# US 2014/0207294 A1 · Method, managing apparatus and natural gas storage system for the automated management of a plurality of throughflow apparatuses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0207294 A1 - Document ID: US20140207294A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/118,178 - Filed: 2012-04-24 - Published: 2014-07-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-06 - Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Pawel Szajwaj - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140207294A1 ## CPC - G01F 15/007: {comprising means to prevent fraud} - G05D 7/0617: {specially adapted for fluid materials} - G01F 15/003: {using electromagnetic, electric or electronic means (G01F15/002, G01F15/02 take precedence)} - G05D 7/0658: {the plurality of throttling means being arranged for the control of a single flow from a plurality of converging flows (G05D7/0652 takes precedence; ratio control G05D11/13)} - B65G 5/00: Storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth - F17C 2205/0352: Pipes - F17C 2221/033: Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG - F17C 2223/0161: cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG - F17C 2250/0636: Flow or movement of content - F17C 2270/0155: by using natural cavities - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) ## Abstract Methods for automated management of a plurality of throughflow apparatuses, the throughflow apparatuses being configured for producing a total throughflow of a fluid into and/or out of a storage apparatus, such as a natural gas store, include inputting predefined values for the throughflow apparatuses into an input unit, transferring the input predefined values to a management unit, and using the transferred predefined values of the management unit for managing the throughflow apparatuses in the control and/or regulation thereof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for automated management of a plurality of throughflow apparatuses configured for producing a total throughflow of a fluid into, out, or into and out of a storage apparatus method comprising: inputting a prescribed value for the total throughflow; inputting setpoints for each throughflow apparatus of the plurality of throughflow apparatuses into an input unit; transferring the input setpoints to a management unit; and managing the plurality of throughflow apparatuses in open-loop control, closed-loop control, or open-loop and closed-loop control using the transferred input setpoints of the management unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setpoints input into the input unit relate, respectively, to throughflow quantity through the throughflow apparatus, priority of the throughflow apparatus, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input setpoints for the plurality of throughflow apparatuses are checked in the input unit for plausibility before the transferring, and wherein the transferring of the input setpoints to the management unit is a function of the checking. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each throughflow apparatus of the plurality of throughflow apparatuses is monitored in the management unit with regard to the transferred setpoints. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the total throughflow is separately prescribable by the input unit, the management unit, or the input unit and the management unit and is configured for use in the input unit for inputting the setpoints, is configured for use in the management unit for managing the plurality of throughflow apparatuses, or is configured for use in the input unit for inputting the setpoints and is configured for use in the management unit for managing the plurality of throughflow apparatuses. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising sorting, with reference to the input setpoints, in the input unit after the inputting of the setpoints. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a repetition of the inputting of the prescribed value, the inputting of the setpoints, the transferring, and the managing overwrites or partially overwrites the setpoints transferred to the management unit before the repetition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setpoints of the input unit, the management unit, or the input unit and the management unit are, or are configured to be, displayed on a display device. ### Claim 9 A management apparatus for automated management of distributed use of a plurality of throughflow apparatuses, the plurality of throughflow apparatuses being configured for producing a total throughflow of a fluid into, out of, or into and out of a storage apparatus, the management apparatus comprising: at least one input unit configured for inputting setpoints for each throughflow apparatus of the plurality of throughflow apparatuses; and at least one management unit configured to perform open-loop, closed-loop, or open-loop and closed-loop control on the plurality of throughflow apparatuses; wherein the at least one management unit is configured for receiving the input setpoints transferred thereto. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The management apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the storage apparatus comprises a natural gas storage reservoir, and wherein the management apparatus is configured for: inputting a prescribed value for the total throughflow; inputting setpoints for each throughflow apparatus of the plurality of throughflow apparatuses into an input unit; transferring the input setpoints to a management unit of the at least one management unit; and managing the plurality of throughflow apparatuses in open-loop control, closed loop control, or open-loop and closed loop control using the transferred setpoints of the management unit. ### Claim 11 A natural gas storage system comprising a plurality of throughflow apparatuses, a management apparatus, and a storage apparatus, wherein the management apparatus comprises: at least one input unit configured for inputting setpoints for each throughflow apparatus of the plurality of throughflow apparatuses; and at least one management unit configured to perform open-loop control, closed loop control, or open-loop and closed loop control on the plurality of throughflow apparatuses, wherein the at least one management unit is configured for receiving the input setpoints transferred thereto. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage apparatus comprises a natural gas storage reservoir. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the input setpoints for the plurality of throughflow apparatuses are checked in the input unit for plausibility before the transferring, and wherein the transferring of the setpoints to the management unit is a function of the checking. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein each throughflow apparatus of the plurality of throughflow apparatuses is monitored in the management unit with regard to the transferred setpoints. ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein each flowthrough apparatus of the plurality of throughflow apparatuses is monitored in the management unit with regard to the transferred setpoints. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the total throughflow is separately prescribable by the input unit, the management unit, or the input unit and the management unit, and is configured for use in the input unit for inputting the setpoints, in the management unit for managing the throughflow apparatuses, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 3) The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the total throughflow is separately prescribable by the input unit, the management unit, or the input unit and the management unit, and is configured for use in the input unit for inputting the setpoints, in the management unit for managing the throughflow apparatuses, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 4) The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the total throughflow is separately prescribable by the input unit, the management unit, or the input unit and the management unit, and is configured for use in the input unit for inputting the setpoints, in the management unit for managing the throughflow apparatuses, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a display device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the storage apparatus comprises a natural gas storage reservoir.