A tank includes a liner including an inner shell; and a reinforcing layer covering an outer surface of the liner; wherein the reinforcing layer is formed by continuously winding resin-impregnated fiber bundles around the liner, the reinforcing layer includes a hoop layer placed in a side of the liner, and a helical layer, gaps are formed between adjacent bundles of the resin-impregnated fiber bundles wound in the hoop layer, there is at least one site where the resin-impregnated fiber bundles are wound without forming a gap between adjacent bundles in the helical layer, and resin in the resin-impregnated fiber bundles has a resin toughness value of not less than 1.0 MPa.Math.m.sup.0.5.

A high altitude atmospheric energy storing apparatus having a new structure, which is conceived to store the energy of low-temperature air located at high altitude in the sky and utilize it as needed, is provided. The high altitude atmospheric energy storing apparatus includes an air tank adapted to store air, an air supply pipe provided such that it extends in a vertical direction and its lower end is connected to the air tank, and a compression device provided in the sky, connected to the upper end of the air supply pipe, and configured to compress air using the wind and supply the compressed air to the air tank through the air supply pipe, thereby enabling air to be compressed by the wind blowing at high altitude and to be then stored in the air tank.

A gas production system for producing high pressure gas is disclosed. The gas production system may perform a method for producing high pressure gaseous fuel. The method may include receiving liquefied fuel in a container having an effective volume, reducing the effective volume of the container, and heating the liquefied fuel. The method may also include releasing some gaseous fuel out of the container. The method may further include increasing the effective volume of the container, cooling residual gaseous fuel, and directing liquefied fuel into the container to replace released gaseous fuel. The method may include converting a change in the effective volume of the container to mechanical power.

A vehicle air management system is provided. The vehicle air management system comprises an air tank and a boost air tank. Based on a signal indicative of an air consumption level of at least one air consumer, a control unit is configured to control the vehicle air management system to deliver pressurized air from the boost air tank to be supplied to an air compressor.

A pressure vessel assembly includes a plurality of lobes, each lobe having at least one vertically arranged interior wall, the lobes positioned in a side by side arrangement such that a first interior wall of a first lobe is positioned adjacent a second interior wall of a second lobe, the first interior wall having a first wall top and bottom side, the second interior wall having a second wall top and bottom side, the first wall top side joined to the second wall top side and the first wall bottom side joined to the second wall bottom side. Also included are first and second end wall surfaces of each of the plurality of lobes. Further included is a plurality of end caps, each of the end caps joined to the end wall surfaces of the lobes, each of the end caps joined to at least one adjacent end cap.

A gas pressure container for an airbag system of a motor vehicle is disclosed having a tube element with a high bursting resistance when internal pressure is being applied. The tube element includes a steel alloy and a first longitudinal portion of the tube element has a tensile strength Rm,.sub.11 higher than (>) 800 MPa, a transition temperature Tu,.sub.11 of at least −40° C., and an outer circumference U1. The tube element also includes at least one second longitudinal portion and/or additional longitudinal portions, which extend axially from the first longitudinal portion. The second longitudinal portion or the additional longitudinal portions and the first longitudinal portion are formed from a seamless or welded single-piece tube made of a uniform material, and more specifically from a hot-rolled or cold-drawn tube.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to compressed gas storage units, which in certain applications may be employed in conjunction with energy storage systems. Some embodiments may comprise one or more blow-molded polymer shells, formed for example from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Embodiments of compressed gas storage units may be composite in nature, for example comprising carbon fiber filament(s) wound with a resin over a liner. A compressed gas storage unit may further include a heat exchanger element comprising a heat pipe or apparatus configured to introduce liquid directly into the storage unit for heat exchange with the compressed gas present therein.

This invention relates to a safety valve for a pressurised gas cylinder, the valve comprising: (a) a housing comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the housing comprising a conduit which extends through the housing from an inlet at the proximal end to one or more outlets at the distal end, the inlet being connectable to a gas cylinder so that it is capable of providing fluid communication between the conduit and the gas cylinder; (b) a closure member within the conduit which is movable from a closed position in which it substantially seals the inlet to an open position which provides fluid communication through the conduit from the inlet to the one or more outlets at the distal end of the housing; and (c) a thermal release element within the conduit in the form of a fluid-filled glass bulb comprising a first end which abuts a stop on the housing and an opposing second end which abuts a distal side of the closure member in order to hold the closure member in the closed position.

Disclosed are articles useful as the body of a container for containing gas under pressure, and containers which comprise the articles to which are affixed valves to control the flow of gas out of the container, wherein the articles comprise a hollow container body, having an external surface and having an opening through which gas can enter or leave the interior of the hollow container body; optionally but preferably a layer of fiber-reinforced polymer around the exterior of the container body, and an external layer of elastomer around and sealed to the external surface of the layer of fiber-reinforced polymer if present or else to the cylinder body.

A cylinder filling system is configured to automatically fill fluid cylinders with fluid at varying fluid pressures. The cylinder filling system may include a plurality of pressure control manifolds operatively connected together and disposed in a fluid circuit between a fluid storage container and a fluid outlet. A control unit may be in communication with the plurality of pressure control manifolds. The control unit is configured to operate the plurality of pressure control manifolds to deliver fluid at a rated fluid pressure of a fluid cylinder that connects to the fluid outlet.