HYDROGEN FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEMS
A method for providing hydrogen to a hydrogen-powered device comprises providing a buffer connected to supply hydrogen to the device. The buffer is filled with hydrogen by coupling the buffer to a cartridge containing a predetermined quantity of hydrogen. The hydrogen in the cartridge may be stored in a form having a higher energy density than the hydrogen in the buffer. Systems comprising hydrogen-powered devices that include such buffers are also described.
1 . A method of supplying hydrogen to a hydrogen consuming device, comprising:
providing a buffer operable to supply hydrogen to the device, wherein the buffer is configured to reversibly store a first amount of hydrogen;
providing a cartridge including a hydrogen precursor sufficient to generate a second amount of hydrogen that is less than or approximately equal to the first amount of hydrogen;
initiating the generation of hydrogen from the hydrogen precursor by fluidly coupling the buffer to the cartridge; and
communicating the generated hydrogen from the buffer to the device.
2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising decoupling the cartridge and the buffer.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the buffer includes a pressure relief valve operable to release hydrogen gas from the buffer when an internal pressure in the buffer reaches a predetermined limit.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the buffer includes a chemisorpitive or a phisisorptive material that at least partially retains the first amount of hydrogen.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the buffer comprises metal hydrides, carbon nanotubes and zeolites.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a gas pressure in the buffer is less than or approximately equal to a gas pressure in the cartridge.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen consuming device comprises a hydrogen consumption requirement, further wherein the first amount of hydrogen is approximately equal to the hydrogen consumption requirement.
8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein decoupling the cartridge from the buffer comprises removing the cartridge from the device after a maximum useable amount of hydrogen is communicated from the cartridge to the buffer.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the generation of hydrogen from the hydrogen precursor comprises simultaneously initiating the generation and fluidly coupling the buffer to the cartridge.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating the generated hydrogen from the buffer to the device includes controlling the flow of hydrogen from the buffer to the device.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein controlling the flow of hydrogen from the buffer to the device includes interposing at least one of a valve and a flow rate restriction between the buffer and the device.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein interposing at least one of a valve and a flow rate restriction between the buffer and the device includes providing a flow-restrictive tubing or an orifice between the buffer and the device.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein controlling the flow of hydrogen from the buffer to the device includes interposing a pressure regulator between the buffer and the device.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises a pressure vessel configured to contain pressurized hydrogen gas.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises a glass vial or a paper container.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge generates the second amount of hydrogen via hydrolysis, alcoholysis or thermolysis.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes a first reactant and a second reactant, wherein the first reactant and the second reactant are segregated into respective first and second internal compartments.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes a seal, and wherein coupling the buffer to the cartridge includes puncturing the seal to place the buffer and cartridge in fluid communication.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating the generated hydrogen from the buffer to the device comprises communicating the hydrogen to the device at a rate that is approximately equal to a rate of consumption by the device.
20 . A method of supplying hydrogen to a hydrogen-consuming device, comprising:
providing a buffer fluidly coupled to the device;
providing a cartridge having a hydrogen precursor and configured to fluidly couple to the buffer;
fluidly coupling the buffer to the cartridge to transfer hydrogen between the cartridge and the buffer and to initiate the generation of hydrogen from the hydrogen precursor; and
communicating the generated hydrogen from the buffer to the device at a rate that approximately equals a hydrogen consumption requirement of the device.
21 . The method of claim 20 , comprising decoupling the cartridge from the buffer.
22 . The method of claim 20 , comprising fluidly controlling the flow of hydrogen from the buffer to the device.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein fluidly controlling the flow of hydrogen comprises interposing at least one of a valve and a flow rate restrictor between the buffer and the device.
24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein fluidly controlling the flow of hydrogen comprises interposing a flow-restrictive tubing having a suitable diameter and length or an orifice between the buffer and the device.
25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein fluidly controlling the flow of hydrogen comprises interposing a pressure regulator between the buffer and the device.
26 . The method of claim 21 , wherein decoupling the cartridge from the buffer comprises removing the cartridge from the device after a maximum useable amount of hydrogen is communicated from the cartridge to the buffer.
27 . The method of claim 20 , wherein fluidly coupling the buffer to the cartridge comprises simultaneously coupling the buffer and initiating the generation of hydrogen.
28 . A method of supplying hydrogen to a hydrogen-consuming device, comprising:
providing a buffer configured to fluidly couple to the device;
providing a cartridge including a predetermined amount of at least one reactant;
coupling the buffer to the cartridge to initiate the generation of hydrogen from the predetermined amount of at least one reactant and placing the buffer and cartridge in fluid communication;
allowing hydrogen generated by the predetermined amount of at least one reactant to flow from the cartridge into the buffer without restriction; and
allowing hydrogen to flow from the buffer to the device, wherein the buffer includes at least one of a pressure relief valve and a one-way valve for preventing overpressure conditions in the buffer and wherein the rate of supply of hydrogen to the device is approximately equivalent to a rate of hydrogen consumption by the device.
29 . The method of claim 28 , comprising decoupling the cartridge from the buffer.
30 . The method of claim 28 , wherein allowing hydrogen generated by the predetermined amount of at least one reactant and allowing hydrogen to flow from the buffer to the device occur simultaneously.
31 . The method of claim 29 , wherein decoupling the cartridge from the buffer comprises decoupling the cartridge from the device after a maximum useable amount of hydrogen is communicated from the cartridge to the buffer.
32 . A method, comprising:
providing a hydrogen precursor operable to generate gaseous hydrogen upon initiation of the precursor; and
sealably containing the hydrogen precursor so that the gaseous hydrogen generated by the hydrogen precursor is deliverable to a hydrogen gas consumer, wherein initiation of the hydrogen precursor is responsive to fluidly coupling the sealably contained hydrogen precursor to the hydrogen gas consumer.
33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein initiation of the precursor and fluidly coupling the sealably contained hydrogen precursor to the hydrogen gas consumer occur simultaneously.
34 . The method of claim 32 , wherein providing a hydrogen precursor comprises generating gaseous hydrogen by hydrolysis, alcoholysis or thermolysis.
35 . The method of claim 32 , wherein providing a hydrogen precursor comprises providing an amount of the precursor that is operable to generate an amount of gaseous hydrogen that is approximately equal to, or greater than a hydrogen consumption requirement of the hydrogen gas consumer.
36 . The method of claim 32 , wherein providing a hydrogen precursor comprises providing more than one reactant that, upon initiation, generates the gaseous hydrogen.
37 . The method of claim 32 , wherein providing a hydrogen precursor comprises providing a metal hydride.