West Virginia Patent of the Month – April 2021
Natural gas can be transported either in its normal gaseous state through pipelines, or as a cryogenic liquified state on ships or trucks. To be transported the latter way, the natural gas is first liquified – a process which reduces the volume by a factor of 600. This incredibly reduced volume makes large volume transport easier. This transportation process involves transfer of the cryogenic liquids from a pipeline to a specialty tank for holding. During this transfer, a sample of the liquid natural gas (LNG) is taken to determine the energy value of the product. This LNG is traditionally analyzed using gas chromatographs, after being reverted back to a gaseous state.This sample is usually analyzed off-site which means it must be stored without loss or phase change. Mustang Sampling, LLC has designed an improved cryogenic liquid sampling device, capable of extracting and storing liquid samples for later analysis.
The system is made of a constant pressure container connected to a sampling device with a sealed chamber. A pump pulls the cryogenic LNG through the chamber into the pressure container. These samples will warm throughout the process, losing their cryogenic status but remaining liquid. The constant pressure and temperature are adjustable to make it work appropriately for varying sample sizes which can also be controlled. The chamber uses a vacuum port to evacuate any extra air from the chamber, creating a vacuum and helping to maintain temperature. The sample container can then be safely transported or stored for later analysis.
Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.
Who We Are:
Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.
Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative