CASCADE Version 3.1
Natural Gas & Hydrogen Fueling Station Sizing / Analysis Engineering Tool
The CASCADE gaseous fueling station sizing program was developed by Gas Technology
Institute and InterEnergy Software to aid designers of natural gas vehicle and hydrogen
fueling systems in analyzing the performance of these fueling systems and their often
complex interaction with vehicles.
CASCADE provides a simple, yet powerful tool for looking at a broad range of fueling
station and vehicle factors, including: compressor size, cascade storage size and
pressure, number of cascade banks, vehicle fuel storage capacity and operating pressure,
etc.
With the CASCADE gaseous fueling system simulation tool it is possible to quickly
and easily examine system-sizing trade-offs and optimize parameters such as compressor
size and ground storage cascade sizing—resulting in potential capital and operating
cost savings while also meeting vehicle customer expectations.
CASCADE is a valuable software product that enables NGV and hydrogen vehicle industry
participants better understand gaseous fueling system operation and sizing.
Features:
- NGV Fueling Stations Analysis
- Hydrogen Fueling Stations Analysis
- Fuel Storage Cascade and Compressor Sizing
- Simulation of Vehicle Fueling Patterns
- Real-time Graphical Displays
- Summary and Detailed Reports
- User friendly – compatible with Windows XP / Vista / 7
Potential Users:
- Hydrogen Station Designers and Specifiers
- NGV Station Designers and Specifiers
- Fueling Station packagers and marketers
- Gas, electric, energy marketers
- Vehicle and component manufacturers
- Vehicle owners/operators and fleet managers
New features in CASCADE V 3.1:
- GTI’s patented dispenser control algorithm, Accufill 2, 3, 4 is used to compute the
required full-fill pressure and temperature within the cylinder at its rated mass
content.
- The dispenser flow rate, at any instant of time, to the vehicle cylinder is computed
by considering the combined restriction of the dispenser and the vehicle’s connection
receptacle, as being an orifice. The rated flow through the dispenser is user inputted,
together with an associated rated dispenser inlet pressure. The flow rate to the
vehicle is computed based on this user information, and the instantaneous cascade
bank and vehicle cylinder pressures. Choked flow occurs through this simulated dispenser/receptacle
orifice when the vehicle cylinder pressure is below the critical pressure at any
instant during the fill.
- The vehicle fill time is computed based on a summation of a 50 step incremental determination
of the time for the vehicle cylinder to be filled to its rated mass of gas. At each
increment of vehicle fill, the dispenser flow rate is computed, based on the methodology
described above. As a cascade bank becomes depleted, the average pressure at the
dispenser inlet is reduced. This results in longer vehicle fill times relative to
those achieved when the cascade bank is completely filled.
Additional Upgrades / Revisions:
- Revised tables of Hydrogen properties.
- User option to disable CASCADE modeling visualization screen to shorten processing
time.
- Enhanced customization of output graphs.
- Modeling of Natural Gas and Hydrogen vehicle fueling stations (Pure Methane option
is no longer available)
Learn more.......