Patent classifications
F17C2227/0344
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERING GAS
A method of and apparatus for transferring gas. The method comprising expanding a process gas 101 having a first temperature to produce a first volume of the process gas that has a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature, and a second volume of the process gas that has a third temperature that is less than the first temperature. The method further comprises displacing at least some of the second volume of the process gas 102 into the receiving vessel using a piston gas, wherein the piston gas is of the same type as the process gas.
GAS FUELING SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH MINIMUM AND/OR NO COOLING
Gaseous fueling systems and methods are provided for dispensing fuel to a vehicle or container. The distribution systems speed up the filling process and may eliminate the use of expensive cooling systems required in the art. The methods utilize sequences of filling and emptying the vehicle gas storage tank to control the temperature of the gas inside the tank. The methods repeatedly dispense fuel to the vehicle fuel tank at a first flow rate and for a first period of time and remove fuel from the fuel tank at a second flow rate for a second period to maintain fuel temperature within a desired temperature range and until the vehicle fuel tank is filled to a desired level. In addition, the fill-up mass flowrate can be maximized to system capabilities so a fill-up can be can be completed in about one minute.
FUEL REFILLING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
A fuel refilling system may comprise a fueling station, a fuel tank, and a recirculation module in selective fluid communication with one another. The fuel refilling system may comprise a control module configured to generate one or more signals for controlling flow rates of the fuel into and out of the fuel tank, so as to remove and direct a first portion of heated fuel from the fuel tank to the recirculation module, and replace the first portion of heated fuel that is removed from the fuel tank with incoming cooler fuel received from the fueling station and/or the recirculation module. Convective mixing of the cooled fuel with the remaining heated fuel in the fuel tank may cause a temperature of the fuel mixture in the fuel tank to reduce. Accordingly, a filling capacity of the fuel tank may be increased as a result of the temperature reduction in the fuel mixture in the fuel tank.