Patent Grant
11885465
This disclosure relates generally to refueling fuel tanks, and, more particularly, to systems for refueling hydrogen tanks and methods for operating the same.
In recent years, hydrogen-powered vehicles (e.g., automotives, aircraft, buses, ships, etc.) have become more prevalent. As such, advancements in hydrogen storage tanks and refueling measures for such tanks are ever increasing. A typical liquid hydrogen (LH2) refueling system includes a supply tank and/or trailer, a flow control valve, a volumetric flowmeter, a cryogenic valve, and vacuum jacketed flowlines. Along with the onboard LH2 tank(s), some hydrogen-powered vehicles (e.g., aircraft) include a cryogenic pump or other mechanism(s) to supply gaseous hydrogen (GH2) to engine(s) for combustion and power generation. Some hydrogen-powered vehicles include onboard cryo-compressed hydrogen (CcH2) tank(s) to store hydrogen in a supercritical state (e.g., supercritical gas) at pressures higher than LH2 tanks but at similar densities. For example, CcH2 tanks can store CcH2 with densities ranging from 36 kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m3) to 83 kg/m3, pressures ranging from 100 bar to 350 bar, and cryogenic temperatures ranging from 40 Kelvin (K) to 70 K.
A full and enabling disclosure of the preferred embodiments, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended Figures, in which:
The figures are not to scale. Instead, the thickness of the layers or regions may be enlarged in the drawings. In general, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the same or like parts. As used in this patent, stating that any part (e.g., a layer, film, area, region, or plate) is in any way on (e.g., positioned on, located on, disposed on, or formed on, etc.) another part, indicates that the referenced part is either in contact with the other part, or that the referenced part is above the other part with one or more intermediate part(s) located therebetween. Connection references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, joined, detached, decoupled, disconnected, separated, etc.) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a collection of elements and relative movement between elements unless otherwise indicated. As used herein, the term “decouplable” refers to the capability of two parts to be attached, connected, and/or otherwise joined and then be detached, disconnected, and/or otherwise non-destructively separated from each other (e.g., by removing one or more fasteners, removing a connecting part, etc.). As such, connection/disconnection references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other. Stating that any part is in “contact” with another part means that there is no intermediate part between the two parts.
Descriptors “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., are used herein when identifying multiple elements or components which may be referred to separately. Unless otherwise specified or understood based on their context of use, such descriptors are not intended to impute any meaning of priority, physical order or arrangement in a list, or ordering in time but are merely used as labels for referring to multiple elements or components separately for ease of understanding the disclosed examples. In some examples, the descriptor “first” may be used to refer to an element in the detailed description, while the same element may be referred to in a claim with a different descriptor such as “second” or “third.” In such instances, it should be understood that such descriptors are used merely for ease of referencing multiple elements or components.
The operations of systems for refueling a hydrogen-powered vehicle (e.g., aircraft, cars, trucks, ships, etc.) with liquid hydrogen (LH2) include an LH2 supply tank (e.g., on a supply truck/trailer) often of the same structure or functionality as onboard LH2 tank(s). The refueling system uses a pump and other apparatus to provide the hydrogen aircraft with the LH2 at a correct temperature and saturated pressure. Some vehicles or machines, such as other hydrogen aircraft, spacecraft, municipal power, etc. use cryo-compressed hydrogen (CcH2) tank(s) instead of LH2 tank(s) to store the hydrogen fuel for power generation. In some examples used herein, “cryo-compressed hydrogen” refers to hydrogen (e.g., LH2, gaseous hydrogen (GH2), hydrogen vapor, etc.) that has been compressed to pressures greater than a critical point of hydrogen (e.g., 13 bar) while at cryogenic temperatures (e.g. 40 K to 70 K). For example, upon reaching such pressures and temperatures, LH2 phase shifts into a supercritical fluid and can then be referred to as CcH2. Some hydrogen aircraft include onboard CcH2 tank(s) instead of onboard LH2 tank(s) so that a cryogenic pump is not included on the aircraft. Rather, the CcH2 is already highly compressed (e.g., up to 350 bar) in the onboard CcH2 tank(s) and can be provided to the engines for combustion via a pressure-driven fuel supply system. Including the onboard CcH2 tank(s) without the cryogenic pump can save weight and space on the hydrogen aircraft compared to the other hydrogen aircraft that include the onboard LH2 tank(s) and the LH2 pump. The examples disclosed herein include systems for refueling CcH2 tank(s) onboard a vehicle (e.g., a hydrogen aircraft, a spacecraft, or another vehicle that uses CcH2 fuel) or integrated into a power generation facility (e.g., a municipal power plant that uses CcH2 fuel) up to a target pressure and temperature such that the target pressure and temperature are achieved together and the CcH2 does not convert back into LH2.
