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 transport container for helium, with an inner container for receiving the helium, a coolant container for receiving a cryogenic liquid (N.sub.2), an outer container, in which the inner container and the coolant container are contained, a thermal shield, in which the inner container is contained and which can be actively cooled with the aid of a liquid phase of the cryogenic liquid (LN.sub.2), the thermal shield having at least one first cooling line, in which the liquid phase of the cryogenic liquid can be received for actively cooling the thermal shield, and an insulating element, which is arranged between the outer container and the thermal shield and which can be actively cooled with the aid of a gaseous phase of the cryogenic liquid (GN.sub.2), the insulating element having at least one second cooling line, in which the gaseous phase of the cryogenic liquid can be received.

A storage system for storing a cryogenic medium, the storage system including a storage container for receiving the cryogenic medium. A gas removal line is configured to remove gaseous cryogenic medium from the storage container. A first heat exchanger is fluidically connected to the gas removal line and arranged outside of the storage container to heating the cryogenic medium. A second or in-tank heat exchanger is fluidically connected to the gas removal line and arranged downstream of the first heat exchanger and inside the storage container to heat liquid cryogenic medium in the storage container. A liquid removal line is configured to remove the liquid cryogenic medium from the storage container. A controllable first shut-off valve is arranged in the gas removal line, and a controllable second shut-off valve is arranged in the liquid removal line.

A tank is configured to store a supply of cryogenic liquid and a heat exchanger has a main line and a reheat line. A liquid pickup line directs cryogenic liquid from the tank to the main line of the heat exchanger. A trim heater exit tee receives fluid from the main line of the heat exchanger. Fluid exits the trim heater exit tee through an engine outlet and a trim heater outlet. Fluid exiting through the engine outlet flows through a flow restriction device and to a primary inlet of a trim heater return tee. A trim heater line receives fluid from the trim heater outlet of the trim heater exit tee and directs it to the reheat line of the heat exchanger after the fluid passes through a portion of the trim heater line positioned within the tank. Warmed fluid leaving the reheat line of the heat exchanger travels to a trim heater inlet of the trim heater return tee.

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 hydrogen storage tank for a hydrogen fueled aircraft. The tank has a wall made of layers of aerogel sections around a hard shell layer, sealed within a flexible outer layer, and having the air removed to form a vacuum. The periphery of each layer section abuts other sections of that layer, but only overlies the periphery of the sections of other layers at individual points. The wall is characterized by a thermal conductivity that is lower near its gravitational top than its gravitational bottom. The tank has two exit passageways, one being direct, and the other passing through a vapor shield that extends through the wall between two layers of aerogel. A control system controls the relative flow through the two passages to regulate the boil-off rate of the tank.

A low-cost getter material comprising palladium and manganese oxide and methods of making the same. A tank including said getter material, and a method of removing hydrogen gas.

A method of managing transient thermal stresses in a wall of a fluid-carrying or fluid-containing structure, the structure having a temperature ramp rate limit associated with its structure walls. The structure is provided with flow passages in the structure walls, and the temperature of the structure walls is monitored. If a rate of change of temperature of the structure walls becomes too high, fluid is circulated through the flow passages to heat or cool the structure wall during hot or cold transient thermal events, respectively.

Container systems for the transportation and/or storage of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) are provided. The container systems include: a) an outer shell; b) an inner pressurized container, wherein the inner pressurized container comprises a first chamber having a first vent and at least one other chamber having a second vent; c) at least one heat exchange zone in thermal communication between the first chamber and the at least one other chamber; and d) an interstitial space between the outer shell and the inner pressurized container including at least a partial vacuum. Methods for transporting and/or storing LNG using the aforementioned container systems are also provided.

A hydrogen tank having a tank structure at least partially delimiting a tank space and comprising a cooling shield formed in a lightweight construction. A conduit system, connected to the tank space, of a pressure relief system for discharging gaseous hydrogen from the tank space is formed in the cooling shield. At least one para-ortho catalyst for accelerated conversion of parahydrogen into orthohydrogen is arranged in the conduit system. A vehicle is provided having a hydrogen drive and such a hydrogen tank. A method for cooling the tank structure of such a hydrogen tank is provided.