Patent classifications
F17C5/00
INTELLIGENT FUEL STORAGE SYSTEM
An intelligent fuel storage system can consist of a storage pod connected to a storage module with the storage pod having a plurality of separate storage vessels each residing below a ground level. The storage pod may concurrently store a first volume of a first fuel and a second volume of a second fuel prior to altering the first and second volumes in accordance with a performance strategy generated by the storage module to provide a predetermined blend of the first fuel and second fuel with at least a threshold volume and at least a threshold pressure.
PRESSURIZED GAS TANK COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO CYLINDERS CONNECTED BY A RAIL
A pressurized gas tank comprises at least two cylinders and a rail capable of fluidly connecting the at least two cylinders. At least one cylinder includes a base for connection to the rail. The rail includes at least one reception area of a shape substantially complementary to a shape of the base. The base has a shape substantially revolutionary about a first axis and comprises a number at least equal to n of angularly equidistant tapped holes . The at least one reception area comprises a number equal to n of ports, in the form of an arc of a circle, angularly equidistant, of width substantially equal, by greater value, to a diameter of a tapped hole and of angular extent substantially equal to 360°/n.
PRESSURIZED GAS TANK COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO CYLINDERS CONNECTED BY A RAIL
A pressurized gas tank comprises at least two cylinders and a rail capable of fluidly connecting the at least two cylinders. At least one cylinder includes a base for connection to the rail. The rail includes at least one reception area of a shape substantially complementary to a shape of the base. The base has a shape substantially revolutionary about a first axis and comprises a number at least equal to n of angularly equidistant tapped holes . The at least one reception area comprises a number equal to n of ports, in the form of an arc of a circle, angularly equidistant, of width substantially equal, by greater value, to a diameter of a tapped hole and of angular extent substantially equal to 360°/n.
Refueling adapter for an alternative fuel vehicle and method for refueling
A refueling adapter for an alternative fuel vehicle includes a first filling port that is fluidly coupled to an inlet nozzle of a fuel tank of the alternative fuel vehicle. The first filling port is configured to fit an inlet nozzle of a first dispensing type. A second filling port fluidly coupled to a dispenser nozzle of an alternative fuel dispenser. The second filling port is configured to fit a dispenser nozzle of a second dispensing type, the second dispensing type being different from the first dispensing type. An adapter controller is configured to communicate with a vehicle fueling system of the alternative fuel vehicle and a valve providing a fluid connection between the first filling port and the second filling port and is operated by the adapter controller to selectively open and close the fluid connection.
HYDROGEN GAS FILLING DEVICE
An emergency breakaway coupling, which is a disconnect coupling, is configured such that a first coupler and a second coupler thereof are connected under normal conditions and the first coupler and the second coupler are disconnected during an emergency. A disconnect detecting device includes a detecting piece and a moving piece that are arranged in the emergency breakaway coupling. The disconnect detecting device detects the disconnect of the emergency breakaway coupling due to the movement of the moving piece from the detecting piece. The detecting piece and the moving piece are arranged in the emergency breakaway coupling such that a moving direction O2-O2 of the moving piece moving from the detecting piece is in parallel with a disconnecting direction O1-O1 of the first coupler disconnecting from the second coupler.
Hydrogen fueling station communication
Fueling verification systems and methods for corroboration of vehicle fueling are described herein. The systems and methods provide for verifiable transmission of data collected from a remote source to assure data integrity and maintain proper fuel transmission as part of vehicle fueling. The systems and methods can include collecting a first fuel measure for a fueling process from a delivery source. A second fuel measure can be recorded into a blockchain. The second fuel measure for the fueling process can be received from a recipient source. Then, the first fuel measure and the second fuel measure can be correlated to determine a fueling offset. Then, the delivery source and/or the recipient source can be compensated based on the fueling offset.
Filling apparatus
A filling apparatus that does not significantly reduce a required pressure immediately after a start of hydrogen filling, and can reliably fill fuel cell vehicles and the like. The filling apparatus (100) includes a control unit (10), and the control unit (10) has a function of boosting pressure required from a hydrogen filling apparatus (100) to a rear facility (200) until initial pressure measurement is completed. The control unit (10) may have a function of determining whether or not communication filling is established, and when communication filling is established, setting a pressure higher than an internal pressure of a tank received from a vehicle side by a predetermined pressure (for example, 5 MPa) as a pressure required for the rear facility (200) at an initial stage of filling.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSPORTING FUEL AND CARBON DIOXIDE IN A DUAL FLUID VESSEL
Embodiments of systems and methods for transporting fuel and carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) in a dual-fluid vessel thereby minimizing transportation between locations are disclosed. In an embodiment, the dual-fluid vessel has an outer shell with two or more inner compartments, positioned within the outer shell, including a first inner compartment for storing CO.sub.2 and a second inner compartment for storing fuel. The dual-fluid vessel may connect or attach to a transportation vehicle to thereby allow transportation of the fuel and CO.sub.2. Insulation may provide temperature regulation for the fuel and CO.sub.2 when positioned in the respective first and second inner compartments. One or more ports having an opening in and through the outer shell and a fluid pathway to one or more of the first inner compartment or the second inner compartment may provide fluid communication through the opening and fluid pathway for loading/offloading the fuel and/or CO.sub.2.
METHOD OF CONTROLLING HYDROGEN FILLING APPARATUS AND HYDROGEN FILLING APPARATUS
A method of controlling a hydrogen filling apparatus for filling a hydrogen tank of a vehicle with hydrogen includes estimating a temperature of hydrogen inside the hydrogen tank during filling of the hydrogen tank with hydrogen, predicting that overheating of hydrogen inside the hydrogen tank will occur before the hydrogen tank is fully filled, if the estimated temperature of hydrogen inside the hydrogen tank becomes higher than a determination curve, and, if it is predicted that the overheating will occur, suppressing a filling speed of hydrogen so as to be lower than before it is predicted that the overheating will occur.
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FILLING PRESSURIZED GAS TANKS
Device for filling pressurized gas tanks, in particular hydrogen tanks of vehicles, comprising a fluid transfer circuit having an upstream end connected to a plurality of sources (2 to 10) of pressurized fluid and a downstream end comprising at least one dispenser intended to be connected to a tank to be filled, the sources (2 to 10) being connected in parallel to the at least one dispenser, each source (2 to 10) comprising a fluid outlet connected to a respective outlet valve (22 to 30), the sources (2 to 10) being connected in parallel in different subgroups to respective transfer lines (35 to 37), i.e. all the sources of a same subgroup are connected in parallel to a dedicated transfer line (35 to 37), each of several subgroups and preferably all subgroups of sources comprising multiple sources, the transfer lines (35 to 37) being connected in parallel to the at least one dispenser and each comprising a respective transfer valve (32 to 34), the at least one dispenser comprising a set of control valve(s), the at least one dispenser and its set of control valve(s) being dimensioned so as to transfer a predetermined maximum filling gas flow, the outlet valves (22-30), the transfer lines (35-37) and the transfer valves (32-34) being dimensioned so as to transfer a maximum transfer gas flow which is smaller than the maximum filling gas flow, the sum of a plurality of maximum transfer gas flows provided by a plurality of outlet valves (22-30) and a plurality of transfer lines (35-37) being greater than or equal to the maximum filling gas flow.