Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture to produce cryo-compressed hydrogen
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorConstantinos Minas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture to produce cryo-compressed hydrogen are disclosed. An example cryo-compressed hydrogen production system includes a compressor to compress an input of hydrogen, at least one heat exchanger to cool the hydrogen, and a conduit to convey the hydrogen at least partially to a storage tank for storage at a temperature less than or equal to a first threshold and greater than a second threshold, the first threshold defined by an upper temperature limit for cryo-compressed hydrogen, the second threshold defined by a hydrogen liquefaction temperature.
Claims20
A cryo-compressed hydrogen production system comprising:
- a compressor to compress an input of hydrogen;
- at least one heat exchanger to cool the hydrogen;
- a conduit to convey the hydrogen at least partially to a storage tank for storage at a temperature less than or equal to a first threshold and greater than a second threshold, the first threshold defined by an upper temperature limit for cryo-compressed hydrogen, the second threshold defined by a hydrogen liquefaction temperature;
- a buffer tank operatively coupled to the conduit between the compressor and the at least one heat exchanger;
- a valve operatively coupled to the conduit between the buffer tank and the at least one heat exchanger;
- and
- processor circuitry configured to cause the valve to block the hydrogen from flowing to the at least one heat exchanger in response to a pressure of the hydrogen in the buffer tank not satisfying a pressure threshold.
A method comprising:
- compressing hydrogen;
- cooling the hydrogen to a temperature between a first threshold and a second threshold, the first threshold defined by an upper temperature limit for cryo-compressed hydrogen, the second threshold defined by a hydrogen liquefaction temperature;
- and
- transporting the hydrogen for storage at the temperature, including:
- directing the hydrogen through a first conduit to cause the temperature to be a first temperature;
- and
- directing the hydrogen through a second conduit to cause the temperature to be a second temperature greater than the first temperature.
An apparatus comprising:
- means for compressing hydrogen;
- means for cooling the hydrogen to a temperature between a first threshold and a second threshold, the first threshold defined by an upper temperature limit for cryo-compressed hydrogen;
- means for transporting the hydrogen at least partially to a storage vessel for storage at the temperature;
- and
- means for directing the hydrogen through a first portion of the means for transporting or a second portion of the means for transporting, wherein directing the hydrogen through the first portion of the means for transporting causes the hydrogen to encounter a portion of the means for cooling to cause the temperature to be a first temperature, wherein directing the hydrogen through the second portion of the means for transporting causes the hydrogen to avoid the portion of the means for cooling to cause the temperature to be a second temperature greater than the first temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.