A low-pressure fuel management and delivery system 10 for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) rail tender is disclosed. The system provides a rail tender that is inherently safer in operation to known LNG rail tenders through its use of a double-hulled tank design 12, which lacks any penetration of the bottom surface of the first inner tank 16 by any portion of the fuel supply portion of the system 10; the lower pressure storage of the fuel 22 in the first inner tank 16; the inclusion of a gas return line 58 for directing fuel 22 trapped in the LNG flow lines 38, the heat exchanger 46, or the multistage gas compressor 52 to the vapor space 32 of the first inner tank 16 at safe pressures and temperatures; the lack of cryogenic pumps within the first inner tank 16 to drive the fuel supply portion of the system 10; and the location of all the flow controlling valves 40, 42, 50, and 56 in positions that afford them improved physical protection from potential damage due to vehicular collisions or other railroad accidents. During operation, the fuel management and delivery system 10 provides required fuel flow rates and temperatures to an associated locomotive through the use of hydrostatic pressure differences between the LNG fuel 22 and the vapor space 32 within first inner tank 16, as well as a heat exchanger 46 and a multi-stage compressor 52, which are preferably located external of the double-hulled fuel storage tank 12, but on the same rolling stock chassis 14.

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 method for precooling fuel delivery components of a machine having an engine fueled by a cryogenically-stored fuel is described. The fuel delivery components may be configured to operate at an operating temperature at or below a boiling point of the cryogenically-stored fuel. The method may comprise, in a vapor precooling mode, cooling the fuel delivery components to a temperature approaching the operating temperature with a vapor of the fuel taken from a reservoir cryogenically storing the fuel. The method may further comprise, in a liquid precooling mode, further cooling the fuel delivery components to the operating temperature with a liquid of the fuel taken from the reservoir.

A tank has a generally prismatic shape, and is capable of containing a pressurized gas. The tank comprises a composite shell, which has fibrous reinforcements and a matrix extending continuously over the six faces of the prism and delimits a sealed internal cavity comprising a plurality of open cells. The tank comprises continuous fibrous reinforcements extending into and bonded to the composite shell and further extending through the internal cavity between two opposite faces of the tank. The tank is advantageously integrated into the floor of a vehicle, in particular to the structure of an aircraft.

The present invention relates to a method, system, vehicle, and computer program product for determining time data relating to a non-combustion outlet process of a fuel gas from a gas tank associated with a vehicle. The method comprises providing a model for the state of fuel gas in the gas tank. The method further comprises determining time data relating to the outlet process of the fuel gas based on the model.

This application relates to 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.

An electricity-generating system is configured to be carried on a trailer having a chassis. The electricity-generating system is of modular construction and includes a fluid storage module including a fluid storage device, and an electricity-generating module including an electricity-generating device configured to produce electricity from the fluid or fluids stored in the fluid storage device. The fluid storage module and the electricity-generating module are configured to be mounted on the chassis of the trailer. The fluid storage module is configured to be mounted in a removable manner on the chassis separately from the electricity-generating module.

A filling station for supplying vehicles with gas containing hydrogen comprises: a storage unit comprising high pressure gas containers; a compression unit comprising compressors for increasing the pressure of gas for the storage unit; and a supply unit comprising a supply device for supplying a vehicle; a storage circuit for circulating gas from the compression unit to the storage unit; and a filling circuit for circulating gas from the storage unit to the compression unit. The storage circuit comprises a storage pipe network connecting each compressor to each container and at least one storage distributor for selectively associating the compressors and the containers. The filling circuit includes a filling pipe network connecting each container with each compressor and a filling distributor for selectively associating the containers and the compressors. The station further includes control means for controlling the storage and filling distributors.

Embodiments of systems and methods for transporting fuel and carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) in a dual-fluid vessel thereby minimizing transportation between locations are disclosed. In an embodiment, the dual-fluid vessel has an outer shell with two or more inner compartments, positioned within the outer shell, including a first inner compartment for storing CO.sub.2 and a second inner compartment for storing fuel. The dual-fluid vessel may connect or attach to a transportation vehicle to thereby allow transportation of the fuel and CO.sub.2. Insulation may provide temperature regulation for the fuel and CO.sub.2 when positioned in the respective first and second inner compartments. One or more ports having an opening in and through the outer shell and a fluid pathway to one or more of the first inner compartment or the second inner compartment may provide fluid communication through the opening and fluid pathway for loading/offloading the fuel and/or CO.sub.2.

A sensor mounting assembly is configured for use with a vessel arrangement including at least four vessels. The assembly includes first and second elongated frame members, first and second rollers, and first and second sensors. The first sensor is attached to the first elongated frame member and is configured to contact the surface of the first vessel upon actuation in a first direction. The second sensor is attached to the second elongated frame member and is configured to contact the surface of the second vessel upon actuation in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction. This disclosure also describes a method of mounting at least six sensors for use with a vessel arrangement including at least four vessels, the vessel arrangement disposed in a container in a two-by-two stacked configuration having a central space.