Hydrogen storage system and power system incorporating same

• US 20040178062A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Stuart Energy Systems Corp (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Howard, Gary W., Merer, Rupert M., Stewart, Bill, McLean, David, Marin, Gabriel, Smith, Ry, Davidson, Al, Sleiman, Ghassan
• Granted Patent: US 7,030,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/270
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/00 Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge pressurised apparatus for purposes other than storage, see the relevant subclasses such as A62C, B05B; associated with vehicles, see the appropriate subclass of classes B60 - B64; pressure vessels in general F16J12/00 ; autoclaves B01J3/04; tank vehicles B60P3/22; railway tank wagons for carrying fluent materials B61D5/00; accumulators for supplying fluid under pressure F15B1/04; liquefied gas stoves F24C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/02 Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment measuring in general G01
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/026 having the temperature as the parameter
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/12 Arrangements or mounting of devices for preventing or minimising the effect of explosion flame traps A62C4/00 ; Other safety measures
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0104 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/035 with substantially horizontal main axis
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/054 medium (>1 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0111 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0142 bundled in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0169 stackable
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0176 with ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0326 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0329 manually actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0332 Safety valves or pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/033 Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/035 High pressure (>10 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 : Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0157 : Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/036 : using alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0408 : Level of content in the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0439 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0452 : Concentration of a product
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0495 : the indicated parameter is a converted measured parameter
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/072 : Action when predefined value is reached
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/021 : Avoiding over pressurising
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/037 : Handling leaked fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/042 : Reducing risk of explosion
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/065 : for refuelling vehicle fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/07 : Generating electrical power as side effect
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0139 : Fuel stations
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/05 : for industrial use
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 7/00 : Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage

Abstract

There is provided a hydrogen storage system having one or more hydrogen storage containers disposed in a confined area with a vent line extending from the one or more storage containers to a location outside of the confined area. One or more sensors are disposed in the confined area for detecting one or more pre-determined unsafe conditions relating to the storage of hydrogen in the contained area and at least one actuator is provided for actuating an operable valve of the vent line to release the hydrogen from the hydrogen storage container to a location outside the confined area at a pre-determined release rate in response to a signal from the sensor indicating an unsafe condition. A power system incorporating a hydrogen storage system as described above is also provided.

Claims

1. A hydrogen storage system comprising:

a) at least one hydrogen storage container disposed in a confined area;

b) a vent line extending from said at least one storage container to a location outside the confined area, said vent line having an operable valve;

c) at least one sensor disposed in said confined area for detecting one or more predetermined unsafe conditions relating to the storage of hydrogen in the confined area; and

d) at least one actuator in communication with said sensor for actuating said operable valve of said vent line to release hydrogen from said hydrogen storage container to a location outside of said confined area at a minimum pre-determined release rate in response to a signal received from said sensor relating to a sensed unsafe condition.

2. A power system for providing back-up power to a facility comprising:

a) a generating system disposed at the facility having at least one hydrogen generator and at least one hydrogen powered electrical generator.

b) a storage system disposed at the facility having at least one storage container for receiving hydrogen from said hydrogen generator;

c) a conduit for hydrogen from said at least one hydrogen generator to said storage system;

d) a conduit for supplying hydrogen from said storage system to said at least one electrical generator;

e) a sensor for sensing the supply of electric power from a primary electric power source;

f) an actuator in communication with the sensor for actuating said at least electrical generator to generate electricity in response to a signal from said sensor indicating an interruption in the supply of electricity from said primary electric power source.

3. A power system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said storage system is disposed in a confined area at the facility and wherein said storage system includes a valve for releasing hydrogen from said storage system to a location outside said confined area in response to an unsafe condition.

4. A power system for a facility comprising:

a) hydrogen generator for producing hydrogen;

b) a hydrogen powered electrical generator for producing electricity;

c) a storage system comprising at least one storage container for storing hydrogen produced by said hydrogen generator, said storage container being connected to said hydrogen powered electrical generator to produce electricity from hydrogen stored in said storage system; and

d) a fuel station connected to said storage system, said fuel station comprising at least one fuel dispensing device.