Distributed lng device

Abstract

Provided among other things is a distributed LNG device comprising: an insulated collection cavity with an outlet, the collection cavity adapted to collect liquids that condense therein at the outlet; one or more fuel inlet valves adapted for injecting a methane source gas into the collection cavity; one or more exhaust valves adapted for exhausting gas from the collection cavity; and a cryocooler with a cold-head condenser, a cold-head of the condenser adapted to insert into the collection cavity to provide sufficient heat absorption to bring the cavity as filled with methane gas to a temperature effective to condense the methane, wherein the cold-head condenser operates (i) as a reverse Stirling engine and/or (ii) by acoustic energy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A distributed LNG device comprising:
 an insulated collection cavity with an outlet, the collection cavity adapted to collect liquids that condense therein at the outlet;   one or more fuel inlet valves adapted for injecting a methane source gas into the collection cavity;   one or more exhaust valves adapted for exhausting gas from the collection cavity; and   a cryocooler with a cold-head condenser, a cold-head of the condenser adapted to insert into the collection cavity to provide sufficient heat absorption to bring the cavity as filled with methane gas to a temperature effective to condense the methane, wherein the cold-head condenser operates (i) as a reverse Stirling engine and/or (ii) by acoustic energy.   
     
     
         2 . The distributed LNG device of  claim 1 , wherein the cold-head condenser is an acoustically driven cold-head condenser. 
     
     
         3 . The distributed LNG device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a controller adapted to monitor the collection cavity to control the opening of the input valves dependent on whether controller inputs indicate a rate or amount of methane condensation.   
     
     
         4 . The distributed LNG device of  claim 2 , wherein the cold-head condenser operates as a reverse Stirling engine. 
     
     
         5 . The distributed LNG device of  claim 1 , wherein the cold-head condenser operates as a reverse Stirling engine. 
     
     
         6 . The distributed LNG device of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a controller adapted to monitor the collection cavity to control the opening of the input valves dependent on whether controller inputs indicate a rate or amount of methane condensation.   
     
     
         7 . The distributed LNG device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller adapted to monitor the collection cavity to control the opening of the input valves dependent on whether controller inputs indicate a rate or amount of methane condensation.   
     
     
         8 . The distributed LNG device of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further adapted to shut off the chilling action of the cold-head or initiate a heater for the collection cavity, and open the exhaust valves such that condensed solid carbon dioxide exhausts as gas. 
     
     
         9 . The distributed LNG device of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is adapted to monitor for the presence of condensed solid carbon dioxide above a threshold amount, thereby causing the controller to act to remove condensed solid carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         10 . A system of LNG devices of  claim 1  comprising:
 the distributed LNG device of  claim 1 ; and 
 a second said distributed LNG device. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system of LNG devices of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a controller adapted to operate the one of the distributed LNG devices to collect LNG while another of the distributed LNG devices is controlled to recycle to remove solid CO 2 .   
     
     
         12 . A method of distributed LNG collection comprising:
 providing methane-containing gas in a collection chamber;   chilling the gas with a cold-head condenser that operates (i) as a reverse Stirling engine and/or (ii) by acoustic energy; and   condensing liquid methane.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cold-head condenser is an acoustically driven cold-head condenser. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cold-head condenser operates as a reverse Stirling engine 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 periodically ceasing the provision of methane-containing gas in the collection chamber;   heating the collection chamber sufficiently to release gaseous CO 2  from solid CO 2 ;   exhausting gaseous CO 2  ; and   repeating the providing, chilling and condensing steps.   
     
     
         16 . A ocean-going vessel adapted to be fueled by LNG, and having installed thereon a distributed LNG device of  claim 1 .