Efficient system and method for delivery of product and return of carrier

• US 7,784,501 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Gershtein, Vladimir Yliy, Mattiola, Paul Anthony, Campbell, Karen M., Miller, Derek, Joseph, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson; Gregory L
• Assistant Examiner(s): NIESZ, JASON KAROL
• Application Number:
  US11/398,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20060239905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,608 Days
• Field of Search: 141/2, 141 4- 7, 141/18, 141/94, 141/100, 141/231, 141/232
• US Class Current: 141/100
• 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 3/0015 Organic compounds; Solutions thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/0026 of one single metal or a rare earth metal; Treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 11/005 for hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0763 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for distributing a product, like hydrogen, contained in a carrier to a user, and for recovering the spent from the user. In one embodiment, the invention is a system for distributing a product releasably incorporated within a carrier, recovering spent, and conveying spent to a rehabilitation facility. In this embodiment, the system comprises a mobile delivery vehicle, the vehicle comprising a first storage vessel for storing fresh and for dispensing fresh using a connected fresh dispensing apparatus and for receiving and storing spent from a spent dispensing apparatus, the storage vessel further including means for separating fresh from spent. The system further includes fresh, spent, and a first user. The first user comprises a fresh storage vessel for receiving, storing, and dispensing fresh, and further comprises a first spent storage vessel for receiving, storing, and dispensing spent. The system further includes a fresh dispensing apparatus for linking the first storage vessel and the fresh storage vessel of the first user for dispensing of fresh to the first user, and a spent removal apparatus for linking the first storage vessel and the spent storage vessel of the first user for removal of fresh from the first user for storage in the first storage vessel. Use of a mobile delivery vehicle to deliver fresh and recover spent for rehabilitation from a plurality of users avoids logistic inefficiencies, and reduces potential for contamination and/or loss of product, carrier, fresh, and spent.

Claims

1. A system for distributing a product releasably incorporated within a carrier to a user, and for recovering spent from a user, the system comprising:

a mobile delivery vehicle, the vehicle comprising a first storage vessel for receiving and storing fresh from a fresh delivery means, and for receiving and storing spent from a spent delivery means, the storage vessel including means for separating fresh from spent;

a first user, the first user comprising a fresh storage vessel for receiving, storing, and delivering fresh, and further comprising a first spent storage vessel for receiving, storing, and delivering of spent;

a fresh transferring means for linking the first storage vessel and the fresh storage vessel of the first user for transferring fresh to the first user;

a spent transferring means for linking the first storage vessel and the spent storage vessel of the first user for transferring spent from the first user,

a second user, the second user comprising a second fresh storage vessel for receiving and delivering fresh from the mobile delivery vehicle, and further comprising a second spent storage vessel for receiving, storing, and delivering spent to the mobile delivery vehicle;

a contamination storage vessel, an intermediate spent storage vessel wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel is disposed in the communicable connection between the spent removal apparatus and the spent storage vessel, wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel further includes a controllable communicable connection for selective transfer of spent from the intermediate storage vessel to the contamination storage vessel or the spent storage vessel; and

,

wherein the fresh transferring means and spent transferring means are controlled so as to load fresh onto and remove spent from the user on a substantially equal exchange basis.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile delivery vehicle further comprises:

mobile delivery means for transporting fresh, spent, carrier, product, and combinations thereof to the second user,

means for separating spent and fresh with the first user and the second user; and

means for delivering exchanged spent to a rehabilitation facility.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for separating fresh from spent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

fixed dividers;

movable dividers;

a bladder;

chemical separation of fresh and spent based upon inherent or modified properties of each;

physical separation of fresh and spent based upon inherent or modified physical properties of each; and

a plurality of dedicated compartments for each of fresh and spent.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the system further includes means for delivering spent to a rehabilitation facility.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the means for delivering spent to a rehabilitation facility comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

a direct connection to a rehabilitation facility;

a spent dispensing apparatus capable of connection to a mobile rehabilitation facility; and

a spent dispensing apparatus capable of connection to a mobile storage vessel for transport to a remote rehabilitation facility.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for detecting at least one chemical or physical property of fresh, product, spent, carrier, or any combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the detecting means comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

viscometers, conductivity and density measuring devices, chemical analyzers, gas analyzers, chromatographs, ultraviolet/visible sensors (UV/Vis), light and infrared light (IR) sensors, microwave sensors, and combinations thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the product comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, oxygen, arsine, stibine, phosgene, methane, hydrogen fluoride, gases containing boron, phosphorus, aluminum, or silicon components, and combinations thereof.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the carrier comprises at least one ionic liquid.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the product comprises hydrogen, wherein the carrier comprises at least one dehydrogenated organic chemical, wherein fresh comprises at least one hydrogenated derivative of the organic chemical, and wherein spent comprises at least one at least partially dehydrogenated derivative of the fresh.