In the examples disclosed herein, the CcH2 refueling systems can be used to refuel onboard CcH2 tank(s) and/or other example CcH2 tank(s), vessel(s), and/or container(s) up to the target pressure while controlling the temperature in the example CcH2 tanks. During a refuel process with the example CcH2 refueling systems, a reverse Joule-Thomson effect of hydrogen causes the temperature of CcH2 in portions of the CcH2 refueling systems and in the CcH2 tanks to decrease. In thermodynamics, the Joule-Thomson effect describes a temperature change of a real gas that occurs while the real gas flows from a high pressure area to a low pressure area through an orifice, otherwise known as throttling. At room temperature and with constant enthalpy, hydrogen warms upon expansion due to the Joule-Thomson effect. However, at cryogenic temperatures (e.g., CcH2 temperatures of 40 K, 50 K, 70 K, etc.), the Joule-Thomson effect of hydrogen reverses causing hydrogen to cool upon expansion. In the examples disclosed herein, the CcH2 refueling systems include valves (e.g., proportional valves, regulator valves, cryogenic valves, etc.) that throttle the CcH2 fuel causing expansion and cooling of the CcH2 downstream of the valves and in the example CcH2 tanks. The examples disclosed herein include CcH2 refueling systems that introduce gaseous hydrogen to the CcH2 fuel during the refuel process to controllably warm the CcH2 fuel and counteract the reverse Joule-Thomson effect of CcH2.
The example CcH2 refueling systems disclosed herein include a CcH2 refueler, a CcH2 source, and a supercritical hydrogen (sH2) source to refuel a CcH2 tank and/or vessel (e.g., onboard an aircraft, onboard a spacecraft, integrated into a municipal power system, etc.) up to a target pressure at a target temperature. The example CcH2 source can include a cryogenic pump to cryogenically compress LH2 into CcH2. Additionally or alternatively, the example CcH2 source can include or a CcH2 supply tank. The example sH2 source can include a vaporizer to warm a portion of the CcH2 fuel up to near ambient temperatures (e.g., 310 K when the ambient temperature is 313 K, or 230 K when the ambient temperature is 233 K). Additionally or alternatively, the example sH2 source can include hydrogen storage tanks capable of storing hydrogen at high pressures (e.g., 20 bar or greater) and near ambient temperatures such that the sH2 can be kept in the supercritical state. In the examples disclosed herein, the CcH2 refueler includes a mixing tank to combine CcH2 from the CcH2 source and sH2 from the sH2 source prior to fueling the CcH2 tank with the CcH2 fuel. The example CcH2 refueler controller causes an adjustment to the flowrate of sH2 entering the mixing tank to control the temperature of the CcH2 fuel being supplied to the CcH2 tank. For example, when the temperature of the CcH2 tank does not satisfy a target temperature (e.g., when the temperature falls below 40 K), then the CcH2 refueler controller causes the flowrate of sH2 into the mixing tank to increase until the temperature of the CcH2 tank satisfies the target temperature or until a temperature of the mixing tank satisfies the target temperature (e.g., or a target temperature of the mixing tank).
In some examples used herein, “saturated pressure” refers to a vapor pressure acting on the walls of a tank (e.g., a LH2 supply tank and/or an onboard LH2 tank) and the surface of a liquid (e.g., LH2) within the tank when the vapor is in equilibrium with the liquid. That is, when the temperature of the liquid remains relatively constant and does not increase enough to cause further evaporation, the vapor is considered to be in equilibrium with the liquid. The example onboard CcH2 tank 206 is referred to store CcH2 at a “pressure” rather than at a “saturated pressure” because the CcH2 within the onboard CcH2 tank 206 is a supercritical fluid with no LH2 present.
In some examples used herein, “upstream” and “downstream” refer to the relative direction with respect to fluid flow in a fluid pathway. The term “upstream” refers to the direction from which the fluid flows, and “downstream” refers to the direction to which the fluid flows. For example, if a system includes a pump and a flowmeter, and the flowmeter measures a flowrate of fluid exiting the pump, then the flowmeter is downstream of the pump, and the pump is upstream of the flowmeter.
In some examples used herein, “including” and “comprising” (and all forms and tenses thereof) are used herein to be open ended terms. Thus, whenever a claim employs any form of “include” or “comprise” (e.g., comprises, includes, comprising, including, having, etc.) as a preamble or within a claim recitation of any kind, it is to be understood that additional elements, terms, etc. may be present without falling outside the scope of the corresponding claim or recitation. As used herein, when the phrase “at least” is used as the transition term in, for example, a preamble of a claim, it is open-ended in the same manner as the term “comprising” and “including” are open ended. The term “and/or” when used, for example, in a form such as A, B, and/or C refers to any combination or subset of A, B, C such as (1) A alone, (2) B alone, (3) C alone, (4) A with B, (5) A with C, (6) B with C, and (7) A with B and with C. As used herein in the context of describing structures, components, items, objects and/or things, the phrase “at least one of A and B” is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B. Similarly, as used herein in the context of describing structures, components, items, objects and/or things, the phrase “at least one of A or B” is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B. As used herein in the context of describing the performance or execution of processes, instructions, actions, activities and/or steps, the phrase “at least one of A and B” is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B. Similarly, as used herein in the context of describing the performance or execution of processes, instructions, actions, activities and/or steps, the phrase “at least one of A or B” is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B.
