US 12,747,830 B2 · Apparatus, control system and process for rapid fuel dispensing

Abstract

An apparatus for fuel dispensing and a process for fuel dispensing can be configured to facilitate rapid fueling. In some embodiments, at least one compressor can be cooled down via sequential adjustment for venting to facilitate improved compressor and supply line cool down that can utilize less vented gas and also help improve the speed at which a sufficient cool down can be provided. Some embodiments can alternatively (or also) utilize a sequential supply line utilization scheme for feeding fuel from a cooled down and operational compressor to a dispenser for feeding to a fuel tank. A control system can be configured to oversee operation and control adjustment of how supply lines are utilized based on at least one pre-determined control scheme for venting and/or fueling via the supply line(s) as well.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A process for supplying fuel from a fuel storage tank to a dispenser, comprising:

feeding fuel stored in the fuel storage tank to a compression system for undergoing compression and subsequently being fed to a heat exchanger to vaporize the fuel so that the fuel is gaseous;
feeding the gaseous fuel to a first supply line of a plurality of supply lines for passing the gaseous fuel to a dispenser for dispensing to a fuel tank of a vehicle via a dispenser feed conduit connected to the supply lines;
in response to determining that a temperature of the gaseous fuel being fed to the dispenser is at or below a first pre-selected fueling temperature, opening a second supply line of the supply lines to feed the gaseous fuel to the dispenser feed conduit via the first supply line and the second supply line;
and
passing the gaseous fuel output from the first supply line and the second supply line to the dispenser via the dispenser feed conduit.

2 more elements

An apparatus for fueling a fuel tank of a vehicle, comprising:

a fuel storage tank configured to store fuel therein, the fuel comprising fuel in a liquid state;
a compression system in fluid communication with the fuel storage tank for pressurization of the fuel for outputting the fuel towards a dispenser configured to fill the fuel tank of the vehicle with the fuel;
a fueling heat exchanger;
and
a plurality of supply lines including a first supply line and a second supply line, the fueling heat exchanger positioned between the supply lines and the compression system to vaporize the fuel output from the compression system so that the fuel in a gaseous state is feedable to one or more of the supply lines for feeding to the dispenser;
a dispenser feed conduit positioned between the supply lines and the dispenser for feeding the fuel in the gaseous state output from the one or more supply lines to the dispenser;
a temperature sensor positioned to determine a temperature of the fuel in the gaseous state being fed to the dispenser via the dispenser feed conduit;
a first controller having a processor communicatively connected to a non-transitory computer readable medium, the first controller communicatively connected to the temperature sensor and valves of the second supply line;
and
the first controller configured to detect a temperature of the fuel in the gaseous state being fed to the dispenser via the first supply line based on temperature data received via the temperature sensor and, in response to determining that the temperature of the gaseous fuel being fed to the dispenser via the first supply line is at or below a first pre-selected fueling temperature, communicate with the valves of the second supply line to open the second supply line so the fuel in the gaseous state outputtable from the fueling heat exchanger is feedable to the dispenser feed conduit via the first supply line and the second supply line.

7 more elements

A control system for an apparatus for fueling a fuel tank of a vehicle, the control system comprising:

a first controller having a processor communicatively connected to a non-transitory computer readable medium, the first controller communicatively connected to a temperature sensor positioned to determine a temperature of fuel in a gaseous state being fed to a dispenser via a dispenser feed conduit and valves of at least a second supply line of a plurality of supply lines that includes a first supply line and the second supply line;
and
the first controller configured to detect a temperature of the fuel in the gaseous state being fed to the dispenser via the first supply line based on temperature data received from the temperature sensor and, in response to determining that the temperature of the gaseous fuel being fed to the dispenser via the first supply line is at or below a first pre-selected fueling temperature, communicate with the valves of the second supply line to open the second supply line so the fuel in the gaseous state outputtable from the fueling heat exchanger is feedable to the dispenser feed conduit via the first supply line and the second supply line.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus, control system and process for rapid fuel dispensing

Life of this patent

Apparatus, control system and process for rapid fuel dispensing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20