The present invention teaches methods of operating a pressurized cryogenic
liquid gas storage tank that has a vent cooling shield around which fuel
vented from a storage tank flows to cool the storage tank by reducing the
influence of heat influx into the storage tank. The method of the present
invention provides for reduction in the quantity of fuel loss during the
venting operation and allows a greater volume of liquid fuel to be stored
in the storage tank. The method includes allowing fuel in a storage tank
to transition between a two-phase state of liquid and gas into a
single-phase state of liquid and back into a two-phase state of liquid
and gas. Additionally, the present invention allows filling a storage
tank to a liquid level greater than about 95% of the capacity of the
storage tank.