Systems and method for storing hydrogen

A container for storing a gaseous fuel, comprising:

• a high-pressure vessel configured to contain gas in a high-pressure zone at a pressure significantly above atmospheric pressure;
• a storing medium in the vessel, the storing medium having a plurality of storage spaces configured to bind molecules of the as to the storing medium;
• and
• an inlet/outlet line extending through at least a portion of the vessel in fluid communication with the storing medium,
• wherein the high-pressure vessel comprises a composite shell having a closed-end and an open-end, and end-cover attached t the open-end of the shell to define the high-pressure zone, and a divider configured to separate the high-pressure zone into cells,
• wherein the composite shell is a composite structure having a fiber-resin outer layer, a carbon-fiber inner layer, and a polymer liner inside of the carbon-fiber inner layer,
• wherein the inlet/outlet line comprises a porous tube extending within the high-pressure zone and passing through the vessel, and
• wherein the container further comprises an extraction element defined by a heating element within the extraction zone.

A container for storing a gaseous fuel, comprising:

• a high-pressure vessel configured to contain gas in a high-pressure zone at a pressure significantly above atmospheric pressure;
• a storing medium in the vessel, the storing medium having a plurality of storage spaces configured to bind molecules of the gas to the storing medium;
• and
• an inlet/outlet line extending through at least a portion of the vessel in fluid communication with the storing medium,
• wherein the high-pressure vessel comprises a composite shell having a fiber-resin outer layer, a carbon-fiber inner layer, an a polymer liner inside of the carbon-fiber inner layer, and
• wherein the storing medium is an adsorbent comprising carbon nanotubes having an average pore size of approximately 40 Å.

A container for storing a gaseous fuel, comprising:

• a high-pressure vessel configured to contain hydrogen in a high-pressure zone at a pressure significantly above atmospheric pressure;
• a storing medium in the vessel, the storing medium having a plurality of storage spaces configured to bind hydrogen molecules to the storing medium;
• and
• an inlet/outlet line extending through at least a portion of the vessel in fluid communication with the storing medium,
• wherein the vessel comprises a composite shell having a closed-end and an open-end, an end-cover attached to the open-end of the shell to define the high-pressure zone, and a divider configured to separate the high-pressure zone into cells, and
• wherein the composite shell is a composite structure having a fiber-resin outer layer, a carbon-fiber inner layer, and a polymer liner inside of the carbon-fiber inner layer.

A container for storing a gaseous fuel, comprising:

• a high-pressure vessel configured to contain gas in a high-pressure zone at a pressure significantly above atmospheric pressure;
• a storing medium in the vessel, the storing medium having a plurality of storage spaces configured to bind molecules of the gas to the storing medium;
• and
• an inlet/outlet line extending through at least a portion of the vessel in fluid communication with the storing medium,
• wherein the vessel comprises a composite shell having a closed-end and an open-end, an end-cover attached to the open-end of the shell to define the high-pressure zone, and a divider configured to separate the high-pressure zone into cells,
• wherein the composite shell is a composite structure having a fiber-resin outer layer, a carbon-fiber inner layer, and a polymer liner inside of the carbon-fiber inner layer, and
• wherein the storing medium comprises a porous material configured to adsorb H2 molecules.

A container for storing a gaseous fuel, comprising:

• a high-pressure vessel configured to contain gas in a high-pressure zone at a pressure significantly above atmospheric pressure;
• a storing medium in the vessel, the storing medium having a plurality of storage spaces configured to bind molecules of the gas to the storing medium;
• and
• an inlet/outlet line extending through at least a portion of the vessel in fluid communication with the storing medium,
• wherein the vessel comprises a composite shell having a closed-end and an open-end, an end-cover attached to the open-end of the shell to define the high-pressure zone, and a divider configured to separate the high-pressure zone into cells,
• wherein the composite shell is a composite structure having a fiber-resin outer layer, a carbon-fiber inner layer, and a polymer liner inside of the carbon-fiber inner layer, and
• wherein the inlet/outlet line comprises a porous conduit.

A container for storing a gaseous fuel, comprising:

• a high-pressure vessel configured to contain the gas at a pressure above approximately 3,000 psi;
• an adsorbent material in the vessel, the adsorbent material being configured to bind molecules of the gas to the adsorbent material;
• and
• an inlet/outlet line extending through at least a portion of the vessel in fluid communication with the adsorbent material,
• wherein the high-pressure vessel comprises a composite shell having a closed-end and an open-end, an -end-cover attached to the open-end of the shell to define the high-pressure zone, and a divider configured to separate the high-pressure zone into cells,
• wherein the composite shell is a composite structure having a fiber-resin outer layer, a carbon-fiber inner layer, and a polymer liner inside of the carbon-fiber inner layer,
• wherein the inlet/outlet line comprises a porous tube extending across a significant portion of the high-pressure zone passing through the vessel, and
• wherein the container further comprises an extraction element defined by a heating element within the extraction zone.

