Hydrogen Gas Compression Techniques for Fuel Cells

Electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling system leveraging existing renewable energy microgrid infrastructure. The system uses excess renewable energy to power an electrolyzer producing hydrogen gas. The hydrogen is compressed and stored. Some is dispensed for fueling fuel cell EVs while the rest is used to generate electricity via a fuel cell to charge battery EVs.

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Feed unit for a fuel cell system with a jet pump driven by a motive jet of pressurized gas like hydrogen. The jet pump has an intake region, mixing pipe, and diffuser. The flow direction is parallel to the jet pump axis. The diffuser connects to the fuel cell anode inlet. The coaxial, rotationally symmetrical nozzle and mixing pipe geometry improves flow efficiency. The dosing valve may be a proportional valve for precise control. This provides a simplified, optimized feed unit design for fuel cell vehicles.

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Operating a fuel cell system to optimize efficiency by recovering and recycling the hydrogen and carbon dioxide from the anode exhaust. This is done using pumps to compress and separate the gases, then returning the recycled hydrogen to the fuel cell.

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Accurately adjusting hydrogen supply to a fuel cell vehicle from a liquid hydrogen storage tank based on fuel cell conditions. The system uses a bypass line with a valve and orifice to recirculate excess hydrogen back to the tank. A controller adjusts the valve based on tank pressure and flow measurements to optimize hydrogen vaporization from the tank. It also stops the compressor before opening the bypass valve when the vehicle is turned off to prevent overpressure.

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System for refueling hydrogen fuel cell-powered aircraft with minimum boil-off and leakage of cryogenic hydrogen fuel. The system uses a compressor to pressurize ambient temperature hydrogen from a storage source, and a heat exchanger to absorb excess compression heat. This heat is converted to usable energy to power the aircraft. The compressed hydrogen at ambient temperature is then transferred to the aircraft's onboard cryogenic hydrogen storage. This reduces boil-off and leakage compared to directly transferring cryogenic hydrogen.

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In a high-power fuel cell system for aircraft, a turbocharging compressor system is described that uses multiple energy sources to drive the compressor, instead of an electric motor. This reduces system weight and cost. The energy sources include compressed exhaust air from the fuel cell, compressed hydrogen gas from the storage system, waste heat recovery, an integrated electric motor, and mechanical power from the main propulsion motor. The turbocharging compressor integrates these energy sources to provide air flow to the fuel cell stack.

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A method and apparatus for generating hydrogen onsite at a location of use, like a vehicle fuel cell, using energy compression to efficiently produce more hydrogen energy than the electrical input energy. It involves discharging capacitors in series through a flashlamp to create a high power pulse, which reacts with a photocatalyst in water to produce large amounts of hydrogen. This enables standalone hydrogen production to meet fuel cell needs without using more energy than the hydrogen produced. It avoids the inefficiency of central hydrogen production and distribution.

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Reducing the concentration of hydrogen in cathode exhaust from a fuel cell stack. This is done by selectively recirculating cathode air when hydrogen is supplied to the anode, and discharging ambient air when supplied to the cathode. It uses valves and an air compressor to store and release cathode air to lower hydrogen levels. This prevents hydrogen leakage from the fuel cell exhaust.

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Hydrogen filling system for fuel cell electric vehicles that prevents freezing of the fueling receptacle during fast hydrogen filling and overheating of the hydrogen tank. The system uses a buffer line connected between the fuel supply line and the fueling receptacle. Heat from compressed hydrogen flowing through the buffer line is used to warm the receptacle during filling, preventing freezing. A temperature sensor monitors the buffer line hydrogen temperature to detect tank overheating and avoids filling further.

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An energy-saving gas supply system for a fuel cell vehicle that can utilize the pressure energy of the high-pressure hydrogen cylinder and therefore drive the air compressor to pressurize the air to be used in the fuel cell stack. This improves energy efficiency by directly converting the pressure energy of the hydrogen into the pressure energy of the air.

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Fuel cell module configuration to prevent uneven fastening forces that can cause misalignment and leakage. The module has a hydrogen pump and gas-liquid separator fastened together with three or more points. The gasket sealing the pump and separator openings is positioned to have part outside the fastening point area. An elastic member inside this area prevents misalignment when the gasket compresses. This ensures even sealing force distribution and prevents the separator from tilting relative to the pump.

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A turbocharger-based air supply system for hydrogen fuel cells that improves efficiency compared to conventional blowers. The system uses a turbocharger with a compressor, turbine, and shaft. The turbine is driven by the fuel cell's exhaust gas flow. The compressor supplies air to the fuel cell. The turbocharger shaft is connected to a motor that can drive the compressor in addition to the exhaust gas. This allows the turbocharger to be balanced so it doesn't impede exhaust flow. The turbocharger can also be driven solely by the motor when the fuel cell is off.

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Electrochemical cell and method for compressing hydrogen gas. The cell has an anode, a palladium cathode, and an electrolyte. The cathode has a modified surface that increases the hydrogen adsorption energy. This allows the cathode to store more hydrogen under pressure than an unmodified surface. Applying a voltage causes hydrogen to collect inside the cathode, compressing it. The modified cathode surface enhances hydrogen compression in a single stage. The apparatus can compress hydrogen to high purity, pressure, and density levels using a single electrochemical compression stage.

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Fuel cell system with accurate hydrogen leak detection and improved ventilation without needing separate blowers. The system uses the main air compressor to draw in air through an inlet filter towards the fuel cell stack. A flow restrictor connects the inlet to the stack ventilation line. This creates a vacuum in the inlet that pulls air through the stack enclosure. A hydrogen sensor on the ventilation line detects any leaks.

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Process for producing compressed hydrogen gas from natural gas using a solid oxide fuel cell and electrochemical device. 1. Process steps: - A feedstream of methane and steam is supplied to the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), which uses a reforming catalyst to produce hydrogen. - The SOFC also generates electricity from the hydrogen. - At least some of the electricity powers an electrochemical device that extracts and compresses the hydrogen. - The compressed hydrogen is supplied to end-users. 2. Integration benefits: - The SOFC combines hydrogen production and power generation. - Using SOFC electricity directly avoids DC-AC-DC conversion losses. - The electrochemical device purifies and compresses hydrogen in one step. 3. Apparatus: - Solid oxide fuel cell with anode reforming catalyst to directly produce hydrogen. - Electrochemical device to extract and compress the hydrogen. - Connection between the SOFC and electrochemical device to power it.

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