Compressor-less Hydrogen Storage via Cryogenic Pumping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for converting liquid hydrogen to high-pressure gaseous hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles suffer from significant venting losses and high operational costs due to the need for gas compressors and inefficient thermal management.
Innovation Solution
A compressor-less gaseous hydrogen storage and distribution system that uses a low-pressure liquid pump to convert liquid hydrogen to high-pressure gaseous hydrogen, with pre-cooling and a cascading vaporization process to minimize pressure requirements and reduce boiling off, allowing for efficient filling of vehicle fuel tanks without the need for additional compressors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If gas compressors are used to pressurize gaseous hydrogen to 700 bar, then hydrogen can be stored at high pressure for vehicle fuel tanks, but operational costs increase and venting losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter by pre-cooling the vaporizer to below ambient temperature, which allows the system to achieve higher pressure (up to 1200 bar) during vaporization without requiring gas compressors. This temperature parameter change fundamentally alters the pressure-temperature relationship of the hydrogen, enabling compressor-less high-pressure storage and eliminating venting losses associated with compressor operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical gas compressor system with a thermal-based system. Instead of using mechanical compression to achieve high pressure, the system uses controlled heating of pre-cooled liquid hydrogen in the vaporizer, converting thermal energy directly into pressure. This substitution eliminates the mechanical components that cause venting losses and reduces operational costs
2Productivity
If gas compressors are used to evacuate gaseous hydrogen from the vaporizer, then the vaporizer can be refilled with liquid hydrogen, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical gas compressor with a thermal-based evacuation system. By controlling the heating rate and using the thermal mass of the vaporizer, the system naturally evacuates gaseous hydrogen as it is generated during vaporization. This eliminates the need for separate compressor operation during refill cycles, reducing energy consumption while maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous useful action by integrating the evacuation function into the vaporization process itself. As liquid hydrogen is heated in the vaporizer, the generated gaseous hydrogen continuously displaces and evacuates the vaporizer contents, allowing simultaneous vaporization and evacuation without requiring separate compressor cycles. This continuous process improves productivity while eliminating compressor energy consumption
3Stress or pressure
If the vaporizer thermal mass is reduced, then the pressure in the vaporizer decreases allowing lower pressure pump operation, but the vaporizer volume decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter by pre-cooling the vaporizer to below ambient temperature before operation. This temperature change allows the vaporizer to operate at lower pressure for a given volume, or alternatively, enables a smaller volume vaporizer to achieve the required pressure characteristics. The pre-cooled state fundamentally alters the pressure-temperature-volume relationship, allowing flexible optimization of these parameters
4Stress or pressure
If liquid hydrogen is pre-cooled before entering the vaporizer, then the pump pressure requirement decreases, but additional cooling infrastructure is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the cryogenic storage system multi-functional by having it serve both its primary purpose (storage) and a secondary purpose (pre-cooling). The cold hydrogen or liquid hydrogen from storage is used to pre-cool the vaporizer and/or incoming liquid hydrogen, eliminating the need for separate cooling infrastructure. This universal use of the cryogenic system reduces device complexity while achieving lower pump pressure requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system significantly reduces venting losses and operational costs while ensuring safe and efficient high-pressure filling of hydrogen fuel tanks, enhancing the overall efficiency and safety of hydrogen storage and distribution.
Implementation Method 1
A low-pressure liquid pump pressurizes liquid hydrogen to a predetermined pressure
Implementation Method 2
The vaporizers convert this pressurized liquid hydrogen to gaseous hydrogen with heat supplied from atmospheric air or an auxiliary heating source
Implementation Method 3
The operating pressure of the low-pressure liquid pump can be furthermore reduced by pre-cooling with a hydrogen reservoir containing low temperature hydrogen or liquid hydrogen before entering the vaporizer
Data Source
AI summary
A gaseous hydrogen storage and distribution system with a cryogenic supply and a method for the cryogenic conversion of liquid hydrogen into high-pressure gaseous hydrogen are provided. The gaseous hydrogen storage and distribution system includes pressuring liquid hydrogen from a cryogenic tank using a low pressure liquid pump before vaporization within a relatively small vaporizer. The resulting high pressure gaseous hydrogen is transferred to a plurality of storage tanks at ambient temperature according to a desired fill sequence. The high pressure hydrogen gas is subsequently distributed from the storage tanks through a hydrogen fueling dispenser according to a desired dispensing sequence. The present system and method provide improvements in operational safety, eliminates the use of high pressure gas compressor, and minimizes boiling off and ventilation losses at a reduced cost when compared to existing thermal compression storage systems.