Method and apparatus for delivering a high pressure gas from a cryogenic storage tank

• US 20050086949A1
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.), Westport Fuel Systems Canada Inc. (Westport Fuel Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Westport Power Inc. (Westport Fuel Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Noble, Stephen Duncan, Follett, Lance G, Brook, Thomas C, Harper, Gregory C
• Granted Patent: US 7,293,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/50.100
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0221 Fuel storage reservoirs, e.g. cryogenic tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 15/08 the liquids having low boiling points
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2015/081 Liquefied gases
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/005 for medium-size and small storage vessels not under pressure F17C13/008 and F17C13/02 - F17C13/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/02 Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment measuring in general G01
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/10 Arrangements for preventing freezing
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/011 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/035 Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0161 cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0135 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 3/08 by vacuum spaces, e.g. Dewar flask for household use A47J41/02
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 7/00 Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 9/00 Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

The present invention is a cryogenic tank assembly that includes a vessel with a cryogen space capable of storing a cryogenic fluid at an initial pressure. The assembly further includes a pump that has an intake opening so that it can receive a quantity of the cryogenic fluid, pressurize it to a pressure above its storage pressure and deliver it to an accumulator within the cryogen space. The accumulator includes a storage volume to hold the pressurized fluid so that it is available depending on the demands of the end user.

Claims

1. A cryogenic tank assembly comprising:

a. a vessel defining a cryogen space capable of storing a fluid at a cryogenic temperature and an initial pressure;

b. a pump comprising;

i. an intake opening disposed in said cryogen space for receiving a quantity of said fluid from said cryogen space;

ii. a pressurizing device capable of pressurizing said quantity of said fluid to a pre-determined pressure, said pre-determined pressure being greater than said initial pressure and said pressurizing device being in communication with said intake opening; and

,

iii. a high pressure discharge passage in communication with said pressurizing device for discharging said quantity of said fluid from said pressurizing device,

c. an accumulator comprising;

i. an entrance for receiving said quantity of said fluid from said high pressure discharge passage;

ii. a storage volume in communication with said entrance; and

,

iii. an exit in communication with said storage volume for delivering said quantity of said fluid,

wherein a percentage of said accumulator is disposed within said cryogen space.

2. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a housing, said housing surrounding said percentage of said accumulator, said housing providing structural support to said accumulator.

6. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a heater capable of receiving said quantity of said fluid through said exit, said heater comprising:

a. a heater inlet; and

,

b. a delivery outlet capable of delivering said quantity of said fluid as a gas at a pre-determined temperature, said pre-determined temperature being greater than said cryogenic temperature.

7. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein a percentage of said heater is disposed within said cryogen space.

8. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a housing, said housing surrounding said percentage of said accumulator, said housing providing thermal insulation between said accumulator and said cryogenic space.

9. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said housing comprises an inner wall defining a housing space and an outer wall surrounding said inner wall, said outer wall defining a thermal insulation space between said inner wall and said outer wall, and said outer wall comprising an outer surface, a percentage of said outer surface facing said cryogen space, wherein said percentage of said accumulator is within said housing space.

10. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a housing defining a housing space, said housing comprising a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said vessel and said second end extending into said cryogen space such that a percentage of said housing space is defined within said cryogen space, wherein a second percentage of said accumulator is disposed within said housing space.

13. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a housing, said housing surrounding:

a. said percentage of said accumulator disposed within said cryogen space; and

,

b. said percentage of said heater disposed within said cryogen space, said housing providing thermal insulation between;

said percentage of said accumulator and said cryogen space; and

,

said percentage of said heater and said cryogen space.

14. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said housing comprises an inner wall defining a housing space and an outer wall surrounding said inner wall, whereby said outer wall defines a thermal insulation space between said inner wall and said outer wall, and said outer wall comprises an outer surface, and at least a portion of said outer surface faces said cryogen space, wherein:

a. said percentage of said accumulator disposed within said cryogen space; and

,

b. said percentage of said heater disposed within said cryogen space are disposed within said housing space.

15. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a housing defining a housing space, said housing comprising a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said vessel and said second end extending into said cryogen space such that a percentage of said housing space is defined within said cryogen space, wherein:

a second percentage of said accumulator is disposed within said housing space; and

,

a second percentage of said heater is disposed within said housing space.

16. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein said second percentage of said accumulator is wholly disposed within said cryogen space.

17. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said second percentage of said heater is wholly disposed within said cryogen space.

18. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a suitable thermal insulator, said insulator providing insulation between said heater and said cryogen space.

19. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein said heater comprises a heating substance and at least one channel for housing said heating substance wherein said heating substance is capable of warming said cryogenic fluid such that said cryogenic fluid is converted to said gas.

20. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 19 wherein said heating substance is a heating fluid capable of being circulated through said at least one channel.

21. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein said gas is capable of being delivered through said delivery outlet for use as a fuel in an engine and said heating fluid is engine coolant.

22. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 19 wherein said heater further comprises a fluid passageway for directing said fluid from said heater inlet through said at least one channel to said delivery outlet.

23. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 22 wherein said heater further comprises a pipe defining said fluid passageway, wherein said pipe is disposed in said channel.

24. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an outer jacket surrounding said vessel, said outer jacket defining an vessel insulation volume disposed between said outer jacket and said vessel.

25. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 24 wherein said vessel insulation volume comprises an evacuated space.

26. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 14, further comprising an outer jacket surrounding said vessel, said outer jacket defining a vessel insulation volume disposed between said outer jacket and said vessel wherein said thermal insulation space is in communication with said vessel insulation volume.

27. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 26 wherein said inner wall comprises:

a jacket end that is attached to said outer jacket; and

,

a cryogen end that extends into said cryogen space, and said outer wall comprises;

a vessel end that is attached to said vessel; and

,

a second cryogen end that extends into said cryogen space and attaches to said cryogen end,

such that said inner wall and said outer wall provide support to said vessel within said outer jacket.

28. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 27, further comprising at least one access passage disposed in said thermal insulation space for communicating between said cryogen space and outside of said cryogen tank assembly.

29. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pump is a reciprocating pump further comprising at least one piston disposed within a cylinder, said piston dividing said cylinder into an intake chamber and a pressure chamber.

30. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 29 wherein said intake chamber is in communication with said intake opening through an intake valve, said intake valve permits one-way flow of said quantity of said fluid into said intake chamber through said intake valve.

31. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 29 wherein said intake chamber is in communication with said pressure chamber through a piston valve capable of allowing one-way flow of said quantity of said fluid into said pressure chamber from said intake chamber.

32. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 31 wherein said piston valve is disposed in said piston.

33. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 29 wherein said pressure chamber is in communication with said high pressure discharge passage such that said quantity of said fluid is flowable into said high pressure discharge passage once said fluid is at said pre-determined pressure.

38. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 29 further comprising:

a drive unit; and

,

a piston rod

wherein said drive unit is a hydraulic drive comprising a hydraulic piston disposed within a hydraulic cylinder wherein a hydraulic fluid is deliverable to said drive unit causing a reciprocating motion of said hydraulic piston, wherein said reciprocating motion is transferable to said at least one piston through said piston rod.

46. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said accumulator is mounted between said heater and said pump.

47. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 46 wherein said high pressure discharge passage is joined directly to said entrance.

48. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 46 wherein said exit is joined directly to said heater inlet.

49. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 46, further comprising a casing assembly, said casing assembly integrating said heater, said accumulator and said pump.

50. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 49, wherein said casing assembly comprises at least one tie rod.

87. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fluid comprises at least one of methane, methanol, ethane, propane, hydrogen, oxygen or butane.

88. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claim 1 wherein said fluid comprises an element that is combustible as a gas.

3-5. -5. (canceled)

11-12. -12. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 34 wherein said high pressure valve prevents the flow of said quantity of said fluid from said pressure chamber into said high pressure discharge passage until the pressure of said quantity of said fluid is at or above said pre-determined pressure.

