Patent ID: 8381756
Filing Date: 2013-02-26
Classification: F17C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A gas supply method by which a compressed gas loaded in gas containers, each of which is connected to one of a plurality of gas supply systems, is supplied to a place of use thereof where gas usage flow rate fluctuates, said method being characterized in that, by monitoring residual pressures (PA, PB) in said gas containers and a supplied gas flow rate (Q): during a period in which said residual pressures (PA, PB) of a first gas container (SA) and a second gas container (SB), respectively, are both not less than a first preset pressure (P 1 ) and said gas is supplied to said place of use thereof from said first gas container (SA), when said residual pressure (PA) in said first gas container (SA) decreased to said first preset pressure (P 1 ), supply of said gas to said place of use is switched from said first gas container (SA) to said second gas container (SB); during a period in which, after said switching, said gas is supplied to said place of use from said second gas container (SB), when said supplied gas flow rate (Q) became less than a gas flow rate (QPA) which can be supplied from said first gas container (SA) having said residual pressure (PA) in the range of less than said first preset pressure (P 1 ) and not less than said second preset pressure (P 2 ), supply of said gas to said place of use is switched from said second gas container (SB) to said first gas container (SA); during a period in which said gas is supplied to said place of use thereof from said first gas container (SA) whose said residual pressure (PA) is less than said first preset pressure (P 1 ) and not less than said second preset pressure (P 2 ), when said supplied gas flow rate (Q) became not less than said gas flow rate (QPA) suppliable from said first gas container (SA), supply of said gas to said place of use is switched from said first gas container (SA) to said second gas container (SB); during said period in which said gas is supplied to said place of use thereof from said first gas container (SA) whose said residual pressure (PA) is less than said first preset pressure (P 1 ) and not less than said second preset pressure (P 2 ), when said residual pressure (PA) in said first gas container (SA) decreased to said preset pressure (P 2 ), supply of said gas to said place of use is switched from said first gas container (SA) to said second gas container (SB) and at the same time, said first gas container (SA) is replaced; and, during a period in which said residual pressure (PA) in said first gas container (SA) is less than said first preset pressure (P 1 ) and said gas is supplied to said place of use thereof from said second gas container (SB) whose said residual pressure (PB) is not less than said first preset pressure (P 1 ), when said residual pressure (PB) in said second gas container (SB) decreased to a third preset pressure (P 3 ), said first gas container (SA) is replaced (wherein, said first preset pressure (P said second preset pressure (P said third preset pressure (P said residual pressures (PA, PB) are residual pressures obtained by detecting the pressures in said gas containers (SA, SB); said supplied gas flow rate (Q) is a gas flow rate obtained by detecting the flow rate of said gas being supplied to said place of use thereof; and said gas flow rates (QPA, QPB) are gas flow rates suppliable at said residual pressures (PA, PB) in said gas containers; with the proviso that: a first preset flow rate (Q said second preset flow rate (Q