Energy distribution network

• US 7,181,316 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2004
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: 3793257 Canada, Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stuart, Andrew T. B., Dong, Charlie, Stewart, William J., Fairlie, Matthew J., Thorpe, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard; Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHECHTMAN, SEAN P
• Application Number:
  US10/829,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20040194382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 700/9, 700/19, 700/20, 700/22, 700/266, 700/274, 700/287, 700/291, 700/295, 700/297, 700/301, 700/273, 700/286, 205/343, 205/637, 429/12, 429/13, 429/21, 429 22- 25
• US Class Current: 700/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/56 Temperature prediction, e.g. for pre-cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0233 the reforming step being a steam reforming step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/025 containing a partial oxidation step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1223 Methanol
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1235 Hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1241 Natural gas or methane
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/84 Energy production
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/00 Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it separation of gases by physical means B01D; Purification of hydrogen production of water gas or synthesis gas from solid carbonaceous material C10J; purifying or modifying the chemical compositions of combustible technical gases containing carbon monoxide C10K
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/02 Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/32 by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/36 using oxygen or mixtures containing oxygen as gasifying agents
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/402 Combination of fuel cell with other electric generators combination of fuel cells with other electrochemical generator H01M16/003
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04216 characterised by the choice for a specific material, e.g. carbon, hydride, absorbent
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04298 Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0438 Pressure; Ambient pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04753 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0612 : from carbon-containing material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0656 : by electrochemical means H01M8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 : Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• 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 20/133 : Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 : Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A hydrogen fuel supply system includes a hydrogen generator for generating hydrogen from an energy source at an outlet pressure. An outlet conduit feeds the hydrogen to a user. A controller controls the hydrogen generator to produce hydrogen at the outlet pressure. An input interface receives user demand data and activates the controller in accordance with the user demand data.

Claims

1. A hydrogen energy system for a facility that is disposed off-board a vehicle, said system comprising:

(a) a hydrogen generator disposed at said facility for generating hydrogen by water electrolysis using electrical energy received from at least one external source of electrical energy;

(b) a hydrogen storage apparatus disposed at said facility for storing at least some of the hydrogen generated by said hydrogen generator; and

(c) a controller having a computer processor for receiving and processing control inputs including

data concerning the availability of said electrical energy for use by said hydrogen generator,

(ii) data concerning the operating status of said hydrogen generator and

(iii) data concerning one or more demands for hydrogen from one or more hydrogen users,

said controller being operatively connected to said hydrogen generator for controlling the generation of hydrogen based at least upon control inputs (i) to (iii).

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control inputs further include data concerning said hydrogen storage apparatus.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controller further controls the storage of hydrogen.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a compressor disposed at said facility for compressing said hydrogen to a minimum desired pressure.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said hydrogen is compressed by said compressor prior to storage in said hydrogen storage apparatus.

6. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said controller controls the generation, compression and storage of hydrogen.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hydrogen generator generates hydrogen at a minimum desired pressure.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a hydrogen delivery system disposed at said facility for delivering hydrogen from at least one of said hydrogen generator and said hydrogen storage apparatus to one or more hydrogen users.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said one or more hydrogen users include a hydrogen conversion device for powering a vehicle.

10. A system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a hydrogen conversion device disposed at said facility for receiving hydrogen from said hydrogen storage apparatus and converting said hydrogen into electricity.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said hydrogen conversion device is an internal combustion engine.

12. A system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said hydrogen conversion device is a fuel cell.

13. A system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a hydrogen conversion device disposed at said facility for receiving hydrogen from said hydrogen storage apparatus and converting said hydrogen into thermal energy.

14. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one source of electric energy includes an electricity grid.

15. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein electrical energy for said at least one source of electric energy is generated from one or more primary energy resources.

16. A system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said primary energy resources include renewable resources.

17. A system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said primary energy resources include at least one of the following:

fossil fuels, wind, solar, nuclear and hydro.

18. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said data concerning the availability of electrical energy for use by said hydrogen generator includes real time data.

19. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said data concerning the availability of electrical energy for use by said hydrogen generator includes stored data.

20. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said data concerning the availability of electrical energy for use by said hydrogen generator includes data concerning the price of electrical energy.

21. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controller modulates the generation of hydrogen by said hydrogen generator based on data including said data concerning the availability of electrical energy for use by said hydrogen generator.

22. A system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said controller modulates the generation of electricity by said hydrogen conversion device based on data including said data concerning the availability of electrical energy for use by said hydrogen generator.

23. A system as claimed in claim 10 wherein at least some of said electricity generated by said hydrogen conversion device is transmitted to an electricity grid.

24. A system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one source of electric energy includes at least one non-grid source of electric energy.

25. A system as claimed in claim 24 wherein electricity for said at least one non-grid source of electric energy is generated from at least one primary energy resource.

26. A system as claimed in claim 25 wherein said at least one primary energy resource includes renewable resources.

27. A system as claimed in claim 26 wherein said renewable resources include at least one of wind, solar, nuclear and hydro.

