LH2 offloading with auto-purge and pre-cooling
AssigneeFirstElement Fuel, Inc.
InventorsGhassan Sleiman, Tim Brown
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer-controlled method of automatically purging and precooling a hydrogen fuel line prior to transferring hydrogen fuel from a source to a storage tank includes purging moisture from a hydrogen fuel line. The hydrogen fuel line is configured to fluidically couple a hydrogen tanker storage tank and a fueling station storage tank, the hydrogen storage tanker storage tank and the fueling station storage tank configured to store liquid hydrogen. The method also includes pre-cooling the hydrogen fuel line, causing hydrogen fuel to flow through the hydrogen fuel line to re-fill the fueling station storage tank, and expelling residual hydrogen fuel from the hydrogen fuel line when the fueling station storage tank re-filling is complete.
Claims20
A system configured to automatically purge and precool a hydrogen fuel line prior to transfer of hydrogen fuel from a source to a storage tank, comprising:
- a hydrogen fuel line configured to fluidically couple a hydrogen tanker storage tank and a fueling station storage tank, the hydrogen storage tanker storage tank and the fueling station storage tank configured to store liquid hydrogen;
- an input valve configured to control the flow of hydrogen fuel to the fueling station storage tank;
- a station vent coupled to the hydrogen fuel line;
- a station vent control valve configured to control the flow of hydrogen fuel to the station vent;
- a memory storing computer-executable instructions;
- and
- a controller in communication with the memory and configured to execute the instructions to configure the controller to:
- purge moisture from the hydrogen fuel line;
- pre-cool the hydrogen fuel line;
- cause hydrogen fuel to flow through the hydrogen fuel line to re-fill the station storage tank;
- and
- expel residual hydrogen fuel from the hydrogen fuel line when the station storage tank re-filling is complete.
A system configured to automatically purge a hydrogen fuel line, comprising:
- a hydrogen fuel line configured to fluidically couple a hydrogen tanker storage tank and a fueling station storage tank, the hydrogen storage tanker storage tank and the fueling station storage tank configured to store liquid hydrogen;
- an input valve configured to control the flow of hydrogen fuel to the fueling station storage tank;
- a station vent coupled to the hydrogen fuel line;
- a station vent control valve configured to control the flow of hydrogen fuel to the station vent;
- a memory storing computer-executable instructions;
- and
- a controller in communication with the memory and configured to execute the instructions to configure the controller to:
- send a control signal to a hydrogen tanker to cause a hydrogen tanker storage tank control valve to close and prevent hydrogen fuel from flowing into the hydrogen fuel line;
- close the input valve to prevent hydrogen fuel from flowing to and from the fueling station storage tank;
- open a warm hydrogen source valve to allow warm hydrogen fuel to flow from a warm hydrogen source to the hydrogen fuel line;
- open the station vent control valve to allow the warm hydrogen fuel to flow out of the station vent;
- and
- close the station vent control valve in response to a purge condition.
A system configured to automatically pre-cool a hydrogen fuel line, comprising:
- a hydrogen fuel line configured to fluidically couple a hydrogen tanker storage tank and a fueling station storage tank, the hydrogen storage tanker storage tank and the fueling station storage tank configured to store liquid hydrogen;
- an input valve configured to control the flow of hydrogen fuel to the fueling station storage tank;
- a station vent coupled to the hydrogen fuel line;
- a station vent control valve configured to control the flow of hydrogen fuel to the station vent;
- a memory storing computer-executable instructions;
- and
- a controller in communication with the memory and configured to execute the instructions to configure the controller to:
- send a control signal to a hydrogen tanker to cause a hydrogen tanker storage tank control valve to open and allow hydrogen fuel to flow into the hydrogen fuel line;
- close the input valve to prevent hydrogen fuel from flowing into and out of the fueling station storage tank;
- open the station vent control valve to allow cold hydrogen fuel to flow from the hydrogen fuel line to the station vent;
- receive a temperature measurement from temperature sensor;
- and
- close the station vent control valve when the temperature measurement reaches a predetermined level.
A computer-controlled method of automatically purging and precooling a hydrogen fuel line prior to transferring hydrogen fuel from a source to a storage tank, comprising:
- purging moisture from a hydrogen fuel line, wherein the hydrogen fuel line is configured to fluidically couple a hydrogen tanker storage tank and a fueling station storage tank, the hydrogen storage tanker storage tank and the fueling station storage tank configured to store liquid hydrogen;
- pre-cooling the hydrogen fuel line;
- causing hydrogen fuel to flow through the hydrogen fuel line to re-fill the fueling station storage tank;
- and
- expelling residual hydrogen fuel from the hydrogen fuel line when the fueling station storage tank re-filling is complete.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.