PRIVATE PRESSURIZED GAS HYDROGEN PRODUCTION STATION

Abstract

The system, called the Private Pressurized Gaseous Hydrogen Production Station (SPP-H2GP), is available as a range of stations for private use. Its role will be to produce and store the required amount of hydrogen gas as a fuel for new or recent vehicles with internal combustion engines. These vehicles will be equipped with a pressurized gaseous hydrogen injection and storage kit, thus achieving a driving range equal to or approximately 25% greater than that of internal combustion engine vehicles using mineral fuels.The energy performance of high-pressure gaseous hydrogen injection is approximately 2.8 times greater than that of a mineral fuel, given that this technology only emits water vapor, thus a tank containing a mass of between 15 and 20 kg of pressurized gaseous hydrogen, stored at 84 MPa and injected at a constant pressure of 70 MPa, will allow a medium-sized vehicle a minimum range of more than a thousand kilometers for a 15 kg storage and approximately a thousand three hundred kilometers for a 15 kg storage, while emitting no polluting elements.

Description

Title of the invention: PRIVATE PRESSURED GAS HYDROGEN PRODUCTION STATION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device called a Private Pressurized Gaseous Hydrogen Production Station, hereinafter referred to as SPP-H2GP, consisting of a range of stations for private use whose role will be to produce and store a mass of gaseous hydrogen required as a gaseous fuel for new or recent vehicles currently in circulation, equipped with an internal combustion engine. These vehicles will be equipped with a pressurized gaseous hydrogen injection and storage kit, and will thus have a range equal to or approximately 25% greater than internal combustion engine vehicles currently in circulation, which use hydrocarbon-based fuels.

[0002] Research rationale: this market will most likely have a great economic impact, because the energy performance of high-pressure gaseous hydrogen injection is about 2.8 times greater than that of a mineral fuel, while knowing that this technology only emits water vapor and that, depending on the engine displacement, a tank containing a mass of between 15 and 20 kg of pressurized gaseous hydrogen, stored at 84 MPa, in order to obtain a constant injection pressure of 70 MPa, will allow the vehicle a minimum range of more than a thousand kilometers, while emitting no polluting elements;Furthermore, existing vehicles with modern internal combustion engines powered by mineral fluids, petrol or diesel, will be able to benefit from this technology after installing a pressurized gaseous hydrogen injection kit in place of the existing fuel system and a conformable hydrogen tank in place of the mineral fuel tank.

[0003] The device, designated SPP-H2GP, consists of a ground-mounted metal structure incorporating the sub-assemblies described below, an alkaline or proton exchange electrolyzer [Fig. 1], sized according to the mass of hydrogen to be produced, assembled with the following main components: a tank (1) for mixing and storing the electrolyte necessary for the synthesis of water molecules (H2O) into gaseous dihydrogen on the cathode side (-) and gaseous dioxygen on the anode side (+), an automatic water supply (2) from the distribution network with a solenoid valve (3) and level control (4) by sensors positioned at the high and low levels, a mixer (5) allowing the dosing of raw water with potassium hydroxide (6) necessary for good ionic transfer, two hermetically sealed tubes (7), one receiving an anode (8) and the other the cathode (9), which are connected to the electrolyte tank (1), a solenoid valve (10) of which ensures automatic compensation of the electrolyte level, a buffer tank (11) to stabilize the hydrogen gas produced by the cathode, with low-pressure control (12) ensured by a reducer at approximately 2 MPa, a control pressure gauge (13) plus an isolation valve (14); the oxygen O2 is vented to the outside (15). This fluid chain will supply the pressurization device for the hydrogen gas produced at low pressure between 1.5 and 2.0 MPa.

[0004] The gaseous hydrogen (H2) produced by the electrolyzer will be directed to the inlet of the booster (16) [Fig. 2], the ratio of the cross-sectional areas between the hydraulic and hydrogen chambers of which will, by factoring, produce the high injection pressure required for VL (70 MPa) or PL (35 MPa) applications, in order to supply either the vehicle's tank directly or an external storage capacity. It should be noted that this storage pressure in the vehicle's tank or in the storage capacity must be 1.2 times higher than that required for injection into the combustion chambers. The standardized values ​​vary according to the engine displacement of the vehicle to be supplied; thus, for engines with a displacement equal to or greater than 3,000 dm3 (PL), the storage pressure in the tank or in the capacity will be 35 x 1.2 = 42.0 MPa, and for engines with a displacement less than 3,000 dm3 (VL), the pressurization will be 70 x 1.2 = 84.0 MPa,Since the constant injection pressure of gaseous hydrogen into the combustion chambers of the engine in question is 35 MPa (PL) or 70 MPa (VL), the differential between the pressure produced and the injected pressure is necessary to ensure the function of supplying the vehicle's injectors. The pressurization of the hydrogen gas is achieved by the oscillating movement of a linear hydraulic cylinder (18) whose compression work is carried out by the chamber on the piston side and by the rod which is mechanically fixed to the piston of the hydrogen gas compression chamber, with a cross-sectional ratio adapted according to the mass of gas to be produced in a given time, the standard ratios being: 4 / 1, 6 / 1, 8 / 1, 16 / 1 or 32 / 1, the locking of the low inlet pressure and the high outlet pressure is achieved by two non-return valves (17) typically adapted to the pressure.at the flow rate and temperature of the hydrogen gas. The pulsations generated by the oscillating movement of the blower (16) will be damped by an accumulator (19) specifically calibrated according to the production criteria mentioned above.

