Hydrogen storage system and power system incorporating same

A power system for providing back-up power to a facility comprising:

• a) a generating system disposed at the facility having at least one hydrogen generator and at least one hydrogen powered electrical generator;
• b) a storage system disposed at the facility having at least one high pressure hydrogen gas storage container for storing high pressure hydrogen gas received from said hydrogen generator, said storage system being disposed within said facility;
• c) a conduit for supplying hydrogen gas from said at least one hydrogen generator to said storage system;
• d) a conduit for supplying hydrogen gas from said storage system to said at least one electrical generator;
• e) a power interruption sensor for sensing an interruption in the supply of electric power from a primary electric power source;
• f) a back up power actuator in communication with the power interruption sensor for actuating said at least one hydrogen powered electrical generator to generate electricity in response to a signal from said power interruption sensor indicating an interruption in the supply of electricity from said primary electric power source;
• g) a vent line extending from said at least one high pressure hydrogen gas storage container to a location outside the facility where said hydrogen gas may be relatively safely released in response to a pre-determined unsafe condition;
• h) at least one unsafe condition sensor disposed in said facility for detecting one or more predetermined unsafe conditions relating to the storage of hydrogen gas in the facility;
• and
• i) at least one actuator in communication with said unsafe condition sensor for releasing hydrogen gas from said at least one high pressure hydrogen gas storage container through said vent line to said location outside of said facility at a minimum pre-determined release rate in response to a signal received from said unsafe condition sensor.

A power system for a facility comprising:

• a) a hydrogen generator for producing hydrogen;
• b) a hydrogen powered electrical generator for producing electricity;
• c) a storage system comprising at least one storage container for storing hydrogen produced by said hydrogen generator, said at least one storage container being connected to deliver hydrogen to said hydrogen powered electrical generator to produce electricity from hydrogen stored in said storage system;
• d) a fuel station connected to said storage system, said fuel station comprising at least one fuel dispensing device for dispensing hydrogen to one or more hydrogen powered vehicles located at the facility;
• e) a power interruption sensor for sensing an interruption in the supply of electric power to the facility from a primary power source;
• f) a back up power actuator in communication with the power interruption sensor for actuating said at least one hydrogen powered electrical generator to generate electricity in response to a signal from said power interruption sensor indicating an interruption in the supply of electricity from said primary electric power source.