36-37. -37. (canceled)

39-45. -45. (canceled)

51. A cryogenic tank assembly comprising:

a. an outer jacket;

b. a vessel generally surrounded by said outer jacket, said vessel defining a cryogen space, said cryogen space capable of storing a fluid at a cryogenic temperature and an initial pressure;

c. a housing, said housing comprising a wall defining a housing space, said wall comprising a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said outer jacket and said second end extending into said cryogen space such that said housing space extends into said cryogen space,

d. a pump comprising;

i. an intake opening disposed in said cryogen space capable of receiving a quantity of said fluid from said cryogen space;

ii. a pressurizing means capable of pressurizing said quantity of said fluid to a pre-determined pressure, said pre-determined pressure being greater than said initial pressure and said pressurizing means being in communication with said intake opening; and

,

iii. a high pressure discharge passage in communication with said pressurizing means for discharging said quantity of said fluid from said pressurizing means,

e. an accumulator comprising;

i. an entrance for receiving said quantity of said fluid from said high pressure discharge passage;

ii. a storage volume in communication with said entrance; and

,

iii. an exit in communication with said storage volume for delivering said quantity of said fluid,

wherein said accumulator is disposed within said cryogen space.

52. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 51 further comprising a heater, said heater comprising:

a. a heater inlet capable of receiving said quantity of said fluid from said exit; and

,

b. a delivery outlet capable of delivering said quantity of said fluid at a pre-determined temperature, said pre-determined temperature being greater than said cryogenic temperature.

53. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 52 wherein said housing further comprises an outer wall generally surrounding said wall, whereby a thermal insulation space is defined between said wall and said outer wall such that said housing provides thermal insulation between said accumulator and said cryogen space.

54. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 53 wherein said insulation space comprises an evacuated space.

55. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 53 wherein said heater is also housed in said cryogen space and said thermal insulation space is capable of providing thermal insulation between said heater and said cryogen space.

56-61. -61. (canceled)

62. A cryogenic tank assembly comprising:

a. a vessel defining a cryogen space capable of storing a fluid at a cryogenic temperature and an initial pressure;

b. an outer jacket surrounding said vessel defining;

i. an assembly space; and

,

ii. an insulation space between said vessel and said outer jacket

wherein said assembly space comprises said cryogen space and said insulation space;

c. a pump comprising;

i. an intake opening disposed in said cryogen space for receiving a quantity of said fluid from said cryogen space;

ii. a pressurizing device capable of receiving said quantity of said fluid from said intake opening and pressurizing said quantity of said fluid to a pre-determined pressure, said pre-determined pressure being greater than said initial pressure; and

,

iii. a high pressure discharge passage in communication with said pressurizing device for discharging said quantity of said fluid from said pressurizing device,

d. an accumulator comprising;

i. an entrance for receiving said quantity of said fluid from said high pressure discharge passage;

ii. a storage volume in communication with said entrance; and

,

iii. an exit in communication with said storage volume for delivering said quantity of said fluid,

wherein a percentage of said accumulator is disposed within said assembly space.

63. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 62 wherein said percentage of said accumulator is disposed within said insulation space.

64. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 62, further comprising a heater capable of receiving said quantity of said fluid through said exit, said heater comprising:

a. a heater inlet; and

,

b. a delivery outlet capable of delivering said quantity of said fluid as a gas at a pre-determined temperature, said pre-determined temperature being greater than said cryogenic temperature.

65. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 64 wherein a percentage of said heater is disposed within said assembly space.

67. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 64 wherein said heater comprises a heating substance and at least one channel for housing said heating substance wherein said heating substance is capable of warming said cryogenic fluid such that said cryogenic fluid is converted to said gas.

66. (canceled)

68-74. -74. (canceled)

75. A cryogenic tank assembly comprising:

a. a vessel defining a cryogen space capable of storing a fluid at a cryogenic temperature and an initial pressure;

b. an outer jacket surrounding said vessel defining;

i. an assembly space; and

,

ii. an insulation space between said vessel and said outer jacket;

wherein said assembly space comprises said insulation space and said cryogen space,

c. a support wall comprising a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said outer jacket and said second end extending into said cryogen space, wherein said support wall defines a housing space within said cryogen space,

d. a barrier wall comprising a vessel end and a cryogen end, said vessel end attached to said vessel and said cryogen end extended into said cryogen space and attached to said second end, wherein said barrier wall defines a second insulation space between said support wall and said barrier wall,

e. a pump comprising;

i. a compression cylinder comprising an intake end and a discharge end;

ii. an end flange abutted against said intake end;

iii. an intermediate flange abutted against said discharge end;

