Patent classifications
F17C2270/0171
Natural gas tank pressure control for transport refrigeration unit
A transport refrigeration system (200) comprising: a vehicle (102) having a refrigerated cargo space (119); a refrigeration unit (22) in operative association with the refrigerated cargo space, the refrigeration unit providing conditioned air to the refrigerated cargo space; a first engine (26) configured to power the refrigeration unit; a plurality of first fuel tanks (330) fluidly connected to the first engine, the plurality of first fuel tanks configured to supply fuel to the first engine, wherein each of the plurality of first fuel tanks includes a lock off valve (450) and a pressure sensor (470) configured to detect a pressure level within each of the first fuel tanks; and one or more engine controllers (54) in electronic communication with each pressure sensor and lock off valve, the one or more engine controllers being configured to adjust at least one of the lock off valves in response to a pressure level detected by at least one of the pressure sensors.
SYSTEM WITH REMOTELY CONTROLLED, PRESSURE ACTUATED TANK VALVE
A pressurized tank system includes a first tank, a second tank, a manifold, a first conduit connecting the first tank to the manifold, a second conduit connecting the second tank to the manifold, a first pressure actuated valve operably connected to the second conduit, a third conduit connecting the manifold and the first pressure actuated valve, and a fourth conduit connecting the first pressure actuated valve and the second tank. The first pressure actuated valve is configured for operation by fluid pressure in the third conduit. A method includes operably connecting a first pressure actuated valve at a junction between the second conduit, a third conduit connecting to the manifold, and a fourth conduit connecting to the second tank; and automatically opening the first pressure actuated valve with the fluid in the third conduit when the fluid pressure level exceeds a threshold pressure level.
VEHICLE FLUID HANDLING SYSTEMS
A fluid system for a vehicle is provided. The fluid system is configured to couple to a chassis of the vehicle. A frame assembly of the fluid system is configured to couple with the chassis directly or with another component that is coupled, directly or indirectly, with the chassis. A cowling of the fluid system can enclose a fuel pressure vessel and an auxiliary fluid vessel. The auxiliary fluid vessel is configured to be placed in fluid communication with the component powered or operated by the fluid therein.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING THE FILLING, STORAGE AND DISPSENSING OF CARBON DIOXIDE FROM MULTIPLE CONTAINERS WITHOUT OVERPRESSURIZATION
This invention relates to a novel method and system for dispensing CO2 vapor without over pressurization. The system includes one or more liquid containers and one or more vapor containers. The system is designed to operate in a specific manner whereby a restricted amount of CO2 liquid is permitted into the vapor container through a restrictive pathway that is created and maintained by a shuttle valve during the filling operation so that equalization of container pressures is achieved, thereby allowing shuttle valve to reseat when filling has stopped. During use, a pressure differential device is designed to specifically isolate the vapor container from the liquid container so as to preferentially deplete liquid CO2 from the vapor container and avoid over pressurization of the system until the vapor container. The system is operated so that at least 50% of the CO2 product is dispensed from the vapor container. The system also includes novel control methodology for performing pre-fill integrity checks to ensure safety of subsequent dispensing of CO2 liquid from a source vessel to the onsite CO2 containers.
NITROGEN VAPORIZATION
Apparatus and methods for vaporizing liquid nitrogen at sufficient pressure, temperature, and volume to enable a single mobile pumper to meet the needs of many industrial applications. The dual-mode nitrogen pumper of the present invention utilizes a reciprocating pump and heat from the engine coolant and exhaust stream of an internal combustion engine, as well as heat from hydraulic fluid used to load the engine, and transfers that heat to liquid nitrogen pumped through a first heat exchanger and a second, internally-fired heat exchanger is provided to transfer heat to liquid nitrogen pumped through a second heat exchanger. The temperature of the hydraulic fluid is maintained, and the temperature, pressure, and flow rate of the vaporized nitrogen is controlled, by balancing the engine load against the nitrogen pumping rate.
Method and system for optimizing the filling, storage and dispensing of carbon dioxide from multiple containers without overpressurization
This invention relates to a novel method and system for dispensing CO2 vapor without over pressurization from a system having multiple containers. The system includes one or more liquid containers and one or more vapor containers. The system is designed to operate in a specific manner whereby a restricted amount of CO2 liquid is permitted into the vapor container through a restrictive pathway that is created and maintained by a shuttle valve during the filling operation so that equalization of container pressures is achieved, thereby allowing shuttle valve to reseat when filling has stopped. During use, a pressure differential device is designed to specifically isolate the vapor container from the liquid container so as to preferentially deplete liquid CO2 from the vapor container and avoid over pressurization of the system until the vapor container becomes liquid dry. The system can be operated so that at least 50% of the CO2 vapor product is dispensed from the vapor container.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REFUELLING A COMPRESSED GAS PRESSURE VESSEL USING A COOLING CIRCUIT AND IN-VESSEL TEMPERATURE STRATIFICATION
A pressure vessel refuelling system enables fast fill refuelling of CNG fuel tanks by inducing a stratification of gas temperatures inside a tank during refuelling, then re-cycling a portion of the relatively warmer gas out of the tank during refuelling and back to a gas chiller. The system includes a pressure vessel having a lower end, a first gas port and a second gas port, wherein the second gas port is positioned above the lower end of the pressure vessel; and a cooling circuit connecting the first gas port with the second gas port; whereby gas flowing from an interior cavity of the pressure vessel through the second gas port is cooled in the cooling circuit before returning to the pressure vessel through the first gas port; and whereby a temperature of gas inside the pressure vessel varies from a first temperature at a level of the lower end of the pressure vessel to a second temperature, which is higher than the first temperature, at a level of the second gas port.
LIQUID PROPANE INJECTION PUMP
A liquid propane injection pump assembly is disclosed. In one example, the liquid propane injection pump assembly includes a connection tee having first, second, and third openings. A first inlet structure can be connected to the first opening, a second inlet structure can be connected to the second opening, and an outlet structure can be connected to the third opening. The first inlet structure can include a nozzle with an external taper while the outlet structure can include a barrel with a tapered internal passageway into which the nozzle extends.
Multi-fuel service station
A method and system(s) are disclosed for integrating a new fuel into an operating transportation system in a continuous, seamless manner, such as diesel fuel being gradually replaced by compressed natural gas (“CNG”) in long haul trucks. Integration can be implemented using two enabling technologies. The first is an engine system capable of operating seamlessly on two or more fuels without regard to the ignition characteristics of the fuels. The second is a communications and computing system for implementing a fueling strategy that optimizes fuel consumption, guides the selection of fuel based upon location, cost and emissions and allows the transition from one fuel to another to appear substantially seamless to the truck driver.
Enhanced methods for operating refueling station tube-trailers to reduce refueling cost
A method and apparatus are provided for operating a refueling station including source tube-trailers and at least one compressor to reduce refueling cost. The refueling station includes a gaseous fuel supply source including a plurality of tanks on a tube trailer coupled to a first control unit, and high pressure buffer storage having predefined capacity coupled to a second control unit and the first tanks by a pressure control valve and the first control unit, and at least one compressor. The refueling station is operated at different modes depending on a state of the refueling station at the beginning of each operational mode. The refueling system is assessed at the end of each operational mode to identify the state of the system and select a next mode of operation. The operational modes include consolidating hydrogen, or any gaseous fuel, within the tubes mounted on the trailer.