Systems and methods for transporting fuel and carbon dioxide in a dual fluid vessel
Embodiments of systems and methods for transporting fuel and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in a dual-fluid vessel thereby minimizing transportation between locations are disclosed. In an embodiment, the dual-fluid vessel has an outer shell with two or more inner compartments, positioned within the outer shell, including a first inner compartment for storing CO 2 and a second inner compartment for storing fuel. The dual-fluid vessel may connect or attach to a transportation vehicle to thereby allow transportation of the fuel and CO 2 . Insulation may provide temperature regulation for the fuel and CO 2 when positioned in the respective first and second inner compartments. One or more ports having an opening in and through the outer shell and a fluid pathway to one or more of the first inner compartment or the second inner compartment may provide fluid communication through the opening and fluid pathway for loading/offloading the fuel and/or CO 2 .
1. A dual-fluid transport system for transporting a fuel and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), the system comprising:
one or more storage tanks positioned at a selected location to separately store a fuel and a CO 2 ;
a transportation vehicle for transporting the fuel and CO 2 , the transportation vehicle having:
one or more controllers configured to control offloading/loading of the fuel and CO 2 ,
a fuel pump controlled via the one or more controllers and positioned in fluid communication with the fuel,
a CO 2 pump controlled via the one or more controllers and positioned in fluid communication with the CO 2 , and
one or more digital gauges to display one or more of pressures, flowrates, other fluid dynamic properties, or compartment level of two or more inner compartments;
a dual-fluid vessel configured to connect to the transportation vehicle for transporting the fuel and the carbon dioxide, the dual-fluid vessel comprising:
an outer shell including an outer surface,
two or more inner compartments positioned within the outer shell, the two or more inner compartments having:
a first inner compartment configured to store CO 2 , and
a second inner compartment configured to store fuel,
insulation positioned between the outer surface and the two or more inner compartments to provide temperature regulation for fuel and the CO 2 when positioned in the respective first inner compartment and second inner compartment, and
one or more ports each having an opening in and through the outer shell and a fluid pathway to one or more of the first inner compartment or the second inner compartment, thereby to provide fluid communication through the opening and fluid pathway for loading/offloading one or more of the fuel or CO 2 ;
one or more digital gauges positioned proximate the one or more controllers to display one or more pressures, flowrates, and temperatures of the fuel and the CO 2 ; and
one or more external hoses having a proximal end portion attached to a first adapter and a distal end portion attached to a second adapter, the proximal end portion being positioned to be in fluid communication between the first inner compartment or the second inner compartment via the fuel pump and CO 2 pump and the distal end portion being positioned to be in fluid communication with each of the one or more storage tanks.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more storage tanks comprises:
one or more fuel tanks configured to store the fuel, and
one or more CO 2 tanks configured to store the CO 2 , and wherein the one or more controllers includes a user interface to allow an operator to select offloading/loading operations of the fuel and CO 2 .
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein in the transportation vehicle comprises a semi-tractor, a marine vessel, or a rail locomotive.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second inner compartment comprises a bladder defining the second inner compartment, the bladder being expandable when fluid is positioned therein.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle connection for CO 2 removal.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first inner compartment or the second inner compartment is substantially surrounded by the insulation.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the CO 2 comprises liquid CO 2 , wherein a CO 2 temperature remains below a critical point, and wherein the liquid CO 2 comprises low pressure liquid CO 2 or high pressure liquid CO 2 .
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a control valve positioned between one of the one or more storage tanks and second inner compartment to control a flow of the fuel.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprises one or more of an ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), diesel, gasoline, renewable diesel, hydrogen, ammonia, ethanol, or liquefied natural gas (LNG).
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transportation vehicle further comprises a refrigeration unit to hold a compartment pressure below a first selected pressure.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the two or more inner compartments further comprises one or more sensors to sense the fuel and CO 2 temperature, flowrate, or pressure.
12. A method of offloading/loading a fuel and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) at a location, the method comprising:
stationing a transportation vehicle at the location, the transportation vehicle comprising:
(a) one or more controllers configured to control offloading/loading of the fuel and CO 2 ,
(b) a fuel pump controlled via the one or more controllers and positioned in fluid communication with the fuel,
(c) a CO 2 pump controlled via the one or more controllers and positioned in fluid communication with the CO 2 ,
(d) one or more digital gauges to display one or more of pressures, flowrates, or compartment level of two or more inner compartments;
(e) a dual-fluid vessel configured to connect to a truck trailer for transporting the fuel and the carbon dioxide, the dual-fluid vessel comprising:
(i) an outer shell, including an outer surface,
(ii) two or more inner compartments positioned within the outer shell, the two or more inner compartments having:
(iii) a first inner compartment configured to store carbon dioxide (CO 2 ),
(iv) a second inner compartment configured to store fuel,
(v) insulation positioned between the outer surface and the two or more inner compartments to provide temperature regulation for fuel and the CO 2 , and
(vi) one or more ports each having an opening in and through the outer shell and a fluid pathway to one or more of the first inner compartment or the second inner compartment thereby to provide fluid communication through the opening and fluid pathway for loading/offloading one or more of the fuel or CO 2 ;
confirming contents in the first inner compartment and a second inner compartment;
connecting one or more external hoses, the one or more external hoses having:
(a) a proximal end portion attached to a first adapter positioned to be in fluid communication therebetween the first inner compartment and a CO 2 pump on the transportation vehicle or the second inner compartment and a fuel pump on the transportation vehicle, and
(b) a distal end portion attached to a second adapter positioned to be connected to be in fluid communication with one or more storage tanks at a location wherein each of the one or more storage tanks contain an amount of fuel or an amount of CO 2 ;
activating the one or more controllers to supply power to the fuel pump and the CO 2 pump;
pumping the amount of fuel from the second inner compartment to the one or more storage tanks at the location;
pumping the amount of CO 2 from the one or more storage tanks to the first inner compartment; and
disconnecting one or more external hoses.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pumping the amount of fuel from the second inner compartment to the one or more storage tanks and the pumping the amount of CO 2 from the one or more storage tanks to the first inner compartment occurs substantially simultaneously.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining the compartment level of the first inner compartment.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the CO 2 comprises liquid CO 2 .
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the transportation vehicle further comprises a refrigeration unit configured to hold a compartment pressure below a selected pressure.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the selected pressure comprises a first selected pressure, and the method further comprises activating the refrigeration unit when the compartment pressure is greater than a second selected pressure.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fuel comprises one of an ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), diesel, gasoline, renewable diesel, hydrogen, ammonia, ethanol, or liquefied natural gas (LNG).
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the second inner compartment comprises a bladder defining the second inner compartment, the bladder being expandable when fluid is positioned therein.
20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising determining pressure or temperature of the two or more inner compartments.