Odorized methane fluid and processes for producing odorized methane fluids and the use thereof

1. An odorized methane comprising fluid comprising:

a methane comprising fluid,

an odorant in a range of from 1 to 100 ppm, and

a carrier in a range of from 0.1 to 10 m/m %,

calculated on the total mass of the odorized methane comprising fluid;

whereby the carrier is propane, n-butane, iso-butane, or a mixture of two or more thereof, and

whereby the odorant is ethyl acrylate, ethyl mercaptan, or a mixture thereof, and

whereby the odorized methane comprising fluid is a liquid, or a slush of liquid and solids.

2. The odorized methane comprising fluid according to claim 1 , whereby the odorized methane comprising fluid comprises 2 to 10 ppm odorant, calculated on the total mass of the odorized methane comprising fluid.

3. The odorized methane comprising fluid according to claim 2 , whereby the odorized methane comprising fluid comprises 4 to 6 ppm odorant, calculated on the total mass of the odorized methane comprising fluid.

4. The odorized methane comprising fluid according to claim 1 , whereby the carrier is iso-butane.

5. The odorized methane comprising fluid according to claim 1 , whereby the odorant is ethyl acrylate or a mixture of ethyl acrylate and ethyl mercaptan.

6. The odorized methane comprising fluid according to claim 1 , whereby the odorized methane comprising fluid additionally comprises methyl acetate in a range of from 1 to 250 ppm, calculated on the total mass of the odorized methane comprising fluid.

7. The odorized methane comprising fluid according to claim 1 , wherein the odorized methane comprising fluid is at a temperature in the range of from −62° C. to −185° C., and at a pressure in the range of from 20 mbara to 120 bara.

8. The odorized methane comprising fluid according to claim 1 , wherein the odorized methane comprising fluid is at a temperature in the range of from −62° C. to −185° C. and at a pressure of from 250 mbara to 76 bara.

9. A process for preparing an odorized methane comprising fluid, the process comprising the following step:

a) adding an odorant in range of from 1 to 100 ppm and a carrier in a range of from 0.1 to 10 m/m % to a methane comprising liquid, or to a methane comprising slush of liquid and solids,

whereby the odorant and carrier are added separately and/or mixed,

whereby the carrier is propane, n-butane, iso-butane, or a mixture of two or more thereof, and

whereby the odorant is ethyl acrylate, ethyl mercaptan, or a mixture thereof.

10. The process according to claim 9 , comprising the following steps:

a1) adding the odorant to the carrier, and

a2) adding at least a part of the mixture obtained in step a1) to the methane comprising liquid, or to the methane comprising slush of liquid and solids.

11. The process according to claim 9 , wherein methyl acetate in a range of from 1 to 250 ppm is added separately and/or mixed with the odorant and/or the carrier to the methane comprising liquid, or to the methane comprising slush of liquid and solids.

12. The process according to claim 9 , wherein a stream comprising the odorant is added to a gas stream, a liquid stream, or a stream of a slush of liquid and solids, using a flow controller or an injection pump and a PLC (programmable logic controller).

13. The process according to claim 9 , wherein the liquid or slush comprising methane is at a temperature in the range of from −62° C. to −185° C., and at a pressure in the range of from 20 mbara to 120 bara.

14. The process according to claim 9 , wherein the liquid or slush comprising methane is at a temperature in the range of from −62° C. to −185° C., and at a pressure in the range of from 250 mbara to 76 bara.

15. A process for preparing an odorized methane comprising fluid, the process comprising the following steps:

a) adding an odorant in a range of from 1 to 100 ppm and a carrier in a range of from 0.1 to 10 m/m % to a methane comprising gas,

whereby the odorant and carrier are added separately and/or mixed,

whereby the carrier is propane, n-butane, iso-butane, or a mixture of two or more thereof, and

whereby the odorant is ethyl acrylate, ethyl mercaptan, or a mixture thereof, and

whereby the methane comprising gas is at a temperature in a range of from −40 to +200° C., and;

b) liquefying the mixture obtained in step a) to a temperature in a range of from −62° C. to −185° C. and a pressure in the range of from 20 mbara to 120 bara.

16. The process according to claim 15 , comprising the following steps:

a1) adding the odorant to the carrier,

a2) adding at least a part of the mixture obtained in step a1) to the methane comprising gas, and

b) liquefying the mixture obtained in step a2) to a temperature in the range of from −62° C. to −185° C. and a pressure in the range of from 20 mbara to 120 bara.

17. The process according to claim 15 , wherein in the range of from 1 to 250 ppm methyl acetate is added to methane comprising gas by separately adding and/or by mixing with the odorant and/or the carrier.

18. The process according to claim 15 , wherein the methane comprising gas is at a temperature in the range of from −25 to +85° C.

19. The process according to claim 15 , wherein the pressure in step (b) is in a range from 250 mbara to 76 bara.

20. A fuel for automotive industry, marine industry, or for power generation, comprising an odorized methane comprising fluid according to claim 1 .