As used herein, singular references (e.g., “a”, “an”, “first”, “second”, etc.) do not exclude a plurality. The term “a” or “an” entity, as used herein, refers to one or more of that entity. The terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more”, and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method actions may be implemented by, e.g., a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different examples or claims, these may possibly be combined, and the inclusion in different examples or claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous.
For the figures disclosed herein, identical numerals indicate the same elements throughout the figures. The example illustration of
The example system 100 illustrated in
The example system 100 illustrated in
In some examples, the aircraft 104 includes a cryogenic pump (e.g., an LH2 pump) to supply LH2 fuel to other components of the fuel supply line (e.g., heat exchangers, compressors, buffer tanks, etc.) and ultimately to the combustor(s) of the engine(s). Since the saturated pressure in the example onboard LH2 tank 106 has a limited range (e.g., one bar to ten bar), the internal saturated pressure is not enough to drive the LH2 fuel through the fuel supply line. Hence, the cryogenic pump is included with the example onboard LH2 tank 106 to send the LH2 to a heat exchanger and/or a compressor causing a phase change to GH2. Then, the GH2 can be further supplied, via the cryogenic pump and/or another pump, to the combustor(s) as fuel.
The example system 100 illustrated in
The example system 100 illustrated in
The example system 100 illustrated in
The example refueler valve 112 illustrated in
The example system 100 illustrated in
As described previously, the example onboard LH2 tank 106 is located on the example hydrogen aircraft 104 to store LH2 fuel for hydrogen-powered turbine engine(s). The example hydrogen-powered turbine engine(s) combust a mixture of compressed hydrogen and compressed air and/or oxygen to generate thrust. The example aircraft 104 may also include a cryogenic pump (e.g., an LH2 pump) to drive a fuel supply system and compress the LH2 leaving the onboard LH2 tank 106. In the examples disclosed herein, CcH2 refueling systems are used to supply an example vehicle (e.g., an aircraft, car, truck, etc.) with CcH2 fuel without including the cryogenic pump onboard the example vehicle, thus conserving weight and space.
The example system 100 illustrated in
The example system 200 illustrated in
The example system 200 illustrated in
In some examples, the onboard CcH2 tank 206 can store CcH2 at a density similar to the density of LH2 in the example onboard LH2 tank 106, but at different pressures and temperatures. For example, the onboard CcH2 tank 206 stores CcH2 at a density of 64.2 kg/m3 at a pressure of 300 bar and a temperature of 70 K, while the onboard LH2 tank 106 stores the LH2 at the same density but at a saturated pressure of 3.4 bar and a temperature of 25 K. In some examples, the onboard CcH2 tank 206 is a dual wall cryostat including an inner cryovessel and an outer vacuum vessel. The example cryovessel of the onboard CcH2 tank 206 includes a thicker wall than that of the example onboard LH2 tank 106, but the example vacuum vessel of the onboard CcH2 tank 206 is of the same wall thickness as that of the onboard LH2 tank 106 because the vacuum vessels of the two tanks 106, 206 are designed for the same pressure differential (e.g., 0.5 atmosphere(atm), 0.25 atm, 1 atm, etc.). In some examples, both the cryovessel and the vacuum vessel of the onboard CcH2 tank 206 are type-3 vessels, which include an aluminum liner fully wrapped with a fiber-resin composite.
The example system 200 illustrated in
The example system 200 illustrated in
The example system 200 illustrated in
The example system 200 illustrated in
The example system 200 illustrated in
The example system 200 illustrated in
The example system 200 illustrated in
The example system 200 illustrated in
In some examples, after the refueling process is over, the temperature of the CcH2 downstream of the vaporizer 228 (e.g., in the mixing tank 220) can increase over time. During that time, pressures within the CcH2 refueler 202 and downstream of the cryogenic pump 216 can increase. Additionally or alternatively, during the refueling process, CcH2 can build up and/or solidify in the vaporizer 228 creating a blockage of flow (e.g., an ice block) and an increase of pressure upstream of the vaporizer 228. The example system 200 includes the example check valve 230 to prevent the pressure directly downstream of the cryogenic pump 216 from exceeding a pressure threshold. For example, if the pressure downstream of the vaporizer 228 is 50 bar prior to the refuel process, and if the check valve 230 is not included, then the cryogenic pump 220 has to provide a startup output pressure of at least 50 bar to drive the flow downstream. This can cause the flow to reverse upon startup, which can damage the cryogenic pump 216 or cause the CcH2 to flow upstream into the LH2 supply tank 102. The example check valve 230 allows the CcH2 fluid to flow in a first direction (e.g., from the proportional valve 108 to the vaporizer 228) but not in a second direction, opposite from the first direction. In some examples, the check valve 230 includes a body, an inlet port, and an outlet port and works automatically without the CcH2 refueler controller 238 operating the check valve 230 or causing a mechanism in the valve to actuate. The example check valve 230 can be designed with a reseal pressure specification that prevents a sufficiently significant back pressure from forming. For example, the check valve 230 is designed to close off, inhibit, and/or prevent the reversal of CcH2 flow when the pressure differential between the inlet and outlet ports satisfies a differential threshold (e.g., a pressure differential of one bar, 1.5 bar, 0.5 bar, etc.).
