Modular Mobile Fueling Station for Remote Fleet Logistics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fueling infrastructure is inadequate for remote areas lacking permanent fueling stations, leading to logistical challenges and inefficiencies in fueling fleet vehicles, especially those requiring large quantities of fuel like locomotives.
Innovation Solution
A mobile fluid commodity transfer structure with a protected fluid commodity transfer system and intermodal footprints, allowing for easy deployment and reconfiguration to facilitate the dispensing of fuels like Liquid Natural Gas, Liquid Carbon Dioxide, and hydrogen between different modes of transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If permanent fueling infrastructure is installed in remote areas, then fueling capability is provided, but investment cost and economic reasonability deteriorate due to transient traffic patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The fueling infrastructure is divided into separate modular components: storage tanks, fuel pumps, and dispensing equipment can be independently transported and assembled. This allows the system to be deployed temporarily in remote areas without requiring permanent installation, reducing investment cost while maintaining fueling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fueling system is designed to be mobile rather than fixed, with components that can be easily relocated based on traffic patterns and fueling demands. This dynamic deployment strategy allows the system to adapt to transient traffic patterns in remote areas, providing fueling capability only when needed without permanent infrastructure investment.
2Quantity of substance
If fuel trucks transport large quantities of fuel to remote locations, then fuel supply is provided, but spillage risk and operational complexity increase during transfer
Solution Approach 1:
A fixed piping system with quick-connect couplings serves as an intermediary between fuel trucks and storage tanks. This intermediary infrastructure enables rapid connection and disconnection of fuel trucks, allowing large quantities of fuel to be transferred efficiently while minimizing spillage risk through controlled transfer mechanisms and containment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Storage tanks are pre-positioned at strategic locations along transportation routes before fueling demand occurs. This preliminary placement of receiving infrastructure allows fuel trucks to discharge directly into stationary tanks rather than requiring repeated small transfers, reducing spillage risk while maintaining large fuel supply capability.
3Ease of operation
If pumps are transported and installed between fuel tanks, then fuel dispensing is enabled, but operational time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Fuel pumps are permanently integrated into the storage tank assemblies rather than being separate portable units. This merging of pumping capability with storage infrastructure eliminates the need to transport and reinstall pumps when moving between fueling locations, reducing operational time while maintaining fuel dispensing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fueling system is designed with universal quick-connect interfaces that allow the same pump and dispensing equipment to service multiple different fuel tank configurations and fuel types. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for location-specific pump installations, reducing both installation time and operational complexity across different remote sites.
4Quantity of substance
If large on-site fuel tanks are used, then fuel storage capacity is increased, but spillage risk and handling difficulty increase during transfer
Solution Approach 1:
Fuel storage is divided into multiple smaller modular tank units rather than one large tank. These segmented tanks can be independently handled, positioned, and connected to the fueling system, reducing handling difficulty while maintaining total storage capacity. The modular design also reduces spillage risk by isolating potential leakage sources to individual smaller tanks.
Solution Approach 2:
A fixed piping network with automated transfer mechanisms serves as an intermediary between storage tanks and dispensing points. This intermediary infrastructure handles the complex transfer operations, reducing manual handling difficulty while maintaining large storage capacity. The automated systems minimize spillage risk through controlled flow management.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system, and method for temporary fluid commodity transfer stations. A fluid commodity transfer structure can include a base member, a casing, and a fluid commodity transfer system. The fluid commodity transfer system can be configured to dispense a commodity for transloading from opposite sides of the fluid commodity transfer structure. A modular fueling station system can include one or more receptacles operably coupled to a fluid commodity transfer structure to allow a fluid commodity transfer system to utilize each receptacle as a fuel reservoir. The fluid commodity transfer structure can be loaded onto an intermodal transport vehicle, unloaded at a location, deposited at the location, and be operably coupled with one or more receptacles and/or other fluid commodity transfer structures to provide fueling infrastructure for fleet vehicles or allow for the commercial transfer of fluid from one receptable to another as a mobile fluid transfer system.