Methods for managing a product carrier

• US 9,783,754 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2006
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Mattiola, Paul Anthony, Gershtein, Vladimir Yliy, Campbell, Karen Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): BORISSOV, IGOR N
• Application Number:
  US11/437,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,163 Days
• Field of Search: 141231-233, 141 83, 141110, 141 18, 141 2, 141 4- 7, 141 94, 141100, 141 21, 141 22, 141 51, 62 461, 62 462, 62 463, 62 491, 62 451, 705413, 705 1, 705 11, 705 7, 705 28, 705 29, 705 30, 705400, 429515, 137113, 37039551, 37039552
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 3/00 Gaseous fuels; Natural gas; Synthetic natural gas obtained by processes not covered by subclass C10G, C10K; Liquefied petroleum gas
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/001 for gas
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0609 by fluid containers, e.g. bottles, cups, gas containers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

Methods are provide for dispensing a product to a user, the product releasably incorporated within a carrier. In one embodiment, the method comprises the step of providing a first user comprising at least one storage vessel for receiving and storing fresh and at least one vessel for receiving and storing spent. The method further includes the steps of: collecting spent from a storage vessel of the first user; detecting a chemical or physical property of the collected spent; and comparing the detected chemical or physical property of the collected spent with a predetermined criteria. In a second embodiment, the method comprises the step of providing the first user, and further includes the steps of: determining an estimated amount of product to be transferred to the first user; optionally, collecting and validating information concerning the purchaser; transferring fresh to the storage vessel of the first user; collecting measurement data concerning fresh transferred from the first user; removing spent from a storage vessel of the first user; collecting measurement data concerning spent collected from the first user; optionally, calculating the net amount of product transferred; and determining whether the transfer of fresh and removal of spent has been performed on a substantially equal exchange basis. In a third embodiment, the method comprises providing a first user and a seller, the seller transferring fresh to the first user, collecting measurement data, and assigning a monetary price to be charged to the user.

Claims

1. A method for dispensing a product to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

providing fresh, fresh being a carrier releasably incorporating a product;

separating product from the fresh thereby converting the fresh into spent;

providing a first user, the first user comprising;

at least one storage vessel adapted for receiving and storing fresh; and

at least one storage vessel adapted for receiving and storing spent collected from the first user;

separating product from the fresh,

collecting spent from the at least one storage vessel;

providing and using a system for measuring the quantity of product in the spent,

providing and using a system for measuring the presence of at least one chemical or physical property of the collected spent;

comparing the at least one detected chemical or physical property of the collected spent with at least one predetermined criteria in order to determine whether the spent is contaminated;

collecting uncontaminated spent and,

regenerating uncontaminated collected spent by incorporating product into the uncontaminated collected spent.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additional step of dispensing fresh to at least one storage vessel of the first user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of dispensing fresh and the step of collecting spent are controlled so as to operate substantially simultaneously.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additional step of collecting user identification information.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the additional step of associating user identification information with the collected spent and conducting at least one of:

identification of the first user as the source of the spent;

historical review of the first user'"'"'s fresh and/or spent transactions;

user type;

user carrier type;

user vehicle type; and

user storage capacity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the system for measuring comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

viscosimeters, conductivity measuring devices, density measuring devices, chemical analyzers, gas analyzers, gas chromatographs, liquid chromatographs, ultraviolet detectors, infrared detectors, optical sensors, and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the product comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, oxygen, arsine, stibine, phosgine, methane, hydrogen fluoride, natural gas, methanol, and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the product comprises hydrogen, wherein the carrier comprises at least one organic chemical, wherein fresh comprises at least one hydrogenated derivative of the organic chemical, and wherein spent comprises at least one at least partially dehydrogenated derivative of the fresh.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

organic chemicals, ionic liquids, and chemical hydrides.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising returning contaminated spent to the user.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising collecting contaminated spent and disposing of the contaminated spent.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the incorporating product into the uncontaminated collected spent comprises hydrogenating the uncontaminated collected spent.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the product comprises hydrogen.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additional step of assigning a monetary value to the collected spent based upon the step of comparing the at least one measured chemical or physical property to the at least one predetermined criteria.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said regenerating comprises hydrogenating an uncontaminated spent.

16. A method for dispensing a product to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

providing fresh, fresh being a carrier releasably incorporating a product, fresh further becoming spent upon release of product from fresh;

providing a first user, the first user comprising;

at least one storage vessel adapted for receiving and storing fresh; and

at least one storage vessel adapted for receiving and storing spent collected from the first user;

collecting spent from the at least one storage vessel;

using at least one system for detecting at least one chemical or physical property of the collected spent;

comparing the at least one detected chemical or physical property of the collected spent with at least one predetermined criteria thereby determining whether the collected spent is contaminated;

collecting contaiminated spent;

collecting uncontaminated spent;

determining an estimated amount of product to be transferred to the first user;

collecting and validating information concerning the user;

transferring fresh to at least one storage vessel of the first user;

collecting measurement data concerning fresh transferred to the first user;

transferring spent from at least one storage vessel of the first user;

collecting measurement data concerning spent transferred from the first user;

calculating the net amount of product transferred; and

using at least one measuring means for determining whether the transfer of fresh and transfer of spent has been performed on a substantially equal exchange basis.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the additional step of adjusting at least one of the amount of fresh transferred or the amount of spent transferred to effect an exchange on a substantially equal basis.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the additional step of determining that special circumstances exist if the transfer of fresh and transfer of spent has been performed on other than a substantially equal basis.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising regenerating uncontaminated collected spent by hydrogenating the uncontaminated collected spent.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising rehabilitating or disposing of contaminated collected spent.

21. The method of claim 20 comprising disposing of contaminated collected spent.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein the product comprises hydrogen.

22. The method of Clam 16 further comprising returning contaiminated collected spent to the user.