Method and system of supply and delivery of product contained in a carrier

• US 7,784,502 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: Mattiola, Paul Anthony, Campbell, Karen M., Miller, Derek, Joseph, Thomas, Gershtein, Vladimir Yliy
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson; Gregory L
• Assistant Examiner(s): NIESZ, JASON KAROL
• Application Number:
  US11/398,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20060226050A1
• 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 for supply and delivery of a product incorporated into a carrier are provided. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a system that comprises a fresh storage vessel for receiving and storing fresh. The system further includes a fresh transferring apparatus communicably linked to the fresh storage vessel for transferring of fresh to a user when the user is connected to the transferring apparatus. The system further includes a spent storage vessel for receiving and storing spent (spent being defined as fresh with at least some product and/or product element removed therefrom), and a spent transferring apparatus communicably linked to the spent storage vessel for transferring spent from a user when the user is connected to the transferring apparatus. Optionally, the system further includes of an intermediate spent storage vessel disposed in the communicable connection between the spent transferring apparatus and the spent storage vessel. The intermediate spent storage vessel optionally includes a controllable communicable connection for selective transfer of spent from the intermediate storage vessel to a contamination storage vessel or the spent storage vessel. The carrier may be in any physical state or any combination thereof. In addition, the carrier may involve any known mechanism to capture, retain, or release product, for example, chemical reaction, adsorption, dilution, among others.

Claims

1. A system for distributing a product releasably incorporated within a carrier, the system comprising:

a fresh storage vessel for receiving and storing fresh wherein the fresh comprises at least one product;

a means for transferring fresh that is communicably linked to the fresh storage vessel for transferring fresh to a user when the user is connected to the fresh transferring means;

a spent storage vessel for receiving and storing spent;

a means for transferring spent that is communicably linked to the spent storage vessel for transferring spent from a user when the user is connected to the spent transferring means a contamination storage vessel;

a means for analyzing spent for contamination; and

an intermediate spent storage vessel wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel is disposed in communicable connection between the spent transferring means and the spent storage vessel, wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel further includes a controllable communicable connection for selective transfer of contaminated spent from the intermediate storage vessel to the contamination storage vessel and uncontaminated spent to the spent storage vessel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a filling station for a vehicle that utilizes the product as a fuel source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the fresh transferring means and spent transferring means are controlled so as to operate to load fresh onto and remove spent from a user on a substantially equal exchange basis.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the spent storage vessel 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 comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

i) a direct connection to an on-site rehabilitation facility;

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

iii) 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, wherein the means for analyzing spent comprises 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, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility, and laser technology.

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 partially dehydrogenated derivative of the fresh.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said vessels comprise means for separating fresh from spent and comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

fixed dividers within the user storage vessel;

movable dividers within the user storage vessel;

a bladder within the user storage vessel;

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.

12. A system for distributing a product releasably incorporated within a carrier, the system comprising:

a fresh storage vessel for receiving and storing fresh wherein fresh comprises at least one product;

an apparatus for transferring fresh that is communicably linked to the fresh storage vessel for transferring fresh to a user when the user is connected to the fresh transferring apparatus;

a spent storage vessel for receiving, storing, and transferring spent;

an apparatus for transferring spent removal that is communicably linked to the spent storage vessel for transferring spent from a user when the user is connected to the spent transferring apparatus a contamination storage vessel;

a means for analyzing spent for contamination;

an intermediate spent storage vessel wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel is disposed in communicable connection between the spent transferring means and the spent storage vessel, wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel further includes a controllable communicable connection for selective transfer of contaminated spent from the intermediate storage vessel to the contamination storage vessel and uncontaminated spent to the spent storage vessel; and

an on-site rehabilitation system comprising means for receiving uncontaminated spent from the spent storage vessel, and further including means for rehabilitating spent into fresh.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for analyzing spent comprises means for detecting at least one chemical or physical property of fresh, product, spent, carrier, or any combination thereof.

14. The system of claim 13, 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.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for rehabilitating spent into fresh comprises regeneration means, product manufacture means, carrier manufacture means, recycling means, purification means, analysis means, testing means, and combinations thereof.

16. A method of distributing a product releasably incorporated within a carrier, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a fresh storage vessel for receiving, storing, and transferring fresh wherein the fresh comprises at least one product,

providing a fresh transferring means linked to the fresh storage vessel for transferring fresh to a user when the user is connected to the transferring means;

providing a spent storage vessel for receiving, storing, and transferring of spent;

providing a spent transferring means linked to the spent storage vessel for transferring spent from a user when the user is connected to the transferring means;

connecting a user to either of the fresh transferring means or the spent transferring means providing a contamination storage vessel;

analyzing spent for contamination; and

,

providing an intermediate spent storage vessel wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel is disposed in communicable connection between the spent transferring means and the spent storage vessel, wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel further includes a controllable communicable connection for selective transfer of contaminated spent from the intermediate storage vessel to the contamination storage vessel and uncontaminated spent to the spent storage vessel.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of connecting a user to either of the fresh transferring means or the spent transferring means comprises connecting the user to both the fresh transferring means and the spent transferring means, and further comprises transferring fresh to the user and transferring spent from the user.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of connecting a user to either of the fresh transferring means or the spent transferring means comprises connecting the user to the spent transferring means, and further comprises transferring spent from the user.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of connecting a user to either of the fresh transferring means or the spent transferring means comprises connecting the user to the fresh transferring means, and further comprises transferring fresh to the user.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of analyzing comprises the step of detecting at least one chemical or physical property of fresh, spent, product, carrier, and combinations thereof.

21. A system for distributing a product releasably incorporated within a carrier, the system comprising:

a rehabilitation facility; and

a user, the user comprising;

a fresh storage vessel for receiving and storing fresh from the rehabilitation facility, fresh being the carrier containing the product;

means for removing product from fresh to form spent;

a spent storage vessel for receiving and storing of spent,

a spent delivery apparatus communicably linked to the spent storage vessel for returning spent to the rehabilitation facility a contamination storage vessel;

a means for analyzing spent for contamination; and

,

an intermediate spent storage vessel wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel is disposed in communicable connection between the spent transferring means and the spent storage vessel, wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel further includes a controllable communicable connection for selective transfer of contaminated spent from the intermediate storage vessel to the contamination storage vessel and uncontaminated spent to the spent storage vessel.

22. A system for distributing a product releasably incorporated within a carrier, the system comprising:

a fresh storage vessel for receiving and storing fresh wherein the fresh comprises at least one product;

a spent storage vessel for receiving and storing spent;

a means for transferring fresh to the user and transferring spent from the user a contamination storage vessel;

a means for analyzing spent for contamination; and

,

an intermediate spent storage vessel wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel is disposed in communicable connection between the spent transferring means and the spent storage vessel, wherein the intermediate spent storage vessel further includes a controllable communicable connection for selective transfer of contaminated spent from the intermediate storage vessel to the contamination storage vessel and uncontaminated spent to the spent storage vessel.