Intelligent compressor strategy to support hydrogen fueling

• US 20060118575A1
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Linde Gas North America LLC (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: BOC Group, Inc. (Messer Adolf Family)
• Inventors: Tamhankar, Satish S., Leitch, Kelly R., Boyd, Robert Walter, Wardle, David Grant, Lomas, Gary Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,624,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/3
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0142 bundled in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• 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 2225/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• 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 2227/043 by pressure cascade
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/034 using wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0139 Fuel stations
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0178 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/007 for individual gas tanks or containers, e.g. in vehicles filling with liquid fuel not under pressure, B60S5/02, B67D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage

Abstract

Multi compressor systems and apparatuses for the manufacture, storage and dispensing of manufactured hydrogen fuel to hydrogen vehicle tanks or remote mobile refuelers are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for refueling hydrogen-powered vehicles comprising the steps of:

providing a hydrogen source having an output attached to a refueling system;

directing hydrogen from the hydrogen source into the refueling system;

providing a compressor, said compressor in communication with the source output;

directing hydrogen from the source to the compressor;

providing a cascading processing array in communication with the refueling system;

directing hydrogen from the compressor to a cascading processing array;

providing a hydrogen storage generator having an inlet in communication with the refueling system and an outlet in communication with a dispenser inlet;

directing an amount of hydrogen from the compressor to a hydrogen storage chamber;

directing an amount of hydrogen from the storage chamber to the dispenser; and

directing an amount of hydrogen to a hydrogen-powered vehicle inlet at a conditioned pressure and flow rate selected to match the vehicle inlet demands.

2. A method for refueling hydrogen vehicles comprising the steps of:

providing a hydrogen source having an output attached to a refueling system;

directing hydrogen from the hydrogen source into the refueling system;

providing a compressor, said compressor in communication with the source output;

directing hydrogen from the source to the compressor;

providing a cascading processing array in communication with the refueling system;

directing hydrogen from the compressor to a cascading processing array;

directing an amount of hydrogen from the array to a dispenser; and

directing an amount of hydrogen to a hydrogen-powered vehicle.

3. A system for refueling hydrogen vehicles comprising:

an on-site hydrogen generator;

a plurality of compressors with an interposed intermediate buffer system; and

a storage dispensing facility;

said system capable of dispensing hydrogen at a rate of from about 20 to about 100 grams per second.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the system has a hydrogen production and storage capacity of from about 10 kg per day up to about 1000 kg per day.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the storage dispensing facility maintains hydrogen under pressure of from about 6000 psi. to about 12,000 psi.

6. A method for refueling hydrogen vehicles comprising the steps of:

providing a hydrogen generator having an output attached to a refueling system;

manufacturing hydrogen-containing product via the generator and directing product from the generator into the refueling system;

providing a first compressor, said first compressor in communication with the generator output;

directing hydrogen from the generator to the first compressor;

providing a cascading processing array in communication with the refueling system;

directing hydrogen from the first compressor to a cascading processing array;

providing a second compressor in communication with the refueling system;

directing pre-selected amounts of hydrogen from the cascading processing array to the second compressor; and

directing pressurized hydrogen from the second compressor to the cascading processing array.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of directing pressurized hydrogen from the second compressor to a storage unit.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of directing pressurized hydrogen to a vehicle inlet.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the storage unit is a mobile storage unit.

10. An apparatus for refueling hydrogen-powered vehicles comprising:

a hydrogen generator having an output in communication with a refueling system;

a first compressor in communication with the generator output;

a cascading processing array in communication with the refueling system;

a second compressor in communication with the cascading array;

a dispensing facility in communication with the cascading array; and

wherein the second compressor is controlled to pressurize hydrogen within the refueling system to a pressure that enables the refueling system to dispense hydrogen to a hydrogen-powered vehicle at an optimal delivery pressure and flow rate.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the dispensing facility releases hydrogen from the apparatus at a rate of from about 20 to about 100 grams per second.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cascading processing array has a vehicle dispensing capacity of from about 10 kg per day up to about 1000 kg per day at pressures selected from the group consisting of 25, 35, 50, and 70 MPa.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the cascading processing array maintains hydrogen under pressure of from about 3,000 psi. to about 12,000 psi.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second compressor directs pressurized hydrogen to a hydrogen storage unit.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the storage unit is a mobile storage unit.