1. A method for fueling a rail system fuel tender, said fuel tender comprising a chassis, said chassis having integrated therewith at least two pairs of wheels suitably adapted to allow the fuel tender to engage with and move about railroad rails, said fuel tender further comprising one or more fuel containers, each said fuel container suitably adapted to contain a quantity of fuel,
said method comprising the following steps:
A. store a quantity of fuel in a fuel source storage facility, said fuel source storage facility suitably adapted to store said fuel until said fuel is needed to refuel said fuel tender, said fuel tender being located distant from said fuel source storage facility;
B. deliver said fuel by a fuel delivery means to the fuel tender, said fuel delivery means being suitably adapted to convey fuel from the fuel source storage facility to the fuel tender; and
C. fuel the fuel tender by a fuel filling means, said fuel filling means suitably adapted to place fuel from the fuel delivery means into the fuel tender.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the following steps:
A1. pressurize said fuel using a compressor located at the fuel source storage facility;
wherein Step A1 is performed after Step A and before Step B.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said fuel delivery means comprises a tank truck, said method further comprising the following steps:
A2. place said fuel pressurized in Step A1 into said tank truck;
B1. remove said fuel from said tank truck;
wherein Step A2 is performed after Step A1 and before Step B, and Step B1 is performed after Step B and before Step C.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said fuel storage facility comprises a plurality of cascade storage tanks, with each said cascade storage tank coupled with one or more compressors, said method further comprising the following steps:
A1. use the one or more compressors coupled to the cascade storage tanks to pressurize said fuel from the fuel source storage facility;
wherein Step A1 is performed after Step A and before Step B.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said fuel delivery means comprises a tank truck, said method further comprising the following steps:
A2. place said fuel pressurized in Step A1 into said tank truck;
B1. remove said fuel from said tank truck;
wherein Step A2 is performed after Step A1 and before Step B, and Step B1 is performed after Step B and before Step C.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the following steps:
B1. pressurize said fuel using a compressor located proximate to the fuel filling means;
wherein Step B1 is performed after Step B and before Step C.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of cascade storage tanks, with each said cascade storage tank coupled with one or more compressors, are located proximate to the fuel filling means, said method further comprising the following steps:
B1. use the one or more compressors coupled to the cascade storage tanks to pressurize said fuel delivered from the fuel source storage facility;
wherein Step B1 is performed after Step B and before Step C.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said fuel delivery means is a pipeline.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said fuel delivery means comprises a tank truck, said method further comprising the following steps:
A1. place said fuel from the fuel source storage facility into said tank truck;
B1. remove said fuel from said tank truck;
wherein Step A1 is performed after Step A and before Step B, and Step B1 is performed after Step B and before Step C.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein said fuel delivery means comprises a plurality of said fuel containers, each of said plurality of fuel containers being a high pressure cylinder suitably adapted to contain fuel pressurized to at least 500 psi, and a truck suitably adapted to transport said fuel containers, said method further comprising the following steps:
A1. use a compressor to pressurize said fuel from the fuel source storage facility;
A2. place said pressurized fuel from the fuel source storage facility into said plurality of fuel containers; and
A3. place said plurality of fuel containers onto said truck;
wherein Steps A1 and A2 are performed after Step A and before Step B and step A3 is performed at any time before Step B, and
said fuel filling means of Step C comprises one or more devices suitably adapted to lift said fuel containers from said truck and onto said fuel tender.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein
said fuel source storage facility comprises a plurality of cascade storage tanks, with each said cascade storage tank coupled with one or more compressors, and
said fuel delivery means comprises a plurality of said fuel containers, each of said plurality of fuel containers being a high pressure cylinder suitably adapted to contain fuel pressurized to at least 500 psi, and a truck suitably adapted to transport said fuel containers,
said method further comprising the following steps:
A1. use the one or more compressors coupled to the cascade storage tanks to pressurize said fuel from the fuel source storage facility;
A2. place said pressurized fuel from the fuel source storage facility into said plurality of fuel containers; and
A3. place said plurality of fuel containers onto said truck;
wherein Steps A1 and A2 are performed after Step A and before Step B and step A3 is performed at any time before Step B, and
said fuel filling means of Step C comprises one or more devices suitably adapted to lift said fuel containers from said truck and onto said fuel tender.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein said fuel tender comprises a plurality of fuel containers and one or more refueling manifolds, each said refueling manifold being in connection with one or more of said plurality of fuel containers,
wherein the fuel filling means of Step C is in connection with said fuel delivery means and with said one or more refueling manifolds, with fuel being placed from the fuel delivery means into the fuel tender through said one or more refueling manifolds.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein
said fuel delivery means comprises
a plurality of said fuel containers, each of said plurality of fuel containers being a high pressure cylinder suitably adapted to contain fuel pressurized to at least 500 psi,
one or more refueling manifolds, each said refueling manifold being in connection with one or more of said plurality of fuel containers, and
a truck suitably adapted to transport said fuel containers; and p1 said fuel source storage facility comprises
a plurality of cascade storage tanks, with each said cascade storage tank coupled with one or more compressors such that pressurized fuel is transferred from the cascade storage tanks to the one or more fuel containers;
said method further comprising the following steps:
A1. use the one or more compressors coupled to the cascade storage tanks to pressurize said fuel from the fuel source storage facility;
A2. place said pressurized fuel from the fuel source storage facility into said plurality of fuel containers through said one or more refueling manifolds; and
A3. place said plurality of fuel containers onto said truck;
wherein Steps A1 and A2 are performed after Step A and before Step B and step A3 is performed at any time before Step B, and
said fuel filling means of Step C comprises one or more devices suitably adapted to lift said fuel containers from said truck and onto said fuel tender.
14. A method for fueling a rail system fuel tender, said fuel tender comprising a chassis, said chassis having integrated therewith at least two pairs of wheels suitably adapted to allow the fuel tender to engage with and move about railroad rails, said fuel tender further comprising one or more fuel containers, each said fuel container suitably adapted to contain a quantity of pressurized fuel, with each said fuel container separately installable onto and removable from the fuel tender,
said method comprising the following steps:
A. store a quantity of fuel in a fuel source storage facility, said fuel source storage facility suitably adapted to store said fuel until said fuel is needed to refuel said fuel tender, said fuel tender being located distant from said fuel source storage facility;
B. deliver said fuel by a fuel delivery means, said fuel delivery means being suitably adapted to convey fuel from the fuel source storage facility to a fuel destination storage facility, said fuel destination storage facility suitably adapted to store said quantity of fuel until said fuel is needed to refuel said fuel tender, said fuel tender being located proximate to said fuel destination storage facility; and
C. fuel the fuel tender by a fuel filling means, said fuel filling means suitably adapted to place fuel from the fuel destination storage facility into the fuel tender.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the fuel delivery means is a pipeline, said pipeline being in connection with the fuel source storage facility and with the fuel destination storage facility.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein the fuel delivery means comprises a tank truck, said method further comprising the following step:
A1. place said fuel from the fuel source storage facility into said tank truck;
wherein Step A1 is performed after Step A and before Step B; and
Step B further comprises removing said fuel from said tank truck and placing said fuel into said fuel destination storage facility.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein said fuel tender comprises a plurality of fuel containers and one or more refueling manifolds, each said refueling manifold being in connection with one or more of said plurality of fuel containers,
wherein the fuel filling means of Step C is in connection with said fuel delivery means and with said one or more refueling manifolds, with fuel being placed from the fuel destination storage facility into the fuel tender through said one or more refueling manifolds.
