APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING HYDROGEN GAS
First Claim
1. An apparatus for processing a hydrogen gas stream generated from a chemical:
- hydride comprising;
a housing comprising a heat- and pressure-resistant material, the housing having an internal chamber configured to receive a hydrogen gas stream;
a condensing media disposed within the internal chamber, the condensing media having a plurality of condensing passages sized to engage liquid water entrained in the hydrogen gas stream to remove the entrained liquid water from the hydrogen gas stream, the liquid water forming as the hydrogen gas stream cools;
a coalescer element disposed within the internal chamber to receive the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream exits the condensing media, the coalescer element removing liquid water formed in the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream cools; and
an outlet port disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the internal chamber, the outlet port configured to receive the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream exits the coalescer element and to deliver the hydrogen gas stream outside the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for processing a hydrogen gas stream comprising a housing, a condensing media, a mechanical filtration element, a coalescer element, and an outlet port. The housing comprises a heat- and pressure-resistant material and has an internal chamber configured to receive a hydrogen gas stream. A condenser may cool the hydrogen gas stream to promote water condensation. The condensing media removes entrained liquid water from the hydrogen gas stream. The mechanical filtration element receives the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream exits the condensing media. The mechanical filtration element collects particulate matter from the hydrogen gas stream. The coalescer element receives the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream exits the mechanical filtration element. The coalescer element removes substantially all of the liquid water formed in the hydrogen gas stream. The outlet port delivers the hydrogen gas stream outside the housing.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for processing a hydrogen gas stream generated from a chemical:
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hydride comprising; a housing comprising a heat- and pressure-resistant material, the housing having an internal chamber configured to receive a hydrogen gas stream; a condensing media disposed within the internal chamber, the condensing media having a plurality of condensing passages sized to engage liquid water entrained in the hydrogen gas stream to remove the entrained liquid water from the hydrogen gas stream, the liquid water forming as the hydrogen gas stream cools; a coalescer element disposed within the internal chamber to receive the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream exits the condensing media, the coalescer element removing liquid water formed in the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream cools; and an outlet port disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the internal chamber, the outlet port configured to receive the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream exits the coalescer element and to deliver the hydrogen gas stream outside the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for processing a hydrogen gas stream generated from a chemical hydride comprising:
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a housing comprising a heat- and pressure-resistant material, the housing having a condensing chamber and a coalescing chamber, the housing configured to receive a hydrogen gas stream; an inlet port disposed in the housing in fluid communication with a condenser, the inlet port configured to deliver the hydrogen gas stream to the condenser; the condenser comprising a channel defined by at least one wall, the wall absorbing heat from the hydrogen gas stream, the channel delivering the hydrogen gas stream to a bypass tube disposed between the condenser and the condensing chamber; a condensing media disposed within the condensing chamber, the condensing media having a plurality of condensing passages sized to engage liquid water entrained in the hydrogen gas stream to remove the entrained liquid water from the hydrogen gas stream, the liquid water forming as the hydrogen gas stream cools; a mechanical filtration element disposed between the condensing chamber and the coalescing chamber to receive the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream exits the condensing media, the mechanical filtration element having a plurality of filtration passages sized to collect particulate matter larger than a selected diameter from the hydrogen gas stream; a coalescer element disposed within the coalescing chamber to receive the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream exits the mechanical filtration element, the coalescer element removing substantially all of the liquid water formed in the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream cools; and an outlet port disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the coalescing chamber, the outlet port configured to receive the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream exits the coalescer element, and deliver the hydrogen gas stream outside the housing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for processing a hydrogen gas stream generated from a chemical hydride comprising:
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cooling a hydrogen gas stream in a condenser, the hydrogen gas stream generated from a chemical hydride, the condenser comprising a channel defined by at least one wall, the wall absorbing heat from the hydrogen gas stream, the channel delivering the hydrogen gas stream to a single housing, the housing having an internal chamber configured to receive the hydrogen gas stream engaging liquid water in the hydrogen gas stream within a plurality of condensing passages of a condensing media disposed within the internal chamber, the liquid water forming as the hydrogen gas stream cools; collecting particulate matter larger than a selected diameter from the hydrogen gas stream in a plurality of filtration passages of a mechanical filtration element disposed within the internal chamber to receive the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream exits the condensing media; removing in a coalescer element substantially all of the liquid water from the hydrogen gas stream, the coalescer element disposed within the internal chamber to receive the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream exits the mechanical filtration element, the liquid water forming in the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream cools; and delivering the hydrogen gas stream from the housing, the hydrogen gas stream having a temperature within an operating temperature threshold of a fuel cell configured to consume the hydrogen gas stream, and a relative humidity less than or equal to 100 percent. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A system to generate electric power from a chemical hydride, the system comprising:
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a removable fuel cartridge configured to produce a hydrogen gas stream by reacting water with a chemical hydride; a condenser that receives the hydrogen gas stream, the condenser having a condensing media having a plurality of condensing passages sized to engage liquid water entrained in the hydrogen gas stream to remove the entrained liquid water from the hydrogen gas stream, the liquid water forming as the hydrogen gas stream cools; a coalescer that receives the hydrogen gas stream from the condenser, the coalescer having a coalescer element that receives the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream exits the condenser, the coalescer element removing substantially all of the liquid water formed in the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream cools; a fuel cell stack configured to receive the hydrogen gas stream and to generate electric power using air and the hydrogen gas stream; an electric power storage device coupled with the fuel cell stack, the electric power storage device configured to store and supply electric power; one or more water pumps configured to inject water from a water supply into the fuel cartridge at a variable rate; and a controller configured to manage a water injection rate for each of the one or more water pumps based on power demands of an electric load coupled to the system. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification