Patent ID: 9657901
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: F17C,F17D

Claim:
1. A method of refilling CNG adapted motor vehicles comprising the steps of: providing a CNG storage and dispensing system adapted to deliver CNG to motor vehicles, the system comprising bulk storage tanks in fluid communication with a natural gas supply source; dispensing storage tanks in fluid communication with said bulk storage tanks and in fluid communication with fuel dispensers; at least one primary compressor receiving natural gas from said natural gas supply source, compressing the natural gas to produce CNG, and delivering said CNG to said bulk storage tanks to maintain said bulk storage tanks at a desired pressure; at least one secondary compressor receiving said CNG from said bulk storage tanks, recompressing said CNG, and delivering said CNG to said dispensing storage tanks; measuring the bulk storage tank pressure in said bulk storage tanks; measuring the dispensing storage tank pressure in said dispensing storage tanks; transferring said CNG from said bulk storage tanks to said dispensing storage tanks when said dispensing storage tank pressure drops below a first designated minimum pressure for said dispensing storage tanks; providing a LNG storage tank in fluid communication with said bulk storage tanks, storing LNG in said LNG storage tank, and allowing said LNG to vaporize within said LNG storage tank to produce vaporized CNG; transferring said vaporized CNG from said LNG storage tank to said bulk storage tanks when said bulk storage tank pressure drops below a second designated minimum pressure for said bulk storage tanks and said CNG produced by said at least one primary compressor is insufficient to maintain said bulk storage tanks at said second desired pressure; and delivering CNG from said dispensing tanks to said fuel dispensers and refilling the motor vehicles.