Abstract:
According to the described embodiments, an intelligent compressed natural gas distributing system is inserted into an existing compressed natural gas fueling station. A means to distribute compress natural gas associated with designated primary dispenser as determined by fueling situations. The system maintains a high differential of pressure during fueling as to decrease time of fueling by means of control valves on the dispenser lines. Within the system, at least one of the dispenser line is determined to be the primary active dispenser and is fueled directly from a compressor when pressure is detected under optimal threshold. The subordinate lines are subject to a bypass in which fueling is directly sourced from a high-pressure storage and receiving excess gas from the primary active dispenser.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Appl. No. 61/882,893, filed Sep. 26, 2013, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF ACTIVITY 
       [0002]    Disclosed embodiments herein relate generally to fueling of compressed natural gas into vehicle gas tanks or other portable tanks brought to a fueling stations, and more particularly to systems to efficiently maintain high differential of pressure in multiple dispensers of compressed natural gas fueling situations. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Natural gas is a fast growing segment in the alternative fuel market for transportation in the United States and in other countries that have a surplus of natural gas. It is an alternative fuel that replaces gasoline, diesel and/or blends with diesel to power automobiles, pickups, light to heavy trucks, busses and high horsepower applications such as oil field drilling operations. Compressed natural gas (CNG) is dispensed to vehicles or other portable tanks after it has been stored in pressure vessels or it can be directly filled from the CNG compressors. 
         [0004]    Compressed natural gas is not dispensed by pumping gas from a liquid reservoir like traditional gasoline and diesel pumps. Instead, CNG fueling stations dispense fuel under very high pressures and use pressure differentials to move the gas; gas flows from an area of higher to lower pressure. 
         [0005]    The most typical configuration of a “fast fill” CNG station uses one or more compressor(s) to fill vehicles or other portable tanks and supplements the filling operation with a cascading storage through a priority panel. The priority panel is a network of tubing and valves plumbed together that receive gas from the compressor(s) and distributes CNG to storage, from storage to dispenser, or directly from compressor to dispenser according to the controls applied. A cascading storage system will typically have three banks of pressure (high, middle, and low). When the pressure falls below certain presets within the storage banks, the priority panel distributes CNG to fill each bank of the cascading storage system. When the pressure falls too low in the high bank storage, the priority panel will also close off the storage banks and distribute CNG directly from the compressor to the fuel dispensers through the high bank fill manifold. 
         [0006]    The cascading storage system allows each dispenser to pull CNG first from the low bank, then switch to the middle bank, and lastly switch to the high bank to maintain the highest differential of pressure allowing for complete fills without starting a compressor for every vehicle filling. A site controller can be utilized to manage the function of the priority panel as well as control each compressor in a system. Each dispenser can take fuel from each bank of storage simultaneously, and are all plumbed in the high, middle, and low CNG distribution manifolds between the priority panel and the dispensers. 
         [0007]    The issue with this type of system is that all of the dispensers in a system share a common bank of storage and direct fill. So when more than one vehicle is filling up on the system at the same time, the vehicle or other portable gas tank with the lowest gas pressure gets CNG the fastest while the vehicle or other portable gas tank closest to a complete fill (and hence with higher pressure) will slow or stall until the lower pressure vehicle or tank fills with enough CNG to equalize the pressure. 
         [0008]    An example illustrating the multiple vehicle filling problem is when a first vehicle—say a large truck—pulls in and begins fueling, pulling a large volume of CNG from the cascading system before a compressor comes online to fill the storage or truck directly. As the first vehicle is still filling, another vehicle (or other gas tank is brought in) pulls in and begins fueling. When the two vehicles begin flowing gas from the high bank storage, the dispenser connected to the vehicle with greater pressure in the fuel tank will stall until the pressure in the tanks equalize. After the fuel tanks equalize they will be sharing CNG flow and the fill volume is split in half. If yet another vehicle begins fueling at the same time, the fill volume is effectively cut in third, which results in long fill times during peak demand periods. 
         [0009]    Lacking in prior art is a way for distribution of CNG in fueling stations to maintain high differential of pressure through prioritized individual dispensers with multiple fueling vehicles. 
