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:
- a method of compressing hydrogen gas, said method of compressing hydrogen gas comprising:
- delivering an operating fluid into the internal volume of a hydrogen gas storage unit to increase the pressure of hydrogen gas contained within the hydrogen gas storage unit, wherein the operating fluid acts as a liquid piston;
- and delivering a coolant fluid to the internal volume of the hydrogen gas storage unit via a coolant fluid circuit traversing through the internal volume of the hydrogen gas storage unit to absorb heat from the hydrogen gas, said coolant fluid being delivered by a coolant fluid delivery means that is detachably coupled to the hydrogen gas storage unit:
- and wherein the method of delivering hydrogen gas in a hydrogen gas delivery system comprises a method of dispensing the compressed hydrogen gas, said method of dispensing the compressed hydrogen gas comprising:
- withdrawing hydrogen gas from the hydrogen gas storage unit;
- and delivering the operating fluid to the internal volume of the hydrogen gas storage unit to increase or sustain the pressure of the remaining hydrogen gas contained within the hydrogen gas storage unit for consistent and efficient delivery of hydrogen gas from the hydrogen gas storage unit.
A hydrogen gas delivery system for delivery of hydrogen gas produced from a hydrogen gas production system to an end consumer, the hydrogen gas delivery system comprising:
- a hydrogen gas compressing system arranged to compress low-pressure hydrogen gas produced from a hydrogen gas production system to a high pressure and located at the hydrogen gas production site;
- and
- a fuel compressor system used to deliver hydrogen gas from storage to the end consumer:
- wherein the hydrogen gas compressing system and the fuel compressor system comprise a hydrogen gas compressor system, said hydrogen gas compressor system comprising:
- a hydrogen gas storage unit defining an internal volume for storing hydrogen gas, the hydrogen gas storage unit comprising a gas outlet via which hydrogen gas may be withdrawn from the hydrogen gas storage unit:
- an operating fluid delivery means arranged to deliver, in response to hydrogen gas being withdrawn from the hydrogen gas storage unit, an operating fluid into the internal volume of the hydrogen gas storage unit to increase or sustain the pressure of the remaining hydrogen gas contained within the hydrogen gas storage unit;
- and
- a heat exchanger integrated into the hydrogen gas storage unit, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a coolant fluid circuit traversing through the internal volume in which the hydrogen gas is stored.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.