초록 ▼

A system for increasing the overall efficiency of a hydrogen fueled vehicle and refilling station infrastructure wherein the process of (1) consuming pressurized hydrogen gas that is stored in on board tanks used to power hydrogen fueled motor vehicles and (2) refueling the vehicle tanks at a hydrog

A system for increasing the overall efficiency of a hydrogen fueled vehicle and refilling station infrastructure wherein the process of (1) consuming pressurized hydrogen gas that is stored in on board tanks used to power hydrogen fueled motor vehicles and (2) refueling the vehicle tanks at a hydrogen refilling station after the available on board fuel supply in the tanks is consumed is controlled according to a predetermined sequence involving the utilization of the hydrogen in the on board tanks.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A hydrogen powered vehicle having multiple on board tanks for the storage of hydrogen gas under pressure including a system for refilling more than one on board tank from a station refilling line connected to the tanks wherein: (1) each tank on the vehicle is connectabl

The invention claimed is: 1. A hydrogen powered vehicle having multiple on board tanks for the storage of hydrogen gas under pressure including a system for refilling more than one on board tank from a station refilling line connected to the tanks wherein: (1) each tank on the vehicle is connectable to the refilling line through a manifold and pressurized hydrogen from the refilling line flows into one or more on board tank; (2) a pressure sensitive check valve associated with each tank is interposed between the tank and the refill line wherein the tanks fill in order from the lowest pressure to the highest pressure until the rated capacity of the tank being filled is reached and the check valve associated with the tank being filled closes and pressurized hydrogen from the refilling line flows into a next one or more on board tank until the pressure in the next one or more on board tank reaches a predetermined level; and (3) the sequence of paragraph (2) is repeated for all tanks until all tanks are filled to the same predetermined pressure. 2. A system for refilling one or more on board tanks for the storage of hydrogen gas under pressure in a vehicle having multiple on board tanks from a station refilling line wherein: a. each tank on the vehicle is connectable to the refilling line through a manifold and a controllable openable and closeable valve is operatively interposed between each tank inlet and the refill line, and pressurized hydrogen from the refilling line flows into one or more on board tank until the pressure in the one or more on board tank reaches a predetermined level; and b. when the pressure in the one or more tank reaches a predetermined level, the valve on a first tank is closed after the valve on a next tank is opened, and hydrogen from the refilling line flows to the one or more next on board tank, filling the next one or more on board tank until the pressure in the next one or more on board tank reaches a predetermined level; and c. the sequence of paragraph (b) is repeated for all tanks on the vehicle until all tanks are filled to a predetermined pressure. 3. A system for refilling one or more on board tanks for the storage of hydrogen gas under pressure in a vehicle having multiple on board tanks from a station refilling line wherein: a. each tank on the vehicle is connectable to the refilling line through a manifold and a controllable openable and closeable valve is operatively interposed between each tank inlet and the refill line, and pressurized hydrogen from the refilling line flows into one or more on board tank until the pressure in the one or more on board tank reaches a predetermined level; and b. when the pressure in the one or more tank reaches a predetermined level, the valve on a next tank opens essentially simultaneously with the closing of the valve on the preceding tank that has been filled, and hydrogen from the refilling line flows to the one or more next on board tank, filling the next one or more on board tank until the pressure in the next one or more on board tank reaches a predetermined level; and c. the sequence of paragraph (b) is repeated for all tanks on the vehicle until all tanks are filled to a predetermined pressure. 4. A refilling system for a hydrogen powered vehicle having multiple on board tanks for the storage of hydrogen gas under pressure wherein each tank is connectable to a refilling line comprising: a. a connection of each tank on the vehicle for engagement with the refilling line through a manifold; b. a controllable openable and closeable valve operatively interposed between the inlet of each tank and the refill line wherein; c. an operative interconnection of each of the multiple tanks with sensors that measure pressure and temperature in the tank, the sensors being in turn interconnected with a control mechanism that opens and closes the valve associated with the tank upon a measure of a predetermined pressure and temperature sensed in the tank; wherein: d. pressurized hydrogen from the refilling line flows into one or more on board tank until the pressure in the one or more on board tank reaches a predetermined level and the control mechanism switches the refilling line flow to a next tank; and e. when the pressure in the one or more tank reaches a predetermined level, hydrogen from the refilling line flows to the one or more next on board tank, filling the next one or more on board tank until the pressure in the next one or more on board tank reaches a predetermined level; and f. the sequence of paragraph (e) is repeated for all tanks on the vehicle until all tanks are filled to one of a final predetermined pressure. 