Abstract: A pressure vessel balanced refuelling system enables greater volumes of gas to be used as working volumes and increases gas storage efficiency. The system includes a plurality of pressure vessels, each vessel having a liquid transfer opening for the entry and exit of a liquid that is used to displace a gas inside each vessel. A liquid transfer line extends from an outside to an inside of each vessel in the plurality of pressure vessels through the liquid transfer opening, and a liquid balance line inter-connects the liquid transfer opening of each vessel with the liquid transfer opening of each other vessel. Thus a balance liquid transfer path extends from an inside to an outside of one vessel, then from the outside to the inside of each other vessel through the liquid balance line, enabling a liquid level in the one vessel to remain approximately equal to a liquid level in each other vessel.

Abstract: A pressure vessel refueling system enables consistent mass flow rates and reduces the in-tank temperature rise caused by the heat of compression as gas is added to a vessel. The system includes a pressure vessel having a first gas inlet/outlet port and an interior cavity, and a nozzle is in fluid communication with the first gas inlet/outlet port. The nozzle and the pressure vessel are thermally coupled such that Joule-Thomson expansion of a gas flowing through the nozzle cools the interior cavity and contents of the pressure vessel.

Abstract: An improved vehicle fuel system enables mixing of natural gas and a liquid fuel upstream of a combustion cylinder. According to some embodiments the system includes: a gas pressure vessel and associated gas pressurization system to deliver natural gas at a desired pressure; a liquid fuel storage vessel and associated reservoir pump to deliver liquid fuel at a desired pressure; a mixing system configured to receive and mix the liquid fuel from the liquid fuel storage vessel and natural gas from the gas pressure vessel to produce a homogeneous fluid fuel mixture; and a common rail system connecting the mixing system to an engine that consumes the homogeneous fluid fuel.

Abstract: A pressure vessel refueling system enables fast refueling of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel tanks. The system includes a pressure vessel having a gas inlet/outlet port and a liquid inlet/outlet port; a first liquid at least partially filling the pressure vessel; a liquid layer of a second liquid floating on top of the first liquid, wherein the second liquid is immiscible with the first liquid; a gas at least partially filling the pressure vessel above the liquid layer of the second liquid, the gas in fluid communication with the gas inlet/outlet; and a pump in fluid communication with the liquid inlet/outlet of the pressure vessel, whereby the first liquid can be pumped or returned to/from storage into or out of the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A pressure vessel refuelling system enables consistent mass flow rates and reduces the in-tank temperature rise caused by the heat of compression as gas is added to a vessel. The system includes a pressure vessel having a first gas inlet/outlet port and an interior cavity, and a nozzle is in fluid communication with the first gas inlet/outlet port. The nozzle and the pressure vessel are thermally coupled such that Joule-Thomson expansion of a gas flowing through the nozzle cools the interior cavity and contents of the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A compressed gas transfer system comprising at least one first pressure vessel able to hold a volume of gas; and a first gas line to allow gas to pass out of the at least one first pressure vessel wherein the volume of the first pressure vessel is able to be varied to maintain the gas within the pressure vessel at a constant pressure.