IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,184,614
Granted Patent B2
US 10,184,614 · App. 14/655,789 · Granted Jan 22, 2019

Method for managing LNG boil-off and LNG boil-off management assembly

Inventors: Michael Jay Epstein (Cincinnati, OH); Robert Harold Weisgerber (Cincinnati, OH)
Assignee: General Electric Company
F17C9/02F17C13/00F17C2201/054F17C2203/0325F17C2203/0391F17C2203/0614F17C2203/0629F17C2203/0646F17C2203/0648F17C2203/0663F17C2205/0119F17C2205/0314F17C2205/0323F17C2205/0332F17C2221/033F17C2223/0161F17C2223/033F17C2225/0123F17C2225/0161F17C2225/033F17C2225/036F17C2227/0135F17C2227/0178F17C2227/0302F17C2227/0388F17C2265/03F17C2265/031F17C2265/033F17C2265/036F17C2265/066F17C2270/0189
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,184,614
App. No.
14/655,789
Granted
Jan 22, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for managing boil-off from an LNG tank located on board of an aircraft. The method, including removing the boil-off from the aircraft and disposing of the removed boil-off from the aircraft and an equipment assembly for use with an aircraft having an on-board LNG tank with a vent system having an outlet coupling, including a removal system configured to remove boil-off from the aircraft and a disposal system configured to dispose of the boil-off.

Claims (13)

1. A liquefied natural gas (LNG) boil-off management equipment assembly for use with an aircraft having an on-board LNG tank with a vent system having an outlet coupling, the LNG boil-off management equipment assembly comprising:

a removal system having a fluid coupling selectively operably coupled to the outlet coupling of the vent system when the aircraft is on the ground and configured to remove boil-off from the aircraft; and

a disposal system configured to dispose of the boil-off by storing the boil-off;

a reverse Rankine refrigeration system cryo-cooler powered by an external power supply when the aircraft is not in flight, and

wherein the disposal system comprises a catalytic converter, and wherein a first portion of boil-off is oxidized in the catalytic converter and a second portion of boil-off is condensed and returned to the LNG tank via a secondary coupler; and

wherein said LNG tank comprises a double wall construction comprising inner and outer walls; and insulating material, and includes a safety release system including a rupture disk, and said LNG tank contains LNG, and

wherein the boil-off accumulates during one or more flight segments of a flight profile of the aircraft.

2. A method for managing boil-off from an LNG tank located on board of an aircraft, the method comprising:

coupling the removal system and the disposal system of claim 1 to the LNG tank located on board of the aircraft; and

removing the boil-off from the LNG tank located on the aircraft using the removal system and disposal system.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

measuring a pressure of the LNG present in the LNG tank based on at least one pressure gauge, and

wherein removing boil-off from the aircraft is based on the measured pressure of the LNG present in the LNG.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2015
From: EPSTEIN, MICHAEL JAY; WEISGERBER, ROBERT HAROLD
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 035994/0097 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61747007 · Dec 28, 2012
Related Publication 20150330575A1 · Nov 19, 2015
Cited By (1)
US 12,679,553