18. The method of claim 14 wherein the fuel destination storage facility comprises a compressor suitably adapted to pressurize said fuel and the fuel filling means is suitably adapted to place pressurized fuel from the fuel destination storage facility into the one or more fuel containers, said method further comprising the following step:
B1. pressurize said fuel;
wherein Step B1 is performed after Step B and before Step C.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein said fuel tender comprises a plurality of fuel containers and one or more refueling manifolds, each said refueling manifold being in connection with one or more of said plurality of fuel containers,
wherein the fuel filling means of Step C is in connection with said fuel destination storage facility and with said one or more refueling manifolds, with the fuel being placed from the fuel destination storage facility into the fuel tender through said one or more refueling manifolds.
20. The method of claim 14 wherein the fuel destination storage facility comprises a plurality of cascade storage tanks, with each said cascade storage tank coupled with one or more compressors, each said compressor suitably adapted to pressurize said fuel and the fuel filling means is suitably adapted to place pressurized fuel from the cascade storage tanks into the one or more fuel containers, said method further comprising the following step:
B1. pressurize said fuel;
wherein Step B1 is performed after Step B and before Step C.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein said fuel tender comprises a plurality of fuel containers and one or more refueling manifolds, each said refueling manifold being in connection with one or more of said plurality of fuel containers,
wherein the fuel filling means of Step C is in connection with said fuel destination storage facility and with said one or more refueling manifolds, with the fuel being placed from the fuel destination storage facility into the fuel tender through said one or more refueling manifolds.
22. The method of claim 14 wherein the fuel to be contained within each said fuel container comprises one of the following group: compressed natural gas, liquid natural gas, propane, natural gas, and hydrogen.
23. The method of claim 14 wherein said fuel tender further comprises a powered propulsion mechanism, said propulsion mechanism capable of propelling said fuel tender.
24. A method for fueling a rail system fuel tender, said fuel tender comprising a chassis, said chassis having integrated therewith at least two pairs of wheels suitably adapted to allow the fuel tender to engage with and move about railroad rails, said fuel tender further comprising one or more fuel containers, each said fuel container suitably adapted to contain a quantity of fuel, with each said fuel container separately installable onto and removable from the fuel tender,
said method comprising the following steps:
A. store a quantity of fuel in a fuel storage facility, said fuel source storage facility suitably adapted to store said fuel until said fuel is needed to refuel said fuel tender, said fuel tender being located proximate to said fuel source storage facility; and
B. fuel the fuel tender by a fuel filling means, said fuel filling means suitably adapted to place fuel from the fuel storage facility into the fuel tender.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein said fuel tender comprises a plurality of fuel containers and one or more refueling manifolds, each said refueling manifold being in connection with one or more of said plurality of fuel containers,
wherein the fuel filling means of Step B is in connection with said fuel storage facility and with said one or more refueling manifolds, with the fuel being placed from the fuel storage facility into the fuel tender through said one or more refueling manifolds.
26. The method of claim 24 wherein the fuel storage facility comprises a compressor suitably adapted to pressurize said fuel and the fuel filling means is suitably adapted to place pressurized fuel from the fuel storage facility into the one or more fuel containers, said method further comprising the following step:
A1. pressurize said fuel;
wherein Step A1 is performed after Step A and before Step B.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein said fuel tender comprises a plurality of fuel containers and one or more refueling manifolds, each said refueling manifold being in connection with one or more of said plurality of fuel containers,
wherein the fuel filling means of Step B is in connection with said fuel storage facility and with said one or more refueling manifolds, with the fuel being placed from the fuel storage facility into the fuel tender through said one or more refueling manifolds.
28. The method of claim 24 wherein the fuel storage facility comprises a plurality of cascade storage tanks, with each said cascade storage tank coupled with one or more compressors, each said compressor suitably adapted to pressurize said fuel and the fuel filling means is suitably adapted to place pressurized fuel from the cascade storage tanks into the one or more fuel containers, said method further comprising the following step:
A1. pressurize said fuel;
wherein Step A1 is performed after Step A and before Step B.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein said fuel tender comprises a plurality of fuel containers and one or more refueling manifolds, each said refueling manifold being in connection with one or more of said plurality of fuel containers,
wherein the fuel filling means of Step B is in connection with said fuel storage facility and with said one or more refueling manifolds, with the fuel being placed from the fuel storage facility into the fuel tender through said one or more refueling manifolds.