In some examples, the system 200 is refueling the aircraft 204 after a flight in which a portion (e.g., 95%, 90%, 80%, etc.) of the CcH2 fuel has been used. As previously mentioned, the example onboard CcH2 tank 206 is isobaric and may deliver the CcH2 fuel to the engines while maintaining a constant pressure. Therefore, the example onboard CcH2 tanks 206 may be above a preliminary pressure threshold prior to the refueling process. The preliminary pressure threshold (e.g., 1 bar, 5 bar, 10 bar, etc.) is the pressure that the onboard CcH2 tank 206 is to have before the refueling process can begin. So, in some example use cases, the refuel process includes defueling unused CcH2 from the example aircraft 204 to reduce the pressure in the onboard CcH2 tank 206 prior to refueling.
The example system 200 illustrated in
The example system 200 illustrated in
In some examples, the CcH2 refueler 202 is to refuel the example aircraft 204 after landing and/or defueling, at which point the onboard CcH2 tank 206 may contain a small portion of CcH2 (e.g., 10% capacity, 15% capacity, etc.) at high pressures (e.g., 100 bar to 350 bar) and high temperatures (e.g., 350 K, 250 K, etc.). Prior to refueling, the example CcH2 refueler controller 238 determines whether the onboard pressure satisfies the preliminary pressure threshold (e.g., 5 bar, 20 bar, 30 bar, etc.). When the example onboard pressure is greater than the preliminary pressure threshold, then the CcH2 refueler 202 causes the defueler valve 232 to open to a desired flowrate. In some examples, when the pressure of the onboard CcH2 tank 206 does not satisfy the pressure threshold and when the pressure of the mixing tank 220 is less than the pressure of the onboard CcH2 tank 206, then the split valve 234 directs/diverts the CcH2 to the mixing tank 220. In some examples, when the pressure of the onboard CcH2 tank 206 does not satisfy the pressure threshold and when the pressure of the mixing tank 220 is greater than or equal to the pressure of the onboard CcH2 tank 206, then the split valve 234 directs/diverts the CcH2 from the onboard CcH2 tank 206 to the hydrogen containers 236 and/or another secondary destination (e.g., atmosphere). The example hydrogen containers 236 illustrated in
The example system 200 illustrated in
The example flowrate loop circuitry 244 illustrated in
In response to detecting the actual flowrate and determining the target flowrate, the example flowrate loop circuitry 244 can send a command to the pump motor 218 to increase or decrease the speed of the motor based on the actual and target flowrates. In some examples, the flowrate loop circuitry 244 calculates a flowrate error between the actual and target flowrates and continues to send the command to the pump motor 218 until the flowrate error satisfies a flowrate error threshold (e.g., 0.001 m3/s, 0.005 m3/s, etc.). For example, if the actual flowrate is 0.01 m3/s, and the target flowrate is 0.015 m3/s, then the flowrate loop circuitry 244 instructs the pump motor 218 to increase the operational speed of the pump motor 218 until the flowrate reaches 0.015 m3/s. Additionally or alternatively, the flowrate loop circuitry 244 can continue to send the instructions to the pump motor 218 until the flowrate error satisfies the flowrate error threshold. For example, until the actual flowrate reaches 0.014 m3/s or 0.016 m3/s, given a flowrate error threshold of 0.001 m3/s. In some examples, the flowrate loop circuitry 244 continually receives actual flowrate measurements, determines and/or receives target flowrate, calculates the flowrate error, and sends commands to the pump motor 218 until the flowrate error is sufficiently close to zero.
The example pressure loop circuitry 246 illustrated in
In response to receiving the target pressure (e.g., 100 bar) and the actual pressure (e.g., 20 bar), the example pressure loop circuitry 246 can determine an intermediate target pressure (e.g., 22 bar) that is sufficiently higher than the actual pressure but not so high as to cause any catastrophic pressure increases to the system 200 (e.g., a pressure increase that causes a leak, rupture, deformation, etc.). In response to determining the intermediate target pressure, the example pressure loop circuitry 246 can command the cryogenic pump 216 to output a pressure of 22 bar to introduce positive pressure head to the system 200. In some examples, the cryogenic pump 216 adjusts actuation of the cold end piston to compress the LH2 into a smaller displacement volume in a cylinder of the cryogenic pump 216 to increase the output pressure (e.g., displacement volume of 200 cubic centimeters (cm3) for a 20 bar output versus displacement volume of 195 cm3 for a 22 bar output). In some examples, the pressure loop circuitry 246 calculates a pressure error between the actual and intermediate target pressures and continues to send the command to the cryogenic pump 216 until the pressure error satisfies a pressure error threshold (e.g., 0.25 bar, 0.5 bar, 1 bar, etc.). For example, when the actual pressure of the mixing tank 220 is 20 bar, and the intermediate target pressure is 22 bar, then the pressure loop circuitry 246 instructs the cryogenic pump 216 to increase the output pressure of the CcH2 until the actual pressure of the mixing tank 220 is 22 bar. Additionally or alternatively, the pressure loop circuitry 246 can continue to send the instructions to the cryogenic pump 216 until the pressure error satisfies the pressure error threshold. For example, until the actual pressure reaches 21.75 bar or 22.25 bar, given a pressure error threshold of 0.25 bar. In some examples, the pressure loop circuitry 246 causes the system to end the refueling process and to shut off the example refueler valve 112 in response to the actual pressure of the onboard CcH2 tank 206 reaching the target pressure and/or increasing to a value sufficiently close to the target pressure (e.g., 99 bar, 99.5 bar, 101 bar, etc.). In some examples, the pressure loop circuitry 246 continually receives actual pressure measurements, determines and/or receives target pressures and/or intermediate target pressures, calculates the pressure error, and sends commands to the cryogenic pump 216 until the pressure error is sufficiently close to zero.
