Patent ID: 8256449
Filing Date: 2012-09-04
Classification: F17C,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A management system for controlling a temperature of a gas flow control system in an on board high pressure vehicle gas storage tank having an interior volume in which fuel gas is stored, comprising, a tank having opposite ends in at least one of which a metal tank boss housing the gas flow control system is installed, the gas flow control system comprising an inlet through which fuel gas flows into the tank and an outlet though which fuel gas flows out of the tank, the gas flow control system being sensitive to a low temperature that will affect the operability of the system; a heat exchanger within the interior volume of the tank thermally interconnected with an on board heat source, the heat exchanger being interconnected with the metal tank boss such that heat transferred to the heat exchanger from the on board heat source is conveyed to the metal tank boss; a heat exchanger external to the tank, the external heat exchanger being thermally interconnected to the heat exchanger within the interior volume of the tank via a second boss having a second gas flow conduit, the second boss being disposed at an end of the tank opposite the end housing the metal tank boss; and a thermostat regulating the flow of heat to the heater such that the thermostat regulates the temperature of the gas flow control system to a temperature corresponding to at least a minimum lower temperature limit.