         [0010]    SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
         [0011]    Disclosed is a system for efficient fueling of compressed natural gas vehicles. Specifically disclosed, is an Intelligent CNG Distributor (ICD) that receives and interprets signals from the fuel dispensers, storage, and site controllers to control the flow of CNG, specifically including the flow of CNG from the high bank and direct fill CNG line/direct fill gas line. 
         [0012]    According to the described embodiments, the disclosed ICD allows dispensers to draw CNG from the high bank storage and the direct fill line simultaneously. The ICD distributes gas through the high bank manifold and prioritizes direct fill to individual dispensers while maintaining the highest differential of pressure without stalling a dispenser, resulting in reduced fill times and complete fueling. 
         [0013]    The foregoing has outlined preferred and alternative features of various embodiments of the disclosed principles so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description that follows. Additional features will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims appended herein. Those skilled in the art should appreciate as a basis for designing and modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the disclosed principles. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosed principles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The disclosed principles may be further understood from the following description in conjunction with the appended drawings. It is emphasized that various features may not be drawn to scale. In the drawings: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating typical CNG fast fill station component configuration; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an the installation of the presently disclosed ICD gas manifold installed as an example at a fast fill station of the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a presently disclosed ICD relay system for identifying and prioritizing fuel loads in a first configuration; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a presently disclosed ICD relay system for identifying and prioritizing fuel loads in a second configuration; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram for the processing and control circuitry for the disclosed system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the normal flow of gas to the dispenser flows from storage through the priority panel, then through a gas manifold system, and then to the dispenser in a fast fill station. This CNG (gas) flow is known in the prior art, and in exemplary embodiments of the present application this general direction of flow is not changed, although aspects of the presently disclosed embodiments could also be described to flows designed in a different way from the exemplary approach of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  describes a typical CNG fueling station. High bank lines  106 , 107 , 108  are connected to the dispenser, which outputs CNG during the fueling process. Direct high-pressure line  102  connects the priority panel  101  to the high bank line  106 , 107 , 108 . The CNG sourced from direct high-pressure line  102  in this embodiment disperses equally between the three high bank lines  106 , 107 , 108 . The priority panel  101  determines whether CNG is sourced from the high bank storage  105  or directly from the compressor  103  when pressure falls below a preset value. The direct high-pressure line  102  feeds the output fueling process by either the high bank storage  105  or direct fill from the compressor  103 . Fueling direct from the high bank storage  105  is connected to the priority panel  101  by means of a high bank storage line  104 . The high bank storage line  104  feeds stored high pressure CNG to the priority panel  101  to the high bank lines  106 , 107 , 108  during the fueling process. 
         [0022]    Also shown for contextual purposes in  FIG. 1  are the low and middle bank storage tanks  140 , 150  connected by respective low and middle bank storage lines  141 , 151 . Direct high pressure lines from the low and middle storage banks  142 , 152  that correspondingly feed the sets of low bank lines  143 , 144 , 145  and middle bank lines  153 , 154 , 155 . The functioning of these different banks is a “cascading system” as is understood in the prior art. 
         [0023]    The typical fast fill station has no mechanism by which primary dispensers can be utilized, the lines connecting the priority panel  101  to the high bank dispenser outputs  118 , 119 , 120  have no control valves present which cannot be utilized to shut off flow in response to lowered pressure, high bank solenoid actuation or specified number of handle lifts. 
         [0024]    In comparison with  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  includes the ICD components disclosed in the present application in order to improve the filling performance of a CNG filling station. Thus, for example,  FIG. 2  addresses problems associated with prior art systems in which all of the dispensers in a system share a common bank of storage tanks and share direct fill lines. Accordingly,  FIG. 2  describes a CNG fueling station with ICD components installed. High bank lines  218 , 219 , 220  are connected to the dispensers, which output CNG during the fueling process. Direct high-pressure line  202  connects the priority panel  201  to the high bank dispenser lines  218 , 219 , 220 . The CNG sourced from direct high-pressure line  202  in this embodiment disperses equally between the three high bank dispenser lines  218 , 219 , 220 . The priority panel  201  determines whether CNG is sourced from the high bank storage  205  or directly from the compressor  206  when pressure falls below a preset value. High bank storage  205  is composed of a vessel in which high pressure CNG can be stored. The direct high-pressure line  202  feeds the output fueling process by either the high bank storage  205  or direct fill from the compressor  206 . Fueling direct from the high bank storage  205  is connected to the priority panel  201  by means of a high bank storage line  204 . The high bank storage line  204  feeds stored high pressure CNG to the priority panel  201  to the high bank lines  218 , 219 , 220  during the fueling process. 