30. The method of claim 1 wherein the fuel to be contained within each said fuel container comprises one of the following group: compressed natural gas, liquid natural gas, propane, natural gas, and hydrogen.
31. The method of claim 24 wherein the fuel to be contained within each said fuel container comprises one of the following group: compressed natural gas, liquid natural gas, propane, natural gas, and hydrogen.
32. The method of claim 1 wherein said fuel tender further comprises a powered propulsion mechanism, said propulsion mechanism capable of propelling said fuel tender.
33. The method of claim 24 wherein said fuel tender further comprises a powered propulsion mechanism, said propulsion mechanism capable of propelling said fuel tender.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of generating a strongly-ionized plasma, the method comprising:
a) supplying feed gas proximate to an anode and a cathode assembly; and
b) generating a voltage pulse between the anode and the cathode assembly, the voltage pulse having at least one of a controlled amplitude and a controlled rise time that increases an ionization rate so that a rapid increase in electron density and a formation of a strongly-ionized plasma occurs without forming an arc between the anode and the cathode assembly.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a magnetic field proximate to the cathode assembly.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising moving the magnetic field.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating an electron Hall current from an electric field generated by the voltage pulse and from the magnetic field, the electron Hall current raising the temperature of the electrons in the weakly-ionized plasma to a temperature that enhances the increase in electron density and the formation of the strongly-ionized plasma.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the voltage pulse comprise a multi-stage voltage pulse.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode assembly that sustains the strongly-ionized plasma.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein a lifetime of the strongly-ionized plasma is greater than 200 \u03bcsec.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising discharging energy from an energy storage device into the plasma to enhance the rapid increase in electron density and the formation of the strongly-ionized plasma.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein an amplitude of the voltage pulse is sufficient to generate ionizational instabilities that enhance the ionization rate so as to cause a rapid increase in electron density and the formation of the strongly-ionized plasma.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of the ionizational instabilities comprise diocotron instabilities.
11. A method of generating a strongly-ionized plasma, the method comprising:
a) supplying feed gas proximate to an anode and a cathode assembly; and
b) generating a voltage pulse between the anode and the cathode assembly, the voltage pulse having at least one of a controlled amplitude and a controlled rise time that shifts an electron energy distribution in the plasma to higher energies that increase an ionization rate so as to result in a rapid increase in electron density and a formation of a strongly-ionized plasma without forming an arc between the anode and the cathode assembly.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising applying a magnetic field proximate to the cathode assembly.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising moving the magnetic field.
14. The method of claim 12 further comprising generating an electron Hall current from an electric field generated by the voltage pulse and from the magnetic field, the electron Hall current raising the temperature of the electrons in the weakly-ionized plasma to a temperature that enhances the increase in electron density and the formation of the strongly-ionized plasma.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein the voltage pulse comprise a multi-stage voltage pulse.
16. The method of claim 11 further comprising applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode assembly that sustains the strongly-ionized plasma.
17. The method of claim 11 wherein a lifetime of the strongly-ionized plasma is greater than 200 \u03bcsec.
18. The method of claim 11 further comprising discharging energy from an energy storage device into the plasma to enhance the rapid increase in electron density and the formation of the strongly-ionized plasma.
19. The method of claim 11 wherein an amplitude of the voltage pulse is sufficient to generate ionizational instabilities that enhance the ionization rate resulting in a rapid increase in electron density and the formation of the strongly-ionized plasma.
20. The method of claim 11 wherein the ionizational instabilities comprise at least some diocotron instabilities.