11. A system for distributing a product releasably incorporated within a carrier to a user, and for recovering spent from the user, the system comprising:

a mobile delivery vehicle, the vehicle comprising a first storage vessel for receiving and storing fresh from a fresh delivery means, and for receiving and storing spent from a spent delivery means, the storage vessel including means for separating fresh from spent;

a first user, the first user comprising a fresh storage vessel for receiving, storing, and delivering fresh, and further comprising a first spent storage vessel for receiving, storing, and delivering spent;

a fresh transferring means for linking the first storage vessel and the fresh storage vessel of the first user for transferring fresh to the first user;

a spent transferring means for linking the first storage vessel and the spent storage vessel of the first user for transferring fresh from the first user; and

a rehabilitation facility for receiving spent from the mobile delivery vehicle and rehabilitating spent to form fresh;

a second user, the second user comprising a second fresh storage vessel for receiving and delivering fresh from the mobile delivery vehicle, and further comprising a second spent storage vessel for receiving, storing, and delivering spent to the mobile delivery vehicle; and

,

a contamination storage vessel, an intermediate spent storage vessel wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel is disposed in the communicable connection between the spent removal apparatus and the spent storage vessel, wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel further includes a controllable communicable connection for selective transfer of spent from the intermediate storage vessel to the contamination storage vessel or the spent storage vessel.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising means for detecting at least one chemical or physical property of fresh, product, spent, carrier, or any combination thereof.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the detecting means comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

viscometers, conductivity and density measuring devices, chemical analyzers, gas analyzers, chromatographs, ultraviolet/visible sensors (UV/Vis), light and infrared light (IR) sensors, microwave sensors, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility, and laser technology, and combinations thereof.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the product comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, the spent comprises at least one dehydrogenated organic chemical, and wherein the means for rehabilitating spent into fresh comprise hydrogenation means for hydrogenating the spent to form fresh.

15. A system for distributing a product releasably incorporated within a carrier to a user, and for recovering spent from a user, the system comprising:

a mobile delivery vehicle, the vehicle comprising a first storage vessel for receiving and storing fresh from a fresh delivery means, and for receiving and storing spent from a spent delivery means, the storage vessel comprises means for separating fresh from spent;

a first user, the first user comprising a user storage vessel for receiving, storing, and delivering fresh, and for receiving, storing, and delivering of spent wherein the user storage vessel comprises means for separating fresh from spent;

a fresh transferring means for linking the first storage vessel and the user storage vessel of the first user for transferring fresh to the first user; and

a spent transferring means for linking the first storage vessel and the user storage vessel of the first user for transferring spent from the first user; and

,

a contamination storage vessel, an intermediate spent storage vessel wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel is disposed in the communicable connection between a spent removal apparatus and a spent storage vessel, wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel further includes a controllable communicable connection for selective transfer of spent from the intermediate storage vessel to the contamination storage vessel or the spent storage vessel.

16. A system for distributing a product releasably incorporated within a carrier to a user, and for recovering spent from a user, the system comprising:

a mobile delivery vehicle, the vehicle comprising a first storage vessel for receiving and storing fresh from a fresh delivery means, and for receiving and storing spent from a spent delivery means, wherein storage vessel comprises means for separating fresh from spent;

a first user, the first user comprising a user storage vessel for receiving, storing, and delivering fresh, and for receiving, storing, and delivering spent;

wherein the user storage vessel comprises means for separating fresh from spent;

a transferring means for linking the first storage vessel and the user storage vessel for transferring fresh to the first user, and for transferring spent from the first user; and

,

a contamination storage vessel, an intermediate spent storage vessel wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel is disposed in the communicable connection between the spent removal apparatus and the spent storage vessel, wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel further includes a controllable communicable connection for selective transfer of spent from the intermediate storage vessel to the contamination storage vessel or the spent storage vessel.