Method and apparatus for filling a storage vessel with compressed gas
AssigneeNEOgas Inc.
InventorIgor Krasnov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A storage vessel is filled with compressed gas by filling a first tank with gas from a low pressure gas source. Hydraulic fluid is drawn from a reservoir and pumped into the first tank in contact with the gas. This causes the gas in the first tank to flow into the storage vessel as it fills with hydraulic fluid. At the same time, gas is supplied from the gas source to a second tank. Hydraulic fluid previously introduced into the second tank flows out to the reservoir as the second tank fills with gas. When the first tank is full of hydraulic fluid, a valve switches the cycle so that the hydraulic pump begins pumping hydraulic fluid back into the second tank while the first tank drains. The cycle is repeated until the storage vessel is filled with gas to a desired pressure.
Claims20
A method for filling a storage vessel with compressed natural gas, comprising:
- (a) substantially filling a first tank assembly with compressed natural gas from a gas source to a pressure greater than atmospheric;
- then
- (b) drawing hydraulic oil from a reservoir and pumping the hydraulic oil into the first tank assembly into direct contact with the gas contained therein, causing the gas in the first tank assembly to flow into a storage vessel as the first tank assembly fills with hydraulic oil;
- (c) while step (b) is occurring, supplying compressed natural gas from the gas source to the second tank assembly to a pressure greater than atmospheric, the pressure of the gas in the second tank assembly causing any hydraulic oil in the second tank assembly to flow into the reservoir;
- then
- (d) when the first tank assembly is substantially filled with hydraulic oil and the second tank assembly substantially filled with gas and emptied of any hydraulic oil, performing step (b) for the second tank assembly and step (c) for the first tank assembly;
- and
- (e) repeating step (d) until the storage vessel is filled with gas to a selected pressure.
An apparatus for filling a storage vessel with a compressed natural gas, comprising:
- first and second tank assemblies, each of the tank assemblies adapted to be connected to a gas source for receiving compressed natural gas and to a storage vessel for delivering gas at a higher pressure than the pressure of the gas of the gas source, the tank assemblies being free of any pistons;
- a reservoir containing a quantity of hydraulic oil, the reservoir being connected to the tank assemblies and being open to atmospheric pressure;
- a pump having an intake connected to the reservoir for receiving the hydraulic oil and an outlet leading to the tank assemblies;
- and
- a position valve connected between the reservoir and the tank assemblies and between the pump and the tank assemblies for alternately supplying hydraulic oil to one of the tank assemblies and draining hydraulic oil from the other of the tank assemblies to the reservoir, the hydraulic oil being pumped coming into contact with the gas contained within each of the tank assemblies for forcing the gas therefrom into the storage vessel.
A system for filling a storage vessel with a gas, comprising:
- a gas source for supplying compressed natural gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric;
- first and second tank assemblies, each of the tank assemblies having a gas port on one end and a hydraulic oil port on the other end, the tank assemblies being free of any pistons between the ends;
- a gas source line leading from the gas source to each of the gas ports for supplying gas to the first and second tank assemblies;
- a check valve in the gas source line to prevent flow from the first and second tank assemblies back to the gas source;
- a storage vessel;
- a storage vessel line leading from each of the gas outlets to the storage vessel for delivering gas from the first and second tank assemblies to the storage vessel;
- a check valve in the storage vessel line to prevent flow from the storage vessel back to the first and second tank assemblies;
- a position valve connected to the hydraulic oil ports of the tank assemblies;
- a reservoir for containing hydraulic oil the reservoir having a receiving line connected to the position valve for receiving hydraulic oil from each of the tank assemblies depending upon the position of the position valve, the reservoir being open to atmospheric pressure;
- a pump having an intake in fluid communication with the reservoir and an outlet line leading to the position valve for pumping hydraulic oil into each of the tank assemblies into direct contact with the gas contained therein, depending upon the position of the position valve;
- and
- a controller having a sensor that senses when the first tank assembly has reached a maximum level of hydraulic oil, and shifts the position valve to supply hydraulic oil from the pump to the second tank assembly and to drain hydraulic oil from the first tank assembly to the reservoir, the entry of the hydraulic oil into the second tank assembly forcing the gas to flow from the second tank assembly to the storage vessel, the draining of hydraulic oil from the first tank assembly allowing gas from the gas source to flow into the first tank assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.