Defuel Priority Panel for CNG Gas Recovery and Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional CNG fueling stations vent compressed natural gas during defueling, wasting valuable fuel and incurring environmental and operational costs, while lacking an efficient method to reclaim and reuse defueled gas.
Innovation Solution
A combined defuel and priority panel system that safely depressurizes CNG vehicles, stores the defueled gas in dedicated tanks, and reuses it to fuel other vehicles, employing a heat exchange system to prevent freezing and an automated control panel for efficient gas management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional CNG fueling stations vent defueled gas to atmosphere, then the depressurization process is simple and fast, but valuable fuel is wasted and environmental costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the defueling function with the existing priority panel and fueling infrastructure. The defueled gas is routed through the same priority panel that directs fuel to various vehicles, merging two separate processes (defueling and fueling) into a single integrated system. This eliminates the need for a completely separate defueling infrastructure while capturing and reusing the gas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the previously harmful action of venting gas to atmosphere into a beneficial process by capturing the defueled gas and redirecting it to fuel other vehicles. The gas that was considered waste is now transformed into a useful resource, reducing fuel loss and environmental impact.
2Productivity
If defueled gas is captured and stored in dedicated tanks, then fuel reuse is enabled, but system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The priority panel serves multiple functions: it originally directed fuel to various vehicles, and now it also directs defueled gas to the same fueling points. This multi-functional use of existing infrastructure reduces the need for separate dedicated storage and distribution systems for defueled gas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing infrastructure (compressors, storage tanks, fueling dispensers) to handle defueled gas. The CNG compressors that originally compressed fuel now also compress defueled gas, and the same storage tanks and dispensers serve both fueling and defueling purposes, eliminating the need for entirely separate systems.
3Ease of operation
If a combined defuel and priority panel system is implemented, then gas management efficiency improves, but initial installation cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel monitors the state of various valves, pressures, and flow conditions in real-time and automatically adjusts valve positions to optimize gas distribution. This feedback control simplifies operation by eliminating the need for manual intervention while managing the complexity of coordinating multiple valves and streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The priority panel acts as an intermediary device that manages the complex routing of gas between multiple sources (fuel supply and defuel recovery) and multiple destinations (different vehicle fueling points). By centralizing the control logic in the priority panel, the system manages complexity in one location while presenting a simplified interface for operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the safe and efficient reuse of defueled CNG, reducing waste, lowering operational costs, and complying with environmental regulations by integrating defueling and refueling processes within a single system.
Implementation Method 1
employing a heat exchange system to prevent freezing
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for a combined defuel and priority panel for a fueling station. The defuel and priority panel is configured to defuel a compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle and direct the defueled gas to fuel other CNG vehicles at the panel fueling and defueling site. The defuel and priority panel is also configured to store defueled gas in defuel storage tanks, which can then be used to later fuel CNG vehicles.