Intentionally choked flow during an initial phase of a compressible fluid filling operation
A system includes a storage tank and a feed line that supplies a compressible fluid from a high-pressure source to a plurality of fluid lines in fluid communication with the storage tank. The plurality of fluid lines includes a first fluid line having a first inner diameter sized to create choked flow conditions of the compressible fluid in the first fluid line at an outlet of the first fluid line and a second fluid line having a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter. The system further includes a first valve in fluid communication with the second fluid line and a control circuit in electronic communication with the first valve. The control circuit actuates the first valve to control a flow of the compressible fluid through an outlet of the second fluid line.
1 . A system comprising:
a storage tank;
a feed line configured to supply a compressible fluid from a high-pressure source to a plurality of fluid lines in fluid communication with the storage tank, the plurality of fluid lines comprising:
a first fluid line having a first inner diameter sized to create choked flow conditions of the compressible fluid in the first fluid line at an outlet of the first fluid line; and
a second fluid line having a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter;
a first valve in fluid communication with the second fluid line; and
a control circuit in electronic communication with the first valve, the control circuit configured to actuate the first valve to control a flow of the compressible fluid through an outlet of the second fluid line.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second valve in fluid communication with the feed line;
wherein the control circuit is in electronic communication with the second valve and configured to actuate the second valve to control a flow rate of the compressible fluid exiting an outlet of the feed line.
3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second valve in fluid communication with the second fluid line;
wherein the control circuit is in electronic communication with the second valve and configured to actuate the second valve to control a flow rate of the compressible fluid exiting the outlet of the second fluid line.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluid lines further comprises additional fluid lines, wherein one or more additional fluid lines comprise an inner diameter equal to the first inner diameter.
5 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a sensor in electronic communication with the control circuit and coupled to the storage tank, wherein the control circuit is configured to actuate the first valve and the second valve based at least in part on a signal transmitted by the sensor in response to the sensor measuring a predetermined pressure within the storage tank.
6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a chiller in thermal communication with the feed line, the chiller configured to reduce a temperature of the compressible fluid within the feed line.
7 . An assembly comprising:
a plurality of systems, each system comprising:
a storage tank;
a feed line configured to supply a compressible fluid from a high-pressure source to a plurality of fluid lines in fluid communication with the storage tank, the plurality of fluid lines comprising:
a first fluid line having a first inner diameter sized to create choked flow conditions of the compressible fluid in the first fluid line at an outlet of the first fluid line; and
a second fluid line having a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter; and
a first valve in fluid communication with the second fluid line; and
a control circuit in electronic communication with the first valve of each system, the control circuit configured to actuate each first valve independently to control a flow of the compressible fluid through an outlet of each second fluid line.
8 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein each system further comprises a second valve in fluid communication with the feed line of the system, and wherein the control circuit is in electronic communication with the second valve of each system and configured to actuate each second valve independently to control a flow rate of the compressible fluid exiting an outlet of each feed line.
9 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein each system further comprises a second valve in fluid communication with the second fluid line of the system, and wherein the control circuit is in electronic communication with the second valve of each system and configured to actuate each second valve independently to control a flow rate of the compressible fluid exiting an outlet of each second fluid line.
10 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of fluid lines of one or more systems further comprises additional fluid lines, wherein one or more additional fluid lines comprise an inner diameter equal to the first inner diameter.
11 . The assembly of claim 8 , wherein each system further comprises:
a sensor in electronic communication with the control circuit, the sensor being coupled to the storage tank of the system;
wherein the first valve and the second valve of the system are actuated by the control circuit based at least in part on a signal transmitted by the sensor of the system in response to the sensor measuring a predetermined pressure within the storage tank of the system.
12 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein each system further comprises a chiller in thermal communication with the feed line of the system, the chiller configured to reduce a temperature of the compressible fluid within the feed line.
13 . A method comprising:
supplying a compressible fluid from a high-pressure source to a plurality of fluid lines by a feed line, the plurality of fluid lines configured to deliver the compressible fluid to a storage tank, the plurality of fluid lines comprising:
a first fluid line having a first inner diameter sized to create choked flow conditions of the compressible fluid in the first fluid line at an outlet of the first fluid line; and
a second fluid line having a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter; and
actuating a first valve in fluid communication with the second fluid line, by a control circuit in electronic communication with the first valve, thereby controlling a flow of the compressible fluid through an outlet of the second fluid line.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising actuating, by the control circuit, a second valve in fluid communication with the feed line and electronic communication with the control circuit, thereby controlling a flow rate of the compressible fluid exiting an outlet of the feed line.
15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising actuating, by the control circuit, a second valve in fluid communication with the second fluid line and electronic communication with the control circuit, thereby controlling a flow rate of the compressible fluid exiting an outlet of the second fluid line.
16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
measuring, by a sensor in electronic communication with the control circuit and coupled to the storage tank, a pressure within the storage tank; and
transmitting, by the sensor, a signal to the control circuit subsequent to the sensor measuring a predetermined pressure within the storage tank;
wherein the control circuit actuates the first valve and the second valve in response to receiving the signal.
17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising, prior to actuating the first valve, preventing a flow of the compressible fluid through the outlet of the second fluid line with the first valve.
18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of fluid lines further comprises additional fluid lines, wherein one or more additional fluid lines comprise an inner diameter equal to the first inner diameter.
19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of fluid lines delivers the compressible fluid into the storage tank in parallel subsequent to actuation of the first valve.
20 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising reducing, by a chiller in thermal communication with the feed line, a temperature of the compressible fluid within the feed line subsequent to actuation of the first valve.