Abrégé

An aquatic energy storage system (110) is provided for selectably storing and releasing energy. The aquatic energy storage system (110) comprises a buoyant support element (114) submersible below a surface of a body of water (12). The energy storage system (110) also comprises an elongate support element (158) extending from the buoyant support element (114); a platform element (160) spaced-apart from the buoyant support element (114)and which is at or adjacent to the elongate support element (158), so as to at least in part mitigate the effect of waves and/or currents on the aquatic energy storage system (110). The energy storage system (110) also has geostationary location means (116) for geostationarily or substantially geostationarily maintaining one or a plurality of positions of the buoyant support element (114) when sited in the body of water (12). A winch mechanism (118) supportable by the platform element and having a flexible elongate element (144) is provided. The storage system (110) also has a mass element (120) connectable to the flexible elongate element (144); and an electricity generation means (122) which is associated with the winch mechanism (118) for generating electricity based on an in-use vertical or substantially vertical translation of the mass element (120) under gravity into the body of water when the winch mechanism (118) unspools the flexible elongate element (144). The flexible elongate element (144) extends from the buoyant support element (114) such that the flexible elongate element (144) and the mass element (120) together form a stabilisation element for stabilising the in-use aquatic energy storage system in a predetermined orientation and for biasing the aquatic energy storage system (110) towards the predetermined orientation when the aquatic energy storage system (110) is displaced therefrom. At least one of the buoyant support element, elongate support element, geostationary location means, and platform element forms an artificial tidal habitat; and at least one growth promotor associated with the artificial tidal habitat is configured to promote the growth of a marine organism thereon.

Classes IPC  ?

• F03B 13/00 - Adaptations des "machines" ou machines motrices pour une utilisation particulièreCombinaisons des "machines" ou machines motrices avec les appareils entraînés ou qu'ils entraînentCentrales électriques ou ensembles machine-appareil
• F03G 3/00 - Autres mécanismes moteurs, p. ex. mécanismes moteurs à gravité ou inertie

Abrégé

An integrated sampling probe, valve and vaporiser (16) for a liquefied natural gas container is provided which comprises a vaporiser body (24) having a vaporisation chamber (66), a fluid inlet (40) in communication with the vaporisation chamber (66), a fluid outlet (58), and a vaporised- fluid flow path extending from the vaporisation chamber (66) to the fluid outlet (58). The fluid inlet (40) is formed as a critical orifice dimensioned to enable vaporisation of fluid passing into the vaporisation chamber (66), and there is a valve member (63) which is drivable to open and close the critical orifice, along with a heating assembly (50) for heating the valve member (63) to enable vaporisation of fluid passing through the critical orifice and into the vaporisation chamber (66). A sampling probe body (18) is also provided extending from the vaporiser body (24), the sampling probe body (18) having a sampling bore (36) which is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet (40).

Classes IPC  ?

• B01B 1/00 - ÉbullitionAppareils à ébullition en vue d'applications physiques ou chimiques
• G01N 1/44 - Traitement d'échantillons mettant en œuvre un rayonnement, p. ex. de la chaleur
• G01N 33/22 - CombustiblesExplosifs
• G01N 1/20 - Dispositifs pour prélever des échantillons à l'état liquide ou fluide pour matériau coulant ou s'éboulant
• G01N 1/40 - Concentration des échantillons
• F16K 49/00 - Moyens portés par ou sur les soupapes pour chauffer ou refroidir

Abrégé

A fluid monitoring system (10) is suitable for the monitoring of liquefied natural gas in a pipe section (12), via insertion of a fluid-monitoring probe(14) into a port (16). The fluid-monitoring probe (14) is at least partially covered by a support structure (18), and a fluid-directing baffle (20) is mounted thereon to redirect fluid flow from the main liquefied gas flow to a secondary passage through the support structure.

Classes IPC  ?

• F17D 3/01 - Dispositions pour la surveillance ou la commande des opérations de fonctionnement pour commander, signaler ou surveiller le transfert d'un produit
• F17D 3/10 - Dispositions pour la surveillance ou la commande des opérations de fonctionnement pour extraire le produit sur le parcours

Abrégé

A method of vapourising a sample of liquefied natural gas so as to retain the proportions of components of the liquefied natural gas on vapourisation, the method comprising the steps of: introducing liquefied natural gas into a liquid inlet (112) of a liquefied natural gas vapouriser (110); vapourising the liquefied natural gas at a vapourisation element (134) of the liquid inlet (112); and directing vapourised liquefied natural gas into a vapourisation conduit portion (120) directly after the liquid inlet, the vapourisation conduit portion (120) having a fall, thereby encouraging vapourised liquid natural gas to be directed against a flow direction of liquid or liquid-gas phase natural gas in the vapourisation conduit portion to encourage remixing of the vapourised liquid natural gas and liquid or liquid-gas phase natural gas A liquefied natural gas vapouriser (110) suitable for the above method is also provided.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 1/20 - Dispositifs pour prélever des échantillons à l'état liquide ou fluide pour matériau coulant ou s'éboulant
• G01N 1/44 - Traitement d'échantillons mettant en œuvre un rayonnement, p. ex. de la chaleur

Abrégé

A fluid monitoring system (10) for the monitoring of liquid natural gas in a portion of pipe section (12), via insertion of a fluid-monitoring probe apparatus (14) into an access port (16). The fluid-monitoring probe apparatus (14) comprises a proximal probe body part (20) engagable with the access port (16) via an inlet element (23) thereof. A cooling-fluid channel (26) at or adjacent to the proximal probe body part (20) enables liquid natural gas to pass therethrough to cool the proximal probe body part (20) and the associated portion of a liquid-natural-gas sampling passage (22).

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 1/20 - Dispositifs pour prélever des échantillons à l'état liquide ou fluide pour matériau coulant ou s'éboulant
• G01N 1/42 - Traitement à basse température des échantillons, p. ex. cryofixation
• F17D 3/10 - Dispositions pour la surveillance ou la commande des opérations de fonctionnement pour extraire le produit sur le parcours
• G01N 1/10 - Dispositifs pour prélever des échantillons à l'état liquide ou fluide
• G01N 1/22 - Dispositifs pour prélever des échantillons à l'état gazeux

Abrégé

A calibration fluid container and/or sample fluid container10for fluid containment and which comprises a container body (12) formed from at least first and second mutually engagable container body portions (14). Each container body portion (14) has an internal surface (8) which defines an inner volume. A fluid chamber (38) being devoid of threads and having a smoothed and passivated contiguous chamber surface when in an engaged condition is defined. The container (10) further comprises a fluid port (32) in fluid communication with the fluid chamber (38), the or each said fluid port (32) having a fluid-flow opening on the internal surface of the respective container body portion (14). A method of manufacturing and/or method of reducing dead-space/flow disturbance in such a container is also provided.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 33/00 - Recherche ou analyse des matériaux par des méthodes spécifiques non couvertes par les groupes
• B01L 3/00 - Récipients ou ustensiles pour laboratoires, p. ex. verrerie de laboratoireCompte-gouttes

Abrégé

A fluid container (10) for fluid containment. The internal surface of the container body (12) defines a fluid-containment chamber (14), which has at least one fluid inlet and/or outlet port (18). Associated with at least one fluid inlet and/or outlet port (18), there is a fluid-flow control device, having a control body (16)integrally formed with the container body (12) as one piece.

Classes IPC  ?

• F17C 1/00 - Récipients sous pression, p. ex. bouteilles de gaz, réservoirs de gaz, cartouches échangeables