[0005] The hydraulic transmission of the booster pump is ensured by an electro-hydraulic drive [Fig. 3] consisting of a fixed-displacement pump (20) coupled to a single-phase or three-phase electric motor depending on the station model, a reservoir (21) adapted to the environment containing the hydraulic fluid, conventional equipment and accessories (22) such as instrumentation, filtration, safety and adjustments (23), as well as a shuttle valve (24) and its functional distributor (25) necessary for to obtain the oscillating function of the booster; the hydraulic energy of compression requires a power inversely proportional to the time of production of the pressurized hydrogen, because it will take place in masked time as indicated in the appendix in a table [Fig.7].

[0006] The panel for adjusting and securing the loading pressure of the pressurized hydrogen gas [Fig.4] is composed of: a pressure reducer (27) for the final adjustment of the transfer of hydrogen gas to the vehicle or the storage capacity, two pressure gauges (26) indicating the pressure upstream and downstream of the reducer, a safety valve (28) for automatically locking this transfer line, two manually operated shut-off valves (29) and two quick-connect fittings with two safety check valves (30), the first being for connecting the filling hose of the vehicle's tank and the second for filling the volume of the storage capacity.

[0007] The production of pressurized gaseous hydrogen described above requires secure automation [Fig.5] with standardized components assembled in a sealed electrical box incorporating buttons, lights and displays integrated on the front panel door, a micro programmable controller intended for the management of various energy sources such as the public source from the electrical grid (31), a common green source from an aerodynamic wind turbine or an electro-turbine installed on a waterfall, or private green sources from solar panels (33) or a centrifugal wind turbine (32), the input of each energy source mentioned in the control chain will be secured and can be activated separately or in combinations.The energy produced by each described green source will first be transferred to an individual battery (34) whose DC output will be normalized in voltage so that it can be combined with all the incoming green sources to power the main battery (35), whose essential role will be to activate the anode and cathode of the electrolyzer. Electrical energy from the mains grid (36) will be used primarily for the operation of the hydraulic equipment and electrical automation, and also to start the electrolyzer in the event of a lack of green energy.

[0008] [Fig. 1] Functional overview of the electrolyzer

[0009] [Fig.2] Functional overview of the booster

[0010] [Fig.3] Functional overview of the hydraulic transmission

[0011] [Fig.4] Functional overview of the adjustment and security panel

[0012] [Fig.5] Functional overview of compatible energy sources

[0013] [Fig.6] Overall synoptic view of the SPP-H2GP station

[0014] [Fig.7] Technological note concerning the power absorbed by the station SPP-H2GP production

Claims

1.

2. Demands A device called "Private Pressurized Gaseous Hydrogen Production Station," available as a range of stations for private use, will produce and store the required mass of hydrogen gas as a gaseous fuel for new or recent vehicles currently in circulation with an internal combustion engine. These vehicles will be equipped with a pressurized gaseous hydrogen injection and storage kit, thus providing a range equal to or approximately 25% greater than internal combustion engine vehicles using hydrocarbon-based fuels. This device, called "SPP-H2GP," consists of a ground-mounted metal structure incorporating the following sub-assemblies: an alkaline or proton exchange electrolyzer {1}, sized according to the mass of hydrogen to be produced, assembled with the following main components:a reservoir (1) for mixing and storing the electrolyte necessary for the synthesis of water molecules (H2O) into gaseous dihydrogen on the cathode side (-) (9) and gaseous dioxygen on the anode side (+) (8), an automatic water supply (2) from the distribution network with a solenoid valve (3) and level control (4) by sensors positioned at the high and low levels, a mixer (5) allowing the dosing of raw water with potassium hydroxide (6) necessary for good ionic transfer, two hermetically sealed tubes (7) receiving one anode (8) and the other the cathode (9), which are connected to the electrolyte reservoir (1) whose solenoid valve (10) ensures automatic compensation of the electrolyte level, a buffer tank (11) to stabilize the gaseous hydrogen produced by the cathode (9), with low pressure control (12) ensured by a reducer at approximately 2 MPa,a control pressure gauge (13) plus an isolation valve (14); the oxygen O2 will be vented to the outside (15). This fluidic chain will supply the pressurization device for the produced gaseous hydrogen.

