Transportable hydrogen refueling station

• US 6,755,225 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc.
• Inventors: Sirosh, Neel, Abele, Andy, Niedwiecki, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US10/350,583
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 141/231, 141/82, 141/2, 141/18, 62/502, 62/503
• US Class Current: 141/231
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/14 the object being a workshop for servicing, for maintenance, or for carrying workmen during work lifting devices for movable platforms or cabins for workmen B66F11/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/2245 Adaptations for loading or unloading
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/24 compartmented
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/02 Supplying fuel to vehicles; General disposition of plant in filling stations apparatus for transferring measured quantities of petrol, oil, or the like from storage space to vehicles B67D
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/035 with substantially horizontal main axis
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/056 Small (<1 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0107 Frames
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0111 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0134 characterised by the presence of fluid connection between vessels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0157 for transport
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0176 with ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0329 manually actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0332 Safety valves or pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0335 Check-valves or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/016 Noble gases (Ar, Kr, Xe)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0153 Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0157 : Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0337 : by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/04 : Methods for emptying or filling
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/044 : by purging
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0439 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0636 : Flow or movement of content
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/042 : Reducing risk of explosion
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/066 : for feeding engines for propulsion
• 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 7/02 : Discharging liquefied gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 : Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/45 : Hydrogen technologies in production processes

Abstract

A portable hydrogen refueling stations which can dispense gaseous hydrogen from one or more internal high pressure tanks. The refueling station can be refilled with a lower pressure hydrogen gas feed and then compressed for storage within the refueling station.

Claims

1. A hydrogen refueling station comprising:

a portable enclosure;

at least one feed line whereinto hydrogen can flow;

a hydrogen producing subsystem, which has at least a hydrogen producing unit and a hydrogen cooling unit, connected at one end to the feed line;

at least one compressor means, within the enclose, connected to at least one feed line downstream from the hydrogen producing subsystem;

one or more hydrogen storage tanks, within the enclosure, connected to at least one feed line downstream from at least one compressor means;

at least one control valve connected to at least one feed line;

at least one reversible connector, whereby hydrogen from at least one hydrogen storage tank can be dispensed;

at least one cooling means, wherethrough hydrogen can flow; and

,

at least one system controller to control at least one control valve, at least one compressor means, and the hydrogen producing subsystem whereby the flow of hydrogen within the refueling station is affected.

2. The hydrogen refueling station of claim 1 wherein the portable enclosure is a trailer.

3. The hydrogen refueling station of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen producing unit is a KOH electrolyzer.

4. The hydrogen refueling station of claim 3 wherein the source of electrical power for the KOH electrolyzer is selected from the group consisting of turbines, wind, solar, and hydroelectric.

5. The hydrogen refueling station of claim 1 further comprising a tank of pressurized inert gas connected to at least one feed line;

whereby introduction of the inert gas into the feed line will purge at least a portion of the feed line and/or the reversible connector.

6. The hydrogen refueling station of claim 1 wherein the portable enclosure is removable from a trailer.

7. A hydrogen refueling station comprising:

a portable enclosure;

at least one feed line whereinto hydrogen can flow;

a hydrogen producing subsystem, which has at least a hydrogen producing unit and a cooling unit, connected at one end to the feed line;

at least one compressor means, within the enclosure connected to at least one feed line;

one or more hydrogen storage tanks, within the enclosure, connected to at least one feed line downstream from at lest one compressor means;

at least one control valve connected to at least one feed line;

at least one reversible connector, whereby hydrogen from at least one hydrogen storage tank can be dispensed;

at least one cooling means, wherethrough hydrogen can flow;

at least one system controller to control at least one control valve or at least one compressor means, whereby the flow of hydrogen within the refueling station is affected; and

a second system controller to control the hydrogen producing subsystem.

8. The hydrogen refueling station of claim 7 wherein the portable enclosure is a trailer.

9. The hydrogen refueling station of claim 7 wherein the hydrogen producing unit is a KOH electrolyzer.

10. The hydrogen refueling station of claim 9 wherein the source of electrical power for the KOH electrolyzer is selected from the group consisting of turbines, wind, solar, and hydroelectric.

11. The hydrogen refueling station of claim 7 wherein the portable enclosure is a trailer.

12. The hydrogen refueling station of claim 7 wherein the portable enclosure is removable from a trailer.

13. The hydrogen refueling station of claim 7 further comprising a tank of pressurized inert gas connected to at least one feed line;

whereby introduction of the inert gas into the feed line will purge at least a portion of the feed line and/or the reversible connector.