Coiled Natural Gas Storage System and Method

Abstract

A system for storing natural gas comprises a plurality of straight sections of tube. The plurality of straight sections of tube are dense packed. The plurality of straight sections of tube are configured to fill a designated volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for storing natural gas, comprising:
 a tube that defines a planar and rounded-rectangular body that coils from an edge portion of the body to a central portion of the body, the body including:   a first tube-end disposed at the edge portion of the body;   a plurality of straight tube sections;   a plurality of bend sections coupled to and between the bend sections; and   a second tube-end disposed at the central portion of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bend sections define a 90-degree bend between respective straight tube sections. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bend sections and straight tube sections are defined is by a tube having the same diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rounded-rectangular body defines a square rounded-rectangular body. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each straight tube section is disposed parallel to another straight tube section. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each straight tube section is disposed parallel to and contacting another straight tube section along a respective length. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the bend sections are nested within a curve of another bend section. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the body defines a central-orifice disposed at the central portion. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the straight tube portions comprise an inner liner with an outer braided layer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the straight tube portions and bend portions are defined by a continuous unitary tube. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the straight portions and bend portions are defined by physically separable units that are coupled together to define a contiguous body. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly for storing natural gas, comprising a plurality of the systems for storing natural gas of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of systems are stacked in a layered configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the plurality of systems are coiled in a clockwise configuration and wherein a portion of the systems are coiled in a counter-clockwise configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of systems are stacked in a layered configuration having hexagonal packing. 
     
     
         16 . A vehicle comprising a natural gas fuel-tank comprising the system for storing natural gas of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the system is disposed in a chassis of the vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the vehicle comprises a truck and the system is disposed in a bed of the truck.