KR-20260064945-A - RELIQUEFACTION SYSTEM AND SHIP HAVING THE SAME

KR20260064945AKR 20260064945 AKR20260064945 AKR 20260064945AKR-20260064945-A

Abstract

A reliquefaction system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include: a plurality of compressor units connected in parallel to a first storage tank and a second storage tank through a plurality of distribution lines; a plurality of seawater heat exchangers individually arranged downstream of the plurality of compressor units; a plurality of condensers individually arranged downstream of the plurality of seawater heat exchangers; and a plurality of common rails connecting the plurality of compressor units, the plurality of seawater heat exchangers, and the plurality of condensers.

Inventors

장대우
최혜성
박종완
박청기
김샘
장경민

Assignees

에이치디한국조선해양 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date: 20260508
Application Date: 20241030

Claims (12)

A plurality of compressor units connected in parallel to a first storage tank and a second storage tank through a plurality of distribution lines; A plurality of seawater heat exchangers individually arranged downstream of the plurality of compressor units above; A plurality of condensers individually arranged downstream of the plurality of seawater heat exchangers; and It includes a plurality of common rails connecting the plurality of compressor units, the plurality of seawater heat exchangers, and the plurality of condensers. Each seawater heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between seawater and a fluid compressed by a compressor unit, and A reliquefaction system configured such that each condenser exchanges heat between a fluid compressed by at least one compressor unit and a refrigerant compressed by another compressor unit.
In claim 1, The above plurality of common rails are, A first upstream common rail positioned upstream of the plurality of compressor units and connected to the first evaporative gas line of the first storage tank; A second upstream common rail positioned upstream of the plurality of compressor units and connected to the second evaporative gas line of the second storage tank; A first downstream common rail disposed downstream of the plurality of compressor units and connected to the first water line of the first storage tank; and A reliquefaction system comprising: a second downstream common rail disposed downstream of the plurality of compressor units and connected to the second collection line of the second storage tank.
In claim 2, A plurality of distribution lines are connected in parallel to the first and second upstream common rails and the first and second downstream common rails, and A re-liquefaction system in which the above plurality of compressor units are individually arranged in the above plurality of distribution lines.
In claim 1, Each seawater heat exchanger is a reliquefaction system comprising a fluid passage through which fluid passes and a seawater passage through which seawater passes.
In claim 1, Each condenser is a reliquefaction system comprising a fluid passage through which a fluid passes and a refrigerant passage through which a refrigerant passes.
In claim 5, The above plurality of common rails are, A first intermediate common rail positioned upstream of the refrigerant passage of the plurality of condensers above; A second intermediate common rail positioned downstream of the refrigerant passage of the plurality of condensers; and A re-liquefaction system comprising: a third intermediate common rail positioned upstream of a plurality of compressor units and connected to the second intermediate common rail.
In claim 6, A re-liquefaction system in which a plurality of refrigerant lines are connected in parallel to the first intermediate common rail and the second intermediate common rail, and each refrigerant line is fluidly connected to the refrigerant passage of the corresponding condenser.
In claim 1, A reliquefaction system further comprising a plurality of expansion valves individually disposed downstream of the plurality of condensers.
In claim 1, A re-liquefaction system further comprising a plurality of pressure reducing valves individually disposed upstream of the plurality of compressor units.
In claim 9, A re-liquefaction system further comprising a plurality of gas-liquid separators individually arranged upstream of the plurality of pressure reducing valves.
In claim 1, A reliquefaction system comprising a refrigerant cycle formed by connecting at least one compressor unit among the plurality of compressor units, at least one seawater heat exchanger among the plurality of seawater heat exchangers, and at least one condenser among the plurality of condensers in a closed loop.
A vessel comprising a reliquefaction system according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

Description

Reliquefaction System and Ship Having the Same The present invention relates to a reliquefaction system and a ship including the same, and more specifically, to a reliquefaction system capable of efficiently reliquefying evaporated gas generated in a storage tank and a ship including the same. Liquefied gas is gas that has been converted into a liquid state through compression or cooling; as it changes into a liquid state, its volume decreases, making storage and transportation easier. Multi-gas carriers are configured to simultaneously transport various types of liquefied gases, such as low-temperature liquefied gases (propane, ammonia, LPG, etc.) and cryogenic liquefied gases (ethane, butane, carbon dioxide, etc.). A multi-gas carrier has multiple storage tanks for storing various types of liquefied gases. As a portion of the liquefied gas naturally evaporates and vaporizes within each storage tank, evaporated gas is generated. Accordingly, the multi-gas carrier includes a reliquefaction system configured to reliquefy the evaporated gas generated from the multiple storage tanks. The existing reliquefaction system includes three compressor units that compress evaporated gas and three refrigerant cycle units, and by thermally connecting one compressor unit to one refrigerant cycle unit to form a single reliquefaction unit, the existing reliquefaction system includes three reliquefaction units. Of the three reliquefaction units, two operate continuously, and one is used as a spare in case of failure. Each refrigerant cycle unit includes a refrigerant compressor that compresses the refrigerant. As such, existing reliquefaction systems have the disadvantage of increased manufacturing costs due to the inclusion of three refrigerant compressors and three compressor units. In addition, existing reliquefaction systems have the disadvantage that flexible use of the three compressor units and three refrigerant cycles is impossible because each refrigerant cycle is thermally connected only to its corresponding compressor unit, and the three compressor units and three refrigerant cycles are not compatible with each other. The matters described in this background technology section are written to enhance understanding of the background of the invention and may include matters that are not prior art already known to those skilled in the art to which this technology belongs. FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a re-liquefaction system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the plurality of compressor units, plurality of seawater heat exchangers, plurality of condensers, and plurality of expansion valves shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a first operational example of a re-liquefaction system according to the embodiments of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a second operation example of a re-liquefaction system according to the embodiments of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating a third operational example of a re-liquefaction system according to the embodiments of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a fourth operational example of a re-liquefaction system according to the embodiments of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a re-liquefaction system according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the plurality of compressor units, plurality of seawater heat exchangers, plurality of condensers, and plurality of expansion valves shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating a first operational example of a re-liquefaction system according to the embodiments of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating a second operational example of a re-liquefaction system according to the embodiments of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. It should be noted that in assigning reference numerals to the components of each drawing, the same components are given the same reference numeral whenever possible, even if they are shown in different drawings. Furthermore, in describing the embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known components or functions would hinder understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, such detailed description is omitted. In describing the components of the embodiments of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc., may be used. These terms are used merely to distinguish the components from other components, and the essence, order, or sequence of the components is not limited by the terms used. In an embodiment of the present invention, the singular form may include the plural form unless specifically mentioned in the text, and when described as "at least one of A and B and C (or more than one)," it may include one or more of all combinations that