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Scientists at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) have developed an alternative method to safely transport and transfer high-pressure gas used for recharging storage cylinders. The gas is liquefied at the source for transport as a cryogenic fluid at or slightly above atmospheric pressure. At the destination, a heating/expansion process converts the cryogenic fluid to a room-temperature high-pressure gas, which is used to recharge the high-pressure (6,000 psi or more) storage cylinder. This method of low-pressure transport is safer than other systems that involve room-temperature gas transported in high-pressure tanks. Additional benefits include reductions in weight and volume, resulting in lower transportation costs. JSC has applied for patent protection for this technology.

Benefits

• Safe: Features transport of cryogenic fluid at low pressure, which is safer to transport than high-pressure gas
• Simple: Requires no pumps or other moving parts
• Economical: Enables the use of a smaller volume container for transport
• Efficient: Allows nearly all of the transported cryogenic liquid to be transferred as gas into the high-pressure gas storage tank, unlike current methods which result in significant waste
• Flexible: Permits nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases available as cryogenic liquids to be transported

Applications

• Recharge of high-pressure gas storage tanks
• Industrial gas production

Patent

JSC has applied for patent protection for this technology.

Licensing and Partnering Opportunity

This technology is being made available through JSC's Technology Transfer and Commercialization Office, which seeks to transfer technology into and out of NASA to benefit the space program and U.S. industry. NASA invites companies to consider licensing this technology for commercial applications.

Contact Information

If you would like more information about this technology or about NASA's technology transfer program, please contact:

Technology Transfer and Commercialization Office
NASA's Johnson Space Center
Phone: 281-483-3809
E-mail: jsc-techtran@mail.nasa.gov