         [0025]    Direct high-pressure line  202  is connected to the dispenser lines  210 , 211 , 212  that connect to the high bank dispenser lines  218 , 219 , 220  sourced by CNG from the priority panel  201 . Control valves  213 , 214 , 215  control flow of CNG from the direct high-pressure line  202  to the dispensers. Control valves  213 , 214 , 215  can control the flow of CNG during direct fill conditions, rerouting CNG to the primary dispenser lines  210 , 211 , 212 . High-pressure storage bypass line  203  receives CNG from both the high bank storage line  204  and excess CNG from direct high-pressure line  202 . The high-pressure storage bypass includes check valves  209 . Check valves  209  are present to allow flow of CNG towards the dispenser when CNG is flowing from the high bank storage  205  thru the high-pressure storage bypass. Added to the high-pressure storage bypass is an external emergency shutdown valve  207  that is associated with the external emergency shutdown circuit signal  221 . A separate backpressure valve  216  and check valve  217  may be installed within the ICD to flow excess gas produced by the compressor  206  from dispenser lines  210 , 211 , 212  to the high-pressure storage bypass  203 . 
         [0026]    Thus, for example, when comparing the presently disclosed embodiment, among other improvements described herein, the high bank storage line  104  in  FIG. 1  does not have the addition of check valve  208  of the ICD in order to supplement CNG flow to the high-pressure storage bypass  203  to thereby supplement the distribution outputs  218 , 219 , 220 . In other words, the presently disclosed embodiment illustrates an ICD installed on the previously described fast fill station, including the ICD components  200  comprised of control, check, and backpressure valves, and the stainless steel tubing installed between the priority panel  201  and the designed gas manifold system on the direct high-pressure dispenser line  202 . 
         [0027]    As with the description of  FIG. 1 , also shown here for contextual purposes are the low and middle bank storage tanks  240 , 250  connected by respective low and middle bank storage lines  241 , 251 . Direct high pressure lines from the low and middle storage banks  242 , 253  correspondingly feed the sets of low bank lines  243 , 244 , 245  and middle bank lines  253 , 254 , 255 . The functioning of these different banks in the presently described embodiment can be adapted to work in coordination with the implementation of the presently disclosed high bank ICD elements system. 
         [0028]    The further operation of the elements shown in  FIG. 2  will be described below in context of the exemplary embodiments of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . For the context of these described embodiments, the embodiments will be further described with respect to the high bank storage and distribution lines, but again, the principles disclosed herein can be applied to the low and mid banks. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates ICD control circuitry  300  that receives various signals from the physical components of the CNG filling station and provides control inputs to the various physical components in the CNG filling station in order to effect the physical improved performance of the filling station in light of the improved approaches disclosed in the embodiments herein. 
         [0030]    In the presently described embodiments, the ICD control circuitry  300  receives signal inputs from the fuel dispensers, which can include handle lift signals (not illustrated), high bank actuation  312 , 313 , 314 , and fill pressures (e.g.,  3600 - 3800  psig) determined by the fuel dispenser N/O pressure switch  309 , 310 , 311 . The ICD control circuitry  300  will also receive inputs from the site controller  502  (or another source—see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 , below) indicating priority panel  201  actions to perform direct fill active/inactive decisions and interprets these inputs to determine when to open and close valves  213 , 214 , 215  on the dispenser lines  210 , 211 , 212  to control the timing and prioritizing the flow of direct fill gas. 
         [0031]    With the ICD gas manifold  200  installed (see  FIG. 2 ), high bank gas can be sourced from the direct high-pressure dispenser line  202  coming from the priority panel  201  and the high-pressure storage bypass or shunt  203  coming from the high bank storage line  204  between the high bank storage vessel  205  and the priority panel  201 . This allows gas to be sourced from both high bank storage  205  and directly from the compressor  206  simultaneously. 
