Tank filling system and method

Abstract

A tank filling system comprising a first filling coupler that couples to a first set of fittings disposed at a first tank end of a tank; a second filling coupler that couples to a second set of fittings disposed at a second tank end of the tank; a fluid source; a set of fluid lines and one or more fluid valves that communicate fluid from the fluid source to the first and second filling couplers; and a computing device configured to control the one or more fluid valves. In some examples, the tank can comprise an elongated folded tank having a plurality of elongated rigid tubing portions having a first diameter, a plurality of connector portions having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter and flexible corrugations and a rigid cuff, and taper portions disposed between and coupling successive tubing portions and connector portions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of filling an elongated folded tank having a first and second end, the method comprising:
 coupling an elongated folded tank with filling system to a tank by:
 coupling a first filling coupler to a first set of fittings disposed at a first tank end; and 
 coupling a second filling coupler to a second set of fittings disposed at a second tank end; 
 wherein the elongated folded tank extends between the first and second end and the elongated folded tank includes:
 a plurality of elongated rigid tubing portions having a first diameter, 
 a plurality of connector portions having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter and having flexible corrugations and a rigid cuff, and 
 taper portions disposed between and coupling successive tubing portions and connector portions; 
 
   introducing a first fluid flow into the first end of the tank via the first filling coupler and the first set of fittings disposed at the first tank end;   determining based at least in part on first temperature data obtained from a first temperature sensor of the second filling coupler that a temperature at the second end of the tank has at least reached a first threshold;   based at least in part on the determining that the temperature at the second end of the tank has at least reached the first threshold, stopping the fluid flow into the first end of the tank via the first filling coupler and the first set of fittings disposed at the first tank end, and beginning to introduce a second fluid flow into the second end of the tank via the second filling coupler and the second set of fittings disposed at the second tank end;   determining based at least in part on second temperature data obtained from a second temperature sensor of the first filling coupler that a temperature at the first end of the tank has at least reached a second threshold;   based at least in part on the determining that the temperature at the first end of the tank has at least reached the second threshold, stopping the second fluid flow into the second end of the tank via the second filling coupler and the second set of fittings disposed at the second tank end, and beginning to introduce a third fluid flow into the first end of the tank via the first filling coupler and the first set of fittings disposed at the first tank end;   determining that tank filling is complete;   stopping any flow to the first and second tank ends;   de-coupling the first filling coupler from the first set of fittings disposed at the first tank end; and   de-coupling the second filling coupler from the second set of fitting disposed at the second tank end.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining that the temperature at the second end of the tank has at least reached a first threshold is performed by a computing device automatically without human interaction;
 wherein the stopping the fluid flow into the first end of the tank and the beginning to introduce the second fluid flow into the second end of the tank is generated by the computing device automatically without human interaction;   wherein the determining that a temperature at the first end of the tank has at least reached the second threshold is performed by the computing device automatically without human interaction; and   wherein the stopping the fluid flow into the second end of the tank and beginning to introduce a third fluid flow into the first end of the tank is generated by the computing device automatically without human interaction.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the determining that tank filling is complete is performed by the computing device automatically without human interaction. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second threshold are the same temperature threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first threshold is a temperature of 85° C. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third fluid flows comprise hydrogen. 
     
     
         7 . A method of filling a tank having a first and second tank end, the method comprising:
 introducing a first fluid flow into the first end of the tank via a filling coupler and a first set of fittings disposed at the first tank end;   determining based at least in part on first temperature data obtained from a first temperature sensor of a second filling coupler disposed at the second end of the tank that a temperature at the second end of the tank has at least reached a first threshold;   based at least in part on the determining that the temperature at the second end of the tank has at least reached the first threshold, stopping the fluid flow into the first end of the tank via the first filling coupler and the first set of fittings disposed at the first tank end, and beginning to introduce a second fluid flow into the second end of the tank via the second filling coupler and a second set of fittings disposed at the second tank end;   determining based at least in part on second temperature data obtained from a second temperature sensor of the first filling coupler that a temperature at the first end of the tank has at least reached a second threshold; and   based at least in part on the determining that the temperature at the first end of the tank has at least reached the second threshold, stopping the second fluid flow into the second end of the tank via the second filling coupler and the second set of fittings disposed at the second tank end, and beginning to introduce a third fluid flow into the first end of the tank via the first filling coupler and the first set of fittings disposed at the first tank end.   
     
     
         8 . A computer implemented method performed automatically without human interaction, the method comprising the steps of  claim 7 . 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising coupling a tank filling system to the tank by coupling the first filling coupler to the first set of fittings disposed at the first tank end and coupling a second filling coupler to a second set of fitting disposed at a second tank end. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the tank extends between the first and second end includes:
 a plurality of elongated rigid tubing portions having a first diameter, 
 a plurality of connector portions having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter and having a flexible portion, and 
 taper portions disposed between and coupling successive tubing portions and connector portions. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the tank is elongated and folded between the first and second ends. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 determining that tank filling is complete; and   stopping any flow to the first and second tank ends based at least in part of the determining that tank filling is complete.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the determining that tank filling is complete and stopping any flow to the first and second tank ends occurs via a computing device automatically and without user interaction. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising, after stopping any flow to the first and second tank ends based at least in part of the determining that tank filling is complete, de-coupling the first filling coupler from the first set of fittings disposed at the first tank end; and de-coupling the second filling coupler from the second set of fitting disposed at the second tank end. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a Venturi assembly provides a fluid flow to the first filling coupler coupled to the first set of fittings disposed at the first tank end; and wherein the Venturi assembly received a fluid flow from the second filling coupler coupled to the second set of fittings disposed at the second tank end. 
     
     
         16 . A tank filling system comprising:
 a first filling coupler that couples to a first set of fittings disposed at a first tank end of a tank;   a second filling coupler that couples to a second set of fittings disposed at a second tank end of the tank;   a fluid source;   a set of fluid lines and one or more fluid valves that communicate fluid from the fluid source to the first and second filling couplers;   a computing device configured to control the one or more fluid valves.   
     
     
         17 . The tank filling system of  claim 16 , further comprising a Venturi assembly coupled to the set of fluid lines and is configured to introduce an inlet fluid flow into the first filling coupler and into the first set of fittings disposed at the first tank end of a tank, the Venturi assembly further configured to receive an outlet fluid flow from the second filling coupler that is coupled to the second set of fitting disposed at the second tank end of the tank. 
     
     
         18 . The tank filling system of  claim 16 , further comprising a first temperature sensor disposed at the first filling coupler and a second temperature sensor disposed at the second filling coupler, and wherein the computing device receive temperature data from the first and second temperature sensor and controls the one or more fluid valves based at least in part on the temperature data from the first and second temperature sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The tank filling system of  claim 16 , wherein the first filling coupler is configured to be removably coupled to the first set of fittings disposed at the first tank end of the tank; and wherein the second filling coupler is configured to be removably coupled to the second set of fittings disposed at the second tank end of the tank.