Dispensing of gaseous hydrogen comprising split pressure reduction

A dispenser for use in a gaseous hydrogen dispensing system, the dispenser comprising:

• a dispenser pressure control device configured to receive gaseous hydrogen from a chiller;
• a nozzle, in fluid communication with the dispenser pressure control device and configured to be in fluid communication with a receiving storage tank in a vehicle;
• a controller operatively connected to the dispenser pressure control device and having a processing device configured to:
• determine a pressure ramp rate for providing the gaseous hydrogen to the receiving storage tank via the nozzle;
• determine, based on the pressure ramp rate, a dispenser operating setpoint for the dispenser pressure control device, wherein a dispenser reduction in pressure of the gaseous hydrogen is effectuated by the dispenser pressure control device when operating according to the dispenser operating setpoint;
• determine, based on the pressure ramp rate, an upstream operating setpoint for an upstream pressure control device that is upstream of, and configured to provide the gaseous hydrogen to, the chiller, wherein an upstream reduction in pressure of the gaseous hydrogen is effectuated by the upstream pressure control device when operating according to the upstream operating setpoint, and wherein the upstream reduction in pressure of is greater than the dispenser reduction in pressure;
• and
• communicating the dispenser operating setpoint to the dispenser pressure control device and the upstream operating setpoint to the upstream pressure control device.

A gaseous hydrogen dispensing system comprising:

• a high pressure source of gaseous hydrogen;
• a first pressure control device configured to receive the gaseous hydrogen from the high pressure source;
• a chiller configured to receive the gaseous hydrogen from the first flow pressure control device;
• a dispenser in fluid communication with the chiller and a receiving storage tank, the dispenser comprising a second pressure control device configured to receive the gaseous hydrogen from the chiller and deliver the gaseous hydrogen to the receiving storage tank, the dispenser further comprising a controller operatively connected to the first pressure control device and the second pressure control device, the controller configured to:
• determine a pressure ramp rate for providing the gaseous hydrogen to the receiving storage tank;
• and
• controlling the first pressure control device according to a first operating setpoint and the second pressure control device according to a second operating setpoint,
• wherein the first operating setpoint and the second operating setpoint are based on the pressure ramp rate,
• and wherein a first reduction in pressure of the gaseous hydrogen by the first pressure control device according to the first operating setpoint is greater than a second reduction in pressure of the gaseous hydrogen by the second pressure control device according to the second operating setpoint.