EN
IT

The invention consists of a closed-circuit LNG regasification plant used by land vehicles capable of recovering energy that can be converted into work from the cold resource, corresponding to 8-10% of the heating power of the fuel.

Patent Status

PENDING

Priority Number

102017000117283

Priority Date

17/10/2017

License

ITALY

Market

The patent enjoys an extended territorial scope of protection and resides on a much improved technology compared to market standards: being able to interface with the currently most widespread technologies, the marketability of the invention lies in its ability to integrate with the systems currently already installed on means of transport of goods and people.

Problem

The energy efficiency of road transport vehicles is an expensive and constantly evolving process; the land transport sector is still very far from being replaced with completely different technologies (eg capillary rail transport) or rapidly innovated by the diffusion of completely alternative propulsion methods. From this point of view, the patented technology allows an immediate improvement of the energy efficiency of the means of transport currently on the market and powered (also) by LNG, so as to constitute a reasonable bridge between the short and long-term objectives in terms of energy improvement for implement green transport still anchored to traditional methods.

Current Technology Limitations

Current technologies suffer from two significant limits: the first is the volumetric size of the cold storage containers, while the second is given by the current need to implement the recovery of the cold from the regasification of LNG with a cryogenic exchanger with a high temperature difference, and thus to be able to serve the utilities to be supplied (eg cabin air conditioning, propulsive charge cooling, etc.). The patented invention solves these limits, respectively, with the use of more compact construction materials and with the insertion of an intermediate reverse cycle.

Killer Application

The product that implements the patent is intended for manufacturers of vehicles or components in the automotive sector, in particular for the market of vehicles for the transport of goods or people, and therefore truck and bus manufacturers.

Our Technology and Solution

The invention consists of a closed-circuit LNG regasification plant used by land vehicles capable of recovering energy that can be converted into work starting from the cold resource, corresponding to 8-10% of the heating power of the fuel. The patented system practices the accumulation of cold which characterizes the physical state of the LNG to be regasified. The accumulated cold can be used by the various utilities present on a commercial vehicle, such as cold rooms, air conditioning systems, engine performance improvement devices (e.g. postcoolers). Since this is a system connected with information relating to the vehicle’s load, its route and traffic conditions,

This green technology therefore allows the best use of the fuels currently used by numerous land transport fleets of people and things, immediately implementing phenomena of energy improvement far from coming in the expectation of fully industrialized and scalable new technologies.

Vantaggi

  • Energy efficiency;
  • Consumption reduction.

Roadmap

The current TRL of the technology is 3 and R&D activities are still ongoing to validate the inventions in laboratory scenarios and relevant environments. Against a grant or in the event of a partnership, with or without the licensing of the technology, the technology is able to rapidly reach TRL 9 (Time to market in approx.  18 months).

1. Research funding / partner for R&D of TRL raising

2. Licensing / exit to construction and manufacturing companies

prefabricated;

3. Expected impact: energy improvement of means of freight / people transport.

Review the Technology
TRL 1
TRL 1
Basic Principles
Basic principles tested
TRL 2
TRL 2
Formulation
Technology concept formulated
TRL 3
TRL 3
Proof of concept
Experimental proof of concept
TRL 4
TRL 4
Laboratory Prototype
Technology validated in lab
TRL 5
TRL 5
Prototype tested on pilot-scale/large-scale
Technology validated in relevant environment (industrially relevant environment in the case of key enabling technologies)
TRL 6
TRL 6
Commercial prototype
Technology demonstrated in relevant environment (industrially relevant environment in the case of key enabling technologies)
TRL 7
TRL 7
Real world validation
System prototype demonstration in operational/real-world environment
TRL 8
TRL 8
First complete and commercial product
System complete and qualified
TRL 9
TRL 9
Full commercial application
Actual system proven in commercial environment (competitive manufacturing in the case of key enabling technologies; or in space)

TRL

Team

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