Abstract: A natural gas adsorptive separation system and method is described. A method of separating natural gas includes directing a natural gas mixture through an activated carbon adsorption tower until the adsorption tower is saturated, collecting methane from the output of the adsorption tower, heating the saturated carbon adsorption tower with adsorbate using a heater and/or a vacuum pump in a closed loop circuit with the carbon adsorption tower until the input to the vacuum pump is within a specified temperature of the output of the heater, lowering the pressure in the heated activated carbon adsorption tower using the vacuum pump to desorb at least one hydrocarbon compound of the plurality of different hydrocarbon compounds, compressing and cooling the desorbed hydrocarbon compound, separating the cooled and compressed hydrocarbon compound into gas and liquid in a fluid separator, and collecting the liquid from the fluid separator.

Abstract: A portable pressure swing adsorption method and system for low flow rate gas processing. A method of processing of hydrocarbon gas includes feeding hydrocarbon gas through a first adsorption bed of a pressure swing adsorption system, recovering light product from the first adsorption bed during the feed time, obtaining heavy product from a second adsorption bed during the feed time, wherein the second adsorption bed depressurizes to about vacuum during the feed time, compressing the heavy product to obtain natural gas liquid and vapor, sending a volume of reflux gas through the first adsorption bed after the feed time to obtain additional light product, and adjusting the feed flowrate, the feed time, or the volume of reflux gas based on a gross heating value of the feed gas, wherein adjusting the volume of reflux gas includes combining NGL storage tank vapor with the reflux gas.

Abstract: A portable pressure swing adsorption method and system for fuel gas conditioning. A fuel gas conditioning system includes a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system fluidly coupled to a rich gas stream, the PSA system including a plurality of adsorbent beds and configured to condition the rich natural gas stream and produce therefrom a high-quality fuel gas and gaseous separated heavier hydrocarbons, a product end of the adsorbent beds fluidly coupled to a fuel gas line, wherein the high-quality fuel gas is discharged from the product end and supplied to the fuel gas line, and a feed end of the adsorbent beds configured to be fluidly coupled to the rich natural gas stream or a raw natural gas stream, wherein the produced gaseous separated heavier hydrocarbons are recirculated into the rich natural gas stream or the raw natural gas stream.

Abstract: A system for storing and transporting compressed natural gas includes source and destination facilities and a vehicle, each of which includes pressure vessels. The pressure vessels and gas therein may be maintained in a cold state by a carbon-dioxide-based refrigeration unit. Hydraulic fluid (and/or nitrogen) ballast may be used to fill the pressure vessels as the pressure vessels are emptied so as to maintain the pressure vessels in a substantially isobaric state that reduces vessel fatigue and lengthens vessel life. The pressure vessels may be hybrid vessels with carbon fiber and fiber glass wrappings. Dip tubes may extend into the pressure vessels to selectively expel/inject gas from/into the top of the vessels or hydraulic fluid from/into the bottom of the vessels. Impingement deflectors are disposed adjacent to the dip tubes inside the vessels to discourage fluid-induced erosion of vessel walls.

Abstract: A natural gas adsorptive separation system and method is described. A method of separating natural gas includes directing a natural gas mixture through an activated carbon adsorption tower until the adsorption tower is saturated, collecting methane from the output of the adsorption tower, heating the saturated carbon adsorption tower with adsorbate using a heater and/or a vacuum pump in a closed loop circuit with the carbon adsorption tower until the input to the vacuum pump is within a specified temperature of the output of the heater, lowering the pressure in the heated activated carbon adsorption tower using the vacuum pump to desorb at least one hydrocarbon compound of the plurality of different hydrocarbon compounds, compressing and cooling the desorbed hydrocarbon compound, separating the cooled and compressed hydrocarbon compound into gas and liquid in a fluid separator, and collecting the liquid from the fluid separator.

Abstract: A system for storing and transporting compressed natural gas includes source and destination facilities and a vehicle, each of which includes pressure vessels. The pressure vessels and gas therein may be maintained in a cold state by a carbon-dioxide-based refrigeration unit. Hydraulic fluid (and/or nitrogen) ballast may be used to fill the pressure vessels as the pressure vessels are emptied so as to maintain the pressure vessels in a substantially isobaric state that reduces vessel fatigue and lengthens vessel life. The pressure vessels may be hybrid vessels with carbon fiber and fiber glass wrappings. Dip tubes may extend into the pressure vessels to selectively expel/inject gas from/into the top of the vessels or hydraulic fluid from/into the bottom of the vessels. Impingement deflectors are disposed adjacent to the dip tubes inside the vessels to discourage fluid-induced erosion of vessel walls.

