Fuel dispensing system and method

• US 7,171,989 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plug Power Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cellex Power Products, Inc. (Plug Power Inc.)
• Inventors: Buckley, Noel Christopher, Elliott, Darrin Grant, Lawrence, Carolyn A., Corless, Adrian James, Pfeil, David Reinhold
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US10/699,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20050092388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 141/2, 141/18, 141/59, 141/94, 141/95, 141/98, 141/192, 141/198, 141346-350, 141/97, 123/198.D
• US Class Current: 141/2
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3209 relating to spillage or leakage, e.g. spill containments, leak detection leak detectors for underground fuel dispensing systems G01M3/2892
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3236 relating to electrostatic charges

Abstract

This application relates to a fuel dispensing system and method for safely regulating transfer of fuel between a fuel dispenser and a fuel recipient. The fuel dispensing system may be used, for example, to replenish electric vehicles that use refillable electro-chemical power generation systems, such as fuel cell hybrid systems using hydrogen fuel. The system employs a combination of interlocks and other safety features specifically adapted for high-risk indoor environments. Fueling cannot commence until the dispenser and the recipient are electrically bonded to minimize the risk of spark generation. The system may include, for example, a fuel supply subsystem for preventing fuel flow except during a fueling session, an immobilization subsystem for preventing relative movement of the dispenser and the recipient during a fueling session, a communication subsystem for enabling data exchange between the dispenser and the recipient, and a leak detection subsystem for monitoring the fueling site for fuel leaks. In order to minimize or negate the risk that hazardous and/or flammable products could be exposed to the atmosphere during a fueling session, the system ensures that fueling cannot commence until multiple safety criteria are satisfied.

Claims

1. A method of regulating dispensing of fuel from a fuel dispenser having a fuel nozzle to a fuel recipient having a fuel receptacle, at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile, said method comprising:

(a) establishing an electrical bond between said dispenser and said recipient;

(b) immobilizing said at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile to prevent relative motion of said dispenser and said recipient;

(c) coupling said nozzle to said recipient at a location in fluid communication with said receptacle;

(d) dispensing fuel from said dispenser through said nozzle into said receptacle during a fueling period until a fuel shut-off condition arises; and

(e) sensing for the presence of said fuel in the vicinity of said recipient during said fueling period at locations external of said receptacle.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising establishing a communication link between said dispenser and said recipient.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, further comprising transmitting a signal from said recipient to said dispenser via said communication link verifying that said recipient is immobilized.

4. The method as defined in claim 2, further comprising transmitting a signal from said recipient to said dispenser via said communication link verifying that said nozzle is coupled to said receptacle.

5. The method as defined in claim 2, further comprising transmitting a signal via said communication link verifying that said electrical bond between said dispenser and said recipient has been established.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said shut-off condition arises when the concentration of said fuel external of said receptacle exceeds a threshold amount.

7. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein said threshold amount is predetermined.

8. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein said fuel is hydrogen.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said shut-off condition arises when said electrical bond between said dispenser and said recipient is disrupted.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said shut-off condition arises when said nozzle is decoupled from said receptacle.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising monitoring the amount of fuel contained within said receptacle.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said shut-off condition arises when the amount of fuel within said receptacle exceeds a threshold amount.

13. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said shut-off condition arises after said fuel has been flowing into said receptacle for a predetermined period of time.

14. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said recipient is an electrical vehicle having a motor.

15. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein said immobilizing comprises disabling power to said motor.

16. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said establishing an electrical bond between said dispenser and said recipient comprises coupling an electrical ground cable therebetween.

17. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said recipient is an electrical vehicle having a fuel cell power supply system.

18. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein said electrical vehicle is a non-road lift vehicle.

19. The method as defined in claim 1, herein said nozzle is lockably coupled to said receptacle during said fueling period.

20. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein, after said shut-off condition arises, said method further comprises:

(a) electrically disconnecting said dispenser and said recipient;

(b) decoupling said nozzle from said receptacle; and

(c) enabling mobilization of said at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile.

21. The method as defined in claim 20, wherein said recipient is an electric vehicle having a motor and wherein the step of enabling mobilization of said at least one of said dispenser and said recipient comprises providing power to said motor.

22. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said dispenser comprises a fuel supply, a fuel supply conduit extending between said fuel supply and said nozzle and a control valve for regulating flow of fuel through said fuel supply line, wherein said control valve is closed when said fuel shut-off condition arises.

23. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said dispenser comprises a fuel supply, a fuel supply conduit extending between said fuel supply and said nozzle and a pump for pumping fuel through said fuel supply line, wherein said pump is disabled when said fuel shut-off condition arises.

24. A method of regulating dispensing of fuel from a fuel dispenser having a fuel nozzle to a fuel recipient having a fuel receptacle, at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile, said method comprising:

(a) establishing an electrical bond between said dispenser and said recipient;

(b) immobilizing said at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile to prevent relative motion of said dispenser and said recipient;

(c) coupling said nozzle to said recipient at a location in fluid communication with said receptacle; and

(d) dispensing fuel from said dispenser through said nozzle into said receptacle during a fueling period until a fuel shut-off condition arises,

wherein said shut-off condition arises when said nozzle is decoupled from said receptacle.

