Compressed gas dispensing methods using cascade dispensing from a first plurality of storage vessels and a second plurality of storage vessels. A compressor is used to provide very high pressure compressed gas for the second plurality of pressure storage vessels. Various methods are described for different sources of the compressed gas. The methods are particularly suitable for dispensing hydrogen into storage vessels in vehicles.

A fuel cell system without a high pressure line of a hydrogen supplying system, including a gas charging line formed between a gas charging station and a high pressure vessel charged with gas by the gas charging station, and a gas supplying line formed between the high pressure vessel and a stack, includes: a regulator provided in the gas supplying line; a solenoid valve provided in the gas supplying line between the regulator and the high pressure vessel; and a check valve provided in a bypass line connecting one point of the gas supplying line between the regulator and the solenoid valve and one point of the gas charging line.

A structure and method for fastening a ball seat for a ball valve, a trunnion ball valve, and a hydrogen station using the ball valve, in which a stepped part is positioned medially in each of inner and outer peripheral surfaces of a resin-made annular seat body, with a seat part on a tip side and a holding part on a rear end side; an attachment groove defined by inner and outer cylinders having a ring-shaped swaging edge part at a tip of a seat retainer; the holding part being attached to the attachment groove; and the swaging edge part of the inner and outer cylinders being in contact with and fixed by being swaged to the stepped part so as to cause the seat part to protrude farther than a swaging position.

A system and method for controlling delivery of gas, including a gas pipeline network having at least one gas production plant, at least one gas receipt facility of a customer, a plurality of pipeline segments, and a plurality of control elements, one or more controllers, and one or more processors. The hydraulic feasibility of providing an increased flow rate of the gas to the gas receipt facility of the customer is determined using a linearized pressure drop model. A latent demand of the customer for the gas is estimated using a latent demand model. Based on the hydraulic feasibility and the latent demand, a new gas flow request rate from the customer is received. A network flow solution is calculated based on the new gas flow request rate. The network flow solution is associated with control element setpoints used by a controller to control one or more control elements.

A system for registering resource stations for vehicle energizing that may be used to energize vehicles. A database stores subscriber data relating to subscribers registered with the system and resource station data relating to registered resource stations for vehicle energizing that have been located by a reporting entity. A server provides a resource station management system that receives the resource station data for a resource station for vehicle energizing from the reporting entity, registers the resource station for vehicle energizing with the resource station management system if the resource outlet for vehicle energizing has not previously been registered and stores the resource station data for the resource station for vehicle energizing in the database. The server is further configured to receive a search request for a useable resource station for vehicle energizing from a subscriber, the search request including location information defining an area of search for the useable resource station for vehicle energizing, locate at least one resource station for vehicle energizing within the area of search that is registered with the resource station management system and provide a location of the at least one resource station for vehicle energizing located within the area of search to the subscriber. A network interface for connecting the server to a network for receiving the resource station data and the search request.

A treatment of a possibly powdered, sintered, or deposited lattice (e.g., nickel) for heat generating applications and a way to control low energy nuclear reactions (LENR) hosted in the lattice by controlling hydride formation. The method of control and treatment involves the use of the reaction lattice, enclosed by an inert cover gas such as argon that carries hydrogen as the reactive gas in a non-flammable mixture. Hydrogen ions in the lattice are transmuted to neutrons as discussed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0206715 (Godes_2007)). Hydrogen moving through the lattice interacts with the newly formed neutrons generating an exothermic reaction.

A device equipped with a tank includes: a tank storing gas; a receptacle to be coupled to a gas supply nozzle; a filling passage communicating the tank with the receptacle; and a determination unit configured to determine whether there is a leak in the filling passage based on an amount of decrease in pressure in the filling passage per unit time, after supplying of the gas cooled to below freezing to the tank through the receptacle and the filling passage is finished, when a temperature of the receptacle is a predetermined temperature or greater and a pressure in the filling passage in a state where all valves opening and closing the filling passage are closed is greater than a first pressure, wherein the receptacle incorporates a check valve inhibiting backflow of the gas from the filling passage.

The invention relates to methods and systems of converting electrical energy to chemical energy and optionally reconverting it to produce electricity as required. In preferred embodiments the source of electrical energy is at least partially from renewable source. The present invention allows for convenient energy conversion and generation without the atmospheric release of CO2. One method for producing methane comprises electrolysis of water to form hydrogen and oxygen, and using the hydrogen to hydrogenate carbon dioxide to form methane. It preferred to use the heat produced in the hydrogenation reaction to heat the water prior to electrolysis. The preferred electrical energy source for the electrolysis is a renewable energy source such as solar, wind, tidal, wave, hydro or geothermal energy. The method allows to store the energy gained at times of low demand in the form of methane which can be stored and used to generate more energy during times of high energy demand. A system comprising an electrolysis apparatus and a hydrogenation apparatus, and a pipeline for the transportation of two fluids, is also described.

A system and method for controlling delivery of gas, including a gas pipeline network having at least one gas production plant, at least one gas receipt facility of a customer, a plurality of pipeline segments, and a plurality of control elements, one or more controllers, and one or more processors. The hydraulic feasibility of providing an increased flow rate of the gas to the gas receipt facility of the customer is determined using a linearized pressure drop model. A latent demand of the customer for the gas is estimated using a latent demand model. Based on the hydraulic feasibility and the latent demand, a new gas flow request rate from the customer is received. A network flow solution is calculated based on the new gas flow request rate. The network flow solution is associated with control element setpoints used by a controller to control one or more control elements.

Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol.