A method and system for forming a compressed gas and dispensing it to a compressed gas receiver. The compressed gas is formed from a process fluid provided at a cryogenic temperature. The forming includes pressurizing the process fluid, feeding the pressurized process fluid at still a cryogenic temperature to a heat exchanger and heating it in indirect heat exchange with a thermal fluid which is provided in a reservoir at a thermal fluid temperature above the cryogenic temperature of the pressurized process fluid. Once heated to a suitable temperature the compressed gas may be dispensed to the compressed gas receiver or stored in one or more compressed gas storage vessels for later use.

The invention relates to a device for supplying a gaseous fuel to an engine that comprises a gas accumulator for receiving highly pressurized gaseous fuel, a gas buffer for receiving medium pressurized gaseous fuel, a gas supply device for delivering a gaseous fuel into an engine combustion space, a first gas line that connects the gas accumulator to the gas buffer and whose gas flow can be regulated via a first valve, a second gas line that connects the gas accumulator to the gas buffer and whose gas flow can be regulated via a second valve, and a third gas line that connects the gas buffer to the gas supply device. The device is further characterized in that a compressor is arranged in the second gas line to increase a pressure of a gaseous fuel flowing from the gas accumulator to the gas buffer.

An apparatus to refuel a vessel with cryo-compressed hydrogen is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a refueler controller configured to defuel the vessel prior to a refuel process based on a pressure of the vessel; fill a mixing tank with at least the cryo-compressed hydrogen based on the pressure of the vessel and a pressure of the mixing tank, wherein the mixing tank is connected upstream of the vessel and is structured to include the cryo-compressed hydrogen; initiate the refuel process of the vessel; adjust a temperature of the mixing tank in response to a temperature of the vessel not satisfying a target temperature of the vessel during the refuel process, wherein the temperature of the mixing tank is to be adjusted based on an increase or a decrease of flow of supercritical hydrogen; and end the refuel process in response to the pressure of the vessel satisfying a target pressure of the vessel.

A flow control panel is configured to control a flow of fuel from a storage bank to a dispenser. The flow control panel includes input and output flow controllers, and input and output ports, each output port coupled to a respective dispenser port. Each output flow controller is coupled to a respective input port and a respective output port, and is configured to enable the flow of fuel from the input port and the output port. A processor is configured to control the input flow controllers and the output flow controllers. The processor is coupled to a memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to: receive a desired fuel pressure value from a dispenser; receive indications of fuel pressures within each of the storage banks; select a desired storage bank having the lowest fuel pressure among the storage banks that have fuel pressures greater than the desired fuel pressure; and activate a desired input port and a desired output port to enable fluid flow from the desired storage bank to the dispenser.

A flow control panel is configured to control a flow of fuel from a storage bank to a dispenser. The flow control panel includes input and output flow controllers, and input and output ports, each output port coupled to a respective dispenser port. Each output flow controller is coupled to a respective input port and a respective output port, and is configured to enable the flow of fuel from the input port and the output port. A processor is configured to control the input flow controllers and the output flow controllers. The processor is coupled to a memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to: receive a desired fuel pressure value from a dispenser; receive indications of fuel pressures within each of the storage banks; select a desired storage bank having the lowest fuel pressure among the storage banks that have fuel pressures greater than the desired fuel pressure; and activate a desired input port and a desired output port to enable fluid flow from the desired storage bank to the dispenser.

A method and a precooling system are provided for precooling gaseous fuel supplied for fueling pressurized gaseous vehicle onboard storage tank systems. The precooling system is used in pressurized gaseous fueling stations with source fuels in cryogenic state, such as liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquefied nature gas (LNG). A thermal buffer heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger medium, and a cold loop and a warm loop contained in the heat exchanger medium. A control unit is configured for controlling cryogenic fuel supplied to the cold loop for cooling the thermal buffer heat exchanger. The thermal buffer heat exchanger enables precooling high pressure gaseous fuel to a preset temperature supplied to a dispenser supplying high pressure gaseous fuel to refuel a vehicle onboard storage tank system.

According to at least one aspect, a hydrogen gas dispensing system is provided. The hydrogen gas dispensing system includes a source configured to provide a hydrogen gas, a storage device configured to store the hydrogen gas up to a first pressure level, a dispenser configured to dispense the hydrogen gas up to a second pressure level that is higher than the first pressure level, and a compressor configured to compress the hydrogen gas from the source up to the first pressure level for storage in the storage device and configured to compress the hydrogen gas from the storage device up to the second pressure level for dispensing via the dispenser. According to at least one aspect, the dispensing system comprises an input power port configured to receive input power and an output power port configured to deliver output power derived from the input power to charge an electric vehicle.

A fuel extraction system for extracting a gaseous fuel from a fuel tank. The fuel extraction system includes a conveying device which is configured to convey gaseous fuel and to bring it from a first pressure level to a second pressure level, a first line which is configured to connect the conveying device fluidically to the interior of the fuel tank, a buffer tank which is configured to store the fuel at the second pressure level, and which has a first outlet and a second outlet, at least one valve with a pneumatic actuating device, and a second line which is connected to the first outlet of the buffer tank and is configured to conduct a part of the fuel at the second pressure level to the pneumatic actuating device of the at least one valve. Furthermore, a fuel tank apparatus and a fuel cell system are described.

Device for storing and for supplying fluid fuel, comprising a reservoir of liquefied fuel gas in equilibrium with a gas phase, in particular hydrogen, a circuit for filling the reservoir, at least one circuit for tapping fluid from the reservoir, and at least one circuit for regulating the pressure in the reservoir, the filling circuit, tapping circuit and pressure-regulating circuit comprising a set of valves arranged in a housing separate from the reservoir, the housing being removably connected to the reservoir via a demountable mechanical coupling system, the tapping circuit, the pressure-regulating circuit and the filling circuit comprising a set of demountable fluidic connectors situated at the junction between the reservoir and the housing and configured to allow the separation between portions of circuits situated in the reservoir and in the housing during the demounting of the housing with respect to the reservoir.

In a tank filling process for filling a refrigerant tank of a vehicle with a cryogenic refrigerant, firstly a liquefied cryogenic refrigerant stored at a pressure p1 in a storage tank is supplied to a conditioning vessel, subsequently the flow connection between storage tank and conditioning vessel is interrupted, and the pressure in the conditioning vessel is increased, for example by virtue of a flow connection to a pressure build-up vessel being produced, to a pressure p2, wherein p2>p1, whereby the liquefied refrigerant is present in the conditioning vessel in the supercooled state. Subsequently, the supercooled, liquefied refrigerant is supplied to the tank to be filled. By means of the device according to the invention and the process according to the invention, evaporation losses during the filling process can be substantially avoided.