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US 8,939,396 B2Granted
High-altitude, aerial network for the production and distribution of liquid-hydrogen
AssigneeAstrium GmbH
InventorJean-François Geneste
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system includes a plurality of liquid-hydrogen-producing balloon stations that form a total network for distributing liquid hydrogen, and said balloon stations in the network are positioned at the nearest of said target areas of use, substantially above the latter, such that the transfer of the liquid hydrogen between said production balloon stations and said target areas of use is minimal.
Claims20
An aerial system for producing and distributing liquid hydrogen, comprising:
- at least one high-altitude balloon station comprising a balloon and a water supply for use in making liquid hydrogen;
- equipment located on-board the at least one balloon station configured to convert the water supply into liquid hydrogen using solar radiation;
- and
- at least one controllable drone having a fluid storage tank;
- wherein the at least one drone is configured to receive liquid hydrogen from the at least one balloon station into the tank and to deliver liquid hydrogen to at least one target configured to be refueled or configured to store liquid hydrogen.
2 more elements
A method for producing and distributing liquid hydrogen, comprising:
- providing at least one balloon station, the at least one station comprising a balloon and a water supply for use in making liquid hydrogen;
- providing equipment configured to convert the water supply into liquid hydrogen on-board the at least one balloon station;
- placing the balloon station at a high-altitude above the ground;
- using the equipment to convert the water supply into liquid hydrogen using solar radiation;
- providing at least one controllable drone having a fluid storage tank;
- transferring liquid hydrogen from the at least one balloon station to the at least one controllable drone;
- and
- distributing the liquid hydrogen from the at least one balloon station to at least one target configured to be refueled or configured to store liquid hydrogen, using the at least one controllable drone.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.