Heater for liquefied petroleum gas storage tank
US9523498B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 2015 |
| Grant date | Dec 20, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF17C2227/0386
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A catalytic tank heater includes a catalytic heating element supported on an LPG tank by a support structure that holds the element in a position facing the tank. Vapor from the tank is provided as fuel to the heating element, and is regulated to increase heat output as tank pressure drops. The heating element is internally separated into a pilot heater and a main heater, with respective separate fuel inlets. The pilot heater remains in continual operation, but the main heater is operated only while tank pressure is below a threshold. Operation of the pilot heater keeps a portion of the catalyst hot, so that, when tank pressure drops below the threshold, and fuel is supplied to the main heater, catalytic combustion quickly expands from the area surrounding the pilot heater to the remainder of the catalyst.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.