System For Producing And Dispensing Pressurized Hydrogen

• US 20200132254A1
• Filed: 07/06/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2017
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
• Original Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
• Inventors: Stephan, Markus, Nagl, Christoph, Gruber, Sarah, Adler, Robert, Raatschen, Willigert, Jehle, Walter, Lobentanzer, Hans, Best, Simon
• Application Number:
  US16/630,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20200132254A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/08 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/05 Pressure cells
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 37/12 to obtain high pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 41/02 having reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 9/10 the fluid being liquid
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/013 Two or more vessels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0134 characterised by the presence of fluid connection between vessels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0142 bundled in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0115 dense or supercritical, i.e. at high pressure and high density
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/033 Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• 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 2227/0192 by using a working fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/06 Fluid distribution
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/065 for refueling vehicle fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0139 Fuel stations
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0168 : by vehicles
• 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: F17C 5/06 : for filling with compressed gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/45 : Hydrogen technologies in production processes

Abstract

A system for producing and dispensing pressurized hydrogen includes: a hydrogen generator, in particular an electrolyser, a hydraulic drive, two or more hydrogen storage tanks, and a hydrogen dispensing unit, wherein each of the hydrogen storage tanks is capable of discharging hydrogen at a constant pressure by movement of an internal piston, wherein at least one of the hydrogen storage tanks is arranged to act as compressor by actuation of the internal piston by the hydraulic drive, and wherein at least one of the hydrogen storage tanks is arranged to act as a constant pressure tank for storing and discharging hydrogen at a constant pressure.

Claims

1. A System for producing and dispensing pressurized hydrogen comprising:

a hydrogen generator;

a hydraulic drive;

two or more hydrogen storage tanks; and

a hydrogen dispensing unit,

wherein each of the two or more hydrogen storage tanks is configured for discharging hydrogen at a constant pressure by movement of an internal piston,

wherein at least one of the two or more hydrogen storage tanks is arranged to act as compressor by actuation of the internal piston by the hydraulic drive, and

wherein at least one of the two or more hydrogen storage tanks is arranged to act as a constant pressure tank for storing and discharging hydrogen at a constant pressure.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen generator produces hydrogen at a pressure between 1 and 45 bar.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the two or more hydrogen storage tanks are configured for pressures up to 900 bar.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a catalyst for removing oxygen residues from the hydrogen.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen generator is configured to produce hydrogen and oxygen,

wherein the system further comprises:

an oxygen expander for reducing the pressure of the produced oxygen and thereby cooling of the produced oxygen; and

a heat exchanger for transferring heat between the cooled oxygen and the hydrogen downstream of the electrolyser and upstream of the compressor.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein a condenser for separating water from the compressed hydrogen is arranged upstream of the compressor.

7. The system according to claim 6, further comprising a water reservoir connected to the electrolyser;

and

a return pipeline connecting the condenser with the water reservoir.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the two or more hydrogen storage tanks are identical.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a hydrogen buffer tank upstream of the compressor.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the compressor is a one-stage compressor.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein a wireless communication device is connected to the system and configured to allow customers to check the current filling level of the hydrogen storage tanks and to book a time slot for refueling.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured as a mobile unit.