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US 12,723,715 B2Granted
Hydrogen fuel storage and delivery method to power aircraft
AssigneeGreen Grid Inc.
InventorsChinmoy Prosun Saha, Jeffrey Scott Pickles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel delivery and storage method is provided. A further aspect employs a remote central controller and/or software instructions which receive sensor data from stationary and bulk fuel storage tanks, portable distribution tanks, and end use tanks. Another aspect of the present system senses and transmits tank or hydrogen fuel characteristics including temperature, pressure, filled volume, contaminants, refilling cycle life and environmental hazards. Still another aspect includes a group of hydrogen fuel tanks which is pre-assembled with sensor, valve, microprocessor and transmitter components, at least some of which are within an insulator.
Claims33
A method of distributing hydrogen fuel comprising:
- (a) automatically sensing characteristics associated with a portable distribution hydrogen storage tank carried by a distribution vehicle;
- (b) automatically sensing characteristics associated with a stationary end use hydrogen storage tank;
- (c) receiving real-time signals by a programmable controller based on the sensed characteristics;
- (d) using the controller to automatically change a condition of a valve coupled to at least one of the tanks, based on at least one of the sensed characteristics;
- (e) the controller receiving data pertaining to usage, storage and capacity of the hydrogen fuel in the distribution and end use tanks, which the controller automatically uses to schedule future distribution of additional hydrogen fuel;
- and
- (f) using the hydrogen fuel from the end use tank, which is stationary, to provide temporary electrical power from a ground-based generator to an aircraft while the aircraft waits.
4 more elements
A method of distributing hydrogen fuel comprising:
- (a) automatically sensing characteristics associated with a portable distribution hydrogen storage tank carried by a distribution vehicle;
- (b) automatically sensing characteristics associated with a stationary end use hydrogen storage tank;
- (c) receiving real-time signals by a programmable controller based on the sensed characteristics;
- (d) using the controller to automatically change a condition of a valve coupled to at least one of the tanks, based on at least one of the sensed characteristics;
- (e) the controller receiving data pertaining to usage, storage and capacity of the hydrogen fuel in the distribution and end use tanks, which the controller automatically uses to schedule future distribution of additional hydrogen fuel;
- (f) using the hydrogen fuel from the end use tank to provide temporary electrical power to an aircraft while it waits;
- and
- (g) sending a signal from a hydrometer sensor coupled to at least one of the tanks, to the controller.
5 more elements
A method of distributing hydrogen fuel comprising:
- (a) automatically sensing characteristics associated with a portable distribution hydrogen storage tank carried by a distribution vehicle;
- (b) automatically sensing characteristics associated with a stationary end use hydrogen storage tank;
- (c) receiving real-time signals by a programmable controller based on the sensed characteristics;
- (d) using the controller to automatically change a condition of a valve coupled to at least one of the tanks, based on at least one of the sensed characteristics;
- (e) the controller receiving data pertaining to usage, storage and capacity of the hydrogen fuel in the distribution and end use tanks, which the controller automatically uses to schedule future distribution of additional hydrogen fuel;
- (f) using the hydrogen fuel from the end use tank to provide temporary electrical power to an aircraft while it waits;
- and
- (g) sending a sensed signal of at least one of:
- altitude, tilt angle, speed or G-forces, of the distribution tank, to the controller.
6 more elements
A method of distributing hydrogen fuel comprising:
- (a) automatically sensing characteristics associated with portable distribution hydrogen storage tanks carried by distribution vehicles;
- (b) automatically sensing characteristics associated with stationary end use hydrogen storage tanks;
- (c) receiving signals by at least one programmable controller based on the sensed characteristics;
- (d) the at least one controller receiving data pertaining to usage, storage and capacity of the hydrogen fuel in the distribution and end use tanks, which the controller automatically uses to schedule future distribution of additional hydrogen fuel;
- (e) connecting the aircraft to a ground power unit comprising an electricity generator or a fuel cell generator on a cart or trailer;
- (f) providing the hydrogen fuel from at least one of the end use tanks to a fuel cell or an electricity generator of the ground power unit;
- (g) providing temporary electrical power to an aircraft while it waits, adjacent to a boarding gate, from the generator;
- and
- (h) using software instructions stored in non-transient memory and operating in the at least one controller, the software instructions comprising:
- instructions receiving real-time sensed tank and fuel data regarding the portable distribution hydrogen storage tanks;
- instructions receiving real-time sensed tank, fuel and environmental data regarding the end use tanks;
- instructions automatically determining a filled quantity of the fuel within each of the distribution and end use tanks;
- and
- instructions automatically causing at least one of the distribution tanks to refill at least one of the end use tanks.
11 more elements
A method of distributing hydrogen fuel comprising:
- (a) automatically sensing characteristics associated with portable distribution hydrogen storage tanks carried by distribution vehicles;
- (b) automatically sensing characteristics associated with stationary end use hydrogen storage tanks;
- (c) receiving signals by at least one programmable controller based on the sensed characteristics;
- (d) the at least one controller receiving data pertaining to usage, storage and capacity of the hydrogen fuel in the distribution and end use tanks, which the controller automatically uses to schedule future distribution of additional hydrogen fuel;
- (e) connecting the aircraft to a ground power unit comprising an electricity generator or a fuel cell generator on a cart or trailer;
- (f) providing the hydrogen fuel from at least one of the end use tanks to a fuel cell or an electricity generator;
- and
- (g) providing temporary electrical power to an aircraft while it waits, from the generator;
- and
- (h) sending a sensed signal of at least one of:
- altitude, tilt angle, speed or G-forces, of the distribution tank, to the at least one controller.
8 more elements
Aircraft hydrogen fuel storage and delivery software, stored in non-transient memory, comprising:
- (a) instructions receiving real-time sensed tank, hydrogen fuel and environmental data regarding stationary bulk hydrogen storage tanks;
- (b) instructions receiving real-time sensed tank, hydrogen fuel and positioning data regarding portable distribution hydrogen storage tanks;
- (c) instructions receiving real-time sensed tank, hydrogen fuel and environmental data regarding stationary end use hydrogen storage tanks;
- (d) instructions automatically determining a filled quantity of the hydrogen fuel within each of the distribution tanks and each of the end use storage tanks;
- (e) instructions automatically causing at least one of the distribution tanks to be refilled from at least one of the bulk storage tanks;
- (f) instructions automatically causing at least one of the distribution tanks to refill at least one of the end use storage tanks;
- (g) instructions automatically sending a signal to a remote controller if an environmental hazard is sensed;
- (h) instructions automatically changing a characteristic associated with at least one of the storage tanks or hydrogen fuel therein based on at least some of the sensed data received;
- (i) a set of instructions causing the hydrogen fuel to be used from at least one of the end use tanks to provide temporary electrical power to an aircraft while on the ground;
- (j) instructions comparing actual hydrogen fuel consumption and tank refill data to desired thresholds;
- and
- (k) instructions automatically predictively modeling at least one of:
- new production facilities, new production locations, new production capacities, or new distribution depot locations for at least some of the distribution tanks.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.