A container for storing a gaseous fuel, comprising:

• a high-pressure vessel configured to contain hydrogen gas at a pressure above approximately 3,000 psi;
• an adsorbent material in the vessel, the adsorbent material being configured to bind hydrogen molecules to the adsorbent material;
• an inlet/outlet line extending through at least a portion of the vessel in fluid communication with the adsorbent material;
• and
• an extraction element extending through at least a portion of the vessel, wherein the extraction element is configured to detach the gas molecules from the adsorbent material,
• wherein the high-pressure vessel comprises a composite structure having a fiber-resin outer layer, a carbon-fiber inner layer, and a polymer liner inside of the carbon-fiber inner layer.

A container for storing a gaseous fuel, comprising:

• a high-pressure vessel configured to contain the gas at a pressure above approximately 3,000 psi;
• a plurality of dividers in the vessel configured to define a plurality of storage cells;
• an adsorbent material in at least a portion of the storage cells, the adsorbent material comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes to which gas molecules physically bind;
• an inlet/outlet line extending through at least a portion of the vessel in fluid communication with the adsorbent material in the storage cells;
• and
• a heating element extending through at least a portion of the vessel,
• wherein the high-pressure vessel comprises a composite shell having a closed-end and an open-end, an end-cover attached to the open-end of the shell to define the high-pressure zone, and a divider configured to separate the high-pressure zone into cells,
• wherein the composite shell is a composite structure having a fiber-resin outer layer, a carbon-fiber inner layer, and a polymer liner inside of the carbon-fiber inner layer, and
• the inlet/outlet line comprise a porous tube extending across a significant portion of the high-pressure zone and passing through the vessel.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a chassis;
• an engine configured to be powered by gaseous fuel;
• a drive system having a transmission coupled to the engine and a plurality of wheels coupled to the transmission, wherein the drive system transfers output from the engine to the wheels;
• and
• a container for storing gaseous fuel, the container comprising
• a high-pressure vessel configured to contain the gas at a pressure significantly above atmospheric pressure;
• a storing medium in the vessel, the storing medium having a plurality of storage spaces configured to bind molecules of the gas to the storing medium, said storing medium includes an adsorbent;
• and
• an inlet/outlet line extending through at least a portion of the vessel in fluid communication with the storing medium,
• wherein the high-pressure vessel comprises a composite shell having a closed-end and an open-end, an end-cover attached to the open-end of the shell to define the high-pressure zone, and a divider configured to separate he high-pressure zone into cells, and
• wherein the composite shell is a composite structure having a fiber-resin outer layer, a carbon-fiber inner layer, and a polymer liner inside of the carbon-fiber inner layer.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a chassis;
• an engine configured to be powered by a gaseous fuel;
• a drive system having a transmission coupled to the engine and a plurality of wheels coupled to the transmission, wherein the drive system transfers output from the engine to the wheels;
• and
• a container for storing the gaseous fuel, the container comprising
• a high-pressure vessel configured to contain the gas at a pressure above approximately 3,000 psi;
• an adsorbent material in the vessel, the adsorbent material being configured to bind gas molecules of the gas to the adsorbent material;
• an inlet/outlet line extending through at least a portion of the vessel in fluid communication with the adsorbent material;
• and
• an extraction element extending through at least a portion of the vessel, wherein the extraction element is configured to detach the gas molecules from the adsorbent material,
• wherein the high-pressure vessel comprises a composite shell having a closed-end and an open-end, an end-cover attached to the open-end of the shell to define the high-pressure zone, and a divider configured to separate the high-pressure zone into cells,
• wherein the composite shell is a composite structure having a fiber-resin outer layer, a carbon-fiber inner layer, and a polymer liner inside of the carbon-fiber inner layer, and
• wherein the inlet/outlet line comprises a porous tube extending within the high-pressure zone and passing through the vessel.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a chassis;
• an engine configured to be powered by a gaseous fuel;
• a drive system having a transmission coupled to the engine and a plurality of wheels coupled to the transmission, wherein the drive system transfers output from the engine to the wheels;
• and
• a container for storing the gaseous fuel, the container comprising
• a high-pressure vessel configured to contain the gas at a pressure above approximately 3,000 psi;
• a plurality of dividers in the vessel configured to define a plurality of storage cells;
• an adsorbent material in at least a portion of the storage cells, the adsorbent material to which gas molecules bind;
• an inlet/outlet line extending through at least a portion of the vessel in fluid communication with the absorbent material in the storage cells;
• and
• a heating element extending through at least a portion of the vessel,
• wherein the high-pressure vessel comprises a composite shell having a closed-end and an open-end, an end-cover attached to the open-end of the shell to define the high-pressure zone, and a divider configured to separate the high-pressure zone into cells,
• wherein the composite shell is a composite structure having a fiber-resin outer layer, a carbon-fiber inner layer, and a polymer liner inside of the carbon-fiber inner layer, and
• wherein the inlet/outlet line comprises a porous tube extending within the high-pressure zone and passing through the vessel.