         [0032]    On the high-pressure storage bypass  203 , there may be installed a fail/safe closed emergency shutdown valve  207  that may be tied into the existing station&#39;s emergency shutdown valve circuit  221 . The CNG station is equipped with a series of emergency shutdown switches. The emergency shutdown valve circuit  221  from the ICD is integrated into the existing emergency shutdown switches by, e.g., externally driven electrical, pneumatic, and/or optical inputs to the ICD control. 
         [0033]    In the present embodiment, a check valve  208  may be installed before the fail/safe closed emergency shutdown valve  207  on the high-pressure storage bypass  203 . The check valve  208  allows CNG to flow from the high bank storage line  204  to the high-pressure storage bypass  203 . Check valves  209  may be installed on each line sourcing gas from the high-pressure storage bypass  203 . The fail/safe closed emergency shutdown valve  207  cuts off the flow of gas in case of emergency or failure. The check valves  208  stops higher pressure gas from the back pressure valve  216  from flowing back to high pressure storage  205 . Check valves  209  are installed to prevent higher pressure gas from flowing from the ICD lines  210 , 211 ,  212  to line  203  and out on all dispenser lines  218 , 219 , 220  eliminating potential for cross-flowing gas. 
         [0034]    Within the ICD manifold  200 , the gas supply from direct high-pressure dispenser line  202  enters the manifold and splits off into individual gas supply lines for each dispenser lines  210 ,  211 , and  212 . Dispenser lines  210 ,  211 , and  212  flow gas from both the direct fill/high-pressure gas supply line  202  and high-pressure storage bypass  203 . Lines  210 , 211 , 212  have corresponding control valves  213 , 214 , 215  installed to control the source of gas. Control valves  213 , 214 , 215  allow the flow of gas to go uninterrupted should a component of the ICD fail to operate properly. As the control valves  213 , 214 , 215  are not part of the emergency shutdown valve circuit  221 , it is not generally necessary to close these valves in the event of an emergency shutdown. A separate backpressure valve  216  and check valve  217  may be installed within the ICD to flow excess gas produced by the compressor  206  from dispenser lines  210 , 211 , 212  to the high-pressure storage bypass  203 . This allows each active line to maintain gas pressure under direct fill and to flow excess CNG to the high-pressure storage bypass  203  and to additional dispensers currently in use. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  further illustrates that the ICD control circuitry  300  receives electrical signals from the dispenser(s) high bank solenoid(s)  312 , 313 , 314  thru the N/O pressure switch  309 , 310 , 311  and the “direct fill condition” or “DFC” signal from the system program controller  502 . The control circuitry controls the ICD&#39;s control valves  213 , 214 , 215  and accordingly to prioritize CNG fueling. In described embodiments herein, several conditions may be met before the ICD system begins redirecting CNG. 
         [0036]    Maintaining a high differential of pressure during CNG fueling is accomplished by prioritizing one of the individual dispenser lines (e.g.,  210 ) by subordinating other dispenser lines to be secondary lines (e.g.,  211 , 212 ) to maintain high pressure in the primary dispenser line  210 . Within the ICD&#39;s control panel  201 , any of the dispenser lines (one of  210 , 211 , 212 ) can be designated a primary dispenser to receive CNG from the direct high-pressure dispenser line  202 . At that point, all other dispensers (the other two of  210 , 211 , 212 ) in the system are subordinate and can be prioritized accordingly. In the specific embodiments below, the dispenser line  210  will act as the primary dispenser, but each line  211  and  212  can be treated as a primary dispenser depending on which is designated as the primary dispenser by the ICD system program controller  520  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0037]    A CNG distribution operation for primary dispenser  302  is shown in  FIG. 3  and relies on a DFC signal from the system program controller  502  (see  FIG. 5 ) that a direct fill conditions (DFC) exists. Exemplary conditions that might indicate such a determination might be as follows: pressure in the high bank storage  205  below a user-specified pressure threshold (e.g., 3600-3800 psig) or a predetermined number of dispenser handle lifts. Once the DFC signal is received, the DFC relay  305  closes, sending signal power to the open side of the high bank actuated relay  306 , 307 , 308 . 
