System and method for storing hydrogen at cryogenic temperature

• US 20050284154A1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Chandra, Sukla, Peter, Andrew Maxwell
• Application Number:
  US10/876,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20050284154A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/45.1
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/021 having the height as the parameter
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0104 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/032 with substantially vertical main axis
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/054 medium (>1 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/056 Small (<1 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0308 Radiation shield
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0391 by vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0629 Two walls
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0643 Stainless steels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0646 Aluminium
• 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 2225/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/035 High pressure, i.e. between 10 and 80 bars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/036 Very high pressure, i.e. above 80 bars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0157 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0185 comprising several pumps or compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0341 using another fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0344 : Air cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0348 : Water cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0355 : in a closed loop
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/036 : "Joule-Thompson" effect
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0388 : separate
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0408 : Level of content in the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/063 : for supply of refuelling stations
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0168 : by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0171 : Trucks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0178 : Cars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 3/08 : by vacuum spaces, e.g. Dewar flask for household use A47J41/02
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/04 : requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. filling with helium or hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage

Abstract

A system and method for processing hydrogen is disclosed. The system may include at least one compressor adapted to compress hydrogen from the source to a storage pressure in the range of 2,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) to 10,000 pounds per square inch (PSI), and a cooling mechanism coupled to the compressor for cooling the hydrogen to a storage temperature of about liquid nitrogen temperature.

Claims

1. A system for processing hydrogen, comprising:

at least one compressor adapted to compress hydrogen to a storage pressure in the range of 2,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) to 10,000 pounds per square inch (PSI); and

a cooling mechanism coupled to the compressor for cooling the hydrogen to a storage temperature of about liquid nitrogen temperature.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, comprising a source of hydrogen adapted to deliver hydrogen to the at least one compressor.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the storage pressure is about 6,000 pounds per square inch (PSI).

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one compressor comprises a first compressor to compress the hydrogen to an intermediate pressure and a second compressor to compress the hydrogen from the first intermediate pressure to the storage pressure.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the cooling mechanism comprises at least one heat exchanger.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the cooling mechanism comprises at least one heat exchanger and at least a Joule-Thomson valve.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the cooling mechanism cools the hydrogen using a nitrogen Linde cycle.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the cooling mechanism cools the hydrogen using a cascade of Linde cycles, each with a different refrigerant gas.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the cooling mechanism cools the hydrogen using a nitrogen Claude cycle.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the cooling mechanism cools the hydrogen using a mixed refrigerant cycle comprising a single compressor, at least two gaseous refrigerants mixed together, at least two Joule Thomson valves, and at least two heat exchangers.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the cooling mechanism cools the hydrogen using a magnetic refrigerator comprising a magnetocaloric regenerator and a superconducting magnet.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the cooling mechanism cools the hydrogen directly using the hydrogen in a Brayton cycle, where the hydrogen is compressed beyond the delivery pressure, cooled with air or water, and then expanded to the delivery pressure and temperature.

13. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the cooling mechanism comprises at least one intercooler.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a storage vessel for storing the hydrogen.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the storage vessel further comprises multilayer super insulation (MLSI).

16. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the storage vessel is adapted to be disposed in a vehicle to provide fuel to an engine associated with the vehicle.

17. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the storage vessel further comprises an inner vessel enclosing a storage volume and an outer vessel surrounding the inner vessel and forming an evacuated space there between.

18. A storage vessel for storing hydrogen fuel at a storage pressure in the range of 2,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) to 10,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) and a storage temperature of about liquid nitrogen temperature.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the storage pressure is about 6,000 pounds per square inch (PSI).

20. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the storage vessel comprises an inner vessel enclosing a storage volume and an outer vessel surrounding the inner vessel and forming an evacuated space there between.

21. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the storage vessel further comprises a thermal insulator surrounding the inner vessel in an evacuated space to inhibit heat transfer to a storage volume.

22. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the storage vessel comprises a support positioned externally with respect to the inner vessel and the outer vessel.

23. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the support comprises a material having a low thermal conductivity for reducing the heat transfer from the outer vessel to the inner vessel.

24. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the outer vessel is constructed from stainless steel and the inner vessel is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum lined composite or stainless steel.

25. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein the thermal insulator is multilayer super insulation (MLSI).

26. The system as recited in claim 25, wherein the MLSI further comprises a material having low permeability of gases and a laminate of film layers including at least one film layer, having a vacuum deposited metalized coating thereon.

27. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the storage vessel is adapted to be disposed in a vehicle to provide fuel to an engine associated with the vehicle.

28. A method of processing hydrogen, comprising

compressing hydrogen to a storage pressure in the range of 2,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) to 10,000 pounds per square inch (PSI);

cooling the hydrogen to about liquid nitrogen temperature for storage;

storing the hydrogen in a storage vessel; and

delivering the hydrogen for application.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the storage pressure is about 6,000 pounds per square inch (PSI).

30. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the cooling comprises of at least one heat exchanger, at least a Joule-Thomson valve and at least one intercooler, wherein the hydrogen is cooled using a Linde cycle.

31. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the storage vessel is adapted to be disposed in a vehicle to provide fuel to an engine associated with the vehicle.

32. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein compressing hydrogen to a storage pressure is achieved by at least a compressor to compress the hydrogen to an intermediate pressure and a at least a second compressor to compress the hydrogen from the first intermediate pressure to the storage pressure.

33. A vehicle comprising:

an engine;

a power train for delivering power from the engine to one or more wheels; and

a storage vessel for storing hydrogen fuel at a storage pressure in the range of 2,000 pounds per square inch to 10,000 pounds per square inch and a storage temperature of about liquid nitrogen temperature.

34. The vehicle as recited in claim 33, wherein the storage vessel is adapted to be disposed in the vehicle to provide fuel to the engine associated with the vehicle.

35. The vehicle as recited in claim 33, wherein the storage pressure is about 6,000 pounds per square inch (PSI).

36. The vehicle as recited in claim 33, wherein the storage vessel comprises an inner vessel enclosing a storage volume and an outer vessel surrounding the inner vessel and forming an evacuated space there between.

37. The vehicle as recited in claim 33, wherein the storage vessel is adapted to be disposed in the vehicle to provide fuel to the engine associated with the vehicle.