Integrated refueling system for vehicles
First Claim
1. An integrated refueling system for vehicles, comprising:
- an inlet for supplying natural gas to a fluid circuit;
a liquefier fluidly coupled to and forming part of the fluid circuit;
a first flow path for incoming natural gas, the first flow path including a first heat exchanger having a forward flow passageway and a counterflow passageway, wherein incoming natural gas flows through the forward flow passageway for precooling thereof, the first flow path terminating at the liquefier;
a storage reservoir fluidly coupled to the fluid circuit for containing liquefied natural gas flowing from the liquefier;
a liquefied natural gas delivery line extending from the storage reservoir to a liquefied natural gas dispensing location for dispensing liquefied natural gas to a vehicle;
a liquefied natural gas feed line fluidly coupled to the storage reservoir;
a compressor fluidly coupled to the liquefied natural gas feed line for converting relatively low pressure liquefied natural gas to relatively high pressure liquefied natural gas;
a first compressed natural gas line fluidly coupled between the compressor and the counterflow passageway of the first heat exchanger, the compressed liquefied natural gas passing through the counterflow passageway being vaporized to form compressed natural gas;
a compressed natural gas dispensing location;
a compressed natural gas dispenser line coupled between the counterflow passageway and the compressed natural gas dispensing location.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated refueling system comprises a fluid circuit including multiple flow paths for directing natural gas to a natural gas liquefier. A portion of the resulting liquefied natural gas is provided to a liquefied natural gas delivery location. Another portion of the liquefied natural gas may be provided to a compressor and subsequently a heat exchanger/vaporizer to produce compressed natural gas. The heat exchanger/vaporizer may utilize the lower temperature of liquefied natural gas to precool incoming gaseous natural gas while simultaneously vaporizing the pressurized, liquefied natural gas to form the compressed natural gas. Compressed natural gas may be provided at a compressed natural gas delivery location.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An integrated refueling system for vehicles, comprising:
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an inlet for supplying natural gas to a fluid circuit; a liquefier fluidly coupled to and forming part of the fluid circuit; a first flow path for incoming natural gas, the first flow path including a first heat exchanger having a forward flow passageway and a counterflow passageway, wherein incoming natural gas flows through the forward flow passageway for precooling thereof, the first flow path terminating at the liquefier; a storage reservoir fluidly coupled to the fluid circuit for containing liquefied natural gas flowing from the liquefier; a liquefied natural gas delivery line extending from the storage reservoir to a liquefied natural gas dispensing location for dispensing liquefied natural gas to a vehicle; a liquefied natural gas feed line fluidly coupled to the storage reservoir; a compressor fluidly coupled to the liquefied natural gas feed line for converting relatively low pressure liquefied natural gas to relatively high pressure liquefied natural gas; a first compressed natural gas line fluidly coupled between the compressor and the counterflow passageway of the first heat exchanger, the compressed liquefied natural gas passing through the counterflow passageway being vaporized to form compressed natural gas; a compressed natural gas dispensing location; a compressed natural gas dispenser line coupled between the counterflow passageway and the compressed natural gas dispensing location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A refueling system for vehicles, comprising:
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an inlet for supplying natural gas to a fluid circuit; a regenerative purifier system fluidly coupled to the inlet to remove impurities from the natural gas; a liquefier fluidly coupled to the forming part of the fluid circuit; a first flow path for natural gas, including a first heat exchanger to initially cool the natural gas and an expander serially coupled to the first heat exchanger to expand and cool the natural gas coming from the first heat exchanger, the first flow path terminating at the liquefier; a second flow path for natural gas, including a second heat exchanger to cool the natural gas, the second flow path terminating at the liquefier; a third flow path for passing the natural gas directly to the liquefier; wherein the natural gas is directed through one of the first flow path, the second flow path, or the third flow path depending upon the characteristics of the incoming natural gas or natural gas product to be produced; a storage reservoir for containing liquefied natural gas from the liquefier; a liquefied natural gas dispensing location fluidly coupled to the storage reservoir for dispensing liquefied natural gas; a compressor fluidly coupled to a liquefied natural gas supply line extending from the liquefied natural gas storage reservoir; a first compressed natural gas line for directing liquefied natural gas to the first heat exchanger for producing compressed natural gas; a second compressed natural gas line for directing liquefied natural gas to the second heat exchanger for producing compressed natural gas; a compressed natural gas dispensing location for dispensing the compressed natural gas. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An integrated refueling system for vehicles, comprising:
a first fluid circuit for liquefying natural gas, the first fluid circuit comprising a plurality of flow paths, incoming natural gas coming from a natural gas source being directed to one of the plurality of flow paths depending upon characteristics of either the incoming natural gas or the desired natural gas product, the plurality of flow paths comprising; a liquefier; a first incoming flow path to direct natural gas coming into the fluid circuit through a first heat exchanger/vaporizer to precool the incoming natural gas, through an expander to reduce the natural gas pressure while further cooling the gas, and into the liquefier; a second incoming flow path to direct natural gas coming into the fluid circuit through a second heat exchanger/vaporizer to precool the incoming natural gas; a third incoming flow path to direct the natural gas directly into the liquefier. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for providing a supply of compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas to a delivery location, comprising the steps of:
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providing a natural gas supply to a fluid circuit; directing the natural gas through a first flow path, including a heat exchanger to precool the natural gas; directing the precooled natural gas to a liquefier for liquefaction thereof; directing the liquefied natural gas to a storage tank for storage thereof; directing a first portion of the liquefied natural gas within the storage tank through a liquefied natural gas delivery line to a liquefied natural gas delivery location for dispensing to a vehicle; directing a second portion of the liquefied natural gas within the storage tank through a compressor to pressurize the liquefied natural gas; directing the natural gas from the compressor through the first heat exchanger to vaporize the pressurized, liquefied natural gas and produce compressed natural gas; directing the compressed natural gas from the first heat exchanger through a compressed natural gas delivery line to a compressed natural gas delivery location for dispensing to a vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for providing a supply of liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas, comprising the steps of:
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providing an incoming flow of natural gas into a fluid circuit; directing the incoming flow of natural gas to one of a group of flow paths consisting of; a first flow path directing the flow of natural gas through a first heat exchanger to lower the temperature of the natural gas, through an expander to further lower the temperature of the natural gas, and to a liquefier; a second flow path directing the flow of natural gas through a second heat exchanger and then the liquefier; and a third flow path directly fluidly coupled to the liquefier;
supplying liquefied natural gas to an LNG reservoir.
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- 31. The method of 30 wherein the incoming flow of natural gas through one of the first flow path or the second flow path is precooled by liquefied natural gas.
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32. The method of 30, further comprising the steps of:
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directing at least part of the liquefied natural gas to a compressor for compressing the liquefied natural gas; directing the compressed liquefied natural gas to a heat exchanger/vaporizer to produce compressed natural gas.
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Specification