         [0038]    From the primary dispenser  302 , a signal identifying that the primary dispenser&#39;s high bank fill solenoid  312  is activated or the primary dispenser&#39;s high bank fill solenoid  312  is activated and pressure in the high bank line has fallen below a specific pressure (e.g., 3600-3800 psig) detected by the fuel dispenser N/O pressure switch  309 . The signal power can be sent from the high bank solenoid  312  directly or from the high bank solenoid  312  through a pressure switch installed in the high bank line. The pressure switch will be closed at pressures below a specified pressure, e.g., 3600-3800 psig, and open above it. Once received, the high bank actuated relay  306  will close and send a signal (electrical, pneumatic, optical, or otherwise) to the control valves  214 ,  215  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0039]    Thus, when all specified conditions have been met, the control valve solenoid  306  in the ICD control circuitry  301  will send a signal to close the control valves  214 ,  215  on dispenser lines  211  and  212 , thereby shutting off the gas sourced from the direct high-pressure line  202  and allowing dispenser outputs  219  and/or  220  to source gas directly from high-pressure storage bypass  203  and receive excess gas from the back pressure valves connected between the ICD high bank/direct fill line  202  and high-pressure storage bypass  203 . Direct fill gas as will continue to flow as normal in dispenser line  210  to the dispenser output  218 . 
         [0040]    Further shown in  FIG. 3  is a subordinate dispenser ground loop  340  that operates as a secondary control to the subordinate dispensers  303 , 304  such that the subordinate dispensers&#39; associated solenoids  307 , 308  are redundantly disabled by the grounding of the “downstream” side of their actuator connections as can be seen in the figure. This grounding is accomplished by the illustrated subordinate ground loop  340 . As between subordinate dispensers, these will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  embodies a “first come, first serve” system in that the active primary dispenser can be any of the fuel dispensers  401 , 402 , 403  for implementing high differential filling pressures in CNG stations. 
         [0042]    CNG distribution operation for dispensers  401 , 402 , 403  are shown in  FIG. 4  and relies on a signal  405  from the system program controller  502  (see  FIG. 5 ) that direct fill conditions exist: Exemplary conditions that might indicate such a determination might be as follows: pressure in the high bank storage  205  below a user-specified pressure threshold (e.g., 3600-3800 psig) or a predetermined number of dispenser handle lifts. Once the DFC signal is received, the DFC relay  405  closes, sending signal power to the open side of the high bank actuated relay(s)  406 , 407 , 408 . Each iteration of dispensers  401 , 402 , 403  as being the active primary dispenser will be described below. 
         [0043]    From the active primary dispenser  401 , a signal identifying that the primary dispenser&#39;s high bank fill solenoid  412  is activated and pressure in the high bank line has fallen below a specific pressure (e.g., 3600-3800 psig) detected by the fuel dispenser N/O pressure switch  409 . The signal power can be sent from the high bank solenoid  412  directly or from the high bank solenoid  412  through a pressure switch  409  installed in the high bank line. The pressure switch will be closed at pressures below a specified pressure, e.g., 3600-3800 psig, and open above it. Once received, the high bank actuated relay will close and send a signal (electrical, pneumatic, optical, or otherwise)  406  to the control valve solenoid  401  in the ICD control circuitry  400 , thus designating dispenser  401  as the active primary dispenser. 
         [0044]    When all conditions have been met, the control valve solenoids in the ICD control circuitry  400  will send a signal to the ICD manifold&#39;s control valves  214  and/or  215 , basically shutting down those dispensers in favor of line  210  for the first high bank dispenser line  210 / 218 . Thus, dispenser solenoid  401  is the active primary solenoid for closing the control valves  214  and/or  215  on dispenser lines  211  and  212 , thereby shutting off the CNG sourced from the direct high-pressure line  202  and allowing the dispenser outputs  219  and/or  220  to source CNG directly from high-pressure storage bypass  203  and receive excess CNG from the back pressure valve  217  connected between the ICD high bank/direct fill line  202  and high-pressure storage bypass  203 . Direct fill CNG as will continue to flow as normal in dispenser line  210  to the dispenser output  218 . 
