CNG refueling system for multiple vehicles
AssigneePinnacle CNG Systems, LLC
InventorsJack E. Brown, David A. Diggins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for selectively refueling a plurality of vehicle storage tanks with compressed natural gas (CNG) are provided that utilize a compressor system operable at suction pressures ranging from about 330 to about 3600 psig and discharge pressures ranging from about 330 to about 4500 psig in combination with a tank for temporarily storing CNG at an intermediate storage pressure of from about 330 to about 4500 psig, preferably from about 1700 to about 2700 psig, apparatus for selectively filling vehicle storage tanks with CNG from an inlet source, from the compressor discharge and from the intermediate storage tanks, and apparatus for selectively supplying CNG to the compressor inlet at either the available line pressure or the intermediate storage pressure.
Claims16
A CNG refueling system for a plurality of motor vehicles each having CNG storage means is provided, the system comprising:
- compressor means operable over suction pressures ranging from about 330 to about 3600 psig and discharge pressures ranging from about 330 psig to about 4500 psig;
- at least one intermediate storage tank for storing CNG at pressures ranging from about 330 to about 3600 psig;
- means for selectively delivering natural gas received from an external source to the compressor means;
- means for selectively delivering CNG discharged from the compressor means into the intermediate storage tank until the pressure in the intermediate storage tank reaches a predetermined maximum level not greater than about 3600 psig;
- means for selectively controlling the delivery of CNG to the CNG storage means of each vehicle;
- means for selectively delivering CNG to each selected vehicle CNG storage means from the intermediate storage tank or from the compressor means;
- and means for selectively supplying CNG to the compressor means from the intermediate storage tank until the pressure in each selected vehicle CNG storage means reaches a maximum intended vehicle storage fill pressure.
A method for selectively refilling a plurality of vehicle CNG storage means from an initial pressure to an intended fill pressure with compressed natural gas, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a source of natural gas at a supply pressure ranging from about 330 to about 1000 psig;
- providing an intermediate storage tank;
- selectively delivering natural gas from the source to a compressor means that is operable at suction pressures ranging from about 330 to about 3600 psig with attendant discharge pressures ranging up to about 4500 psig;
- compressing the natural gas and selectively storing the compressed natural gas discharged from the compressor means in the intermediate storage tank until an intermediate storage pressure ranging up to about 3600 psig is reached;
- selectively delivering compressed natural gas to each selected vehicle CNG storage means from the intermediate storage tank or from the compressor means until the selected vehicle CNG storage means pressure equalizes with the intermediate storage tank pressure;
- selectively delivering compressed natural gas to the compressor means from the intermediate storage tank and further compressing the natural gas;
- and selectively delivering the further compressed natural gas from the compressor means to the selected vehicle CNG storage means until the selected vehicle CNG storage pressure reaches the intended fill pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.