Liquid methane storage and fuel delivery system

Abstract

Systems and methods for the storage and delivery of fuel, such as methane. In certain aspects, a system is provided with an inner vessel, and outer vessel, and a rope suspension system connecting the two vessels. In certain aspects, the disclosed storage tanks operate at low pressure with long hold times, and have a non-cylindrical shape.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A fuel delivery system, comprising:
 a storage tank;   a heat exchanger coupled to the storage tank, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to process methane extracted from the storage tank;   a first compressor coupled to the heat exchanger and configured to pressurize the methane processed by the heat exchanger;   a power unit coupled to the first compressor, wherein the power unit is configured to operate using the pressurized methane; and   a second compressor, wherein the second compressor is arranged in parallel with the first compressor.   
     
     
         25 . The fuel delivery system of  claim 24 , wherein the power unit is an engine for a vehicle. 
     
     
         26 . The fuel delivery system of  claim 24 , wherein an input of the second compressor is coupled to the storage tank or heat exchanger. 
     
     
         27 . The fuel delivery system of  claim 24 , wherein an output of the second compressor is coupled to a high-pressure storage device. 
     
     
         28 . The fuel delivery system of  claim 24 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured to process liquid methane extracted from the storage tank, wherein the processing comprises vaporizing liquid methane. 
     
     
         29 . The fuel delivery system of  claim 24 , wherein the second compressor is arranged to operate independently from the first compressor to supply methane to a high-pressure gas buffer or a refrigeration circuit of the storage tank. 
     
     
         30 . The fuel delivery system of  claim 24 , wherein the second compressor is arranged to act together with the first compressor to deliver methane gas to the power unit on-demand. 
     
     
         31 . The fuel delivery system of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 an auxiliary power unit coupled to at least one of the power unit, the heat exchanger, or one or more of the compressors.   
     
     
         32 . The fuel delivery system of  claim 31 , wherein the auxiliary power unit is configured to provide power and heat during a start-up of the vehicle. 
     
     
         33 . The fuel delivery system of  claim 31 , wherein the auxiliary power unit is configured to provide power and heat to the vehicle's quarters. 
     
     
         34 . The fuel delivery system of  claim 24 , wherein the storage tank comprises:
 an outer vessel;   an inner storage vessel arranged within the outer vessel and adapted to store liquid methane, wherein the inner storage vessel is non-cylindrical; and   a support system connecting the inner storage vessel to the outer vessel.   
     
     
         35 . A method, comprising:
 extracting methane from a storage tank;   generating pressurized methane by compressing the extracted methane; and   operating a power unit of a vehicle using the pressurized methane,   wherein the storage tank comprises a first compressor and a second compressor, the first and second compressor are arranged in parallel, and the first compressor is used to generate the pressurized methane.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 providing methane gas to a high-pressure storage device using the second compressor.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 providing methane gas to a buffer or a refrigeration circuit of the storage tank using the second compressor.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 providing methane gas to the power unit on demand using both the first and second compressors.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein liquid methane is extracted from the storage tank. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the generating pressurized methane comprises vaporizing the liquid methane with a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 generating energy with an auxiliary power unit using methane obtained from the storage tank.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  further comprising:
 heating a vehicle passenger area using the generated energy from the auxiliary power unit. 
 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 starting up the vehicle using the generated energy from the auxiliary power unit.