5. A system for evacuating stored hydrogen gas from multiple on board storage tanks in a hydrogen powered vehicle wherein the evacuation of each on board tank is controlled by an outlet valve and hydrogen is evacuated from the more than one on board tank to power the vehicle in a sequence wherein: if "n" represents the number of on board tanks and "z" represents a consecutive number of a tank in a sequence of tanks on board, hydrogen gas is evacuated from tank "z" until a threshold pressure is reached wherein the closing of the outlet valve on tank "z" occurs simultaneously with the opening of an inlet valve on tank "z-1" and the next successive tank "z-1" in the on board hydrogen bank is evacuated until a threshold pressure is reached, and the same steps are repeated with each successive on board tank. 6. A system for evacuating stored hydrogen gas from multiple on board storage tanks in a hydrogen powered vehicle wherein the evacuation of each on board tank is controlled by a pressure sensitive operable at a predetermined pressure sensed and hydrogen is evacuated from the more than one on board tank to power the vehicle in a sequence wherein: if "n" represents the number of on board tanks and "z" represents a consecutive number of a tank in a sequence of tanks on board, hydrogen gas is evacuated from tank "z" until a threshold pressure is reached wherein the closing of the outlet valve on tank "z" occurs simultaneously with the opening of an inlet valve on tank "z-1" and the next successive tank "z-1" in the on board hydrogen bank is evacuated until a threshold pressure is reached, and the same steps are repeated with each successive on board tank. 7. A system for evacuating stored hydrogen gas from multiple on board storage tanks in a hydrogen powered vehicle wherein the evacuation of each on board tank is controlled by an outlet valve controlled by an actuator and hydrogen is evacuated from the more than one on board tank to power the vehicle in a sequence wherein: if "n" represents the number of on board tanks and "z" represents a consecutive number of a tank in a sequence of tanks on board, hydrogen gas is evacuated from tank "z" until a threshold pressure is reached wherein the closing of the outlet valve on tank "z" occurs simultaneously with the opening of an inlet valve on tank "z-1" and the next successive tank "z-1" in the on board hydrogen bank is evacuated until a threshold pressure is reached, and the same steps are repeated with each successive on board tank. 8. A hydrogen powered vehicle having multiple on board tanks for the storage of hydrogen gas under pressure wherein the evacuation of each on board tank is controlled by an outlet valve and hydrogen is evacuated from the more than one on board tank to power the vehicle in a sequence wherein: if "n" represents the number of on board tanks and "z" represents a consecutive number of a tank in a sequence of tanks on board, hydrogen gas is evacuated from tank "Z" until a threshold pressure is reached wherein the opening of the outlet valve on tank "z-1" occurs before the closing of the outlet valve on tank "z" and the next successive tank "z-1" in the on board hydrogen bank is evacuated until a threshold pressure is reached, and the same steps are repeated with each successive on board tank. 9. A system for evacuating stored hydrogen gas from multiple on board storage tanks in a hydrogen powered vehicle wherein the evacuation of each on board tank is controlled by an outlet valve and hydrogen is evacuated from the more than one on board tank to power the vehicle in a sequence wherein: if "n" represents the number of on board tanks and "z" represents a consecutive number of a tank in a sequence of tanks on board, hydrogen gas is evacuated from tank "z" until a threshold pressure is reached wherein the opening of the outlet valve on tank "z-1" occurs before the closing of the outlet valve on tank "z" and the next successive tank "z-1" in the on board hydrogen bank is evacuated until a threshold pressure is reached, and the same steps are repeated with each successive on board tank. 10. A system for evacuating stored hydrogen gas from multiple on board storage tanks in a hydrogen powered vehicle wherein the evacuation of each on board tank is controlled by a pressure sensitive valve operable at a predetermined pressure sensed and hydrogen is evacuated from the more than one on board tank to power the vehicle in a sequence wherein: if "n" represents the number of on board tanks and "z" represents a consecutive number of a tank in a sequence of tanks on board, hydrogen gas is evacuated from tank "z" until a threshold pressure is reached wherein the opening of the outlet valve on tank "z-1" occurs before the closing of the outlet valve on tank "z" and the next successive tank "z-1" in the on board hydrogen bank is evacuated until a threshold pressure is reached, and the same steps are repeated with each successive on board tank. 11. A system for evacuating stored hydrogen gas from multiple on board storage tanks in a hydrogen powered vehicle wherein the evacuation of each on board tank is controlled by an actuator activated outlet valve and hydrogen is evacuated from the more than one on board tank to power the vehicle in a sequence wherein: if "n" represents the number of on board tanks and "z" represents a consecutive number of a tank in a sequence of tanks on board, hydrogen gas is evacuated from tank "z" until a threshold pressure is reached wherein the opening of the outlet valve on tank "z-1" occurs before the closing of the outlet valve on tank "z" and the next successive tank "z-1" in the on board hydrogen bank is evacuated until a threshold pressure is reached, and the same steps are repeated with each successive on board tank. 12. A hydrogen powered vehicle having multiple on board tanks for the storage of hydrogen gas under pressure, a manifold having switchable inlet valves associated with the outlet of each tank and valves associated with the manifold are operatively interconnected separately with the outlet of each tank such that the flow of gas from a particular tank is determined