The example temperature loop circuitry 248 illustrated in
In some examples, the temperature loop circuitry 248 calculates a temperature error between the actual and target temperature and continues to send the command to the proportional valve 108 until the temperature error satisfies a temperature error threshold (e.g., 0.1 K, 0.2 K, 0.5 K, etc.). In some examples, the temperature loop circuitry 248 continues to send the instructions to the proportional valve 108 until the temperature error satisfies the temperature error threshold. For example, until the actual temperature reaches 39.9 K or 40.1 K, given a temperature error threshold of 0.1 K. In some examples, the temperature loop circuitry 248 continually receives actual temperature measurements, determines and/or receives target temperature(s), calculates the temperature error, and sends commands to the proportional valve 108 until the temperature error is sufficiently close to zero.
The example position loop circuitry 250 illustrated in
In some examples, the position loop circuitry 250 calculates a position error between the actual and target positions and continues to send the command to the proportional valve 108 to actuate the valve member until the position error satisfies a position error threshold (e.g., 0.01 cm, 0.05 cm, 0.1 cm, etc.). In some examples, the position loop circuitry 250 continues to send the instructions to the proportional valve 108 until the position error satisfies the position error threshold. For example, until the actual position reaches 4.95 cm or 5.05 cm, given the position error threshold of 0.05 cm. In some examples, the position loop circuitry 250 continually and/or simultaneously receives actual position(s), determines and/or receives target position(s), calculates the position error(s), and sends commands to the cryogenic pump 216, the pump motor 218, the proportional valve 108, the refueler valve 112, the defueler valve 232, and/or the split valve 234 until the position error is sufficiently close to zero.
The example system 300 illustrated in
The example system 300 illustrated in
Since the hydrogen storage tanks 302 do not provide sH2 to the mixing tank 220 at a same or similar pressure as the internal pressure of the mixing tank 220 (like the example vaporizer 228 of
The example system 300 illustrated in
In some examples, the position loop circuitry 250 detects an actual position of a valve member in the regulator valve 304 that facilitates the output pressure. The example position loop circuitry 250 can also determine a target position of the valve member based on the output pressure of the regulator valve 304 and the actual pressure of the mixing tank 220. In some examples, the position loop circuitry 250 causes the regulator valve 304 to actuate the valve member until the actual position matches the target position, until a positional error is sufficiently close to zero, or until the pressure loop circuitry 246 determines that the pressure error is sufficiently close to zero, as described previously.
The example system 400 illustrated in
The example system 400 illustrated in
The example hydrogen aircraft 500 illustrated in
The example hydrogen aircraft 500 illustrated in
The example hydrogen aircraft 500 illustrated in
The example hydrogen aircraft 500 illustrated in
The example hydrogen aircraft 500 illustrated in
At block 802, the CcH2 refueler controller 238 determines whether an onboard pressure in the onboard CcH2 tank 206 satisfies a preliminary pressure threshold. For example, the pressure loop circuitry 246 requests an onboard pressure measurement from a first pressure sensor 208. When the pressure loop circuitry 246 determines that the onboard pressure does satisfy the preliminary pressure threshold (e.g., if the onboard pressure is below 10 bar), then the process/operation 800 proceeds to block 814.
When the pressure loop circuitry 246 determines that the onboard pressure does not satisfy the preliminary pressure threshold, then the process/operation 800 proceeds to block 804, where the CcH2 refueler controller 238 opens a defueler valve 232. For example, the position loop circuitry 250 sends a signal to an electronically-actuated valve mechanism of the defueler valve 232 that causes flow of the CcH2 in the onboard CcH2 tank 206 to flow to the split valve 234.
At block 806, the CcH2 refueler controller 238 determines whether a pressure of the mixing tank 220 is less than the onboard pressure of the onboard CcH2 tank 206. For example, the pressure loop circuitry 246 continually monitors the onboard pressure via the first pressure sensor 208 and the pressure of the mixing tank 220 via the second pressure sensor 222 and calculates a difference between the two. The pressure loop circuitry 246 can determine that the condition of block 806 is satisfied when the onboard pressure minus the pressure of the mixing tank 220 is a negative value. When the pressure loop circuitry 246 determines that the pressure of the mixing tank 220 is not less than the onboard pressure of the onboard CcH2 tank 206, then the process/operation 800 proceeds to block 810.
