Mobile PEM Fuel Cell Charging With Dual Hydrogen Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
The global economy faces significant challenges in reducing carbon emissions from fossil fuel use, particularly in transportation and energy generation, due to the variability of renewable energy sources and the instability of current grid systems, which require improved energy storage and grid resilience.
Innovation Solution
Deployment of a coordinated fleet of mobile fuel cell generators (MGRs) across the grid, utilizing various types of fuel cells and hydrogen storage systems, to provide power and ancillary services, with computer systems managing their allocation and operation to optimize carbon intensity and grid stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If variable renewable energy sources are used for electricity generation, then carbon emissions are reduced, but grid stability and frequency control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces fuel cell generators as an intermediary resource that can rapidly respond to grid frequency deviations. These fuel cells act as a mediator between variable renewable energy sources and the grid, providing fast-acting frequency regulation services that enable higher penetration of renewables while maintaining grid stability through their quick response capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic response characteristics of fuel cell generators that can rapidly adjust their power output in response to real-time grid frequency conditions. This dynamic operation allows the system to maintain stability while accommodating variable renewable energy, as the fuel cells can quickly ramp up or down based on instantaneous grid needs
2Reliability
If fossil fuel combustion is used for energy generation, then energy supply reliability is maintained, but carbon emissions and environmental degradation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of energy generation from chemical combustion to electrochemical conversion. Fuel cells convert chemical energy directly to electrical energy through electrochemical reactions, eliminating the combustion process entirely. This parameter change maintains energy supply reliability while producing only water and heat as byproducts, thereby eliminating carbon emissions associated with fossil fuel combustion
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed charging stations are used for electric vehicles, then charging infrastructure is established, but grid load concentration and transmission requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized charging infrastructure into distributed mobile charging units. Instead of concentrating all charging capacity at fixed stations, the system divides charging capability across multiple mobile fuel cell-powered units that can be deployed to different locations. This segmentation reduces peak load concentration at any single point and distributes the power demand across the grid more evenly
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic, mobile charging units that can move to different locations based on real-time EV charging demands. Unlike static fixed charging stations, these mobile units can dynamically reposition themselves to serve areas with highest charging needs, thereby distributing grid load more effectively and reducing transmission requirements to any single fixed infrastructure point
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
This approach enhances grid resilience, reduces carbon emissions, and improves load balancing by providing dispatchable energy resources and flexible charging solutions for electric vehicles, decoupling them from fixed charging stations and enabling the use of renewable energy sources.
Implementation Method 1
a first vehicle of the fleet of vehicles includes a fuel cell-based power generation system having a plurality of fuel cell stacks configured to provide a power output
Implementation Method 2
a first vehicle of the fleet of vehicles includes a hydrogen storage system configured to store hydrogen at a high pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile generation resource (MGR) comprises a PEM fuel cell stack, hydrogen inputs and a hydrogen bus. A first hydrogen input receives hydrogen at 200 bars pressure which is stored in an onboard hydrogen tank. A second hydrogen input receives hydrogen at a pressure of 100 bars or less. The hydrogen bus, controlled by an MGR computing system, selects either the onboard hydrogen tank or the second hydrogen input as a hydrogen source for the fuel cell stack. A power take-off connection, cable and adapter provide DC electricity produced by the fuel cell stack at a power of at least 50 kilowatts. The MGR computing system communicates with the hydrogen bus and the power take-off connection, cable and adapter. A MGR user app instructs the MGR computing system to select the active source of hydrogen and to direct power produced by the fuel cell stack to the power take-off.