A new approach for natural gas rapid fill is presented. In this approach, filling (loading) rate and gas inlet conditions are optimized to ensure optimum fill while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to predict loading behavior under different conditions. CFD analysis includes transient simulations of turbulent compressible flow to predict complex heat and mass transfer during filling, involving turbulence, buoyancy, compressibility and Joule-Thomson effects.
Rapid fill under various conditions are investigated. Temperature change during loading and percentage fill with the new approach are compared with the results from the conventional approach. The new approach ensures 100 percent fill at a fill rate several times faster than the conventional approach.
