HYDROGEN STATION

• US 20140102587A1
• Filed: 06/28/2012
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Klaus Schmidt
• Original Assignee: Klaus Schmidt
• Inventors: Nagura, Kenji, Takagi, Hitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 10,145,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/69
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• 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 2227/0164 with specified compressor type, e.g. piston or impulsive type
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0185 comprising several pumps or compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0341 using another fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/04 Methods for emptying or filling
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/065 for refuelling vehicle fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0178 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0184 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/06 for filling with compressed gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

Provided is a hydrogen station that is used to charge hydrogen to a hydrogen tank mounted on a vehicle, the hydrogen station including: a compressor that compresses hydrogen; a lubricant cooling unit that cools the lubricant of the compressor while circulating the lubricant; a hydrogen cooling unit that is capable of cooling hydrogen which is not charged to the hydrogen tank mounted on the vehicle yet and is compressed by the compressor; a sensor that detects whether the vehicle approaches or reaches the hydrogen station; and a startup unit that starts up at least one of the lubricant cooling unit and the hydrogen cooling unit by a signal from the sensor.

Claims

1. A hydrogen station that is used to charge hydrogen to a hydrogen tank mounted on a vehicle, the hydrogen station comprising:

a compressor that compresses hydrogen;

a lubricant cooling unit that cools the lubricant of the compressor while circulating the lubricant;

a hydrogen cooling unit that is capable of cooling hydrogen which is not charged to the hydrogen tank mounted on the vehicle yet and is compressed by the compressor;

a sensor that detects whether the vehicle approaches or reaches the hydrogen station; and

a startup unit that starts up at least one of the lubricant cooling unit and the hydrogen cooling unit by a signal from the sensor.

2. The hydrogen station according to claim 1,

wherein the compressor is provided in plural stages, and

wherein the startup unit starts up the lubricant cooling unit provided at the most downstream side compressor.

3. The hydrogen station according to claim 1,

wherein the hydrogen cooling unit is provided in plural stages, and

wherein the startup unit starts up the most downstream side hydrogen cooling unit among the plural stages of hydrogen cooling units.