System and method for dispensing pressurized gas
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for dispensing pressurized gas from a pressurized gas source into a receiving tank, the system comprising:
- a pressurized gas source;
at least one receiving tank;
means for releasably connecting the source to the tank;
means for sensing gas temperature inside the tank and for generating a signal corresponding thereto;
means for sensing gas pressure inside the tank and for generating a signal corresponding thereto;
a computer;
means for initiating a flow of pressurized gas into the tank;
means for communicating signals generated by the temperature and pressure sensing means to the computer in a form recognizable by the computer;
means within the computer for receiving and storing manufacturer'"'"'s data for the water volume and rated pressure of the tank, for receiving and storing temperature and pressure data communicated to the computer by the temperature and pressure sensing means, for periodically calculating gas volume inside the tank at standard conditions based on tank temperature and pressure, for periodically calculating estimated tank finish pressure, and for comparing the actual tank pressure and calculated gas volume to the estimated tank finish pressure and corresponding gas volume for the tank; and
means for terminating the flow of pressurized gas to the tank whenever the calculated volume of gas in the tank or the gas pressure in the tank reaches a predetermined value.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for dispensing pressurized gas, especially CNG, in which the temperature inside the receiving tank is preferably monitored and is used by a computer to adjust the fill pressure to compensate for the temperature and pressure rise attributable to adiabatic compression of the gas inside the receiving tank. The system also utilizes the temperature and pressure of the receiving tank to calculate the volume of gas dispensed.
141 Citations
37 Claims
-
1. A system for dispensing pressurized gas from a pressurized gas source into a receiving tank, the system comprising:
-
a pressurized gas source; at least one receiving tank; means for releasably connecting the source to the tank; means for sensing gas temperature inside the tank and for generating a signal corresponding thereto; means for sensing gas pressure inside the tank and for generating a signal corresponding thereto; a computer; means for initiating a flow of pressurized gas into the tank; means for communicating signals generated by the temperature and pressure sensing means to the computer in a form recognizable by the computer; means within the computer for receiving and storing manufacturer'"'"'s data for the water volume and rated pressure of the tank, for receiving and storing temperature and pressure data communicated to the computer by the temperature and pressure sensing means, for periodically calculating gas volume inside the tank at standard conditions based on tank temperature and pressure, for periodically calculating estimated tank finish pressure, and for comparing the actual tank pressure and calculated gas volume to the estimated tank finish pressure and corresponding gas volume for the tank; and means for terminating the flow of pressurized gas to the tank whenever the calculated volume of gas in the tank or the gas pressure in the tank reaches a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for dispensing pressurized gas from a pressurized gas source into a receiving tank having a predetermined water volume and rated pressure;
- the method comprising the steps of;
reading and storing in a computer data for the predetermined water volume and rated pressure of the tank; releasably connecting a gas flow conduit from the source to the tank; sensing and communicating to the computer an initial temperature and pressure inside the tank; calculating and storing an initial value for the volume of gas inside the tank at standard conditions; initiating a flow of pressurized gas from the source into the tank; periodically sensing and communicating to the computer the temperature and pressure of gas inside the tank; periodically recalculating the volume of gas inside the tank at standard conditions; periodically calculating an estimated finish pressure for the gas inside the tank; comparing the actual tank pressure and calculated gas volume to the estimated tank finish pressure and corresponding gas volume for the tank; and terminating the flow of pressurized gas to the tank whenever the volume of gas in the tank or the gas pressure in the tank reaches a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- the method comprising the steps of;
-
28. A system for determining the amount of a predetermined pressurized gas dispensed from a pressurized gas source into a receiving tank having a tank wall and a known water volume, the system comprising:
-
means for determining the initial temperature and pressure inside the receiving tank; means for calculating and storing a value for the initial volume of gas inside the receiving tank at standard conditions; means for determining the final temperature and pressure inside the receiving tank; means for calculating a value for the final gas volume inside the receiving tank at standard conditions; and means for determining the difference between the initial and final gas volumes inside the receiving tank. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A method for refilling a receiving tank with a pressurized gas, the method comprising the steps of:
-
determining the supercompressibility factor for the pressurized gas; determining the volume of the receiving tank; determining the initial temperature and pressure inside the receiving tank; calculating the volume of pressurized gas inside the receiving tank at standard conditions prior to refilling using the Ideal Gas Law as corrected for the supercompressibility of the pressurized gas; initiating a flow of pressurized gas into the receiving tank; determining a desired finish fill pressure based upon the temperature and pressure inside the receiving tank; monitoring pressure inside the receiving tank during refilling; terminating the flow of pressurized gas when the pressure inside the receiving tank reaches the desired finish fill pressure; determining the final temperature and pressure inside the receiving tank; calculating the volume of pressurized gas inside the receiving tank at standard conditions after refilling using the Ideal Gas Law as corrected for the supercompressibility of the pressurized gas; and determining the volume of gas dispensed during refilling by subtracting the volume of gas inside the receiving tank prior to refilling from the volume of gas inside the tank after refilling. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
-
Specification