# US 2010/0167155 A1 · Hydrogen supply system for fuel cell > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0167155 A1 - Document ID: US20100167155A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/999,370 - Filed: 2007-12-04 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2007-07-26 - Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company - Inventors: Sang Hyun Kim; Hoon Hee Lee; Hyung Ki Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100167155A1 ## CPC - H01M 8/04201: {Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes} - F17C 5/06: for filling with compressed gases - F17C 11/005: {for hydrogen} - H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants - F17C 2221/012: Hydrogen - H01M 8/04216: {characterised by the choice for a specific material, e.g. carbon, hydride, absorbent} - Y02E 60/32: Hydrogen storage - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - Y10T 137/4673: Plural tanks or compartments with parallel flow - Y10T 137/469: Sequentially filled and emptied [e.g., holding type] - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention provides a hydrogen supply system for a fuel cell which can compensate for a change in temperature, caused by heat generated when a high pressure tank is charged and discharged with hydrogen, using a metal hydride (MH) tank providing high hydrogen storage density, mounted in the high pressure tank such that hydrogen is to be discharged from the MH tank when hydrogen is charged to the high pressure tank, and hydrogen is to be charged to the MH tank when hydrogen is discharged from the high pressure tank. For this, the present invention provides a hydrogen supply system for a fuel cell, including: a high pressure tank which is capable of storing hydrogen received from a hydrogen refueling station and includes a metal hydride (MH) tank capable of storing hydrogen, mounted therein; first and second solenoid valves provided at both ends of the high pressure tank; a buffer tank connected in parallel to the high pressure tank; and a fuel cell stack connected to the buffer tank so that hydrogen from the high pressure tank or the MH tank is supplied to the stack through the buffer tank, wherein the hydrogen is charged from the hydrogen refueling station to the high pressure tank and discharged from the high pressure tank through the first solenoid valve, the hydrogen is charged and discharged to and from the MH tank through the second solenoid valve, the hydrogen is discharged from the MH tank as the first and second solenoid valves are simultaneously opened when the hydrogen is charged to the high pressure tank, and the hydrogen discharged from the MH tank is stored in the buffer tank and then supplied to the fuel cell stack. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydrogen supply system for a fuel cell, comprising: a high pressure tank which is capable of storing hydrogen received from a hydrogen refueling station and includes therein a metal hydride (MH) tank capable of storing hydrogen; first and second solenoid valves provided at both ends of the high pressure tank; a buffer tank connected in parallel to the high pressure tank; and a fuel cell stack connected to the buffer tank so that hydrogen from the high pressure tank or the MH tank is supplied to the stack through the buffer tank, wherein the hydrogen is charged from the hydrogen refueling station to the high pressure tank and discharged from the high pressure tank through the first solenoid valve, the hydrogen is charged and discharged to and from the MH tank through the second solenoid valve, the hydrogen is discharged from the MH tank as the first and second solenoid valves are simultaneously opened when the hydrogen is charged to the high pressure tank, and the hydrogen discharged from the MH tank is stored in the buffer tank and then supplied to the fuel cell stack. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen in the high pressure tank is discharged as the first and second solenoid valves are simultaneously opened when the hydrogen is charged to the MH tank, and the hydrogen discharged from the high pressure tank is stored in the buffer tank and then supplied to the fuel cell stack. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a first temperature sensor is installed at the first solenoid valve to measure the temperature of the high pressure tank when the hydrogen is charged to the high pressure tank and, if the temperature is increased, the second solenoid valve is opened so that the hydrogen of the MH tank is discharged. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein a second temperature sensor is installed at the second solenoid valve to measure the temperature of the MH tank when the hydrogen is charged to the MH tank and, if the temperature is increased, the first solenoid valve is opened so that the hydrogen of the high pressure tank is discharged. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a first pressure sensor is installed at the first solenoid valve, a third pressure tank is installed at the buffer tank, and, if the pressure measured by the first pressure sensor is higher than that measured by the third pressure sensor, the first solenoid valve is opened so that the hydrogen of the high pressure tank is discharged to the buffer tank. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein a second pressure sensor is installed at the second solenoid valve and, if the pressure of the MH tank measured by the second pressure sensor is higher than that of the high pressure tank measured by the first pressure sensor, the second solenoid valve is opened so that the hydrogen of the MH tank is discharged to the buffer tank. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a high pressure regulator and a low pressure regulator are provided between the buffer tank and the fuel cell stack, and the pressure of the hydrogen in the buffer tank is reduced by the high pressure and low pressure regulators and the hydrogen at a reduced pressure is supplied to the fuel cell stack.