IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,480,621
Granted Patent B2
US 12,480,621 · App. 17/531,129 · Granted Nov 25, 2025

Adsorbed gas manifold system

Inventors: Tracy Timmerman (Salem, IL); Derrick R. Starr (Centralia, IL); Bowen Meyer (Kimball, MN); Gary Warren Fanger (Castro Valley, CA); Dan Granett (Berkeley, CA)
F17C11/007B01J20/16B01J20/20B01J20/226F17C2205/0332F17C2205/0341F17C2205/0352F17C2221/033F17C2227/0135F17C2250/0439F17C2270/0171
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,480,621
App. No.
17/531,129
Granted
Nov 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are methods for storing a gas. An example method comprises providing a vessel containing a manifold system and an adsorbent, the manifold system comprising: a gas tubing, a filter disposed over openings in the gas tubing, a pressure relief valve, and an inlet coupled to the gas tubing and the vessel. The method further comprises introducing the gas into the manifold system via the inlet; circulating the gas in the gas tubing; flowing the gas through the openings in the gas tubing; and adsorbing the gas onto the adsorbent.

Claims (57)

1 . A method for storing a gas in an interior void space of existing storage vessel, the method comprising:

adding a manifold system and an adsorbent to the interior void space of the existing storage vessel, the manifold system comprising:

a gas tubing,

a filter disposed over openings in the gas tubing,

a pressure relief valve coupled to the gas tubing and the storage vessel, and

an inlet coupled to the gas tubing and the storage vessel;

introducing the gas into the manifold system via the inlet;

circulating the gas in the gas tubing;

flowing the gas through the openings in the gas tubing loop; and

adsorbing the gas onto the adsorbent to a transport weight comprising the weight of the existing storage vessel, the manifold, the adsorbent, and the gas, the transport weight less than or equal to a limit of a weight requirement for transport;

wherein adding the manifold system comprises modifying an existing opening in the existing storage vessel, and adding the manifold system through the modified opening.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising pumping the adsorbed gas out of the storage vessel.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transporting the vessel while the gas is adsorbed on the adsorbent.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the adsorbent is an activated carbon, a zeolite, a metal organic framework, or a combination thereof.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gas tubing comprises at least one of a ladder shape, a straight shape, a honeycomb shape, or a corkscrew shape.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the storage vessel does not comprise a heating element.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the storage vessel is a tank trailer, truck mounted vessel, skid mounted vessel, or a pressure vessel.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the storage vessel further comprises a temperature probe.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gas is natural gas, methane, biogas, well head gas, a flammable gas, or a combination thereof.

10 . A system for storing a gas for transport of the gas, the system comprising:

an existing gas storage vessel having an interior space and a modified opening therein, the opening modified from an existing opening;

a manifold system and an adsorbent installed after manufacture of the existing gas storage vessel into the interior space through the modified opening, the manifold system comprising:

a gas tubing,

a filter disposed over openings in the gas tubing,

a pressure relief valve coupled between the gas tubing and the vessel, and

an inlet coupled to the gas tubing and the vessel;

wherein the existing gas storage vessel, the manifold system, the adsorbent, and any gas that is to be adsorbed into the adsorbent has a weight not exceeding a limit of a weight requirement for transport.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the adsorbent is an activated carbon, a zeolite, a metal organic framework, or a combination thereof.

12 . The system of claim 10 , herein the gas tubing comprises at least one of a ladder shape, a straight shape, a honeycomb shape, or a corkscrew shape.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the existing gas storage vessel does not comprise a heating element.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the existing gas storage vessel is a tank trailer, a truck mounted vessel, skid mounted vessel, or a pressure vessel.

15 . The system of claim 10 , Therein the existing gas storage vessel further comprises a temperature probe.

16 . A method for retrofitting an existing gas storage tank trailer, having an interior void space defined by walls of the tank trailer, for increased storage of a gas, the method comprising:

inserting a manifold system through an opening in a wall of the tank trailer and into the interior void space, wherein inserting the manifold system comprises modifying an existing opening in the wall of the tank trailer to allow for insertion of the manifold system, the manifold system comprising: a gas tubing, a filter disposed over openings in the gas tubing, a pressure relief valve, and an inlet;

coupling the gas tubing to the interior portion of the walls of the tank trailer;

coupling the inlet to the tank trailer such that the inlet traverses the wall of the tank trailer;

coupling the pressure relief valve to the tank trailer such that the inlet reverses the wall of the tank trailer;

determining a weight requirement for transport of stored gas in the existing gas storage tank trailer with the inserted manifold; and

adding an amount of adsorbent to the interior void space of the tank trailer to allow for adsorption of the gas to the limit of the determined weight requirement.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the gas tubing is coupled to the tank trailer with clamps.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the adsorbent is an activated carbon, a zeolite, a metal organic framework, or a combination thereof.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the gas tubing comprises at least one of a ladder shape, a straight shape, a honeycomb shape, or a corkscrew shape.

20 . The method to of claim 16 , wherein the tank trailer does not comprise a heating element.

21 . A method for retrofitting an existing storage vessel having an interior void space, the method comprising:

providing the existing storage vessel;

adding a manifold system and an adsorbent to the interior void space of the existing storage vessel, the manifold system comprising:

a gas tubing,

a filter disposed over openings in the gas tubing,

a pressure relief valve coupled to the gas tubing and the existing storage vessel, and

an inlet coupled to the gas tubing and the existing storage vessel;

introducing the gas into the manifold system via the inlet;

circulating the gas in the gas tubing;

flowing the gas through the openings in the gas tubing loop;

adsorbing the gas onto the adsorbent to a transport weight comprising the weight of the existing storage vessel, the manifold, the adsorbent, and the gas, the transport weight less than or equal to a limit of a weight requirement for transport; and

modifying an existing opening in the existing storage vessel to add the manifold system therethrough, and wherein the manifold system is added through the modified opening.

22 . The method of claim 21 , and further comprising:

sealing the new opening after adding the manifold system.

Continuity (1)
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