Patent ID: 9328868
Filing Date: 2016-05-03
CPC Classification: F17C

Claim Text:
1. A method for increasing a storage capacity of a natural gas tank, the method comprising: selecting a container with a service pressure rating of about 3,000 psi or 3,600 psi to be filled with natural gas to a full tank pressure up to about 3,000 psi or 3,600 psi respectively wherein the container has a natural gas adsorbent disposed therein and the container having the adsorbent has a maximum fill capacity; cooling the adsorbent by Joule-Thomson cooling during filling of the container with natural gas from a filling source at greater than 3,000 psi or 3,600 psi; and filling the container to the maximum fill capacity at an overall fill rate to prevent a bulk temperature of the adsorbent from rising more than about 5° C. above an ambient temperature; wherein a rate of heat transfer from the tank is less than a rate of heating from compression of the natural gas and adsorption during the filling; wherein the natural gas adsorbent adsorbs a higher amount of natural gas than would the adsorbent at temperatures higher than 5° C. above the ambient temperature; and wherein the overall fill rate is the maximum fill capacity divided by a total time to fill the container to the maximum fill capacity.