When the pressure loop circuitry 246 determines that the pressure of the mixing tank 220 is less than the onboard pressure, then the process/operation 800 proceeds to block 808, where the CcH2 refueler controller 238 causes the split valve 234 to direct the CcH2 flow from the onboard CcH2 tank 206 to the mixing tank 220. For example, the position loop circuitry 250 detects an actual position of a valve mechanism of the split valve 234 and instructs the valve mechanism to actuate to target position that achieves directional flow to the mixing tank 220.
At block 810, when the pressure loop circuitry 246 determines that the pressure of the mixing tank 220 is not less than the onboard pressure, then the CcH2 refueler controller 238 causes the split valve 234 to direct the CcH2 flow from the onboard CcH2 tank 206 to the hydrogen containers 236 or a secondary destination, such as atmosphere. For example, the position loop circuitry 250 detects the actual position of the valve mechanism of the split valve 234 and instructs the valve mechanism to actuate to target position that achieves directional flow to the hydrogen containers 236.
At block 812, the CcH2 refueler controller 238 determines whether the onboard pressure satisfies the preliminary pressure threshold. For example, the pressure loop circuitry 246 reads the onboard pressure measurement from the first pressure sensor 208 and determines if the onboard pressure is less than the predetermined preliminary pressure threshold. When the pressure loop circuitry 246 determines that the onboard pressure does not satisfy the preliminary pressure threshold, then the process/operation 800 returns to block 806.
When the pressure loop circuitry 246 determines that the onboard pressure does satisfy the preliminary pressure threshold, then the process/operation 800 proceeds to block 814, where the CcH2 refueler controller 238 causes the refueler valve 112 to open. For example, the position loop circuitry 250 sends instruction(s) to a valve mechanism of the refueler valve 112 to fully open and permit flow of the CcH2 fuel to the onboard CcH2 tank 206.
At block 816, the example CcH2 refueler 202 facilitates refueling of the onboard CcH2 tank 206 as described in further detail in reference to an example process/operation 900 of
Once the example process/operation 900 to refuel the onboard CcH2 tank 206 ends, process/operation 800 proceeds to block 818, where the CcH2 refueler controller 238 causes the refueler valve 112 to close. For example, the position loop circuitry 250 instructs the valve mechanism of the refueler valve 112 to fully shut off the flow, at which point the process/operation 800 ends.
The example process/operation 900 begins at block 902, where the CcH2 refueler controller determines an intermediate target pressure of the mixing tank 220 based on the onboard pressure. For example, the pressure loop circuitry 246 determines, based on written instructions, a set of rules, and/or user input(s), that the intermediate target pressure is to be slightly higher (e.g., 1 bar, 2 bar, 5 bar etc.) than the actual onboard pressure to facilitate a positive pressure head in the systems 200, 300, and/or 400.
At block 904, the CcH2 refueler controller 202 causes pressurization of the mixing tank 220 based on the intermediate target pressure. For example, the position loop circuitry 250 sends instruction(s) to the cryogenic pump 216 to adjust an output pressure to sufficiently match (e.g., within 0.1 bar, 0.05 bar, 0.2 bar, etc.) the intermediate target pressure.
At block 906, the CcH2 refueler controller 202 determines whether an actual flowrate of the CcH2 satisfies a target flowrate. For example, the flowrate loop circuitry 244 calculates a flowrate error between the actual flowrate and the target flowrate, where the actual flowrate is based on a measurement of the flowmeter 110, and the target flowrate is based on the written instruction(s), set of rules, and/or user input(s). When the flowrate loop circuitry 244 determines that the actual flowrate does satisfy the target flowrate (e.g., if the flowrate error is sufficiently near zero (e.g., 0.001 m3/s, 0.0001 m3/s, 0.005 m3/s, etc.)), then the process/operation 900 proceeds to block 910.
When the flowrate loop circuitry 244 determines that the actual flowrate does not satisfy the target flowrate, then the process/operation 900 proceeds to block 908, where the CcH2 refueler controller 238 adjusts the flowrate upstream of the mixing tank 220. For example, the position loop circuitry 250 instructs the pump motor 218 to increase an operation speed or the second regulator valve 304b to increase an output pressure based on the current operational speed and/or current output pressure, the actual flowrate, and/or the target flowrate.
At block 910, the CcH2 refueler controller 238 determines whether the pressure of the mixing tank 220 satisfies the intermediate target pressure. For example, the pressure loop circuitry 246 calculates a pressure error between the mixing tank 220 pressure and the intermediate target pressure and determine if the pressure error is sufficiently close to zero (e.g., 0.1 bar, 0.05 bar, 0.025 bar, etc.). When the pressure loop circuitry 246 determines that the pressure of the mixing tank 220 does satisfy the intermediate target pressure, then process/operation 900 proceeds to block 914.
