Disclosed is a gas injection apparatus which measures and displays a gas amount supplied to a radiosonde instrument. The gas injection apparatus includes: a body which includes an inlet port through which the gas is introduced from the storage tank, a flow passage through which the gas introduced from the inlet port flows, and an outlet port through which the gas passing through the flow passage is discharged; a valve which opens/closes the flow passage, and a flow meter which is installed in the body and is configured to measure and display the flow rate of the gas supplied to the instrument.

The filling station according to the invention enables an automated refilling of a gas bottle by an end-user. This comprises an insertion device, which enables an end-user to insert an emptied gas bottle into the filling station. The filling station comprises a closing device for closing the filling station after the insertion of the gas bottle such that a removal of the gas bottle subsequent to the closing is not possible. The end-user may not remove the gas bottle in a closed state. Furthermore, the filling station comprises a filling device for an automated filling of an into the filling station inserted emptied gas bottle subsequent to the closing. A filling may thus only take place, if the filling station is closed and in consequence the gas bottle cannot be removed. There is a gas testing device for an automated gas leakage test after a refilling of an inserted gas bottle. With it, the tightness of a once again filled gas bottle is tested. There is a release device that releases an afore filled or full gas bottle only after a successful gas leakage test and thus enables a removal of a once again filled gas bottle. A removal of a gas bottled filled with gas respectively liquid gas is thus only possible, if the gas leakage test revealed that no gas escapes from the filled bottle. The invention further concerns a method for refilling.

The invention relates to a method for detection of a leak from a tank for liquid gas, said tank comprising a membrane surrounding the liquid gas, the membrane being surrounded by an insulation space which separates the membrane from a wall, the insulation space being filled an inert gas which is injected and extracted by at least one duct. The detection method comprises the following steps: determining 921 a first variation of mass of inert gas ΔM1 between two moments by measuring the gas added and removed by the duct; calculating 922 a second variation of mass of inert gas ΔM2 corresponding to a difference between two masses of inert gas measured in the insulation space; and comparing 931 the first variation with the second variation, and triggering an alarm if a difference E1 between the first variation and the second variation of mass of inert gas is greater than a first threshold S1.

A method is provided for refueling a cryogenic pressure vessel of a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has: a) a cryogenic pressure vessel having an internal vessel which stores a fluid, an external vessel and heat insulation which is arranged between the internal vessel and the external vessel, at least in certain areas; and b) a controller, wherein the controller is designed to interrupt refueling of the motor vehicle if, in the case of damaged thermal insulation, a lower fluid density limiting value for the fluid in the internal vessel is exceeded. The lower fluid density limiting value is lower than an upper fluid density limiting value for the fluid in the internal vessel in the case of refueling of the internal vessel with intact thermal insulation.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for refilling fluid containers. A fluid container may include a bottle and a valve assembly. The valve assembly may include two valves and be configured to engage with the bottle and a filling head or dispensing head. A system is configured to provide pressurized fluid to the refillable container, monitor filling, determine when to stop filling, and determine how much fluid was provided. The valve assembly may include a float mechanism coupled to one of the valves of the valve assembly to ensure fluid flow is stopped when the fluid container is full. The fluid, which can include carbon dioxide, is stored in a storage tank. A flow system provides the fluid to a filling head, which engages with the fluid container. The flow system includes a transfer pump, valves, and sensors configured to provide the fluid to the filling head.

A fluid transfer apparatus transfers fluid from a first bulk storage vessel at a gas pressure equal to or greater than a first gas pressure. The fluid transfers to a first or second supply vessel; each having a gas pressure equal to or less than a second pressure. The second pressure less than the first pressure. The fluid transfer continues until the fluid in the first or second supply vessel reaches a predetermined weight inside the first or second supply vessel. The fluid in the filled first or second supply vessel, at the predetermined weight, under a pressure equal to or less than the second pressure; and the fluid in a liquefied and gas state. The apparatus heats the fluid in the first or second supply vessel, filled to the predetermined weight, to bring the fluid in the first or second supply vessel to a third gas pressure. The third gas pressure higher than the first gas pressure and the second gas pressure. The fluid in the first or second supply vessel having the third gas pressure can include fluid in the liquefied gas state and gas state or super critical state.

A method monitors a pressure tank system of a stationary vehicle. The method detects a wake-up situation by use of sensor data of a main sensor of the vehicle. Furthermore, in reaction to the detection of a wake-up situation, the method activates a further resource for detecting and/or for evaluating sensor data with regard to the pressure tank system. Moreover, the method determines, by use of the further resource, whether one or more protective measures are to be carried out in relation to the pressure tank system and/or the surroundings thereof.

According to the invention there is provided a system for determining a status of a gas cylinder, the system comprising: a load sensor configured to detect a weight of the cylinder at predetermined time intervals; a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature local to the cylinder at the predetermined time intervals; and a processing unit configured to: receive weight signals and temperature signals from the load sensor and temperature sensor respectively; and determine, based on the received weight and temperature signals, the status of the gas cylinder; and provide an indication of the status of the gas cylinder to a user. A system for managing deployed cylinders is also provided. Methods and computer readable mediums are also provided.

A device (100, 100′, 200, 300) for filling gas storage tanks (10) comprises a frame (110, 210, 310) and/or a housing, a gas buffer storage tank (120, 220, 320) for a gas which is movably arranged with respect to the frame and/or with respect to the housing, a first valve (130, 230, 330, 331) comprising an inlet, connected to the gas buffer storage tank (120, 220, 320), and an outlet for the connection to a gas storage tank to be filled, and a weighing device (140, 240, 340), connected to the gas buffer storage tank (120, 220, 320), for weighing the gas buffer storage tank (120, 220, 320).

A method for supplying helium to at least one end user is disclosed by feeding helium from at least one container of helium to an end user through at least one supply system, wherein a mass flow meter and a pressure transmitter, in electronic communication with a programmable logic controller measures an amount of helium being supplied to the at least one user, provides the amount to the programmable logic controller which provides a signal to the at least one end user of an amount of helium that remains in the at least one container and the temperature therein.