         [0045]    From the active primary dispenser  402 , a signal identifying that the primary dispenser&#39;s high bank fill solenoid  413  is activated and pressure in the high bank line has fallen below a specific pressure (e.g., 3600-3800 psig) detected by the fuel dispenser N/O pressure switch  410 . The signal power can be sent from the high bank solenoid  413  directly or from the high bank solenoid  413  through a pressure switch  410  installed in the high bank line. The pressure switch will be closed at pressures below a specified pressure, e.g., 3600-3800 psig, and open above it. Once received, the high bank actuated relay will close and send a signal (electrical, pneumatic, optical, or otherwise)  407  to the control valve solenoid  401  in the ICD control circuitry  400 , thus designating dispenser  402  as the active primary dispenser. Once received, the high bank actuated relay will close and send a signal (electrical, pneumatic, optical, or otherwise)  407  to the control valve solenoid  401  in the ICD control circuitry  400 , thus designating dispenser  401  as the active primary dispenser. 
         [0046]    When all conditions have been met, the control valve solenoid(s) in the ICD control circuitry  400  can send a signal (electrical, pneumatic, optical, or otherwise) to the ICD manifold&#39;s control valves  213  and/or  215 . 
         [0047]    Dispenser  402  is the active primary dispenser closing the control valve(s)  213  and  215  on dispenser line(s)  210  and/or  212 , shutting off the CNG sourced from the direct high-pressure line  202  and allowing dispenser outputs  218  and  220  to source CNG directly from high-pressure storage bypass  203  and receive excess CNG from the back pressure valve  217  connected between the ICD high bank/direct fill line  202  and high-pressure storage bypass  203 . Direct fill CNG will continue to flow as normal in dispenser line  211  to the dispenser output  219 . 
         [0048]    When a handle lift in high bank output  414  is received, the DFC relay  405  closes and sends signal power to the open side of the high bank actuated relay  408  on dispenser  403 . Handle lift signal from the high bank output  414  coincides with the high bank actuated relay  408  on dispenser  403 , dispenser  403  being designated as the active primary dispenser. When the pressure in the high bank line  220  has fallen below a specific pressure as detected by pressure switch  411 , a signal is sent identifying the active primary dispenser&#39;s high bank fill solenoid  414  is activated. 
         [0049]    From the active primary dispenser  403 , a signal identifying that the primary dispenser&#39;s high bank fill solenoid  414  is activated and pressure in the high bank line has fallen below a specific pressure (e.g., 3600-3800 psig) detected by the fuel dispenser N/O pressure switch  411 . The signal power can be sent from the high bank solenoid  414  directly or from the high bank solenoid  414  through a pressure switch  411  installed in the high bank line. The pressure switch will be closed at pressures below a specified pressure, e.g., 3600-3800 psig, and open above it. Once received, the high bank actuated relay will close and send a signal (electrical, pneumatic, optical, or otherwise)  408  to the control valve solenoid  403  in the ICD control circuitry  400 , thus designating dispenser  403  as the active primary dispenser. 
         [0050]    When all conditions have been met, the control valve solenoid(s) in the ICD control circuitry will send a signal to the ICD manifold&#39;s control valve(s)  213  and/or  214 . 
         [0051]    Dispenser  403  is the active primary dispenser closing the control valve(s)  213  and/or  214  on dispenser line(s)  210  and/or  211  shutting off the CNG sourced from the direct high-pressure line  202  and allowing dispenser outputs  218  and  219  to source CNG directly from high-pressure storage bypass  203  and receive excess CNG from the back pressure valve  217  connected between the ICD high bank/direct fill line  202  and high-pressure storage bypass  203 . Direct fill CNG will continue to flow as normal in dispenser line  212  to the dispenser output  220 . 
         [0052]    During primary dispenser conditions, CNG flow is prioritized to one of the output dispensers  218 , 219 , 220 . The ICD manifold  200  as shown in  FIG. 2  is not present in prior art. Specifically, a mechanism to maintain high differential of pressure is absent from the typical fast fill station as evidenced by  FIG. 1 . 
