A compressed gas energy storage system may include an accumulator for containing a layer of compressed gas atop a layer of liquid. A gas conduit may have an upper end in communication with a gas compressor/expander subsystem and a lower end in communication with accumulator interior for conveying compressed gas into the compressed gas layer of the accumulator when in use. A shaft may have an interior for containing a quantity of a liquid and may be fluidly connectable to a liquid source/sink via a liquid supply conduit. A partition may cover may separate the accumulator interior from the shaft interior. An internal accumulator force may act on the inner surface of the partition and the liquid within the shaft may exert an external counter force on the outer surface of the partition, whereby a net force acting on the partition is less than the accumulator force.

A gas storage system for storing compressed gas, and method for constructing the system, are described. The system includes a borehole having a first borehole portion and a second borehole portion. An inflatable balloon is arranged within the second borehole portion. An upper support member, mounted on top of the inflatable balloon, is configured for anchoring the inflatable balloon to a sealing material filling the first borehole portion. A lower support member is arranged at the bottom of the inflatable balloon. The system includes an inlet gas pipe for filling the inflatable balloon from the gas compressing system and an outlet gas pipe for releasing the compressed gas. A compacted filling material is placed within a gap formed between the inflatable balloon, the upper support member, the lower support member, and an inner surface of the second borehole portion. One or more filling material pipes extend along the borehole to the gap for providing a filling material thereto.

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.

A compressed gas energy storage system may include an accumulator for containing a layer of compressed gas atop a layer of liquid. A gas conduit may have an upper end in communication with a gas compressor/expander subsystem and a lower end in communication with accumulator interior for conveying compressed gas into the compressed gas layer of the accumulator when in use. A shaft may have an interior for containing a quantity of a liquid and may be fluidly connectable to a liquid source/sink via a liquid supply conduit. A partition may cover may separate the accumulator interior from the shaft interior. An internal accumulator force may act on the inner surface of the partition and the liquid within the shaft may exert an external counter force on the outer surface of the partition, whereby a net force acting on the partition is less than the accumulator force.

A method for loading liquefied nitrogen (LIN) into a cryogenic storage tank initially containing liquid natural gas (LNG) and a vapor space above the LNG. First and second nitrogen gas streams are provided. The first nitrogen stream has a lower temperature than the second nitrogen gas stream. While the LNG is offloaded from the storage tank, the first nitrogen gas stream is injected into the vapor space. The storage tank is then purged by injecting the second nitrogen gas stream into the storage tank to thereby reduce a natural gas content of the vapor space to less than 5 mol %. After purging the storage tank, the storage tank is loaded with LIN.

An apparatus is configured to be positioned between a boss and a shell of a pressure vessel. The boss includes a bore therethrough, and the bore has a longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes an annular body and a gas permeable feature. The annular body includes an inner surface configured to abut the boss and an outer surface configured to abut the shell. The annular body has opposite first and second ends relative to the longitudinal axis. The gas permeable feature is provided on the inner surface and extends at least from the first end to the second end. The disclosure also describes a pressure vessel including a shell, and boss, and an apparatus positioned between the boss and the shell. A method for forming a pressure vessel includes mounting a boss on a mandrel, positioning an annular fitting about a neck of the boss, forming a liner, and forming an outer shell.

A method for loading liquefied nitrogen (LIN) into a cryogenic storage tank initially containing liquid natural gas (LNG) and a vapor space above the LNG. First and second nitrogen gas streams are provided. The first nitrogen stream has a lower temperature than the second nitrogen gas stream. While the LNG is offloaded from the storage tank, the first nitrogen gas stream is injected into the vapor space. The storage tank is then purged by injecting the second nitrogen gas stream into the storage tank to thereby reduce a natural gas content of the vapor space to less than 5 mol %. After purging the storage tank, the storage tank is loaded with LIN.

Low emission nozzles and receptacles are disclosed. A receptacle includes a main body, a first stem, a first poppet connected to the first stem, a valve seat disposed in the main body, a first spring configured to bias the first poppet to a first closed position, a second stem slidingly engaged to the first poppet and the first stem, a second poppet connected to the second stem, and a second spring configured to bias the second poppet to a second closed position.

An apparatus is configured to be positioned between a boss and a shell of a pressure vessel. The boss includes a bore therethrough, and the bore has a longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes an annular body and a gas permeable feature. The annular body includes an inner surface configured to abut the boss and an outer surface configured to abut the shell. The annular body has opposite first and second ends relative to the longitudinal axis. The gas permeable feature is provided on the inner surface and extends at least from the first end to the second end. The disclosure also describes a pressure vessel including a shell, and boss, and an apparatus positioned between the boss and the shell. A method for forming a pressure vessel includes mounting a boss on a mandrel, positioning an annular fitting about a neck of the boss, forming a liner, and forming an outer shell.

The disclosure discloses an automatic gas cylinder filling device and an operating method thereof, includes a stand, an electronic scale, a PLC control unit, and a vacuum pump installed on an inner bottom plate of the stand. One side of the stand is provided with an 8-bottle gas cylinder rotating and weighing mechanism, a gas cylinder fixing mechanism, a gas cylinder filling fixture, a lifting frame and a bottle valve hand wheel switch mechanism that are arranged in sequence from bottom to top. The electronic scale is located below the 8-bottle gas cylinder rotating and weighing mechanism. The disclosure is used for filling gas cylinders, wherein the weighing, the fixing of the bottle valve and the rotation of the hand wheel are all automatically controlled and operated by the PLC control unit, and there is no need for operator to stay with the facility. The operation can be completed through operating the PLC control unit in the operation room, thereby preventing the filling personnel from being exposed to danger and harmed during the gas filling process. Meanwhile, the gas filling efficiency is greatly improved, the accuracy of the weighing is also ensured, and the proportion of each gas is highly accurate.