The invention relates to a method for filling a hydrogen tank (2) of a motor vehicle (1) comprising a fuel cell drive, wherein the method comprises the steps: (a) determining a first operating time at which the motor vehicle (1) is to be started up and an expected first operating location at which the motor vehicle (1) is to be started up, (b) ascertaining a predicted maximum ambient temperature (T.sub.U,max) at the first operating location at the first operating time, and (c) filling the hydrogen tank with hydrogen (3) until a tank pressure (p) in the hydrogen tank (2) reaches a maximum permissible tank pressure (p.sub.max) at a tank temperature (T), wherein the following applies for the tank temperature (T): tank temperature (T)=[maximum ambient temperature (T.sub.U,max); maximum ambient temperature (T.sub.U,max)+10 K]. The invention relates further to a motor vehicle (1) comprising a hydrogen tank (2), a fuel cell drive and a control system (5) for controlling filling of the hydrogen tank (2), wherein the control system (5) to carry out the method.

The present disclosure relates to a thermal pressure relief device for gas pressure tanks and/or gas pressure tank systems, comprising: a valve unit which can be fluidically connected to the gas pressure tank and/or the gas pressure tank system and comprises at least one fluid path, by means of which the gas pressure tank and/or the gas pressure tank system can be drained, in particular a gas stored under high pressure in the gas pressure tank and/or the gas pressure tank system can be discharged into an environment, wherein the valve unit comprises a locking element which can be shifted and/or moved between an open position, in which the gas can flow through the fluid path, and a closed position, in which no gas can flow through the fluid path, and a first trigger means configured to shift and/or move, due to heat impact, in particular when reaching a predetermined temperature, the locking element into the open position and/or to enable the locking element to shift and/or move into the open position, wherein the first trigger means is further configured to detect the heat impact at least at one further location of the gas pressure tank and/or the gas pressure tank system, which is not the installation location of the thermal pressure relief device, and/or to detect the heat impact at least at two spatially separated locations and/or areas, in particular of the gas pressure tank and/or the gas pressure tank system.

The present disclosure relates to a valve unit for a fuel supply system which is preferably adapted to supply a fuel cell system with fuel, comprising: at least one temperature detector, at least one pressure detector, and a safety valve integrated into a line section, wherein the safety valve can be adjusted between an open position, in which gas is able to flow through the line section, and a closed position, in which gas is not able to flow through the line section, wherein the temperature detector and the pressure detector are so disposed that they are able to detect a temperature and a pressure of the gas flowing through the line section in a state in which the gas is present at the closed safety valve in such a manner that it exerts pressure. The present disclosure relates further to an on-tank valve which can have all the features described in relation to the valve unit and differs from the valve unit only in that it is able to be mounted directly on a gas pressure tank. The present disclosure relates further to a gas pressure tank system for storing fuel, comprising: at least one gas pressure tank and a valve unit. Finally, the present disclosure relates to a method for detecting a possible leakage in a fuel supply system, and to a valve assembly.

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.

According to aspects, hydrogen fueling systems and methods are provided, including vehicle-to-vehicle communication techniques, hydrogen cooling techniques and/or hydrogen dispenser control techniques that facilitate improving aspects of a hydrogen fueling station.

Device for filling tanks with pressurized gas, in particular hydrogen gas tanks of motor vehicles, the device comprising at least one gas source, a transfer circuit comprising at least one upstream end connected to the source and at least one downstream end intended to be connected in removable fashion to a tank to be filled, the transfer circuit additionally comprising, between its upstream and downstream ends, a set of buffer storage container(s) which is (are) connected in parallel to the transfer circuit via a set of respective connecting valve(s), the transfer circuit comprising a portion of pipe(s) forming a loop, a plurality of the buffer storage container(s) being connected in parallel to the said loop, characterized in that the transfer circuit comprises a plurality of separate downstream ends each intended to be connected in removable fashion to a respective tank to be filled, the said downstream ends being connected in parallel to the said loop and comprising a set of respective linking valves, so that control of the connecting valves and of the linking valves makes it possible to bring at least one first buffer storage container into fluidic communication, via the loop, with a first downstream end and, simultaneously, to bring at least one second buffer storage container into fluidic communication, via the loop, with a second downstream end and/or to bring two separate buffer storage containers into fluidic communication.

Station for filling one or more tank(s) with pressurized gas, in particular pressurized hydrogen, comprising at least two pressurized gas source stores, a transfer pipe having an upstream end connected parallel to the source stores and a downstream end intended to be connected to a tank to be filled, the station comprising a valve assembly for controlling the transfer of gas between the sources and the tank to be filled and an electronic controller connected to the valve assembly and configured to control the valve assembly, the electronic controller being configured to implement successive transfers of gas between the source stores and the tank to be filled via successive pressure balancing sequences, the electronic controller being configured to determine the temperature attained by the gas in the source stores or by the source stores during transfers of gas and, when said attained temperature is below a determined threshold, to prevent or to interrupt this transfer of gas or to reduce the flow of gas transferred during said transfer.

A dual-wall, vacuum-insulated container (30, 40) has an external wall (1), an internal wall (3) and there in-between a vacuum chamber (5), in which there is arranged a heat insulation device (2, 20). At least three temperature sensors (13, 13a, 13b, 14, 15) that are spaced apart from another recurringly register instantaneous temperatures (T.sub.1, T.sub.2, T.sub.2A, T.sub.2B, T.sub.3) of the container (30, 40). At least in some points there is calculated a temperature course using a heat insulation model on the basis of the construction and material characteristics of the container and the heat radiation resulting therefrom, which temperature course contains at least two of the temperatures (T.sub.1, T.sub.2, T.sub.2A, T.sub.2B, T.sub.3) registered. From the temperature course there is calculated a desired temperature value for the position of at least one further of the temperature sensors and compared with the actual temperature value actually registered by this temperature sensor. From the deviation between the desired temperature value and the actual temperature value there is detected a change of the heat insulation quality of the container.

A flow control panel configured to control the flow of fuel from a storage bank to a dispense includes a cold fuel controller, a dispenser port, and a processor. The cold fuel controller is configured to control the flow of cold fuel from a cold fuel line. The dispenser port is in fluid communication with the cold fuel controller. The processor is configured to receive an indication of fuel temperature within a dispenser and activate the cold fuel controller to allow the cold fuel from the cold fuel line to flow to the dispenser port when the indication of fuel temperature within the dispenser exceeds a maximum temperature determined by the dispenser.

A device for refuelling containers with pressurized gas, comprising a pressurized gas source, a transfer circuit intended to be removably connected to a container, the device comprising a refrigeration system for cooling the gas flowing from the gas source prior to its entering into the container, the refrigeration system comprising a refrigerant cooling loop circuit comprising, arranged in series, a compressor, a condenser section, an expansion valve and an evaporator section, the refrigeration system comprising a cold source in heat exchange with the condenser section and a heat exchanger located in the transfer circuit, the device comprising an electronic controller connected to the expansion valve and configured for controlling cooling power produced by the refrigeration system via the control of the opening of the expansion valve, the device comprising a differential temperature sensor system measuring the difference between the temperature of the refrigerant in the refrigerant cooling loop circuit at the outlet of the heat exchanger and the temperature of the refrigerant in the cooling loop circuit at the inlet of the heat exchanger, the electronic controller being configured for controlling the cooling power produced as a function of this temperature differential.