Automated cylinder transfill system and method

• Main Authors: MATTIOLA; PAUL A, VANOMMEREN; JAMES
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 21.11.1989
• Subjects: BLASTING; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED,LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; STORING OF DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS; VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED ORSOLIDIFIED GASES; WEAPONS

A system and method for loading liquid gases into a container includes supplying substance to a pump simultaneously with the evacuation of the container for cooling the pump down during evacuation and starting the pump motor when the pump has reached a low temperature determined in accordance with the pressure of the substance storage tank. An analyzer for detecting the presence of contaminants is coupled to the evacuation line in fluid communication with the substance removed from the cylinders. Cavitation during the loading operation is detected by monitoring the flow of substance from the pump. A plurality of containers of differing sizes are loaded simultaneously on the same manifold. An isolation valve is provided in the manifold for terminating flow of substance to smaller containers when the smaller containers are full while permitting substance to continue to flow to larger containers coupled to the manifold.