A multi-stage gas compression, storage and distribution system utilizing a hydrocarbon gas from a municipal gaseous supply line in a manner that does not affect an operational integrity of said municipal gaseous supply line includes an inlet line fluidly in fluid communication with a supply of hydrocarbon gas at a first pressure, a first compression unit configured to compress the hydrocarbon gas from the inlet line to a second pressure, a first storage vessel configured to receive the hydrocarbon gas from the first compression unit for storage at the second pressure, a second compression unit configured to compress the hydrocarbon gas from the first storage vessel to a third pressure, and a second storage vessel configured to receive the hydrocarbon gas from the second compression unit for storage at the third pressure.

a hydrogen refueling system for refueling a vehicle with hydrogen. The system comprises a hydrogen supply, a hydrogen center enclosure comprising a cooling system. The cooling system is arranged for cooling the hydrogen delivered to the vehicle. The system further comprises a dispenser arranged for supplying the hydrogen to the vessel of the vehicle. A supply pipe is arranged for guiding the hydrogen from the center enclosure to the dispenser. The system further comprises a forward path arranged for guiding a supply pipe cooling media from the hydrogen center enclosure towards the dispenser, and a return path arranged for guiding at least a fraction of the supply pipe cooling media back to the hydrogen center enclosure, where at least one of the forward and return paths are thermally connected with the cooling system.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for refilling fluid containers. A fluid container may include a bottle and a valve assembly. The valve assembly may include two valves and be configured to engage with the bottle and a filling head or dispensing head. A system is configured to provide pressurized fluid to the refillable container, monitor filling, determine when to stop filling, and determine how much fluid was provided. The valve assembly may include a float mechanism coupled to one of the valves of the valve assembly to ensure fluid flow is stopped when the fluid container is full. The fluid, which can include carbon dioxide, is stored in a storage tank. A flow system provides the fluid to a filling head, which engages with the fluid container. The flow system includes a transfer pump, valves, and sensors configured to provide the fluid to the filling head.

If an abnormality detecting unit detects an output abnormality of an internal temperature sensor, a discharge control unit obtains the amount of discharge (a limit value L of gas flow rate F) on the basis of an ambient temperature measured by an ambient temperature sensor, and controls the discharge of fuel gas on the basis of the obtained amount of discharge.

A system for dispensing a gaseous fuel from a liquefied fuel and a method for operating such a system are provided. The system includes a storage tank, a pressure sensor, a dispenser, a temperature sensor, and a vapor supply unit. The storage tank stores a liquefied fuel including phases of liquid and vapor. The pressure sensor is configured to measure a vapor pressure inside the storage tank. The dispenser is configured to receive the liquefied fuel and dispense the gaseous fuel to a receiving tank. The temperature sensor is configured to measure temperature of the dispenser. The system further includes a vapor supply unit fluidly coupled with the storage tank and configured to provide the vapor of the liquefied fuel from the storage tank into the dispenser or in thermally contact with at least one portion of the dispenser.

A direct fueling station and a method of refueling are provided. The station includes an insulated tank for storing a liquefied fuel, a pump, at least a heat exchanger, a control unit, a dispenser including a flow meter, a flow control device, and at least one sensor for testing pressure and/or temperature. The heat exchanger converts liquefied fuel from pump into a gaseous fuel, which is added into an onboard fuel tank in a vehicle. The control unit includes one or more programs used to coordinate with the pump, the flow meter, the flow control device, and/or the sensor(s) so as to control a refueling method. A peak electrical power requirement is less than that determined by the product of a rated volumetric flow rate of the pump and a rated pumping pressure adequate for a fill pressure of the vehicle. A computer implemented system having the program(s) is also provided.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for producing a hydrogen storage vessel that is lightweight. The hydrogen storage vessel may comprise an inner body and an outer body structured as concentric rings with a conic interface. The vessel may have four material layers, including a barrier layer, an insulation layer, a fiber knit, and an abrasion layer. The fiber knit may be braided to trap the hydrogen, as the barrier layer may not be completely impermeable. Additionally, the fiber braid may be clamped to the outer body, enabling pressure pushing on the inner body to wedge and seal the storage vessel.

A fuel delivery and storage system is provided. A further aspect employs a remote central controller and/or software instructions which receive sensor data from stationary and bulk fuel storage tanks, portable distribution tanks, and end use tanks. Another aspect of the present system senses and transmits tank or hydrogen fuel characteristics including temperature, pressure, filled volume, contaminants, refilling cycle life and environmental hazards. Still another aspect includes a group of hydrogen fuel tanks which is pre-assembled with sensor, valve, microprocessor and transmitter components, at least some of which are within an insulator.

A station and method for refilling a tank or tanks with pressurized gas in which liquefied gas is vaporized in a vaporizer. One portion of the vaporized gas is compressed to produce a compressed gas. Another portion of the vaporized gas is not compressed but instead is fed to a heat exchanger where it is used to cool the compressed gas. The thus-warmed gas is reinjected into a filling line that feeds the liquefied gas to the vaporizer.

Systems and methods for controlling the temperature and pressure of a cryogenic liquid methane storage unit are provided. The disclosed systems and methods generate methane gas from a reservoir of liquid methane stored within the methane storage unit, vent the methane gas through one or more outlet valves connected to the methane storage unit, and generate electric power using the vented methane gas. The generated electric power can then be used to initiating a cooling cycle, which reduces the temperature of said reservoir of liquid methane and reduces the pressure in said methane storage unit. Micro anaerobic digesters and methane storage units may be configured in a networked environment with a central controller that monitors remote units.