A multiply-redundant system that prevents a driver from starting and/or moving a vehicle if a compressed natural gas fill system is not correctly and completely disconnected from the vehicle. One or more sensors in combination with one or more optional microswitches combine to lock-out the vehicle's ignition or otherwise prevent it from starting and/or moving. For different levels of safety, different combinations of sensors can be used with the lowest level having a single proximity sensor sensing the presence or absence of a high-pressure fill hose. The highest level of safety being achieved by having separate proximity sensors on the fuel fill hose fitting, the gas cap cover and a manual safety valve along with a redundant microswitch. An optional override that may be restricted as to the number of times it can be used can allow starting with a faulty sensor in order to allow maintenance.

A system and method for determining hydrogen production to provide energy to at least one vehicle that include determining that at least one vehicle is arriving towards a vehicle energy station. The system and method also include determining if the vehicle energy station includes a sufficient amount of hydrogen to refuel the at least one vehicle arriving towards the vehicle energy station. The system and method further include controlling production of hydrogen by the vehicle energy station if it is determined that the vehicle energy station includes an insufficient amount of hydrogen to refuel the at least one vehicle arriving towards the vehicle energy station.

A method consistent with the present disclosure may include: (a) equalizing pressure between a nozzle inner void and a receptacle main inner void by pressing a nozzle check against a receptacle check to open the nozzle check and the receptacle check; (b) extending the nozzle into the receptacle such that a receptacle main body surrounds at least a portion of the nozzle probe; (c) flowing fluid from the nozzle inner void into the receptacle main inner void.

Control system and method for controlling state of hydrogen charge in hydrogen storage system in a vehicle to prevent hydrogen boil-off losses. The control system obtains information about predetermined stop duration and location for vehicle; obtains information on required hydrogen usage for reaching predetermined stop location from a current location of the vehicle; obtains information on a maximum hydrogen level of the hydrogen storage system to prevent hydrogen boil-off losses when the vehicle reaches the predetermined stop location and the stop duration starts; and generates a control signal for controlling the state of hydrogen charge of the hydrogen storage system based on a current hydrogen level in the hydrogen storage system when the vehicle is at the current location, the required hydrogen usage for reaching the predetermined stop location and the maximum hydrogen level of the hydrogen storage system to prevent hydrogen boil-off losses.

The invention relates to a HRS for filling a vessel of a vehicle with hydrogen, the HRS 1 comprising: a basic process control system comprising a process controller, a plurality of process measuring devices, a plurality of final process elements and a plurality of associated basic process control functions facilitating monitoring and controlling the operation of the HRS, wherein the HRS further comprises a safety instrumented system comprising a safety controller, a plurality of safety measuring devices, a plurality of final safety elements a plurality of associated safety instrumented functions, wherein at least one of the final process elements and the final safety elements facilitates tripping the operation of the HRS under the control of the associated process controller or the associated safety controller respectively.

The invention relates to an automatic cylinder changeover device (1), comprising two gas inlets for mounting gas cylinder banks, namely the left gas inlet and the right gas inlet, a gas outlet through which gas may be discharged and a valve suitable for connecting said left gas inlet or said right gas inlet with the gas outlet and configured for automatically reversible switching between these two connections, characterized in that the device (1) comprises an indicator, suitable for being manually set in one of two distinct positions, one of said positions indicating the left gas inlet and the other of said positions indicating the right gas inlet and comprises means for detecting the position of the indicator, including at least one sensor (5), preferably a pair of sensors (5). The invention also covers a method for monitoring a gas installation equipped with such automatic cylinder changeover device.

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 high pressure tank of a high pressure tank apparatus includes: a resin-made liner; a reinforced layer; a supplying/discharging hole to which a supplying/discharging flow path is connected via a connecting section; and a supplying/discharging-side lead-out hole that leads out a fluid interposing between the liner and the reinforced layer. A leaked fluid storage section is capable of storing a leaked fluid that has leaked from the connecting section. A supplying/discharging-side discharge flow path is provided independently from the leaked fluid storage section, and, when an opening/closing valve opens, discharges to the air a temporary release fluid that has been led out via the supplying/discharging-side lead-out hole. A control section, when it has judged, based on a detection result of a detecting unit, that there is a condition enabling the temporary release fluid to be discharged, opens the opening/closing valve.

A gas cylinder monitoring system (10) for monitoring the contents of a gas cylinder in an EMS vehicle (50) including a gas cylinder (12) for receiving and distributing gas therein, an individual cylinder monitoring system (14) operable to monitor data associated with the gas cylinder (12) and having a cylinder monitoring transmitter (16) operable to broadcast the data, and at least one receiving station (60,70) having a receiver (18,20) operable to receive the data from the individual cylinder monitoring system (14) and indicate if the contents of the gas cylinder (12) are below a pre-determined threshold and require replacing.

A system and method for determining hydrogen production to provide energy to at least one vehicle that include determining that at least one vehicle is arriving towards a vehicle energy station. The system and method also include determining if the vehicle energy station includes a sufficient amount of hydrogen to refuel the at least one vehicle arriving towards the vehicle energy station. The system and method further include controlling production of hydrogen by the vehicle energy station if it is determined that the vehicle energy station includes an insufficient amount of hydrogen to refuel the at least one vehicle arriving towards the vehicle energy station.