A compressed pressure vessel suitable for serving as construction element for building energy storage constructions thereof is described. The compressed pressure vessel comprises a first, inner, segment, wherein the inner segment comprises an inlet for filling or emptying the inner segment and wherein the inner segment is suitable for storing hydrogen, and a second, outer, segment, the outer segment adapted for being filled with a fluid, different from hydrogen, wherein the outer segment is substantially fully encompassing the inner segment.

Disclosed is a liquefied natural gas storage apparatus. The apparatus includes a heat insulated tank and liquefied natural gas contained in the tank. The tank has heat insulation sufficient to maintain liquefied natural gas therein such that most of the liquefied natural gas stays in liquid. The contained liquefied natural gas has a vapor pressure from about 0.3 bar to about 2 bar. The apparatus further includes a safety valve configured to release a part of liquefied natural gas contained in the tank when a vapor pressure of liquefied natural gas within the tank becomes higher than a cut-off pressure. The cut-off pressure is from about 0.3 bar to about 2 bar.

Disclosed is a liquefied natural gas storage apparatus. The apparatus includes a heat insulated tank and liquefied natural gas contained in the tank. The tank has heat insulation sufficient to maintain liquefied natural gas therein such that most of the liquefied natural gas stays in liquid. The contained liquefied natural gas has a vapor pressure from about 0.3 bar to about 2 bar. The apparatus further includes a safety valve configured to release a part of liquefied natural gas contained in the tank when a vapor pressure of liquefied natural gas within the tank becomes higher than a cut-off pressure. The cut-off pressure is from about 0.3 bar to about 2 bar.

A system for storing and transporting compressed natural gas includes source and destination facilities and a vehicle, each of which includes pressure vessels. The pressure vessels and gas therein may be maintained in a cold state by a carbon-dioxide-based refrigeration unit. Hydraulic fluid (and/or nitrogen) ballast may be used to fill the pressure vessels as the pressure vessels are emptied so as to maintain the pressure vessels in a substantially isobaric state that reduces vessel fatigue and lengthens vessel life. The pressure vessels may be hybrid vessels with carbon fiber and fiber glass wrappings. Dip tubes may extend into the pressure vessels to selectively expel/inject gas from/into the top of the vessels or hydraulic fluid from/into the bottom of the vessels. Impingement deflectors are disposed adjacent to the dip tubes inside the vessels to discourage fluid-induced erosion of vessel walls.

A system for storing and transporting compressed natural gas includes source and destination facilities and a vehicle, each of which includes pressure vessels. The pressure vessels and gas therein may be maintained in a cold state by a carbon-dioxide-based refrigeration unit. Hydraulic fluid (and/or nitrogen) ballast may be used to fill the pressure vessels as the pressure vessels are emptied so as to maintain the pressure vessels in a substantially isobaric state that reduces vessel fatigue and lengthens vessel life. The pressure vessels may be hybrid vessels with carbon fiber and fiber glass wrappings. Dip tubes may extend into the pressure vessels to selectively expel/inject gas from/into the top of the vessels or hydraulic fluid from/into the bottom of the vessels. Impingement deflectors are disposed adjacent to the dip tubes inside the vessels to discourage fluid-induced erosion of vessel walls.

The invention provides a tank feasible for cryogenic service and a method of building the tank. The tank comprises: an inner tank, thermal insulation, and an outer shell that is airtight, wherein the thermal insulation is arranged outside the inner tank and the outer shell is arranged outside the thermal insulation, further comprising a coupling through the outer shell, wherein a vacuum pump outside the tank can be coupled for suction of air and gas from the volume between the inner pressure tank and the outer shell, and further comprising an opening from outside the tank to inside the inner tank for loading and unloading of fluid, wherein the inner tank in operation contains fluid and the volume between the inner tank and the outer shell is at vacuum. The tank is distinguished in that: the thermal insulation comprises several block elements arranged side by side on the inner tank, with a gap in between the block elements, wherein the outer shell comprises several parts that have been joined together to cover the whole outer surface of the insulation, wherein parts of the outer shell covering an insulation block element have shape matching the insulation block element shape and parts of the outer shell covering the gaps between the block elements have inward or outward oriented curved shape if seen in cross section along the respective gaps and are flexible by contracting or stretching the curved shape.

The invention provides a tank feasible for cryogenic service and a method of building the tank. The tank comprises: an inner tank, thermal insulation, and an outer shell that is airtight, wherein the thermal insulation is arranged outside the inner tank and the outer shell is arranged outside the thermal insulation, further comprising a coupling through the outer shell, wherein a vacuum pump outside the tank can be coupled for suction of air and gas from the volume between the inner pressure tank and the outer shell, and further comprising an opening from outside the tank to inside the inner tank for loading and unloading of fluid, wherein the inner tank in operation contains fluid and the volume between the inner tank and the outer shell is at vacuum. The tank is distinguished in that: the thermal insulation comprises several block elements arranged side by side on the inner tank, with a gap in between the block elements, wherein the outer shell comprises several parts that have been joined together to cover the whole outer surface of the insulation, wherein parts of the outer shell covering an insulation block element have shape matching the insulation block element shape and parts of the outer shell covering the gaps between the block elements have inward or outward oriented curved shape if seen in cross section along the respective gaps and are flexible by contracting or stretching the curved shape.

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.

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.

A transport refrigeration unit (TRU) system is provided for use with a refrigerated cargo system. The TRU system includes a fuel cell configured to generate power for the TRU so that the TRU can refrigerate an interior compartment of the refrigerated cargo system, a cryo-compressed fuel tank to store a supply of cryo-compressed hydrogen, a heat exchanger and a conduit system configured to transport the cryo-compressed hydrogen from the cryo-compressed fuel tank, through the heat exchanger for promoting refrigeration of the interior compartment, and to the fuel cell.