Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130209847 | BATTERY DESIGN - A battery cell assembly includes a ganged plurality of battery cells. The battery cells are electrically connected in series. At least one hinge is disposed between an adjacent pair of the battery cells. The battery cells are configured to be stacked upon a folding of the battery cell assembly at the at least one hinge. A cooling plate assembly for use with the battery cell assembly, and a battery power system having the battery cell assembly interlaced with the cooling plate assembly, is also provided. | 08-15-2013 |
20140290283 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR A NATURAL GAS TANK - A thermal management system for a natural gas tank includes a container, and a cooling mechanism operatively positioned to selectively cool the container. A method for minimizing a loss of natural gas storage during refueling is also disclosed herein. In an example of the method, a cooling mechanism, which is operatively positioned to selectively cool a container of a natural gas storage tank, is initiated prior to a refueling event. This cools the container to a predetermined temperature. | 10-02-2014 |
20140290611 | NATURAL GAS STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF IMPROVING EFFICIENCY THEREOF - A natural gas storage system includes a container, a natural gas adsorbent positioned in the container, and a heating mechanism operatively positioned to selectively thermally activate the adsorbent. A method for improving efficiency of the natural gas storage system is also disclosed. A predetermined percentage of a capacity of the container for natural gas remaining in the container is identified. In response, a heating mechanism operatively positioned to selectively thermally activate the adsorbent is initiated. The adsorbent is heated and buffer adsorbed gas is released from the adsorbent. | 10-02-2014 |
20140290751 | METHOD OF STORING AND USING NATURAL GAS IN A VEHICLE - A method of storing and using natural gas (NG) in a vehicle includes selecting a vehicle having an NG tank for fueling an engine of the vehicle. The tank service pressure rating is 3600 psi (pounds per square inch) and an NG adsorbent is in the tank. A first quantity of NG is transferred into the tank from a first source having a first source pressure less than 725 psi. The adsorbent adsorbs a portion of the NG. After transferring the first quantity of NG, the engine is operated until NG is desorbed and consumed by the engine. NG is transferred into the tank from a second source to fill the tank to a second tank pressure of about 3600 psi. The adsorbent adsorbs some of the NG. After transferring the second quantity of the NG, the engine is operated until NG is desorbed and consumed by the engine. | 10-02-2014 |
20140290789 | METHOD OF INCREASING STORAGE CAPACITY OF NATURAL GAS TANK - A method for increasing capacity of a natural gas (NG) tank. The method includes selecting a container with a service pressure rating of about 3,000 or 3,600 psi. An NG adsorbent is in the container. The container has a maximum fill capacity. The method further includes cooling the adsorbent by Joule-Thomson cooling during filling of the container with NG from a filling source at greater than 3,600 psi. The container is filled to the maximum fill capacity at a fill rate to prevent a bulk temperature of the adsorbent from rising more than about 5° C. above an ambient temperature. A rate of heat transfer from the tank is less than a rate of heating from compression of the NG and adsorption during the filling. The NG adsorbent adsorbs a higher amount of NG than it would at higher than 5° C. above ambient. | 10-02-2014 |
20140291048 | TANK FOR STORING COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS - A tank for storing compressed natural gas (CNG) for fueling an automotive vehicle engine. The tank includes a container body for containing the CNG at a service pressure rating from about 20 MPa (megapascals) to about 30 MPa, the container body being formed from a single piece. The container body includes a head end region, a terminal end region distal to the head end region, and an intermediate region extending therebetween. The terminal end region and the head end region define an axial length of the container body. The container body is formed from an aluminum alloy. A valve member is operatively connected to, and in fluid communication with the container body via an opening defined in a wall of the container body. The container body wall has a thickness ranging from about 3 mm to about 10 mm. | 10-02-2014 |
20140291331 | FLUID STORAGE TANK - A fluid storage tank includes a plurality of tank sub-units disposed in an array. Each tank sub-unit of the plurality of tank sub-units has an aperture defined in at least one wall overlapping with another aperture defined in at least one adjacent tank sub-unit of the plurality of tank sub-units. Each tank sub-unit of the plurality of tank sub-units is in fluid communication with a single outlet port for selectively extracting a stored fluid from the tank. Each of the plurality of tank sub-units is in fluid communication with a single fluid fill port. | 10-02-2014 |
20150053675 | FLUID STORAGE TANK - A fluid storage tank includes a plurality of tank sub-units disposed in an array. Each tank sub-unit of the plurality of tank sub-units has an aperture defined in at least one wall overlapping with another aperture defined in at least one adjacent tank sub-unit of the plurality of tank sub-units. Each tank sub-unit of the plurality of tank sub-units is in fluid communication with a single outlet port for selectively extracting a stored fluid from the tank. Each of the plurality of tank sub-units is in fluid communication with a single fluid fill port. The array of tank sub-units is tessellated into a three-dimensional volume. A shell is disposed in contact with a plurality of the tank sub-units to envelop the array. The single outlet port and the single fluid fill port pass through the shell. | 02-26-2015 |