A fuel cell system having a secondary hydrogen storage tank to avoid shutting down the fuel cell system during refueling

A continuous hydrogen delivery system comprising:

• a plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks configured to provide hydrogen fuel to a primary fuel consumer and a secondary fuel consumer;
• at least one primary hydrogen fuel tank of the plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks configured to act as a secondary hydrogen fuel tank during refueling to maintain availability of hydrogen to one or more fuel consumers during refueling of a plurality of the plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks;
• a first valve connected between the plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks and the secondary hydrogen fuel tank;
• a second valve connected between the plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks and the primary fuel consumer;
• a third valve connected between the plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks and the secondary fuel consumer;
• and
• a controller configured to perform operations comprising:
• determining whether the plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks is set up for refueling;
• responsive to determining that the plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks is set up for refueling:
• before the refueling process begins:
• disconnecting a plurality of the plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks from the primary fuel consumer while maintaining a connection of the secondary hydrogen fuel tank to at least one of the primary fuel consumer and the secondary fuel consumer;
• and
• after the plurality of primary hydrogen tanks have been refueled:
• connecting the plurality of the plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks and the secondary hydrogen fuel tank to at least one of the primary fuel consumer and the secondary fuel consumer.

A method in a continuous hydrogen delivery system having a plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks and at least one secondary hydrogen fuel tank to maintain availability of hydrogen to a primary fuel consumer during refueling of at least one of the plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks, the method performed by a controller and comprising:

• determining whether the plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks is set up for refueling;
• responsive to determining that the plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks is set up for refueling:
• before the refueling process begins:
• disconnecting the plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks from the primary fuel consumer;
• and
• connecting the at least one secondary hydrogen fuel tank to the primary fuel consumer, thereby maintaining availability of hydrogen to the primary fuel consumer during refueling of the plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks;
• and
• after the plurality of primary hydrogen tanks have been refueled:
• connecting the plurality of primary hydrogen fuel tanks to the primary fuel consumer.