2. “Private Pressurized Gaseous Hydrogen Production Station” according to claim 1, characterized in that the gaseous hydrogen (H2) produced by the electrolyzer will be directed to the inlet of the blower (16) [Fig. 2], the ratio of the cross-sections between The hydraulic and hydrogen chambers will produce, by factoring, the high injection pressure required according to the applications VL (70 MPa) or PL (35 MPa), in order to supply either directly to the tank of a vehicle or to an external storage capacity, at a pressure 1.2 times higher than that required for injection into the combustion chambers, the standardized values ​​varying according to the cylinder size of the vehicle to be supplied, thus, for engines with a cylinder size equal to or greater than 3,000 dm3 (PL), the storage pressure in the tank or in the capacity will be 35 x 1.2 = 42.0 MPa and for engines with a cylinder size less than 3,000 dm3 (VL), the pressurization will be 70 x 1.2 = 84.0 MPa, the constant injection pressure of gaseous hydrogen into the combustion chambers of the engine concerned being 35 MPa (PL) or 70 MPa (VL),The differential between the pressure produced and the injected pressure is necessary to ensure the proper supply of fuel to the vehicle's injectors. The pressurization of the hydrogen gas is achieved through the oscillating movement of a linear hydraulic cylinder (18). The compression work is performed by the chamber on the piston side and by the rod, which is mechanically fixed to the piston of the hydrogen gas compression chamber. The cross-sectional ratio is adapted according to the mass of gas to be produced in a given time, with standard ratios being: 4:1, 6:1, 8:1, 16:1, or 32:

1. The locking of the low inlet pressure and the high outlet pressure is achieved by two non-return valves (17) typically adapted to the pressure, flow rate, and temperature of the hydrogen gas. The pulsations generated by the oscillating movement of the compressor (16) are dampened by an accumulator (19) specifically calibrated according to the production criteria mentioned previously.

3. “Private Pressurized Gaseous Hydrogen Production Station” according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydraulic transmission of the blower is ensured by an electro-hydraulic drive [Fig. 3] comprising a fixed-displacement pump (20) coupled to a single-phase or three-phase electric motor depending on the station model, an environmentally adapted reservoir (21) containing the hydraulic fluid, conventional equipment and accessories (22) such as instrumentation, filtration, safety and adjustments (23), as well as a shuttle valve (24) and its functional distributor (25) necessary to obtain the function

3. oscillating of the booster; the hydraulic energy of compression requires a power inversely proportional to the time of production of the pressurized hydrogen, because it will take place in masked time as indicated in the appendix in a table [Fig.7].

4. “Private Pressurized Gaseous Hydrogen Production Station” according to claim 1, characterized in that the panel for adjusting and securing the pressurized hydrogen gas loading pressure [Fig. 4] comprises: a pressure reducer (27) for the final adjustment of the hydrogen gas transfer to the vehicle or storage tank, two pressure gauges (26) indicating the upstream and downstream pressure of the reducer, a safety valve (28) for automatically locking this transfer line, two manually operated shut-off valves (29), and two quick-connect fittings comprising two safety check valves (30), the first being for connecting the vehicle's tank filling hose and the second for filling the storage tank.

5. "Private Pressurized Gaseous Hydrogen Production Station" according to claim 1, characterized in that the production of pressurized gaseous hydrogen described above requires secure automation [Fig. 5] with standardized components assembled in a sealed electrical box integrating pushbuttons, indicator lights and displays integrated on the front gate, a programmable microcontroller for managing various energy sources such as the public source from the electrical grid (31), a common green source from an aerodynamic wind turbine or an electro-turbine installed on a waterfall, or private green sources from solar panels (33) or a centrifugal wind turbine (32), the input of each energy source mentioned in the control chain will be secure and can be activated separately or in combinations.The energy produced by each described green source will first be transferred to an individual battery (34), whose output direct current will be normalized to a voltage standard so that it can be combined with all the incoming green sources to power the main battery (35). The main battery's essential role will be to activate the anode and cathode of the electrolyzer. Electrical energy from the mains grid (36) will primarily be used to power the hydraulic equipment. and electrical automation, and also the commissioning of the electrolyzer in the absence of green energy.

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