Abstract: A natural gas adsorptive separation system and method is described. A method of separating natural gas includes directing a natural gas mixture through an activated carbon adsorption tower until the adsorption tower is saturated, collecting methane from the output of the adsorption tower, heating the saturated carbon adsorption tower with adsorbate using a heater and/or a vacuum pump in a closed loop circuit with the carbon adsorption tower until the input to the vacuum pump is within a specified temperature of the output of the heater, lowering the pressure in the heated activated carbon adsorption tower using the vacuum pump to desorb at least one hydrocarbon compound of the plurality of different hydrocarbon compounds, compressing and cooling the desorbed hydrocarbon compound, separating the cooled and compressed hydrocarbon compound into gas and liquid in a fluid separator, and collecting the liquid from the fluid separator.

Abstract: A portable pressure swing adsorption method and system for fuel gas conditioning. A fuel gas conditioning system includes a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system fluidly coupled to a rich gas stream, the PSA system including a plurality of adsorbent beds and configured to condition the rich natural gas stream and produce therefrom a high-quality fuel gas and gaseous separated heavier hydrocarbons, a product end of the adsorbent beds fluidly coupled to a fuel gas line, wherein the high-quality fuel gas is discharged from the product end and supplied to the fuel gas line, and a feed end of the adsorbent beds configured to be fluidly coupled to the rich natural gas stream or a raw natural gas stream, wherein the produced gaseous separated heavier hydrocarbons are recirculated into the rich natural gas stream or the raw natural gas stream.

Abstract: A portable pressure swing adsorption method and system for fuel gas conditioning. A fuel gas conditioning system includes a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system fluidly coupled to a rich gas stream, the PSA system including a plurality of adsorbent beds and configured to condition the rich natural gas stream and produce therefrom a high-quality fuel gas and gaseous separated heavier hydrocarbons, a product end of the adsorbent beds fluidly coupled to a fuel gas line, wherein the high-quality fuel gas is discharged from the product end and supplied to the fuel gas line, and a feed end of the adsorbent beds configured to be fluidly coupled to the rich natural gas stream or a raw natural gas stream, wherein the produced gaseous separated heavier hydrocarbons are recirculated into the rich natural gas stream or the raw natural gas stream.

Abstract: A portable pressure swing adsorption method and system for fuel gas conditioning. A fuel gas conditioning system includes a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system fluidly coupled to a rich gas stream, the PSA system including a plurality of adsorbent beds and configured to condition the rich natural gas stream and produce therefrom a high-quality fuel gas and gaseous separated heavier hydrocarbons, a product end of the adsorbent beds fluidly coupled to a fuel gas line, wherein the high-quality fuel gas is discharged from the product end and supplied to the fuel gas line, and a feed end of the adsorbent beds configured to be fluidly coupled to the rich natural gas stream or a raw natural gas stream, wherein the produced gaseous separated heavier hydrocarbons are recirculated into the rich natural gas stream or the raw natural gas stream.

Abstract: A vehicle may include: a genset including: an engine configured to combust light fuel such as natural gas, a generator linked to the engine and configured to convert mechanical energy provided by the engine into electrical energy; one or more light fuel storage containers; one or more electrical storage devices such as batteries; a plurality of wheels; a plurality of electric motors configured to drive the plurality of wheels; a first power bus configured to electrically connect the generator of the genset, the one or more electrical storage devices, and the plurality of electric motors. Each of the one or more electrical storage devices may be disposed lower than each of the one or more light fuel storage containers with respect to a vertically extending reference axis that is perpendicular to a reference plane parallel to ground.

Abstract: A railroad car including a plurality of penetration resistant and protective structures including a penetration resistant and protective underframe, penetration resistant and protective first end, second end, and center bulkheads, penetration resistant and protective first, second, third, and fourth side walls, and protective first and second roof hatches, all configured to protect internal cylinder assemblies, the pipes that communicate the gas from the cylinders of the cylinder assemblies, and the safety critical valves, regulators, and other equipment connected to such cylinders and pipes of the railroad car in an accident (such as a derailment, crash and/or roll-over).

