Method and apparatus for vaporizing liquid natural gases

Claim 1

A system for increasing the thermal efficiency of a closed-circuit engine operated by heated operating fluid circulating in the closed circuit and for vaporizing liquefied natural gas and heating the vaporized gas to a delivery temperature suitable for delivery of the gas to a gas pipeline network, said device comprising, in combination: said closed circuit comprising a turbine having a heated operating fluid supply inlet and an operating fluid exhaust outlet; a low pressure compressor in said closed circuit; a high pressure compressor in said closed circuit; an operating fluid heater having a heated operating fluid discharge connected to said fluid supply inlet of said turbine to drive said turbine, a first connecting line connecting said turbine exhaust outlet to the inlet of said first low pressure compressor, a second connecting line connecting the outlet of said first low pressure compressor to the inlet of said second high pressure compressor, and a third connecting line connecting the outlet of said second high pressure compressor to the inlet of said operating fluid heater; driving means connecting said turbine to said compressors to drive said compressors; a first heat exchanger connected to said first connecting line and in said third connecting line for preheating, by means of operating fluid discharged from said turbine exhaust outlet, the compressed operating fluid entering said operating fluid heater from said second high pressure compressor; a second heat exchanger in said first connecting line between said first heat exchanger and said first low pressure compressor to receive the operating fluid from the first heat exchanger at a temperature greater than 15° C.; at least a third heat exchanger in said second connecting line between said first and second compressors; a liquefied natural gas supply line; natural gas connection means connected to said supply line and dividing the supplied liquefied natural gas into first and second portions connected, respectively, to said second and third heat exchangers to receive heat from the operating fluid flowing through said second and third heat exchangers for vaporizing of the liquefied natural gas and heating of the vaporized gas by said operating fluid flowing through said first and second connecting lines of said closed circuit with resultant substantial cooling, by said liquefied natural gas, of said operating fluid entering said first and second compressors; a natural gas discharge line connected to both of said second and third heat exchangers to receive at least partially vaporized natural gas therefrom; and after-heater means operatively associated with said natural gas discharge line for further heating the natural gas flowing through said natural gas discharge line to such delivery temperature, said after-heater means comprising, a fourth heat exchanger, a second turbine, and a second closed circuit carrying a fluid operating medium for said second turbine, said second closed circuit comprising said second turbine, said fourth heat exchanger, and heat exchange means associated with said operating fluid heater to receive heat from said heater, said fourth heat exchanger comprising a heat transfer line connected in series with said natural gas discharge line to transfer heat from said operating fluid medium to said natural gas.

Claim 2

A system for increasing the thermal efficiency of a closed-circuit engine operated by heated operating fluid circulating in the closed circuit and for vaporizing liquefied natural gas and heating the vaporized gas to a delivery temperature suitable for delivery of the gas to a gas pipeline network, said device comprising, in combination: said closed circuit comprising a turbine having a heated operating fluid supply inlet and an operating fluid exhaust outlet; a low pressure compressor in said closed circuit; a high pressure compressor in said closed circuit; an operating fluid heater having a heated operating fluid discharge connected to said fluid supply inlet of said turbine to drive said turbine, a first connecting line connecting said turbine exhaust outlet to the inlet of said first low pressure compressor, a second connecting line connecting the outlet of said first low pressure compressor to the inlet of said second high pressure compressor, and a third connecting line connecting the outlet of said second high pressure compressor to the inlet of said operating fluid heater; driving means connecting said turbine to said compressors to drive said compressors; a first heat exchanger connected to said first connecting line and in said third connecting line for preheating, by means of operating fluid discharged from said turbine exhaust outlet, the compressed operating fluid entering said operating fluid heater from said second high pressure compressor; a second heat exchanger in said first connecting line between said first heat exchanger and said first low pressure compressor to receive the operating fluid from the first heat exchanger at a temperature greater than 15° C.; at least a third heat exchanger in said second connecting line between said first and second compressors; a liquefied natural gas supply line; natural gas connection means connected to said supply line and dividing the supplied liquefied natural gas into first and second portions connected, respectively, to said second and third heat exchangers to receive heat from the operating fluid flowing through said second and third heat exchangers for vaporizing of the liquefied natural gas and heating of the vaporized gas by said operating fluid flowing through said first and second connecting lines of said closed circuit with resultant substantial cooling, by said liquefied natural gas, of said operating fluid entering said first and second compressors; a natural gas discharge line connected to both of said second and third heat exchangers to receive at least partially vaporized natural gas therefrom; and after-heater means operatively associated with said natural gas discharge line for further heating the natural gas flowing through said natural gas discharge line to such delivery temperature, said after-heater means comprising, a fourth heat exchanger, a second turbine, and a second closed circuit carrying a fluid operating medium for said second turbine, said second closed circuit comprising said second turbine, said fourth heat exchanger, and heat exchange means associated with said operating fluid heater to receive heat from said heater, said fourth heat exchanger comprising a heat transfer line connected in series with said natural gas discharge line to transfer heat from said operating fluid medium to said natural gas.