Fluid handling – Processes – Cleaning – repairing – or assembling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-08
2001-11-13
Lee, Kevin (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Processes
Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
C137S239000, C137S572000, C062S114000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314981
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for connecting at least one supply reservoir, such as a storage reservoir, to at least one receiving reservoir, such as a tank trunk, and a process for a transfer of fluid, in particular cryogenic fluid, between said supply and receiving reservoirs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known that the transfer of a fluid, particularly a cryogenic fluid, such as nitrogen, between a supply reservoir and a receiving reservoir is apt to give rise to more or less great pollution of the fluid thus transferred by impurities likely to be found in the connection means connecting the two reservoirs, and such as conduits and other flexible connection members.
For reasons of quality control, it is desirable to be able to minimize the pollution of the fluid transferred, by such impurities, in particular when the fluid is destined for uses requiring a high purity fluid, for example ultra-pure nitrogen destined to be used in the electronic field.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is thus to provide a process and a device permitting guaranteeing minimum contamination of a fluid during its transfer from a supply reservoir to a receiving reservoir or receiver, in particular a cryogenic fluid such as nitrogen.
The present invention thus relates to a device for connecting at least one supply reservoir to at least one receiving reservoir for the transfer of a fluid from said at least one supply reservoir to said at least one receiving reservoir, comprising at least one fluid transfer line comprising at least one member for connecting to said receiving reservoir; a valve for connecting to the atmosphere connected to the transfer line; and an analyzer connected to the transfer line.
As the case may be, the device according to the invention can comprise one or several of the following characteristics:
the analyzer is connected to the transfer line between the valve connected to the atmosphere and the first connection member of the transfer line;
the analyzer and the valve connected to the atmosphere are connected by a single connection to the transfer line;
at least the receiving reservoir is mobile, preferably selected from the group formed by tank trunks and tank cars;
at least one control valve for the flow of fluid is arranged in the transfer line, preferably said control valve for the flow of fluid is arranged between the supply reservoir and the valve connecting to the atmosphere.
The invention moreover relates to a process for purging at least one portion of a transfer line for fluid, connecting at least one supply reservoir to at least one receiving reservoir, said transfer line comprising at least one connection with a valve for connecting to the air and an analyzer connected to the transfer line between the valve connecting to the air and a first connecting member of the transfer line to the receiving reservoir, comprising at least:
a step of purging counter current the transfer line with the help of purge fluid from the receiving reservoir; and,
a step of determining the content of at least one impurity in the purge fluid.
According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a process for transferring a cryogenic fluid from at least one supply reservoir to at least one receiving reservoir, in which there is carried out a purge of at least a portion of a transfer line connecting said supply and receiving reservoirs according to a purge process as described above.
As the case may be, the process for transfer according to the invention can comprise one or several of the following characteristics:
the transfer of cryogenic fluid is begun for a purge fluid pressure greater than a predetermined pressure threshold and/or a content of impurities of the purge fluid below a predetermined threshold of impurities; said impurities threshold being in general a function of the nature of the fluid and of the standards to be observed, and can vary for example from several ppm to several ppb;
during the transfer of the cryogenic fluid, there is determined, preferably continuously, the content of at least one impurity of the cryogenic fluid thus transferred;
said cryogenic fluid is selected from the group consisting of rare gases, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen or their mixtures;
the impurities are in the group formed by C
0
2
, CO or their mixtures;
the predetermined pressure threshold is at least about 2×10
4
.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4856284 (1989-08-01), Mattiola et al.
patent: 5495875 (1996-03-01), Benning et al.
patent: 5681613 (1997-10-01), Hansen
patent: 5802859 (1998-09-01), Zugibe
patent: 0 463 265 (1992-01-01), None
patent: 2 219 373 (1974-09-01), None
Jullien Paul
Marnas Pierre
Mayzou Jean
Wallez Robert
L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l Etude et l'Explo
Lee Kevin
Young & Thompson
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