System, method and apparatus for modular, mobile rail fueling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11499678-B2
Application number	US-201715665904-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2017
Priority date	Aug 1, 2017
Publication date	Nov 15, 2022
Grant date	Nov 15, 2022

Abstract

A portable, modular fueling system for the storage, dispensing and offloading of fuel from a rail vehicle to one or more other fuel storage vessels is disclosed. The system module is self-contained on an ISO standardized intermodal platform. The module is capable of being in fluid communication with a plurality of modular storage vessels, either rail-bound or wayside, such as for delivering fuel to a fuel tender or a locomotive. Electrical power, equipment storage, lighting, and compressed air may be located on the intermodal rail car or in a support module, such as either ground-based or rail-mobile. Alternatively, the platform can be mounted to a trailer chassis, or affixed to a land-based foundation matching the standardized intermodal container footprint. Control of the fuel system is provided by automatic means with manual override.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for portable, modular fueling, the system comprising:
a platform configured for intermodal rail transport and interchangeably mounted to and removable from an unenclosed skid without directly handling a storage tank of the platform, the platform having a frame and the storage tank for fuel;
the unenclosed skid supporting the platform, the unenclosed skid configured to selectively couple to the storage tank or frame;
a fuel dispensing system integral with the unenclosed skid and detachably coupled to the storage tank; and
a cryogenic pump having a recirculation circuit configured to pre-cool the cryogenic pump before pumping, and the recirculation circuit is configured to return two-phase fuel to at least one of the storage tank and storage vessels,
wherein the unenclosed skid is configured for releasable mounting on an intermodal rail transport vehicle having a generator and an air compressor, and the storage tank is configured to be in fluid communication with one or more of the storage vessels to deliver fuel,
wherein the system is configured to simultaneously refuel two or more of the storage vessels.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to handle fuel in both a gaseous state and a liquid state.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to be interchangeably mounted to an intermodal rail transport vehicle comprising an intermodal well rail car capable of providing power, storage, lighting and compressed air.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to be interchangeably mounted to the intermodal transport vehicle comprising a trailer chassis or a land-based foundation, each having a footprint that matches a footprint of the intermodal rail transport vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to transfer fuel with at least one of a pump or differential pressure transfer.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the pump is configured to be submerged in fuel inside the storage tank.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises at least one pump for pumping fuel from the storage tank, and the pump is electrically or hydraulically powered.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises automatic controls with manual override for interfacing with the one or more storage vessels or other custody of transfer system.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the system comprises valves actuated by an electronic control unit, wherein a user makes connections and initiates an automated fueling event, the electronic control unit notifies the user when to remove the connections, and the electronic control unit monitors fuel levels of the storage tank and the one or more storage vessels.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprises one of liquid natural gas (LNG), compressed natural gas (CNG), diesel, gasoline, liquid hydrogen, liquid ethylene, propane, natural gas, heavy fuel oil, butane, ethane, acetylene, methanol, ethanol, diethyl ether or biodiesel.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the unenclosed skid has an intermodal footprint of 20, 40, 45, 48 or 53 feet.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the storage vessels comprise at least one of a locomotive, fuel tender, a road vehicle, a marine vessel, a permanent or a land-fixed storage vessel, rubber-tired storage vessel, freight truck, passenger bus, light car, truck, mining truck or equipment or aircraft.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is contained in a footprint of one intermodal well rail car.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the storage tank comprises a 40 foot or 48 foot ISO cryogenic tank.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to be in fluid communication with one or more on-site storage vessels to increase storage capacity, including mobile wheel-based storage devices or permanent land-fixed storage infrastructure.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to refuel one or more fuel tenders.

17. An apparatus for portable, modular liquid natural gas (LNG) fueling, the apparatus comprising:
an intermodal well rail car having an intermodal foot print, wherein the intermodal well rail car is configured to provide on-board fuel dispensing, power, storage, lighting and compressed air;
a platform comprising:
a frame; and
a cryogenic storage tank mounted to the frame;

an unenclosed skid having an integrated LNG dispensing system, wherein the unenclosed skid is configured to releasably couple to the cryogenic storage tank or frame, wherein the platform is interchangeably mounted to and removable from the unenclosed skid without directly handling the cryogenic storage tank of the platform; and
a cryogenic pump having a recirculation circuit configured to pre-cool the cryogenic pump before pumping, and the recirculation circuit is configured to return two-phase fuel to at least one of the cryogenic storage tank and storage vessels,
wherein the LNG dispensing system is configured to selectively couple to the cryogenic storage tank to deliver LNG fuel;
wherein the platform and unenclosed skid are disposed within the intermodal foot print and releasably mounted to the intermodal well rail car for intermodal rail transport,
wherein the system is configured to simultaneously refuel two or more of the storage vessels.

Assignees

• Bnsf Railway Co

Inventors

• Krueger Darrell
• Soles Joshua

Classifications

• F17C2205/0107

  Frames · CPC title

• F17C2225/044

  at several points, e.g. with a device for recondensing gas · CPC title

• F17C2201/054

  medium (>1 m3) · CPC title

• F17C2270/0173

  Railways · CPC title

• F17C2201/035

  with substantially horizontal main axis · CPC title