28. A system as claimed in claim 25 wherein said primary energy resources include at least one of the following:

fossil fuels, wind, solar, nuclear and hydro.

29. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one source of electric energy includes an electricity grid and at least one non-grid source of electric energy and wherein said controller selects one of said at least one sources of electric energy based on data including said data concerning the availability of electrical energy for use by said hydrogen generator.

30. A system as claimed in claim 29 further comprising a hydrogen conversion device disposed at said facility for converting hydrogen into electricity.

31. A system as claimed in claim 30 wherein said controller modulates the generation of electricity by said hydrogen conversion device based on data including said data concerning the availability of electrical energy for use by said hydrogen generator.

32. A system as claimed in claim 30 wherein at least some of said electricity generated by said hydrogen conversion device is transmitted to said electricity grid.

33. A system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said data concerning the availability of electrical energy for use by said hydrogen generator includes data pertaining to the type of primary energy resources used for producing said electrical energy.

34. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said controller initiates operation of said hydrogen generator to generate hydrogen when the amount of hydrogen stored in said hydrogen storage apparatus falls below a predetermined amount.

35. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hydrogen storage apparatus comprises at least one hydride storage chamber.

36. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hydrogen storage apparatus comprises at least one container for storing pressurized hydrogen.

37. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controller controls the amount of electricity received by said hydrogen generator.

38. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controller controls the duration of electricity supply to said hydrogen generator.

39. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controller comprises a plurality of controllers.

40. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said data is transmitted to said controller by wireless transmission.

41. A hydrogen energy system for a facility that is disposed off-board a vehicle, said system comprising:

(a) a hydrogen generator disposed at said facility for generating hydrogen by water electrolysis using electrical energy received from at least one external source of electrical energy;

(b) a hydrogen storage apparatus disposed at said facility for storing at least some of the hydrogen generated by said hydrogen generator;

(c) a controller having a computer processor for receiving and processing control inputs, said control inputs including data concerning one or more demands for hydrogen by one or more hydrogen users, said controller being operatively connected to said hydrogen generator for controlling the generation of hydrogen based at least upon said data concerning one or more demands for hydrogen by one or more hydrogen users.

42. A system as claimed in claim 41 further comprising a compressor disposed at said facility for compressing said hydrogen to a minimum desired pressure.

43. A system as claimed in claim 41 further comprising a hydrogen conversion device disposed at said facility for receiving hydrogen from said hydrogen storage apparatus and converting said hydrogen into electricity.

45. A system as claimed in claim 41 wherein said control inputs further include data concerning the operating status of said hydrogen generator.

46. A system as claimed in claim 41 wherein said control inputs further include data concerning the availability of said electrical energy for use by said hydrogen generator.

47. A system as claimed in claim 41 wherein said control inputs further include data concerning said hydrogen storage apparatus.

48. A system as claimed in claim 41 wherein said controller further controls the storage of hydrogen.

49. A system as claimed in claim 41 further comprising a hydrogen delivery system disposed at said facility for delivering hydrogen from at least one of said hydrogen generator and said hydrogen storage apparatus to one or more hydrogen users.

50. A system as claimed in claim 41 further comprising a hydrogen conversion device disposed at said facility for receiving hydrogen from said hydrogen storage apparatus and converting said hydrogen into thermal energy.

51. A system as claimed in claim 41 further comprising a hydrogen conversion device disposed at said facility for receiving hydrogen from said hydrogen storage apparatus and converting said hydrogen into electricity.

52. A system as claimed in claim 41 wherein said at least one source of electrical energy includes an electricity grid.

53. A system as claimed in claim 41 wherein said controller modulates the generation of hydrogen by said hydrogen generator.

54. A system as claimed in claim 51 wherein said controller modulates the generation of electricity by said hydrogen conversion device.

55. A system as claimed in claim 51 wherein at least some of said electricity generated by said hydrogen conversion device is transmitted to an electricity grid.

56. A system according to claim 41 wherein said at least one source of electric energy includes at least one non-grid source of electric energy.

57. A system as claimed in claim 41 wherein said controller initiates operation of said hydrogen generator to generate hydrogen when the amount of hydrogen stored in said hydrogen storage apparatus falls below a predetermined amount.

58. A system as claimed in claim 41 wherein said controller controls the amount of electricity received by said hydrogen generator.

59. A system as claimed in claim 41 wherein said controller controls the duration of electricity supply to said hydrogen generator.

60. A system as claimed in claim 41 wherein electrical energy for said at least one external source of electrical energy is generated from one or more primary energy resources.

61. A system as claimed in claim 60 wherein said primary energy resources include renewable resources.

62. A system as claimed in claim 60 wherein said primary energy resources include at least one of the following:

fossil fuels, wind, solar, nuclear and hydro.

