Hydrogen supply system

A hydrogen supply system for a combustion engine equipped with an air-hydrogen mixing means supplying a combustible mixture of hydrogen and air to said combustion engine which comprises:

• a metal hydride hydrogen supply means including a first storage tank and located within said first storage tank a quantity of a composition containing at least one metal capable of absorbing hydrogen and said metal hydride capable of being thermally decomposed so as to release hydrogen;
• a microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply means including a second storage tank and microcavity means containing hydrogen encapsulated within said microcavity means located within said second storage tank;
• a first conduit means operatively connected to said metal hydride hydrogen storage means for supplying hydrogen from said metal hydride hydrogen storage means to said air-hydrogen mixing means;
• a second conduit means operatively connected to said microcavity hydrogen storage supply means for supplying hydrogen from said microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply means to said air-hydrogen mixing means;
• a third conduit means operatively connected between said metal hydride hydrogen storage means and said microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply means for supplying hydrogen from said microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply means to said metal hydride hydrogen storage means;
• a first control means operatively associated with said metal hydride hydrogen supply means for regulating the absorption/deabsorption of hydrogen from said metal hydride hydrogen supply means by regulating the temperature of said composition within said metal hydride hydrogen supply means;
• a second control means operatively associated with said microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply means for regulating the release of hydrogen from said microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply means;
• a first valve means operatively associated with said first conduit means for regulating the flow of hydrogen through said first conduit means;
• a second valve means operatively associated with said second conduit means for regulating the flow of hydrogen through said second conduit means;
• and,
• a third valve means operatively associated with said third conduit means for regulating the flow of hydrogen through said third conduit means.

A hydrogen supply system for a combustion engine equipped with an air hydrogen mixing means supplying a combustible mixture of hydrogen and air to said combustion engine which comprises:

• a metal hydride hydrogen supply means including a first storage tank and located within said first storage tank a quantity of a composition containing at least one metal capable of absorbing hydrogen and forming a metal hydride when exposed to hydrogen and said metal hydride capable of being thermally decomposed so as to release hydrogen;
• a microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply means including a second storage tank and microcavity means containing hydrogen encapsulated within said microcavity means located within said second storage tank;
• a first conduit means operatively connected to said metal hydride hydrogen storage means for supplying hydrogen from said metal hydride hydrogen storage means to said air-hydrogen mixing means;
• a second conduit means operatively connected to said microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply means for supplying hydrogen from said microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply means to said metal hydride hydrogen storage means;
• a first control means operatively associated with said metal hydride hydrogen supply means for regulating the absorption/deabsorption of hydrogen from said metal hydride hydrogen supply means by regulating the temperature of said composition within said metal hydride hydrogen supply means;
• a second control means operatively associated with said microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply means for regulating the release of hydrogen from said microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply means;
• a first valve means operatively associated with said first conduit means for regulating the flow of hydrogen through said first conduit means;
• a second valve means operatively associated with said second conduit means for regulating the flow of hydrogen through said second conduit means;
• and,
• a third valve means operatively associated with said third conduit means for regulating the flow of hydrogen through said third conduit means;
• said microcavity means comprises a quantity of microspheres containing hydrogen encapsulated within said microspheres, said microspheres being capable of releasing the hydrogen contained therein upon the application of heat to said microspheres;
• said second control means includes heating means within said second storage tank for heating said microspheres;
• said heating means comprises at least one hollow tube within said second storage tank;
• said engine including a hot exhaust gas discharge means;
• said hollow tube connecting to said hot exhaust gas discharge means such that hot exhaust gasses from said hot exhaust gas discharge means can pass through said hollow tube heating the contents within said second storage tank;
• hot exhaust gas flow means for regulating the flow of hot exhaust gasses through said hollow tube;
• said metal hydride is iron titanium hydride;
• said first control means includes a heat exchanger within said first storage tank, said heat exchanger absorbing or releasing heat to said composition within said first storage tank;
• said heat exchanger comprises at least one hollow tube within said first storage tank;
• said hot exhaust gas discharge means connecting to said hollow tube such that hot exhaust gasses from said hot gas discharge means can pass through said hollow tube heating said contents in said first storage tank;
• said heat exchanger includes at least one coolant conducting tube means;
• a coolant supply means;
• said coolant supply means supplying coolant to said coolant conducting tube means such that heat from said first storage tank is withdrawn by coolant flowing through said coolant conducting tube means;
• a second hot exhaust gas flow means for regulating the flow of hot exhaust gasses through said heat exchanger;
• a coolant flow means for regulating flow of coolant through said heat exchanger.

A hydrogen supply system for a hydrogen fueled apparatus which comprises:

• a metal hydride hydrogen supply means including a first storage tank and located within said first storage tank a quantity of a composition containing at least one metal capable of absorbing hydrogen and forming a metal hydride when exposed to hydrogen and said metal hydride capable of being thermally decomposed so as to release hydrogen;
• a microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply means including a second storage tank and microcavity means containing hydrogen encapsulated within said microcavity means located within said second storage tank;
• a first conduit means connecting said microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply means to said apparatus;
• a second conduit means connecting said microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply means to said metal hydride hydrogen storage means;
• a first valve means operatively associated with said first, second conduit means for regulating the flow of hydrogen through said first conduit means;
• a second valve means operatively associated with said second conduit means for regulating the flow of hydrogen through said second conduit means;
• control means operatively associated with said metal hydride hydrogen supply means and said microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply means for controlling hydrogen release from said metal hydride hydrogen supply means and said microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply means.