Abstract: A railroad car including a plurality of penetration resistant and protective structures including a penetration resistant and protective underframe, penetration resistant and protective first end, second end, and center bulkheads, penetration resistant and protective first, second, third, and fourth side walls, and protective first and second roof hatches, all configured to protect internal cylinder assemblies, the pipes that communicate the gas from the cylinders of the cylinder assemblies, and the safety critical valves, regulators, and other equipment connected to such cylinders and pipes of the railroad car in an accident (such as a derailment, crash and/or roll-over).

Abstract: A dual-fuel tank houses one or more compressed natural gas (CNG) vessels and one or more diesel fuel vessels. The diesel fuel vessels are generally disposed laterally outwardly from the CNG vessels to provide a buffer that protects the CNG vessels from side impacts. The dual-fuel tank may be retrofit onto a diesel locomotive in place of the locomotive's diesel fuel tank to convert the locomotive into a dual-fuel locomotive. The dual-fuel tank may be provided in a ship.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an end-to-end gaseous fuel transportation solution without using physical pipelines. A virtual pipeline system and methods thereof may involve transportation of gaseous fuels including compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and/or adsorbed natural gas (ANG). An exemplary pipeline system may include a gas supply station, a mother station for treating gaseous fuels from the gas supply station, a mobile transport system for receiving and transporting the gaseous fuels, and user site for unloading the gaseous fuels from the mobile transport system. The unloaded gaseous fuels can be further used or distributed.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an end-to-end gaseous fuel transportation solution without using physical pipelines. A virtual pipeline system and methods thereof may involve transportation of gaseous fuels including compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and/or adsorbed natural gas (ANG). An exemplary pipeline system may include a gas supply station, a mother station for treating gaseous fuels from the gas supply station, a mobile transport system for receiving and transporting the gaseous fuels, and user site for unloading the gaseous fuels from the mobile transport system. The unloaded gaseous fuels can be further used or distributed.

Abstract: A vehicle may include: a genset including: an engine configured to combust light fuel such as natural gas, a generator linked to the engine and configured to convert mechanical energy provided by the engine into electrical energy; one or more light fuel storage containers; one or more electrical storage devices such as batteries; a plurality of wheels; a plurality of electric motors configured to drive the plurality of wheels; a first power bus configured to electrically connect the generator of the genset, the one or more electrical storage devices, and the plurality of electric motors. Each of the one or more electrical storage devices may be disposed lower than each of the one or more light fuel storage containers with respect to a vertically extending reference axis that is perpendicular to a reference plane parallel to ground.

Abstract: A system for storing and transporting compressed natural gas includes source and destination facilities and a vehicle, each of which includes pressure vessels. The pressure vessels and gas therein may be maintained in a cold state by a carbon-dioxide-based refrigeration unit. Hydraulic fluid (and/or nitrogen) ballast may be used to fill the pressure vessels as the pressure vessels are emptied so as to maintain the pressure vessels in a substantially isobaric state that reduces vessel fatigue and lengthens vessel life. The pressure vessels may be hybrid vessels with carbon fiber and fiber glass wrappings. Dip tubes may extend into the pressure vessels to selectively expel/inject gas from/into the top of the vessels or hydraulic fluid from/into the bottom of the vessels. Impingement deflectors are disposed adjacent to the dip tubes inside the vessels to discourage fluid-induced erosion of vessel walls.

Abstract: A dual-fuel tank houses one or more compressed natural gas (CNG) vessels and one or more diesel fuel vessels. The diesel fuel vessels are generally disposed laterally outwardly from the CNG vessels to provide a buffer that protects the CNG vessels from side impacts. The dual-fuel tank may be retrofit onto a diesel locomotive in place of the locomotive's diesel fuel tank to convert the locomotive into a dual-fuel locomotive. The dual-fuel tank may be provided in a ship.

Abstract: A railroad car including a plurality of penetration resistant and protective structures including a penetration resistant and protective underframe, penetration resistant and protective first end, second end, and center bulkheads, penetration resistant and protective first, second, third, and fourth side walls, and protective first and second roof hatches, all configured to protect internal cylinder assemblies, the pipes that communicate the gas from the cylinders of the cylinder assemblies, and the safety critical valves, regulators, and other equipment connected to such cylinders and pipes of the railroad car in an accident (such as a derailment, crash and/or roll-over).