Methods and apparatus for refueling reversible hydrogen-storage systems
View Patent ↗A method for refilling a hydrogen reservoir comprising a first hydrogen-storing material comprises establishing a fluid connection between the hydrogen reservoir and a cartridge containing a second hydrogen-storing material. The second hydrogen-storing material releases hydrogen at a pressure sufficient to charge the first hydrogen-storing material. Some embodiments involve heating the second hydrogen-storing material and/or allowing heat to flow between the first and second hydrogen-storing materials.
1. A method for transferring hydrogen fuel, the method comprising:
providing a hydrogen reservoir comprising a first hydrogen-storing material with a charging pressure;
providing a portable satellite cartridge containing a second hydrogen-storing material with a plateau pressure that is greater than the charging pressure of the first hydrogen-storing material;
placing the satellite cartridge in fluid communication with the hydrogen reservoir; and,
transferring hydrogen from the satellite cartridge into the hydrogen reservoir to charge the first hydrogen-storing material, wherein the pressure differential between the charging pressure of the first hydrogen-storing material and the plateau pressure of the second hydrogen-storing material facilitates the transfer of the hydrogen,
wherein the first and second hydrogen-storing materials are different from one another.
2. A method according to claim 1 comprising thermally connecting the first and second hydrogen-storing materials and allowing heat to flow from the first hydrogen-storing material to the second hydrogen-storing material while allowing the hydrogen to flow from the satellite cartridge into the hydrogen reservoir.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein providing the satellite cartridge containing the second hydrogen-storing material with the plateau pressure that is greater than the charging pressure of the first hydrogen-storing material comprises raising the plateau pressure of the second hydrogen-storing material by heating the second hydrogen-storing material.
4. A method according to claim 3 wherein heating the second hydrogen-storing material comprises passing an electrical current through the second hydrogen-storing material.
5. A method according to claim 3 wherein heating the second hydrogen-storing material comprises supplying hydrogen from the hydrogen reservoir to a fuel cell, generating electrical current at the fuel cell and passing the electrical current through an electrical heater in thermal contact with the second hydrogen-storing material.
6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising disconnecting the satellite cartridge from the hydrogen reservoir and delivering hydrogen from the hydrogen reservoir to a fuel cell at a plateau pressure of the first hydrogen-storing material.
7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising delivering hydrogen from the hydrogen reservoir to a fuel cell at a pressure that is lower than a plateau pressure of the first hydrogen-storing material.
8. A method according to claim 1 wherein placing the satellite cartridge in fluid communication with the hydrogen reservoir comprises making a fluid connection between a coupling on the satellite cartridge and a port in fluid communication with the hydrogen reservoir and opening a closure mechanism to allow the hydrogen to exit the satellite cartridge by way of the fluid connection.
9. A method according to claim 8 wherein making a fluid connection between a coupling on the satellite cartridge and a port in fluid communication with the hydrogen reservoir comprises engaging a thread of the coupling with a mating thread of the port.
10. A method according to claim 1 comprising supplying hydrogen from the hydrogen reservoir to a fuel cell while keeping the satellite cartridge in fluid communication with the hydrogen reservoir.
11. A method according to claim 10 comprising delivering hydrogen from the hydrogen reservoir to a fuel cell at a pressure that is lower than the plateau pressure of the second hydrogen-storing material.
12. A method according to claim 1 wherein, at an operating temperature, a plateau pressure of the first hydrogen-storing material is lower than a supply pressure required by the fuel cell and the plateau pressure of the second hydrogen-storing material is at least equal to the pressure required by the fuel cell.
13. A method according to claim 1 wherein, while allowing hydrogen to flow from the satellite cartridge into the hydrogen reservoir and combine with the first hydrogen-storing material, the hydrogen reservoir is on-board a portable device.
14. A method according to claim 1 comprising filling the satellite cartridge with hydrogen containing impurities and allowing the hydrogen to combine with the second hydrogen-storing material wherein the impurities remain on the second hydrogen-storing material when the hydrogen flows from the satellite cartridge into the hydrogen reservoir.
15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein transferring stops when the charging pressure of the first hydrogen-storing material becomes about equal to the plateau pressure of the second hydrogen-storing material.
16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein transferring stops when an equilibrium state is reached between a pressure in the satellite cartridge and a pressure in the hydrogen reservoir.
17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the plateau pressure of the second hydrogen-storing material becoming about equal to the charging pressure of the first hydrogen-storing material is caused by the first hydrogen-storing material being unable to further charge or by the second hydrogen-storing material being unable to further discharge.
18. A method for transferring hydrogen fuel, the method comprising:
providing a hydrogen reservoir comprising a first hydrogen-storing material with a charging pressure;
providing a portable satellite cartridge containing a second hydrogen-storing material with a plateau pressure that is greater than the charging pressure of the first hydrogen-storing material;
placing the satellite cartridge in fluid communication with the hydrogen reservoir; and,
transferring hydrogen from the satellite cartridge into the hydrogen reservoir to charge the first hydrogen-storing material, wherein the pressure differential between the charging pressure of the first hydrogen-storing material and the plateau pressure of the second hydrogen-storing material facilitates the transfer of the hydrogen;
wherein transferring stops when the charging pressure of the first hydrogen-storing material becomes about equal to the plateau pressure of the second hydrogen-storing material, or when an equilibrium state is reached between a pressure in the satellite cartridge and a pressure in the hydrogen reservoir,
wherein the first and second hydrogen-storing materials are different from one another.
19. A method for transferring hydrogen fuel, the method comprising:
providing a hydrogen reservoir comprising a first hydrogen-storing material with a charging pressure;
providing a portable satellite cartridge containing a second hydrogen-storing material with a discharge pressure that is greater than the charging pressure of the first hydrogen-storing material;
placing the satellite cartridge in fluid communication with the hydrogen reservoir; and,
transferring hydrogen from the satellite cartridge into the hydrogen reservoir to charge the first hydrogen-storing material, wherein the pressure differential between the charging pressure of the first hydrogen-storing material and the discharge pressure of the second hydrogen-storing material causes the transfer of the hydrogen,
wherein the first and second hydrogen-storing materials are different from one another.