Receiving Vessel Cascade Filling With Pressure-Matched Gas Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cascade fueling methods require high pressure differences between the source and receiving vessels, leading to decompression and temperature increases, energy consumption, and inefficient use of pressurized gas, especially in marine vessels without stationary refueling systems.
Innovation Solution
A method that matches the pressure in the source vessel with the receiving vessel, optimizing the flow to reduce pressure differences and eliminate the need for compressors, allowing direct filling from multiple supply vessels to multiple receiving vessels without using a compressor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a high pressure difference is used between source and receiving vessels to enable cascade fueling, then the fueling capability is improved, but the temperature increase in the receiving vessel exceeds safe limits due to decompression
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the receiving vessel system into multiple receiving vessels that can be filled in sequence from multiple supply vessels. By segmenting the fueling process across multiple vessels rather than filling one vessel with a large pressure difference, the temperature increase in each individual vessel is reduced while maintaining overall fueling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes pressure matching between supply and receiving vessels before initiating the fueling process. By preliminarily determining optimal pressure differences and matching supply vessels to receiving vessels based on pressure levels, the system prevents excessive temperature increases while enabling efficient cascade fueling.
2Stress or pressure
If a compressor is used to establish high pressure in source vessels, then the pressure level is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the compressed gas already present in the supply vessels to fuel the receiving vessels without requiring an external compressor. The stored pressure energy in the supply vessels is directly utilized to perform the fueling function, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the energy consumption associated with compressor operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers and utilizes the remaining compressed gas in supply vessels by matching them with receiving vessels at appropriate pressure levels. This maximizes the use of already-compressed gas and eliminates the need for additional compression energy, as the system is designed to work with the pressure levels already achieved in the supply vessels.
3Loss of time
If cascade fueling is performed with significant pressure difference, then the refueling process is completed faster, but the decompression causes temperature increase and safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The refueling process is segmented into multiple parallel operations where multiple supply vessels fill multiple receiving vessels simultaneously or in rapid sequence. This segmentation allows the system to maintain faster overall refueling times while keeping pressure differences within safe limits for each individual filling operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary pressure assessment and matching of supply vessels to receiving vessels before initiating fueling. By preliminarily identifying optimal pairings based on pressure levels, the system ensures that pressure differences remain within safe ranges while maintaining efficient refueling progression.
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
This method reduces energy consumption, increases fueling capability, and optimizes the use of pressurized gas, ensuring safe and efficient refueling of marine vessels with reduced decompression and temperature increases.
Implementation Method 1
hydrogen gas will naturally flow to the tank with the lowest pressure first, until it reaches the pressure of the next highest tank
Implementation Method 2
Large pressure difference is leading to decompression, which is accompanied by temperature increase in the receiving vessel
Data Source
AI summary
A method of refueling a receiving vessel system with a gas from a supply vessel system, where the receiving vessel system is connected to the supply vessel system via a flow line, the receiving vessel system including a plurality of receiving vessels and the supply vessel system having a plurality of supply vessels, where the flow of gas from the supply vessel system to the receiving vessel system is controlled by a refueling controller based on information related to pressure from the plurality of supply vessels and from the plurality of receiving vessels, and, on the received information, a match between a supply vessel and a receiving vessel is determined and based on the match, controlling the status at least one supply vessel valve and at least one receiving vessel valve to allow flow between the matched supply vessel and receiving vessel.