25. A method of regulating dispensing of fuel from a fuel dispenser having a fuel nozzle to a fuel recipient having a fuel receptacle, at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile, said method comprising:

(a) establishing an electrical bond between said dispenser and said recipient;

(b) immobilizing said at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile to prevent relative motion of said dispenser and said recipient;

(c) coupling said nozzle to said recipient at a location in fluid communication with said receptacle; and

(d) dispensing fuel from said dispenser through said nozzle into said receptacle during a fueling period until a fuel shut-off condition arises,

wherein said shut-off condition arises after said fuel has been flowing into said receptacle for a predetermined period of time.

26. A method of regulating dispensing of fuel from a fuel dispenser having a fuel nozzle to a fuel recipient having a fuel receptacle, at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile, said method comprising:

(a) establishing a communication link between said dispenser and said recipient;

(b) establishing an electrical bond between said dispenser and said recipient;

(c) immobilizing said at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile to prevent relative motion of said dispenser and said recipient;

(d) transmitting a signal from said recipient to said dispenser via said communication link verifying that said recipient is immobilized;

(e) coupling said nozzle to said recipient at a location in fluid communication with said receptacle; and

(f) dispensing fuel from said dispenser through said nozzle into said receptacle during a fueling period until a fuel shut-off condition arises.

27. A method of regulating dispensing of fuel from a fuel dispenser having a fuel nozzle to a fuel recipient having a fuel receptacle, at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile, said method comprising:

(a) establishing a communication link between said dispenser and said recipient;

(b) establishing an electrical bond between said dispenser and said recipient;

(c) immobilizing said at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile to prevent relative motion of said dispenser and said recipient;

(d) coupling said nozzle to said recipient at a location in fluid communication with said receptacle;

(e) transmitting a signal from said recipient to said dispenser via said communication link verifying that said nozzle is coupled to said receptacle; and

(f) dispensing fuel from said dispenser through said nozzle into said receptacle during a fueling period until a fuel shut-off condition arises.

28. A method of regulating dispensing of fuel from a fuel dispenser having a fuel nozzle to a fuel recipient having a fuel receptacle, at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile, said method comprising:

(a) establishing a communication link between said dispenser and said recipient;

(b) establishing an electrical bond between said dispenser and said recipient;

(c) transmitting a signal via said communication link verifying that said electrical bond between said dispenser and said recipient has been established,

(d) immobilizing said at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile to prevent relative motion of said dispenser and said recipient;

(e) coupling said nozzle to said recipient at a location in fluid communication with said receptacle; and

(f) dispensing fuel from said dispenser through said nozzle into said receptacle during a fueling period until a fuel shut-off condition arises.

29. A method of regulating dispensing of fuel from a fuel dispenser having a fuel nozzle to a fuel recipient having a fuel receptacle, at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile, said method comprising:

(a) establishing an electrical bond between said dispenser and said recipient;

(b) immobilizing said at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile to prevent relative motion of said dispenser and said recipient;

(c) coupling said nozzle to said recipient at a location in fluid communication with said receptacle; and

(d) dispensing fuel from said dispenser through said nozzle into said receptacle during a fueling period until a fuel shut-off condition arises,

wherein said establishing an electrical bond between said dispenser and said recipient comprises coupling an electrical ground cable therebetween.

30. A method of regulating dispensing of fuel from a fuel dispenser having a fuel nozzle to a fuel recipient having a fuel receptacle, at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile, said method comprising:

(a) establishing an electrical bond between said dispenser and said recipient;

(b) immobilizing said at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile to prevent relative motion of said dispenser and said recipient;

(c) coupling said nozzle to said recipient at a location in fluid communication with said receptacle; and

(d) dispensing fuel from said dispenser through said nozzle into said receptacle during a fueling period until a fuel shut-off condition arises,

wherein said recipient is an electrical vehicle having a fuel cell power supply system.

31. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein said electrical vehicle is a non-road lift vehicle.

32. A method of regulating dispensing of fuel from a fuel dispenser having a fuel nozzle to a fuel recipient having a fuel receptacle, at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile, said method comprising:

(a) establishing an electrical bond between said dispenser and said recipient;

(b) immobilizing said at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile to prevent relative motion of said dispenser and said recipient;

(c) coupling said nozzle to said recipient at a location in fluid communication with said receptacle; and

(d) dispensing fuel from said dispenser through said nozzle into said receptacle during a fueling period until a fuel shut-off condition arises,

wherein said nozzle is lockably coupled to said receptacle during said fueling period.

33. A method of regulating dispensing of fuel from a fuel dispenser having a fuel nozzle to a fuel recipient having a fuel receptacle, at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile, said method comprising:

(a) establishing an electrical bond between said dispenser and said recipient;

(b) immobilizing said at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile to prevent relative motion of said dispenser and said recipient;

(c) coupling said nozzle to said recipient at a location in fluid communication with said receptacle; and

(d) dispensing fuel from said dispenser through said nozzle into said receptacle during a fueling period until a fuel shut-off condition arises,

wherein, after said shut-off condition arises, said method further comprises;

(e) electrically disconnecting said dispenser and said recipient;

(f) decoupling said nozzle from said receptacle; and

(g) enabling mobilization of said at least one of said dispenser and said recipient being ordinarily mobile.

34. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein said recipient is an electric vehicle having a motor and wherein the step of enabling mobilization of said at least one of said dispenser and said recipient comprises providing power to said motor.