A coupler for connecting a tank to a receptacle includes a housing, a probe configured to translate longitudinally within the housing, and a handle assembly configured to cause the probe to translate within the housing. The handle assembly is movable between a decoupled position, a coupled position, and a venting position. The coupler includes a ball cage, a plurality of balls disposed in the ball cage, and a slidable sleeve coupled to the probe and configured to translate longitudinally with the probe. The slidable sleeve is configured to slide in a first longitudinal direction to cause the plurality of balls to translate radially to lock the coupler to the receptacle. The slidable sleeve includes a collar defining a plurality of channels that are positioned radially and extending axially along the collar and configured to receive bearings of the receptacle in the coupled position and the venting position to prevent rotation.

The invention relates to a method for keeping free of ice or thawing at least one surface (1) which is at risk of icing of a tank interface (2), wherein the at least one surface (1) at risk of icing is formed on a refueling nozzle (3) and/or on a tank filler neck (4) of a vehicle which can be operated with hydrogen. According to the invention, the at least one surface (1) at risk of icing is heated during a refueling operation and/or after a refueling operation.

The invention further relates to a tank interface (2) and to a vehicle, which can be operated with hydrogen, having a tank interface (2) according to the invention.

An installation for storing cryogenic fluid, in particular liquefied hydrogen, including a cryogenic tank buried directly underground with a predetermined depth below the surface of the ground, having at least one heat transfer element having a thermal conductivity greater than 10 W/m.K and buried in the ground with a first end situated between the tank and the surface of the ground and a second end situated in a lateral zone around the tank.

The invention relates to a transport container (1) for helium (He), comprising an inner container (6) for receiving the helium (He); a coolant container (14) for receiving a cryogenic fluid (N2); an outer container (2) in which the inner container (6) and the coolant container (14) are received; a thermal shield (21) in which the inner container (6) is received and which can be actively cooled using the cryogenic fluid (N2), said thermal shield (21) having at least one cooling line (26) which is fluidically connected to the coolant container (14) and in which the cryogenic fluid (N2) can be received in order to actively cool the thermal shield (21); and at least one return line (34, 35), by means of which the at least one cooling line (26) is fluidically connected to the coolant container (14) in order to return the cryogenic fluid (N2) back to the coolant container (14).

A rapid connect coupler for connecting a fluid holding tank to a receptacle in a non-rotatable manner can include a housing, a probe configured to translate in a longitudinal direction within the housing, and a handle assembly configured to cause the probe to translate within the housing. The handle assembly can be movable between a plurality of positions corresponding to decoupled, coupled and venting positions. The coupler can also include a slidable sleeve coupled to an outer surface of the probe and configured to translate with the probe in the longitudinal direction, the sleeve including a collar configured to engage the receptacle in the coupled and uncoupled positions to prevent rotation of the coupler with respect to the receptacle when the two components are engaged to one another.

Methods, systems, devices and/or apparatuses for a vapor plug. The vapor plug includes a vapor plug cover or lid. The vapor plug cover or lid is configured to cover an opening of a container. The vapor plug includes a neck. The neck has a first end and a second end that is configured to be inserted into the opening of the container. The first end has a first diameter and the second end has a second diameter that is less than the first diameter.

A vaporization system and control method are provided. Liquid cryogen is provided to first ambient air vaporizer (AAV) units. When an output superheated vapor temperature is less than a threshold, the liquid cryogen is provided to second AAV units. When greater than or equal to the threshold, it is determined whether the second AAV units are defrosted. When defrosted, the liquid cryogen is provided to the second AAV units. When not defrosted, it is determined whether ice has formed on the first AAV units. When not formed, it is again determined whether the superheated vapor temperature is less than the threshold. When formed, it is determined whether a current ambient condition is favorable to defrosting the second AAV units. When not favorable, the liquid cryogen is provided to the second bank of AAV units. When favorable, it is again determined whether the superheated vapor temperature is less than the threshold.

A cryogenic vaporization system and method are provided. A first heat exchanger heats a liquid cryogen via indirect heat exchange to output a cryogenic vapor at a first temperature. A second heat exchanger receives the cryogenic vapor at the first temperature. The second heat exchanger heats the cryogenic vapor via indirect heat exchange to a second temperature. The cryogenic vapor at the second temperature is recirculated to the first heat exchanger to heat the liquid cryogen and cool the recirculated cryogenic vapor to a third temperature. A third heat exchanger receives the cryogenic vapor at the third temperature. The third heat exchanger heats the cryogenic vapor to a fourth temperature. The third heat exchanger outputs the cryogenic vapor at the fourth temperature.

A system and method for the transfer of cryogenic fluid fuel includes a nozzle positionable with respect to fuel tank inlet, e.g., of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a seal to seal the area where the nozzle and inlet are connected, a collapsible and expandable bellows providing an isolation volume where the fluid is transferred from the nozzle into the inlet; a vacuum is provided in the volume to avoid accumulation of fuel or other species in the volume.

The innovation described herein generally pertains to a system and method related to a pressure vessel including a tank formed of an injected tank liner with co-injected boss and permeation barrier film surrounded by a layer of thermoplastic composite filament winding and a protective jacket disposed thereon that facilitates stacking and portability of the pressure vessel and provides an air passage for convective heat transfer between the tank and the environment.