Patent ID: 9151448
Filing Date: 2015-10-06
Classification: F17C,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method for dispensing a compressed gas, the method comprising: (a) passing a first quantity of compressed gas from a supply vessel of a plurality of supply vessels to a storage vessel of a plurality of storage vessels via a pressure regulator valve and a compressor, wherein the first quantity of compressed gas when initially withdrawn from the supply vessel has a pressure greater than a set point pressure of the pressure regulator valve, and wherein the storage vessel receiving the first quantity of compressed gas initially receives the first quantity of compressed gas at a pressure less than a first threshold pressure for the plurality of storage vessels, said passing of the first quantity of compressed gas from the supply vessel to the storage vessel occurring when the compressed gas pressure in another storage vessel of the plurality of storage vessels is greater than the first threshold pressure for the plurality of storage vessels; (b) passing a second quantity of compressed gas from a supply vessel of the plurality of supply vessels to a storage vessel of the plurality of storage vessels via the pressure regulator valve and the compressor, wherein the second quantity of compressed gas when initially withdrawn from the supply vessel has a pressure less than the set point pressure of the pressure regulator valve and greater than a minimum compressor inlet pressure of the compressor, and wherein the storage vessel receiving the second quantity of compressed gas initially receives the second quantity of compressed gas at a pressure less than a second threshold pressure for the plurality of storage vessels, said passing of the second quantity of compressed gas from the supply vessel to the storage vessel occurring when the compressed gas pressure in all of the other storage vessels of the plurality of storage vessels is less than the second threshold pressure for the plurality of storage vessels; (c) passing a third quantity of compressed gas from a supply vessel of the plurality of supply vessels to a storage vessel of the plurality of storage vessels via the pressure regulator valve and the compressor, wherein the third quantity of compressed gas when initially withdrawn from the supply vessel has a pressure less than the set point pressure of the pressure regulator valve and greater than the minimum compressor inlet pressure, and wherein the storage vessel receiving the third quantity of compressed gas initially receives the third quantity of compressed gas at a pressure less than a third threshold pressure for the plurality of storage vessels, said passing of the third quantity of compressed gas from the supply vessel to the storage vessel occurring when the compressed gas pressure in another storage vessel of the plurality of storage vessels is greater than the third threshold pressure for the plurality of storage vessels; and (d) dispensing at least a portion of the first quantity of compressed gas, at least a portion of the second quantity of compressed gas, and at least a portion of the third quantity of compressed gas to one or more receiving vessels.