When the pressure loop circuitry 246 determines that the pressure of the mixing tank 220 does not satisfy the intermediate target pressure, then process/operation 900 proceeds to block 912, where the CcH2 refueler controller 238 adjusts the pressure upstream of the mixing tank 220. For example, the position loop circuitry 250 instructs the cryogenic pump 216 or the second regulator valve 304b to increase an output pressure based on the actual output pressure, the actual pressure of the mixing tank 220, and/or the intermediate target pressure.
At block 914, the CcH2 refueler controller 238 determines whether the onboard temperature satisfies a target temperature of the onboard CcH2 tank 206. For example, the temperature loop circuitry 248 calculates a temperature error between the actual onboard temperature and the target temperature, where the actual temperature is based on a measurement of the first temperature sensor 210, and the target temperature is based on written instruction(s), set of rules, and/or user input(s). When the temperature loop circuitry 248 determines that the actual temperature does satisfy the target temperature (e.g., if the temperature error is sufficiently near zero (e.g., 1 K, 0.5 K, 0.1 K, etc.)), then the process/operation 900 proceeds to block 918.
When the temperature loop circuitry 248 determines that the actual temperature does not satisfy the target temperature, then the process/operation 900 proceeds to block 916, where the CcH2 refueler controller 238 adjusts the flowrate of sH2 into the mixing tank 220. For example, when the temperature loop circuitry 248 determines that the actual temperature is below the target temperature, then the position loop circuitry 250 sends a command to the proportional valve 108 of
At block 918, the CcH2 refueler controller 238 determines whether the onboard pressure satisfies a target pressure. For example the pressure loop circuitry 246 calculates a pressure error between the actual onboard pressure and the target pressure, where the actual pressure is based on a measurement of the first pressure sensor 208, and the target pressure is based on written instruction(s), set of rules, and/or user input(s). When the pressure loop circuitry 246 determines that the actual onboard pressure does not satisfy the target pressure (e.g., if the pressure error is sufficiently near zero (e.g., 1 bar, 0.5 bar, 0.1 bar, etc.)), then the process/operation 900 returns to block 902. When the pressure loop circuitry 246 determines that the actual onboard pressure does satisfy the target pressure, then the process/operation 900 returns to block 818 of
The processor platform 1000 of the illustrated example includes processor circuitry 1012. The processor circuitry 1012 of the illustrated example is hardware. For example, the processor circuitry 1012 can be implemented by one or more integrated circuits, logic circuits, FPGAs microprocessors, CPUs, GPUs, DSPs, and/or microcontrollers from any desired family or manufacturer. The processor circuitry 1012 may be implemented by one or more semiconductor based (e.g., silicon based) devices. In this example, the processor circuitry 1012 implements the example flowrate loop circuitry 244, the example pressure loop circuitry 246, the example temperature loop circuitry 248, and the example position loop circuitry 250.
The processor circuitry 1012 of the illustrated example includes a local memory 1013 (e.g., a cache, registers, etc.). The processor circuitry 1012 of the illustrated example is in communication with a main memory including a volatile memory 1014 and a non-volatile memory 1016 by a bus 1018. The volatile memory 1014 may be implemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS® Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM®), and/or any other type of RAM device. The non-volatile memory 1016 may be implemented by flash memory and/or any other desired type of memory device. Access to the main memory 1014, 1016 of the illustrated example is controlled by a memory controller 1017.
The processor platform 1000 of the illustrated example also includes interface circuitry 1020. The interface circuitry 1020 may be implemented by hardware in accordance with any type of interface standard, such as an Ethernet interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a Bluetooth® interface, a near field communication (NFC) interface, a PCI interface, and/or a PCIe interface.
In the illustrated example, one or more input devices 1022 are connected to the interface circuitry 1020. The input device(s) 1022 permit(s) a user to enter data and/or commands into the processor circuitry 1012. The input device(s) 1022 can be implemented by, for example, a keyboard, a button, a mouse, a touchscreen, a track-pad, a trackball, an isopoint device, and/or a voice recognition system.
One or more output devices 1024 are also connected to the interface circuitry 1020 of the illustrated example. The output devices 1024 can be implemented, for example, by display devices (e.g., a light emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, an in-place switching (IPS) display, a touchscreen, etc.), and/or a tactile output device. The interface circuitry 1020 of the illustrated example, thus, typically includes a graphics driver card, a graphics driver chip, and/or graphics processor circuitry such as a GPU.
The interface circuitry 1020 of the illustrated example also includes a communication device such as a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver, a modem, a residential gateway, a wireless access point, and/or a network interface to facilitate exchange of data with external machines (e.g., computing devices of any kind) by a network 1026. The communication can be by, for example, an Ethernet connection, a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection, a telephone line connection, a coaxial cable system, a satellite system, a line-of-site wireless system, a cellular telephone system, an optical connection, etc.