iv. a reciprocating piston movably disposed within said compression cylinder, said reciprocating piston comprising an intake face and a discharge face;

v. an intake chamber defined within said cylinder between said intake face and said end flange;

vi. a pressure chamber defined within said cylinder between said discharge face and said intermediate flange;

vii. an intake opening disposed within said cryogen space for receiving a quantity of said fluid from said cryogen space;

viii. a intake check valve capable of allowing one-way flow of said fluid into said intake chamber from said intake opening wherein said intake check valve is disposed within said end flange;

ix. a piston check valve disposed within said piston capable of allowing one-way flow of said fluid from said intake chamber into said pressure chamber;

x. an accumulator check valve disposed within said intermediate flange capable of allowing one-way flow of said fluid from said pressure chamber into a high pressure discharge passage,

f. an accumulator fixed in said housing space said accumulator comprising;

i. an entrance in communication with said high pressure discharge passage;

ii. a coiled tube defining a storage volume, said storage volume in communication with said entrance; and

,

iii. an exit in communication with said storage volume for delivering said quantity of said fluid,

wherein a percentage of said accumulator is disposed within said assembly space.

76-80. -80. (canceled)

81. A method of storing a pressurized fluid comprising sequentially:

a. receiving a quantity of a fluid from a cryogen space at an initial pressure, said cryogen space defined by a vessel;

b. pressurizing said quantity of said fluid to within a pre-determined pressure range wherein said initial pressure is less than said predetermined pressure range; and

,

c. storing said quantity of said fluid within an accumulator disposed within said cryogen space wherein said quantity of said fluid is readily available for delivery within said pre-determined pressure range.

82. A method of storing and delivering a gas comprising sequentially:

a. receiving a quantity of a fluid from a cryogen space at an initial pressure and an initial cryogenic temperature, said cryogen space defined by a vessel;

b. pressurizing said quantity of said fluid to within a pre-determined pressure range wherein said initial pressure less than said predetermined pressure range;

c. storing a percentage of said quantity of said fluid within an accumulator disposed within said cryogen space;

d. heating said quantity of said fluid and transforming it to said gas within a pre-determined temperature range; and

,

e. delivering said gas within said pre-determined pressure range and within said pre-determined temperature range wherein said initial cryogenic temperature is less than said pre-determined temperature range.

83. A method of storing and delivering a pressurized gas as claimed in claim 82 wherein said pre-determined pressure range comprises pressures above the supercritical point of said fluid when said fluid is at said initial cryogenic temperature.

84-85. -85. (canceled)

86. A method of storing and delivering a gas comprising sequentially:

a. receiving a quantity of a fluid from a cryogen space at an initial pressure and an initial cryogenic temperature, said cryogen space defined by a vessel, said vessel surrounded by an outer jacket that defines a tank assembly space, said tank assembly space comprising said cryogen space;

b. pressurizing said quantity of said fluid to within a pre-determined pressure range wherein said initial pressure less than said predetermined pressure range;

c. storing a percentage of said quantity of said fluid within an accumulator disposed within said tank assembly space;

d. heating said quantity of said fluid and transforming it to said gas within a pre-determined temperature range; and

,

e. delivering said gas within said pre-determined pressure range and within said pre-determined temperature range wherein said initial cryogenic temperature is less than said pre-determined temperature range.

89. (canceled)

90. A cryogenic tank assembly comprising:

a. a vessel defining a cryogen space capable of storing a fluid at a cryogenic temperature and an initial pressure;

b. a pump comprising;

i. an intake opening disposed in said cryogen space for receiving a quantity of said fluid from said cryogen space;

ii. a pressurizing device capable of pressurizing said quantity of said fluid to a pre-determined pressure, said pre-determined pressure being greater than said initial pressure and said pressurizing device being in communication with said intake opening; and

,

iii. a high pressure discharge passage in communication with said pressurizing device for discharging said quantity of said fluid from said pressurizing device,

c. a conduit comprising;

i. an entrance for receiving said quantity of said fluid from said high pressure discharge passage;

ii. a storage volume in communication with said entrance; and

,

iii. an exit in communication with said storage volume for delivering said quantity of said fluid,

d. a heater capable of receiving said quantity of said fluid through said exit, said heater comprising;

i. a heater inlet; and

,

ii. a delivery outlet capable of delivering said quantity of said fluid as a gas at a pre-determined temperature, said predetermined temperature being greater than said cryogenic temperature,

wherein a percentage of said heater is disposed within said cryogen space.

91. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 90 further comprising a housing, said housing surrounding said percentage of said heater, said housing providing structural support to said heater.

92. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 90, further comprising a housing defining a housing space, said housing comprising a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said vessel and said second end extending into said cryogen space such that a percentage of said housing space is defined within said cryogen space, wherein a second percentage of said heater is disposed within said housing space.

93. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 92 wherein said second percentage of said heater is wholly within said cryogen space.

96. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 90 wherein said exit is a distance from said entrance, said distance providing thermally insulation between said cryogen space and said exit.

97. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 90 further comprising a housing, said housing surrounding said percentage of said heater disposed within said cryogen space, said housing providing thermal insulation between said percentage of said heater and said cryogen space.

98. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 97 wherein said housing provides thermal insulation between said conduit and said cryogen space.

99. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 97, wherein said housing comprises an inner wall defining a housing space and an outer wall surrounding said inner wall, whereby said outer wall defines a thermal insulation space between said inner wall and said outer wall, and said outer wall comprises an outer surface, and at least a portion of said outer surface faces said cryogen space, wherein:

a. said conduit; and

,

b. said percentage of said heater disposed within said cryogen space are disposed within said housing space.

100. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 90 wherein said heater comprises a heating substance and at least one channel for housing said heating substance wherein said heating substance is capable of warming said cryogenic fluid.

101. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 100 wherein said heating substance is a heating fluid capable of being circulated through said at least one channel.

102. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 101 wherein said gas is capable of being delivered through said delivery outlet for use as a fuel in an engine and said heating fluid is engine coolant.

114. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 90 further comprising a drive unit capable of driving said pump wherein said drive unit is disposed outside of said cryogen space.

115. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 114 further comprising a piston rod wherein said drive unit is in communication with said pump through said piston rod.

117. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 90 wherein said conduit further comprises:

a. a sleeve, said sleeve defining an passage space within said conduit; and

,

b. a storage vessel defining said storage volume wherein said storage volume is disposed in said passage space.

118. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 117 wherein said storage vessel comprises at least one coiled tube.

119. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 117 wherein said sleeve is a thermal insulator.

94-95. -95. (canceled)

103-113. -113. (canceled)

116. (canceled)

120-122. -122. (canceled)

123. A cryogenic tank assembly comprising:

a. an outer jacket;

b. a vessel generally surrounded by said outer jacket, said vessel defining a cryogen space, said cryogen space capable of storing a fluid at a cryogenic temperature and an initial pressure;

c. a housing, said housing comprising a wall defining a housing space, said wall comprising a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said outer jacket and said second end extending into said cryogen space such that said housing space extends into said cryogen space,

d. a pump comprising;

i. an intake opening disposed in said cryogen space capable of receiving a quantity of said fluid from said cryogen space;

ii. a pressurizing means capable of pressurizing said quantity of said fluid to a pre-determined pressure, said pre-determined pressure being greater than said initial pressure and said pressurizing means being in communication with said intake opening; and

,

iii. a high pressure discharge passage in communication with said pressurizing means for discharging said quantity of said fluid from said pressurizing means,

e. a conduit comprising;

i. an entrance for receiving said quantity of said fluid from said high pressure discharge passage;

ii. a storage volume in communication with said entrance; and

,

iii. an exit in communication with said storage volume for delivering said quantity of said fluid,

f. a heater disposed within said cryogen space, said heater comprising;

i. a heater inlet capable of receiving said quantity of said fluid from said exit; and

,

ii. a delivery outlet capable of delivering said quantity of said fluid at a pre-determined temperature, said pre-determined temperature being greater than said cryogenic temperature

said conduit providing thermal insulation between said heater and said cryogen space.

124. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 123 wherein said housing further comprises an outer wall generally surrounding said wall, whereby a thermal insulation space is defined between said wall and said outer wall such that said housing provides thermal insulation between said heater and said cryogen space.

125. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 124 wherein said insulation space comprises an evacuated space.

126. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 124 wherein said thermal insulation space has a conductivity of less than 15 W/m×

K.

127. A cryogenic tank assembly as claimed in claim 123, wherein said conduit further comprises an evacuated space surrounding said storage volume.

128. A cryogenic tank assembly comprising:

a. a vessel defining a cryogen space capable of storing a fluid at a cryogenic temperature and an initial pressure;

b. an outer jacket surrounding said vessel defining;

i. an assembly space; and

,

ii. an insulation space between said vessel and said outer jacket;

wherein said assembly space comprises said insulation space and said cryogen space,

c. a support wall comprising a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said outer jacket and said second end extending into said cryogen space, wherein said support wall defines a housing space within said cryogen space,

d. a barrier wall comprising a vessel end and a cryogen end, said vessel end attached to said vessel and said cryogen end extended into said cryogen space and attached to said second end, wherein said barrier wall defines a second insulation space between said support wall and said barrier wall,

e. a pump comprising;

i. a compression cylinder comprising an intake end and a discharge end;

ii. an end flange abutted against said intake end;

iii. an intermediate flange abutted against said discharge end;

iv. a reciprocating piston movably disposed within said compression cylinder, said reciprocating piston comprising an intake face and a discharge face;

v. an intake chamber defined within said cylinder between said intake face and said end flange;

vi. a pressure chamber defined within said cylinder between said discharge face and said intermediate flange;

vii. an intake opening disposed within said cryogen space for receiving a quantity of said fluid from said cryogen space;

viii. a intake check valve capable of allowing one-way flow of said fluid into said intake chamber from said intake opening wherein said intake check valve is disposed within said end flange;

ix. a piston check valve disposed within said piston capable of allowing one-way flow of said fluid from said intake chamber into said pressure chamber;

x. an conduit check valve disposed within said intermediate flange capable of allowing one-way flow of said fluid from said pressure chamber into a high pressure discharge passage,

f. an conduit fixed in said housing space said conduit comprising;

i. an entrance in communication with said high pressure discharge passage;

ii. a coiled tube defining a storage volume, said storage volume in communication with said entrance; and

,

iii. an exit in communication with said storage volume for delivering said quantity of said fluid,

g. a heater, a percentage of said heater is disposed within said assembly space, said heater comprising

i. a coiled pipe disposed within at least one heat bath channel, wherein said fluid is receivable into said coiled pipe from said exit, and

ii. a heating fluid is capable of being circulated through said at least one heat bath channel such that said fluid is deliverable from said pipe at a temperature higher than said cryogenic temperature.

129. A method of storing and delivering a gas comprising sequentially:

a. receiving a quantity of a fluid from a cryogen space at an initial pressure and an initial cryogenic temperature, said cryogen space defined by a vessel;

b. pressurizing said quantity of said fluid to within a pre-determined pressure range wherein said initial pressure less than said pre-determined pressure range;

c. delivering said quantity of said fluid to a heater thermally insulated from said cryogen space;

d. heating said quantity of said fluid with said heater within said cryogen space and transforming it to said gas within a pre-determined temperature range; and

,

e. delivering said gas within said pre-determined pressure range and within said pre-determined temperature range wherein said initial cryogenic temperature is less than said pre-determined temperature range.

130. A method of storing and delivering a pressurized gas as claimed in claim 129 wherein said pre-determined pressure range comprises pressures above the supercritical point of said fluid when said fluid is at said initial cryogenic temperature.

131. A method of storing and delivering a gas comprising sequentially:

a. receiving a quantity of a fluid from a cryogen space at an initial pressure and an initial cryogenic temperature, said cryogen space defined by a vessel, said vessel surrounded by an outer jacket that defines a tank assembly space, said tank assembly space comprising said cryogen space;

b. pressurizing said quantity of said fluid to within a pre-determined pressure range wherein said initial pressure less than said pre-determined pressure range;

c. delivering said quantity of said fluid to a heater disposed within said tank assembly space;

d. heating said quantity of said fluid with said heater and transforming it to said gas within a pre-determined temperature range; and

,

e. delivering said gas within said pre-determined pressure range and within said pre-determined temperature range wherein said initial cryogenic temperature is less than said pre-determined temperature range.

132-133. -133. (canceled)