Method of compressing hydrogen gas, hydrogen gas compressor system and hydrogen gas storage unit
AssigneeCatagen Limited
InventorsRoy Douglas, Andrew Woods, Matthew Elliot
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The hydrogen gas compressor system (104, 108, 112) comprises a hydrogen gas storage unit (502) that defines an internal volume for storing hydrogen gas. An operating fluid delivery means (514) such as a pump delivers an operating fluid to the hydrogen gas storage unit (502). This causes the pressure of the hydrogen gas contained within the hydrogen gas storage unit (502) to increase. A coolant fluid delivery means (524) such as a pump delivers a coolant fluid to the hydrogen gas storage unit to absorb heat from the hydrogen gas.
Claims23
A method of delivering hydrogen gas in a hydrogen gas delivery system, said delivery system being a system for delivering hydrogen gas from a hydrogen gas production site to an end consumer, wherein the method of delivering hydrogen gas in a hydrogen gas delivery system comprises:
- compressing hydrogen gas in a hydrogen gas compressor system, wherein compressing hydrogen gas in a hydrogen gas compressor system comprises:
- delivering an operating fluid into the internal volume of a hydrogen gas storage unit of the hydrogen gas compressor system to increase the pressure of hydrogen gas contained within the hydrogen gas storage unit;
- and
- delivering a coolant fluid to the internal volume of the hydrogen gas storage unit to absorb heat from the hydrogen gas, wherein the coolant fluid flows through a coolant fluid circuit of a heat exchanger integrated into the hydrogen gas storage unit, said coolant fluid circuit traversing through the internal volume of the hydrogen gas storage unit;
- wherein the method of delivering hydrogen gas in a hydrogen gas delivery system comprises dispensing the compressed hydrogen gas, wherein dispensing the compressed hydrogen gas comprises:
- withdrawing the compressed hydrogen gas from a gas outlet of the hydrogen gas storage unit;
- and delivering the operating fluid to the internal volume of the hydrogen gas storage unit in response to the compressed hydrogen gas being withdrawn from the hydrogen gas storage unit so as to increase or sustain the pressure of the remaining hydrogen gas contained within the hydrogen gas storage unit;
- and wherein the operating fluid acts as a liquid piston.
A hydrogen gas compressor system for compressing and dispensing hydrogen gas, wherein the hydrogen gas compressor system comprises:
- a hydrogen gas storage unit defining an internal volume for storing hydrogen gas, wherein the hydrogen gas storage unit comprises:
- an operating fluid inlet via which an operating fluid is delivered to the internal volume of the hydrogen gas storage unit to act as a liquid piston, an operating fluid outlet via which the operating fluid is withdrawn from the hydrogen gas storage unit, a gas inlet via which hydrogen gas is delivered to the internal volume of the hydrogen gas storage unit, a gas outlet via which hydrogen gas is withdrawn from the hydrogen gas storage unit, and a heat exchanger integrated into the hydrogen gas storage unit, said heat exchanger comprising a coolant fluid circuit traversing through the internal volume and via which a coolant fluid flows to absorb heat from the hydrogen gas;
- an operating fluid delivery means for delivering the operating fluid into the internal volume of the hydrogen gas storage unit via the operating fluid inlet, wherein the operating fluid delivery means is arranged to deliver the operating fluid to the hydrogen gas storage unit to increase the pressure of hydrogen gas contained within the hydrogen gas storage unit so as to compress the hydrogen gas contained therein, and wherein the operating fluid delivery means is further arranged to deliver the operating fluid in response to the compressed hydrogen gas being withdrawn from the hydrogen gas storage unit so as to increase or sustain the pressure of the remaining hydrogen gas contained within the hydrogen gas storage unit;
- and a coolant fluid delivery means arranged to deliver the coolant fluid to the hydrogen gas storage unit to flow through the coolant fluid circuit to absorb heat from the hydrogen gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.