# US 8,146,735 B2 · Distributed gas storage > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,146,735 B2 - Document ID: US8146735B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/066,703 - Filed: 2006-09-14 - Published: 2008-11-20 - Granted: 2012-04-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-09-15 - Assignees: Manbas Alpha AB - Inventors: Lars Stenmark - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8146735B2 ## CPC - F17C 11/00: Use of gas-solvents or gas-sorbents in vessels {(absorbing compositions for acetylene C10L3/04; absorbing compositions for hydrogen C01B3/0005)} - F17C 11/005: {for hydrogen} - F17C 2201/0128: spherical or elliptical - F17C 2201/0147: complex - F17C 2201/0157: Polygonal - F17C 2250/043: Pressure - Y02E 60/32: Hydrogen storage - 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) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A gas storage system includes a tank, having a tank gas outlet, and a multitude of gas emitting entities encapsulated by the tank. The gas emitting entities are arranged for providing a gas volume, which when released from the gas emitting entities, is considerably larger than a volume of the gas emitting entities themselves. The gas emitting entities are freely contained in the tank. There are no gas conduits or electrical connections to the tank which has a sealable opening suitable for removal or insertion of the gas emitting entities. The latter have a respective gas release device, which is operable as a response on a stimulation signal. A volume surrounding the gas emitting entities inside the tank is the sole fluid connection between an opening of the gas release device and the tank gas outlet. Methods for storing and releasing gas are also presented. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gas storage system, comprising: a tank; said tank having a tank gas outlet; and a multitude of gas emitting entities encapsulated by said tank; said multitude of gas emitting entities being arranged for providing a gas volume, when released from said gas emitting entities, that is considerably larger than a volume of said gas emitting entities; said multitude of gas emitting entities being freely contained in said tank; said tank having a sealable opening suitable for removal or insertion of said multitude of gas emitting entities; and said multitude of gas emitting entities having a respective gas release device, being operable as a response on a stimulation signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gas storage system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said multitude of gas emitting entities being a propellant canister. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gas storage system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said multitude of gas emitting entities being a container in which gas is mechanically trapped in a solid or liquid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gas storage system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said multitude of gas emitting entities being a high-pressure gas container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gas storage system according to claim 1, wherein said multitude of gas emitting entities having a space surrounding said gas emitting entities inside said tank as sole fluid connection between an opening of said gas emitting entity and said tank gas outlet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gas storage system according to claim 1, wherein said multitude of gas emitting entities are free to move inside said tank. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gas storage system according to claim 1, wherein said multitude of gas emitting entities are contained in a support structure inside said tank. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The gas storage system according to claim 7, wherein said support structure is removable from said tank through said sealable opening. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The gas storage system according to claim 1, wherein said gas release device is situated within a shell of respective said gas emitting entities. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The gas storage system according to claim 1, wherein said gas emitting entities have a symmetry axis through an opening of said gas release device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The gas storage system according to claim 10, wherein said symmetry axis can go through a mechanical contact point to another gas emitting entity wall without disturbing a gas release rate. ### Claim 12 A method for storing gas, comprising the steps of: charging a multitude of gas emitting entities to comprise a gas volume, when released from said gas emitting entities, that is considerably larger than a volume of said gas emitting entities; inserting said multitude of gas emitting entities into a tank to be freely contained therein; and sealing said tank, wherein at least one of said multitude of gas emitting entities being a high-pressure gas container. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method for storing gas according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said multitude of gas emitting entities being a propellant canister. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method for storing gas according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said multitude of gas emitting entities being a container in which gas is mechanically trapped in a solid or liquid. ### Claim 15 A method for releasing gas from a gas storage, comprising the step of: opening a tank gas outlet of a tank; said tank encapsulating, freely contained therein, a multitude of gas emitting entities, said gas emitting entities being charged to comprise a gas volume, when released from said gas emitting entities, that is considerably larger than a volume of said gas emitting entities; emitting a stimulation signal to a gas release device of at least one of said multitude of gas emitting entities; and releasing gas from said at least one of said multitude of gas emitting entities as a response to said stimulation signal into an interior of said tank. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method for releasing gas according to claim 15, wherein at least one of said multitude of gas emitting entities being a propellant canister. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method for releasing gas according to claim 16, wherein said step of releasing gas comprises decomposing a solid chemical substance in said propellant canister into at least said gas. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method for releasing gas according to claim 15, wherein at least one of said multitude of gas emitting entities being a container in which gas is mechanically trapped in a solid or liquid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method for releasing gas according to claim 18, wherein said step of releasing gas comprises causing a release of said gas from said solid or liquid. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method for releasing gas according to claim 15, wherein at least one of said multitude of gas emitting entities being a high-pressure gas container. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method for releasing gas according to claim 20, wherein said step of releasing gas comprises opening, at least partially, of said high-pressure gas container.