Quick fill fuel charge process

• US 5,479,966 A
• Filed: 07/26/1993
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quantum Technology Management Limited (Quantum Controls BV)
• Original Assignee: Consolidated Natural Gas Service Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Tison, Raymond R., Swenson, Paul F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US08/097,754
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 141/1, 141/2, 141/4, 141/5, 141/12, 141/18, 141/71, 141/82, 141/83, 141/39, 141/40
• US Class Current: 141/4
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0138 bundled in series
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0326 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0335 Check-valves or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/037 Quick connecting means, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0393 using a vaporiser
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/043 by pressure cascade
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0439 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0443 Flow or movement of content
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0636 Flow or movement of content
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/075 when full
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/025 Reducing transfer time
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/026 by calculation
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/065 for refueling vehicle fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/06 for filling with compressed gases

Abstract

A method and apparatus for fast filling a vehicle fuel tank with high pressure natural gas comprising the steps of coupling a fill line to the vehicle tank, introducing high pressure natural gas into the line and the tank, measuring the pressure in the line in a manner that yields a measurement of the initial pressure of the gas in the tank, assigning an initial temperature for the gas in the tank, predetermining the final desired pressure and temperature of the gas in the tank at the end of the fill, calculating the mass or temperature of the gas to be added to the tank so that the adiabatic compression and potential rise in temperature of gas in the tank is automatically compensated for and the tank is substantially filled with a mass that results in a condition, when the tank and the gas contained therein substantially reach ambient temperature, wherein the pressure in the tank is substantially equal to the nominal rated pressure of the tank and, thereafter filling the tank with the calculated gas mass or temperature.

Claims

1. A method of fast filling a vehicle fuel tank with high pressure natural gas comprising the steps of coupling a fill line to the vehicle tank, introducing high pressure natural gas into the line and the tank, measuring the pressure in the line in a manner that yields a measurement of the initial pressure of the gas in the tank, assigning an initial temperature for the gas in the tank, predetermining the final desired pressure and temperature of the gas in the tank at the end of the fill, calculating the temperature of the gas to be added to the tank so that the adiabatic compression and rise in temperature of gas in the tank is automatically compensated for and the tank is substantially filled with a mass that results in a condition, when the tank and the gas contained therein are substantially at ambient temperature, wherein the pressure in the tank is substantially equal to the nominal rated pressure of the tank and, thereafter filling the tank with gas at the calculated gas temperature, the gas being added to the tank being supplied from a store of LNG at the site at which vehicles are being fast filled, and the gas being added to the tank being supplied at a temperature below ambient temperature in such a manner that at the end of the filling process the temperature of the gas in the tank is not substantially above ambient temperature.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein a calculation of the mass of gas to be added to the tank is made on the basis of the measurement of the initial pressure in the tank and an estimate of the volume of the tank, based on a measured subsequent increase in pressure in the tank resulting from an introduction of a limited measured mass of gas into the tank, thereafter measuring the mass of gas being introduced into the tank and discontinuing the filling operation when the measured mass of gas being introduced into the tank reaches the calculated mass.

3. A method of fast-filling a vehicle fuel tank with high pressure natural gas comprising the steps of coupling a fill line to the vehicle tank, measuring the pressure in the tank, assigning an initial temperature for the gas in the tank, predetermining the final desired pressure and temperature of the gas in the tank at the end of the fill, determining the temperature of the gas to be added to the tank so that the adiabatic compression and rise in temperature of gas in the tank is automatically compensated for, and when the determined temperature is below ambient temperature supplying high pressure natural gas to the tank at sub-ambient temperature from a supply whereby at the end of the filling process the temperature of the gas in the tank is not substantially higher than ambient temperature.