Hydrogen/gas pressure controlled high pressure tank valves architecture

A pressure vessel system, comprising:

• at least one high-pressure vessel in fluid communication with at least one shutoff valve, the at least one shutoff valve comprising a housing including a cavity and a hollow fluid flow portion, the housing having a ventilation port and a pressure control port formed therein, and a pair of fluid flow ports formed in the hollow fluid flow portion, a membrane actuator disposed in the cavity of the housing, the membrane actuator forming a substantially fluid-tight barrier that divides the cavity, a piston disposed in the cavity and the hollow fluid flow portion of the housing, the piston having a first end and a second end, the piston coupled at the first end to the membrane actuator in the cavity, and the second end having a piston head disposed in the hollow fluid flow portion, and a spring disposed in the hollow fluid flow portion of the housing, the spring biasing the piston head toward one of the fluid flow ports formed in the hollow fluid flow portion to seal the one of the fluid flow ports, wherein the sealed one of the fluid flow ports formed in the hollow fluid flow portion is opened by a pressurization of the cavity.

A fuel cell system, comprising:

• a fuel cell stack having an anode inlet for delivery of hydrogen to anodes of the fuel cell stack;
• and
• at least one high-pressure hydrogen vessel in fluid communication with at least one shutoff valve, the at least one shutoff valve in fluid communication with the anode inlet of the fuel cell stack, the at least one shutoff valve comprising a housing including a cavity and a hollow fluid flow portion, the housing having a ventilation port and a pressure control port formed therein, and a pair of fluid flow ports formed in the hollow fluid flow portion, a membrane actuator disposed in the cavity of the housing, the membrane actuator forming a substantially fluid-tight barrier that divides the cavity, a piston disposed in the cavity and the hollow fluid flow portion of the housing, the piston having a first end and a second end, the piston coupled at the first end to the membrane actuator in the cavity, and the second end having a piston head disposed in the hollow fluid flow portion, and a spring disposed in the hollow fluid flow portion of the housing, the spring biasing the piston head toward one of the fluid flow ports formed in the hollow fluid flow portion to seal the one of the fluid flow ports, wherein the sealed one of the fluid flow ports formed in the hollow fluid flow portion is opened by a pressurization of the cavity.