63. A system according to claim 41 wherein said at least one external source of electrical energy includes at least one non-grid source of electric energy.

64. A system as claimed in claim 63 wherein electricity for said at least one non-grid source of electrical energy is generated from at least one primary energy resource.

65. A system as claimed in claim 64 wherein said at least one primary energy resource includes renewable resources.

66. A system as claimed in claim 65 wherein said renewable resources include at least one of wind, solar, nuclear and hydro.

67. A system as claimed in claim 64 wherein said at least one primary energy resource include at least one of the following:

fossil fuels, wind, solar, nuclear and hydro.

68. A system as claimed in claim 41 wherein said at least one external source of electrical energy includes an electricity grid and at least one non-grid source of electrical energy and wherein said controller selects one of said at least one external sources of electrical energy based on data including data concerning the availability of electrical energy for use by said hydrogen generator.

69. A system as claimed in claim 68 further comprising a hydrogen conversion device disposed at said facility for converting hydrogen into electricity.

70. A system as claimed in claim 69 wherein said controller modulates the generation of electricity by said hydrogen conversion device based on data including data concerning the availability of electrical energy for use by said hydrogen generator.

71. A system as claimed in claim 69 wherein at least some of said electricity generated by said hydrogen conversion device is transmitted to said electricity grid.

72. A system as claimed in claim 68 wherein said data concerning the availability of electrical energy for use by said hydrogen generator includes data pertaining to the type of primary energy resources used for producing said electrical energy.

44. A hydrogen energy system for a facility that is disposed off-board a vehicle comprising:

(a) a hydrogen generator disposed at said facility for generating hydrogen by water electrolysis using electrical energy received from at least one external source of electric energy;

(b) a hydrogen storage apparatus disposed at said facility for storing at least some of the hydrogen generated by said hydrogen generator; and

(c) a controller having a computer processor for receiving and processing control inputs, said control inputs including data concerning the price of said electrical energy available for use by said hydrogen generator and data concerning one or more demands for hydrogen by one or more hydrogen users, said controller being operatively connected to said hydrogen generator for controlling the generation of hydrogen based at least upon said data concerning the price of said electrical energy available for use by said hydrogen generator and said data concerning one or more demands for hydrogen by one or more hydrogen users.

73. A system as claimed in claim 44 wherein electrical energy for said at least one external source of electric energy is generated from one or more primary energy resources.

74. A system as claimed in claim 73 wherein said primary energy resources include renewable resources.

75. A system as claimed in claim 73 wherein said primary energy resources include at least one of the following:

fossil fuels, wind, solar, nuclear and hydro.

76. A system as claimed in claim 44 wherein said at least one external source of electric energy includes an electricity grid and at least one non-grid source of electric energy and wherein said controller selects one of said at least one external sources of electric energy based on data including data concerning the availability of electrical energy for use by said hydrogen generator.

77. A system as claimed in claim 76 further comprising a hydrogen conversion device disposed at said facility for converting hydrogen into electricity.

78. A system as claimed in claim 77 wherein said controller modulates the generation of electricity by said hydrogen conversion device based on data including data concerning the availability of electrical energy for use by said hydrogen generator.

79. A system as claimed in claim 77 wherein at least some of said electricity generated by said hydrogen conversion device is transmitted to said electricity grid.

80. A system as claimed in claim 76 wherein said data concerning the availability of electrical energy for use by said hydrogen generator includes data pertaining to the type of primary energy resources used for producing said electrical energy.

81. A system as claimed in claim 44 further comprising a compressor disposed at said facility for compressing said hydrogen to a minimum desired pressure.

82. A system as claimed in claim 44 further comprising a hydrogen conversion device disposed at said facility for receiving hydrogen from said hydrogen storage apparatus and converting said hydrogen into electricity.

83. A system as claimed in claim 44 wherein said control inputs further include data concerning the operating status of said hydrogen generator.

84. A system as claimed in claim 44 wherein said controller further controls the storage of hydrogen.

85. A system as claimed in claim 44 further comprising a hydrogen delivery system disposed at said facility for delivering hydrogen from at least one of said hydrogen generator and said hydrogen storage apparatus to one or more hydrogen users.

86. A system as claimed in claim 44 further comprising a hydrogen conversion device disposed at said facility for receiving hydrogen from said hydrogen storage apparatus and converting said hydrogen into thermal energy.

87. A system as claimed in claim 44 wherein said at least one external source of electrical energy includes an electricity grid.

88. A system as claimed in claim 44 wherein said controller modulates the generation of hydrogen by said hydrogen generator.

89. A system as claimed in claim 44 wherein said controller initiates operation of said hydrogen generator to generate hydrogen when the amount of hydrogen stored in said hydrogen storage apparatus falls below a predetermined amount.

90. A system as claimed in claim 44 wherein said controller controls the amount of electricity received by said hydrogen generator.

91. A system as claimed in claim 44 wherein said controller controls the duration of electricity supply to said hydrogen generator.