A method of transporting natural gas by liquefaction of natural gas at ambient temperature, achieved by mixing the natural gas at high pressure with a hydrocarbon that is a stable liquid at ambient temperature and ambient pressure. The hydrocarbon liquid may be crude oil or a distillate of crude oil. The method includes: liquefaction: mixing the natural gas with the hydrocarbon liquid at an ambient temperature and a high pressure to generate a liquid mixture, which contains the natural gas dissolved in the hydrocarbon liquid; shipping: transporting the liquid mixture using a marine tanker, during which the liquid mixture is maintained at ambient temperature and the high pressure; and regasification: at the destination, releasing a gas from the liquid mixture by lowering the pressure of the liquid mixture. The hydrocarbon liquid may be used multiple times.

A method of transporting natural gas by liquefaction of natural gas at ambient temperature, achieved by mixing the natural gas at high pressure with a hydrocarbon that is a stable liquid at ambient temperature and ambient pressure. The hydrocarbon liquid may be crude oil or a distillate of crude oil. The method includes: liquefaction: mixing the natural gas with the hydrocarbon liquid at an ambient temperature and a high pressure to generate a liquid mixture, which contains the natural gas dissolved in the hydrocarbon liquid; shipping: transporting the liquid mixture using a marine tanker, during which the liquid mixture is maintained at ambient temperature and the high pressure; and regasification: at the destination, releasing a gas from the liquid mixture by lowering the pressure of the liquid mixture. The hydrocarbon liquid may be used multiple times.

The present invention provides a process for dispensing gaseous hydrogen at a refueling station comprising before dispensing dividing an initial hydrogen stream into at least two streams, wherein at least one of the streams is purified in a hydrogen purification step. In a further aspect the invention provides a system for dispensing gaseous hydrogen.

A method and apparatus for compressing gases and supplying fuel to a gaseous fuel consuming device, such as a gaseous fueled vehicle or the like. One embodiment includes a gas compressor for compressing the gaseous fuel to an array of tanks having predetermined initial set points which are increasing for tanks in the array. One embodiment provides a selecting valve having first and second families of ports wherein the valve can be operated to select a plurality of ports from the first family to be fluidly connected with a plurality of ports with the second family, and such fluid connections can be changed by operation of the valve.

A method and apparatus for compressing gases and supplying compressed gaseous fuel to a consuming device, such as a gaseous fueled vehicle or the like. One embodiment includes a gas compressor for compressing the gaseous fuel to an array of tanks having predetermined initial set points which are increasing for tanks in the array. One embodiment provides a selecting valve having first and second families of ports wherein the valve can be operated to select a plurality of ports from the first family to be fluidly connected with a plurality of ports with the second family, and such fluid connections can be changed by operation of the valve.

A method and system of storing and transporting gases comprising mixing the gases with liquid natural gas to form a mixture. The mixture is a liquid-liquid mixture or slurry, and is stored in vessel configured for maintaining the mixture at a first location. The mixture is transported to a second location for storage in vessel for maintaining the mixture. The mixture is removed from the second location storage vessel for separation and use in additional processes.

A method of transporting natural gas by liquefaction of natural gas at ambient temperature, achieved by mixing the natural gas at high pressure with a hydrocarbon that is a stable liquid at ambient temperature and ambient pressure. The hydrocarbon liquid may be crude oil or a distillate of crude oil. The method includes: liquefaction: mixing the natural gas with the hydrocarbon liquid at an ambient temperature and a high pressure to generate a liquid mixture, which contains the natural gas dissolved in the hydrocarbon liquid; shipping: transporting the liquid mixture using a marine tanker, during which the liquid mixture is maintained at ambient temperature and the high pressure; and regasification: at the destination, releasing a gas from the liquid mixture by lowering the pressure of the liquid mixture. The hydrocarbon liquid may be used multiple times.

A method and apparatus for compressing gases and supplying fuel to a gaseous fuel consuming device, such as a gaseous fueled vehicle or the like. One embodiment includes a gas compressor for compressing the gaseous fuel to an array of tanks having predetermined initial set points which are increasing for tanks in the array. One embodiment provides a selecting valve having first and second families of ports wherein the valve can be operated to select a plurality of ports from the first family to be fluidly connected with a plurality of ports with the second family, and such fluid connections can be changed by operation of the valve.

A system to prevent the formation of hydrates in a pipeline includes a heater assembly. The heater assembly has a vortex tube mounted on an outer surface of a first section of the pipeline and a compressed gas source. The vortex tube is configured to separate gas from an inlet into a hot gas pathway and a cold gas pathway. The vortex tube includes an inlet, a cold gas outlet, and a hot gas outlet. The hot gas outlet of the vortex tube is fluidly connected to an opening defined in the first section of the pipeline. The hot gas outlet is configured to flow hot gas from the vortex tube into an interior volume of the pipeline. The compressed gas source is fluidly connected to the inlet of the vortex tube.

A hydrogen gas supply apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a compressor configured to compress hydrogen gas and supply the hydrogen gas compressed to a pressure accumulator which accumulates the hydrogen gas, an adsorption column disposed between the discharge port of the compressor and the pressure accumulator, and configured to include an adsorbent for adsorbing impurities in the hydrogen gas discharged from the compressor, and a plurality of valves disposed at the gas inlet/outlet port side of the adsorption column, being at a discharge port side of the compressor, and configured to be able to seal the adsorption column, wherein the space in the adsorption column is sealed using the plurality of valves such that the inside of the adsorption column is maintained to have a high pressure by the hydrogen gas compressed in the case where the compressor is stopped.