by whether the manifold valve associated with the tank is open or closed, and in which hydrogen is evacuated from the more than one on board tank to power the vehicle in a sequence wherein: if "n" represents the number of on board tanks and "z" represents a consecutive number of a tank in a sequence of tanks on board, hydrogen gas is evacuated from tank "z" until a threshold pressure is reached whereupon the closing of a manifold valve associated with tank "z" occurs simultaneously with the opening of a manifold valve associated with tank "z-1" until a threshold pressure is reached, and the same steps are repeated with each successive on board tank. 13. A hydrogen powered vehicle having multiple on board tanks for the storage of hydrogen gas under pressure, a manifold having switchable inlet valves associated with the outlet of each tank and valves associated with the manifold are operatively interconnected separately with the outlet of each tank such that the flow of gas from a particular tank is determined by whether the manifold valve associated with the tank is open or closed, and in which hydrogen is evacuated from the more than one on board tank to power the vehicle in a sequence wherein: if "n" represents the number of on board tanks and "z" represents a consecutive number of a tank in a sequence of tanks on board, hydrogen gas is evacuated from tank "z" until a threshold pressure is reached whereupon the opening of a manifold valve associated with tank "z-1" occurs before the closing of a manifold valve associated with tank "z" until a threshold pressure is reached, and the same steps are repeated with each successive on board tank. 14. A hydrogen powered vehicle having multiple on board tanks for the storage of hydrogen gas under pressure wherein the evacuation of hydrogen from each on board tank is controlled by an outlet valve and the outlet valve on each of the multiple tanks is operably interconnected to sensors that measure pressure and temperature in the tank, wherein the sensors in turn are interconnected with a control mechanism that opens and closes the valve dependent upon the pressure and temperature sensed, and the one or more on board tanks are evacuated in a sequence wherein: if "n" represents the number of on board tanks and "z" represents a consecutive number of a tank in a sequence of tanks on board, hydrogen gas is evacuated from tank "z" until a threshold pressure is reached whereupon tank "z" is shut down and the next successive tank "z-1" in the on board hydrogen bank is evacuated until a threshold pressure is reached, and the same steps are repeated with each successive on board tank. 15. A hydrogen powered vehicle having multiple on board tanks for the storage of hydrogen gas under pressure wherein the evacuation of hydrogen from each on board tank is controlled by a pressure sensitive outlet valve and the outlet valve on each of the multiple tanks is operably interconnected to sensors that measure pressure and temperature in the tank, wherein the sensors in turn are interconnected with a control mechanism that opens and closes the valve dependent upon the pressure and temperature sensed, and than one or more on board tanks are evacuated in a sequence wherein: if "n" represents the number of on board tanks and "z" represents a consecutive number of a tank in a sequence of tanks on board, hydrogen gas is evacuated from tank "z" until a threshold pressure is reached whereupon tank "z" is shut down and the next successive tank "z-1" in the on board hydrogen bank is evacuated until a threshold pressure is reached, and the same steps are repeated with each successive on board tank. 16. A hydrogen powered vehicle having multiple on board tanks for the storage of hydrogen gas under pressure wherein the evacuation of hydrogen from each on board tank is determined by a pressure sensitive outlet valve controllable by an actuator and the outlet valve on each of the multiple tanks is operably interconnected to sensors that measure pressure and temperature in the tank, wherein the sensors in turn are interconnected with a control mechanism that opens and closes the valve dependent upon the pressure and temperature sensed, and than one or more on board tanks are evacuated in a sequence wherein: if "n" represents the number of on board tanks and "z" represents a consecutive number of a tank in a sequence of tanks on board, hydrogen gas is evacuated from tank "z" until a threshold pressure is reached whereupon tank "z" is shut down and the next successive tank "z-1" in the on board hydrogen bank is evacuated until a threshold pressure is reached, and the same steps are repeated with each successive on board tank. 17. A hydrogen powered vehicle having multiple on board tanks for the storage of hydrogen gas under pressure including: a manifold having switchable inlet valves associated with the outlet of each tank wherein the manifold inlet valves are operatively interconnected separately with the outlet of each tank such that the flow of gas from a particular tank is determined by whether the manifold inlet valve associated with the tank is open or closed; an interconnection of each inlet valve on the manifold with a sensor that measures pressure in one or more of the manifold inlet or outlet and the tank, the sensor being in turn interconnected with a control mechanism that opens and closes the valve dependent upon the pressure sensed; wherein hydrogen is evacuated from the more than one on board tank to power the vehicle, in the sequence: if "n" represents the number of on board tanks and "z" represents a consecutive number of a tank in the sequence of tanks on board, hydrogen gas is evacuated from tank "z" until a threshold pressure is reached whereupon tank "z" is shut down and the next successive tank "z-1" in the on board hydrogen bank is evacuated until a threshold pressure is reached, and the same steps are repeated with each successive on board tank.