Storage of liquid hydrogen

• US 4,386,309 A
• Filed: 06/08/1981
• Issued: 05/31/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Rentenversicherung Berlin-Brandenburg
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Rentenversicherung Berlin-Brandenburg
• Inventors: Peschka, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Hickey, R. J.
• Application Number:
  US06/271,265
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 322/2 R, 320/2, 320/3, 320/61, 290/43, 290/54, 290/50, 62/7, 62/239, 62/241-244, 62/45, 62/47, 62/54, 180/65 B, 60/DIG. 2, 220/901
• US Class Current: 322/2.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/01 Reinforcing or suspension means
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/032 Multi-sheet layers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0391 by vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0629 Two walls
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/032 by recovery
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0184 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 9/04 Recovery of thermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/00 Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy F25B30/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/001 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0225 using other external refrigeration means not provided before, e.g. heat driven absorption chillers
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0228 Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes combined plants, e.g. engine plant combined with an industrial process F01K23/064; gas turbine plants in combination with other processes F02C6/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/023 for the combustion as fuels, i.e. integration with the fuel gas system
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0261 Details of cold box insulation, housing and internal structure buildings forming parts of cooling plants E04H5/10
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2210/90 Boil-off gas from storage
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2230/22 Compressor driver arrangement, e.g. power supply by motor, gas or steam turbine
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2270/908 by regenerative chillers, i.e. oscillating or dynamic systems, e.g. Stirling refrigerator, thermoelectric ("Peltier") or magnetic refrigeration
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2290/62 Details of storing a fluid in a tank
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04 Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/901 : Liquified gas content, cryogenic

Abstract

Hydrogen evaporating in a liquid hydrogen tank is fed to a fuel cell generating electrical energy used to drive a cooling unit which cools the tank.

Claims

1. A method of increasing the storage time of a liquid hydrogen tank, comprising the steps of feeding hydrogen evaporating in the tank to a hydrogen fuel cell, generating electrical energy by means of the fuel cell, utilizing electrical energy generated by the fuel cell to drive a cooling unit, and cooling the tank by means of the cooling unit.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the steps of cooling the tank comprises cooling a radiation shield surrounding the tank by means of the cooling unit.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising utilizing electrical energy generated by the fuel to charge a battery of a motor vehicle fuelled by liquid hydrogen.

4. Apparatus for storing liquid hydrogen, comprising a liquid hydrogen tank, an outlet line for removing evaporated hydrogen from the tank, a hydrogen fuel cell having a hydrogen gas intake communicating with the outlet line, an electrically powered cooling unit arranged to cool the tank, and means for transmitting electrical energy from the fuel cell to the cooling unit.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a radiation shield surrounding the tank and being in thermal contact with the cooling unit so as to be cooled by it, thereby cooling the tank.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a vacuum insulation casing surrounding the radiation shield.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the cooling unit comprises a thermoelectric cooling element.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the cooling unit comprises a linear-oscillating Stirling cooler.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a battery and means for transmitting electrical energy from the fuel cell to the battery to charge the battery.