Engie has been granted a patent for a device that transfers fluid from a supply tank to a receiver tank. The device includes pipes for loading the receiver tank with liquid and returning the gas to the supply tank. The gas return pipe has a pressure regulation system with an expansion member and a valve to control gas circulation. GlobalData’s report on Engie gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Engie, Fiber-reinforced material joining techniques was a key innovation area identified from patents. Engie's grant share as of September 2023 was 48%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

A device for transferring liquefied gas between tanks

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: Engie SA

A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11761588B2) describes a device for transferring liquefied gas from a supply tank to a receiving tank, with at least one of the structures being a floating structure. The device includes pipes for loading the receiving tank with liquid and returning the gas from the receiving tank to the supply tank. The gas return pipe features a pressure regulation system with an expansion member and a parallel branch equipped with a valve for controlling gas circulation.

The device also incorporates a control device that operates the valve based on the first pressure measured on the gas return pipe. When the first pressure exceeds a safety threshold, the valve remains closed, and the gas passes through the expansion member. Conversely, when the first pressure is lower than or equal to the safety threshold, the valve opens to allow gas circulation.

The expansion member in the device can be mechanically controlled and is responsible for managing the gas's inlet pressure and setting the gas outlet pressure within specific ranges. The valve allows gas circulation in the second branch up to a certain pressure value, which is higher than the inlet pressure but lower than the outlet pressure.

The gas return pipe may also include a pressure control valve between the pressure regulation system and the supply tank. This valve manages the inlet pressure and sets the gas outlet pressure within defined ranges. Additionally, a safety device may be present between the receiving tank and the pressure regulation system, interrupting gas circulation in the pipe if the gas pressure exceeds certain safety thresholds.

The patent also covers a structure that incorporates the described device for transferring fluid and at least one supply or receiving tank for containing liquefied gas. Furthermore, a system for loading liquid natural gas is mentioned, combining the described structure with a receiving tank and at least one supply tank, with one of the structures being a floating structure.

Lastly, the patent includes a method for transferring liquid natural gas using the described device. The method involves keeping the valve closed when the first pressure measured on the gas return pipe exceeds the safety threshold, causing the gas to pass through the expansion member. Conversely, when the first pressure is lower than or equal to the safety threshold, the valve is kept open to allow gas circulation.

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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.