         [0053]    Any control mechanisms to detect low levels of pressure (e.g., 3600-3800 psig in the embodiments described herein, or more narrowly, e.g., 3650-3750 psig, or more broadly, e.g., 3300-4100 psig) during CNG fueling situations to maintain high differential of pressure is wholly missing in prior art. The ICD system shown in  FIG. 2  and the subsequent control circuitry shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  allows obtaining this high differential of pressure in order to efficiently fuel CNG vehicles during times of high use. 
         [0054]    Further described in  FIG. 5  is a overall system diagram  500  of the present disclosed embodiments, in which a CNG system programmable controller  502  is provided in order to provide control through control signals  504  of the high bank solenoid(s)  312 - 314  and/or  412 - 414 , control valve solenoid(s)  213 - 215 , or other control elements described herein by processing received sensor signals  506 . By receiving the various sensor signals and executing control methods to effect control of the system elements described in the exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 2-4 , the overall control system  520  of a CNG filling system can adaptively control various physical gas flow elements (e.g., valves) through the described physical actuators (e.g., solenoids). 
         [0055]    The described CNG system programmable controller  502  is, for example, a microprocessor or other microcontroller running system commands stored in a computer readable medium or program memory  510 . This program memory  510  enables the system programmable controller  502  to effect the communications and controls as described with regard to the exemplary embodiments described in  FIGS. 2-4 , although the controller  502  would be operable to implement other possible control and sensing embodiments according to design needs. 
         [0056]    Further, the system  520  is configurable in accordance with the configuration database  508 , such that it can be adapted according to various needs of a filling station at a given time or installation location. 
         [0057]    Further this system  520  can be a part of a larger network  500  of systems located at one or more additional gas filling stations. In that example, a system/network controller  550  can be provided to communicate with multiple of the systems  520  through the network  560 , which may be the internet. In all described instances, the communications with the various sensors and controls through signals  504 ,  506  can be effected through a microprocessor or microcontroller  502  running computer readable instructions stored in respective program memories  510  associated with those controllers  502 . 
         [0058]    A particular CNG configuration computer  514  can be provided and associated with the control system  520  in order to configure the various decision parameters that are used by the controller  502  in a given CNG gas filling environment. This configuration computer  514  can be a local computer, or the system network controller can effectively provide this same type of configuration remotely through the network  560  in communication with the CNG system programmable controller. 
         [0059]    It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that systems and methods employing the disclosed principles can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential character thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosed principles is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents thereof are intended to be embraced therein. 
         [0060]    For example, while the pressures described as thresholds for closing of switches when pressures drop below specified are described embodiments herein as 3600-3800 psig, but it is further understood herein and encompassed within disclosed embodiments that such pressure ranges may be broader, e.g., 3400 to 4000 psig, 3650-3750 psig, or depending on system configurations, as with the foregoing specified pressures, about 3700 psig. 
         [0061]    The computer readable medium described herein is provided to store the computer-readable instructions used for executing the various methods described with respect to the embodiments of  FIGS. 2-4 . Such medium may be disk-based storage, solid state storage, magnetic media, or cloud-based or other distributed storage. 
         [0062]    Persons skilled in the art may make various changes in the shape, size, number, and/or arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of the instant disclosure. In some embodiments, several of these components may be interchangeable and/or can be integrated with each other. Interchangeability or integrality may allow for design efficiencies and cost savings. The size or ratings of components and/or systems described herein may be scaled up or down to suit the particular design needs in an implementation. Where ranges have been provided, the disclosed endpoints may be treated as exact and/or approximations as desired or demanded by the particular embodiment. 
         [0063]    Each disclosed method and method step may be performed in association with any other disclosed method or method step and in any order according to some embodiments. Where the verb “may” appears, it is intended to convey an optional and/or permissive condition, but its use is not intended to suggest any lack of operability unless otherwise indicated. All or a portion of the described systems may be configured and arranged to be disposable, serviceable, interchangeable, and/or replaceable. These equivalents and alternatives along with obvious changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the disclosure as illustrated by the appended claims. 
         [0064]    The title, abstract, background, and summary sections, and all headers provided for all of the sections of the present document are provided to comply with patent office regulations and/or for the convenience of the reader. They include no admissions as to the scope and content of prior art and no limitations applicable to all disclosed embodiments.