom nozzle at the bottom end of the tank, wherein the top nozzle is connected to a first piping run that extends to a first end at or near ground level, and wherein the bottom nozzle is connected to a second piping run that extends to a second end at or near ground level;    (c) placing the cryogenic storage tank adjacent the piping skid such that the first end of the first pipe section is adjacent the first end of the first piping run and the first end of the second pipe section is adjacent the second end of the second piping run; and    (d) connecting the first end of the first pipe section to the first end of the first piping run to place the first pipe section in flow communication with the first piping run, and connecting the first end of the second pipe section to the second end of the second piping run to place the second pipe section in flow communication with the second piping run.    
   
   
       25 . A method of designing a customer station adapted to receive a cryogenic liquid, store the cryogenic liquid, discharge the cryogenic liquid after storage, and either provide the cryogenic liquid as a liquid product to a user or vaporize the cryogenic liquid to provide a gas product to a user, which method comprises: 
 (a) selecting design parameters including 
 (a1) defining at least two product types including a first product type consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, or argon and a second product type consisting of hydrogen;  
   (a2) for each of the product types of (a1) defining a first range of product flow rates and a first pipe diameter for the design of a piping skid and defining a second range of product flow rates and a second pipe diameter for the design of a piping skid;    (a3) for each of the combinations of (a2), further defining the piping types of uninsulated copper, mechanically-insulated copper, uninsulated stainless steel, mechanically insulated stainless steel, and vacuum-jacketed stainless steel; and    (a4) designing standardized piping skids for one or more of the combinations of (a1) and (a2) and (a3), wherein each piping skid is adapted at least to accept liquid from a cryogenic liquid tanker, transfer the liquid to a cryogenic storage tank, and provide piping to withdraw liquid from the cryogenic storage tank for distribution to the user;    (b) defining the product requirements of the user including 
 (b1) a product type selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and hydrogen;  
 (b2) a product state selected from gas and liquid;  
 (b3) a product flow rate or range of product flow rates; and  
 (b4) a product pressure or range of product pressures;  
   (c) if the product state of (b2) is gas, selecting a vaporizer to vaporize the cryogenic liquid from storage;    (d) selecting a piping skid design from (a4);    (e) selecting a type of cryogenic liquid storage tank from the group consisting of a liquefied atmospheric gas storage tank and a liquefied hydrogen storage tank; and    (f) designing the customer station comprising a selected piping skid of (d), the cryogenic storage tank of (e), and optionally the vaporizer of (c).    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein each piping skid comprises 
 (1) a frame;    (2) a first pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end is adapted for flow communication with the top of a cryogenic liquid storage tank;    (3) a second pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end is adapted for flow communication with the bottom of a cryogenic liquid storage tank; and    (4) a tanker fill connection in flow communication with the second end of the first pipe section and the second end of the second pipe section, wherein the tanker fill connection is adapted to receive cryogenic liquid from a cryogenic liquid tanker.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein each piping skid comprises a third pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first and the second end, wherein the first end is adapted for flow communication with the cryogenic liquid storage tank at a predetermined liquid fill level and the second end is adapted to discharge cryogenic liquid when the valve is open and the liquid level reaches the predetermined liquid fill level during tank filling, whereby the valve serves as a liquid level trycock.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein each piping skid comprises a third pipe section mounted on the frame and having a first end, a second end, and a valve disposed between the first and the second end, wherein the first end is adapted for flow communication with the top of cryogenic liquid storage tank and the second end is open to the atmosphere, whereby the third pipe section and valve are adapted to vent the cryogenic liquid storage tank when the valve is open.