Patent ID: 8430133

Claim:
A method of filling an enclosure with a filling gas, comprising the steps of: providing an enclosure having an interior, a width, a height, a thickness, and fluid filling and exit holes fluidly communicating with the interior; commencing filling of the enclosure by directing a flow of the filling gas at a filling flow rate into the fluid filling hole, wherein both the filling flow rate and the threshold oxygen concentration are selected by the Decision Support Tool based upon the width, height, and/or the thickness; sensing an oxygen concentration of gas exiting the fluid exit hole; and stopping said filling of the enclosure when the sensed oxygen concentration reaches a threshold concentration, wherein the threshold oxygen concentration and/or the filling flow rate are selected by a Decision Support Tool based upon the width, height, and/or the thickness; predetermining a minimum concentration of the filling gas to be obtained inside the enclosure; predetermining a maximum percent loss of the filling gas to occur during said filling, wherein the filling flow rate and threshold oxygen concentration selected by the Decision Support tool are further based upon the predetermined minimum concentration and predetermined maximum percent loss.