The processor platform 1000 of the illustrated example also includes one or more mass storage devices 1028 to store software and/or data. Examples of such mass storage devices 1028 include magnetic storage devices, optical storage devices, floppy disk drives, HDDs, CDs, Blu-ray disk drives, redundant array of independent disks (RAID) systems, solid state storage devices such as flash memory devices, and DVD drives.
The machine executable instructions 1032, which may be implemented by the machine readable instructions of
Systems for refueling cryo-compressed hydrogen (CcH2) tanks and methods for operating the same are disclosed herein. The examples disclosed herein refuel CcH2 tanks up to a target pressure while also controlling the temperature of the onboard CcH2 during the refueling process. The examples disclosed herein refuel the example onboard CcH2 tanks at specific temperatures (e.g., 40 K) so that the example onboard pressures satisfy a pressure limit of the onboard CcH2 tanks. The pressure limit (e.g., 100 bar) of the onboard CcH2 tanks may be chosen so that the onboard CcH2 tanks can be designed with fewer structural components and reduced weight (e.g., relative to CcH2 tanks designed with pressure limits of 350 bar).
The examples disclosed herein can be used to refuel onboard CcH2 tank(s) (e.g., the onboard CcH2 tank 206 of
Further aspects of the present disclosure are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses:
Example methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture to sub-cool cryogenic fuel during the refueling of onboard cryogenic fuel tanks are disclosed herein. Further examples and combinations thereof include the following:
Example methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture to refuel cryo-compressed hydrogen tanks up to a target pressure and at a target temperature are disclosed herein. Further examples and combinations thereof include the following:
Example 1 includes an apparatus to refuel a vessel with cryo-compressed hydrogen, the apparatus comprising a refueler controller configured to defuel the vessel prior to a refuel process based on a pressure of the vessel, fill a mixing tank with at least the cryo-compressed hydrogen based on the pressure of the vessel and a pressure of the mixing tank, wherein the mixing tank is connected upstream of the vessel and is structured to include the cryo-compressed hydrogen, initiate the refuel process of the vessel, adjust a temperature of the mixing tank in response to a temperature of the vessel not satisfying a target temperature of the vessel during the refuel process, wherein the temperature of the mixing tank is to be adjusted based on an increase or a decrease of flow of supercritical hydrogen, and end the refuel process in response to the pressure of the vessel satisfying a target pressure of the vessel.
Example 2 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the vessel is a cryo-compressed hydrogen storage tank onboard an aircraft, the vessel to include unused cryo-compressed hydrogen prior to the refuel process.
Example 3 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the vessel is a first tank removable from the aircraft, wherein the refueler controller is configured to initiate the refuel process of a second tank detached from the aircraft, the second tank to replace the first tank following the refuel process.
Example 4 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, further including a first valve and a second valve, the first valve connected to the vessel, the second valve connected to the first valve, the mixing tank, and a secondary destination, wherein the first valve is a quick opening valve, wherein the second valve is a split valve, and wherein the secondary destination includes one or more hydrogen containers.
Example 5 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the refueler controller includes pressure loop circuitry to determine if the pressure of the mixing tank is less than the pressure of the vessel, and position loop circuitry to direct, via the second valve, the unused cryo-compressed hydrogen to the mixing tank in response to the pressure of the mixing tank being less than the pressure of the vessel, and direct, via the second valve, the unused cryo-compressed hydrogen to the secondary destination in response to the pressure of the mixing tank being greater than the pressure of the vessel.
Example 6 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, further including a cryogenic valve connected downstream of the mixing tank and upstream of the vessel, wherein the mixing tank is connected to a cryo-compressed hydrogen source, a supercritical hydrogen source, and the cryogenic valve via one or more rigid vacuum-jacketed flowlines, and wherein the cryogenic valve is connected to the vessel via one or more flexible vacuum jacketed flowlines.
Example 7 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, further including a cryogenic pump connected to a liquid hydrogen supply tank, wherein the refueler controller includes pressure loop circuitry to determine a target output pressure of the cryogenic pump based on the pressure of the vessel, and position loop circuitry to adjust an output pressure of the cryogenic pump based on the target output pressure of the cryogenic pump.
Example 8 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, further including a vaporizer connected to the cryogenic pump via a proportional valve, wherein the refueler controller includes temperature loop circuitry to determine a target temperature of the mixing tank based on the temperature of the vessel and the target temperature of the vessel, wherein the position loop circuitry adjusts an output flowrate of the proportional valve based on the target temperature of the mixing tank.
Example 9 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, further including a proportional valve connected to hydrogen storage tanks and a regulator valve, the proportional valve downstream of the hydrogen storage tanks, the regulator valve downstream of the proportional valve, wherein the refueler controller includes temperature loop circuitry to determine a target temperature of the mixing tank based on the temperature of the vessel and the target temperature of the vessel, pressure loop circuitry to determine a target output pressure of the regulator valve based on the pressure of the mixing tank, and position loop circuitry to adjust an output flowrate of the proportional valve based on the target temperature of the mixing tank, and adjust an output pressure of the regulator valve based on the target output pressure of the regulator valve.
Example 10 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, further including a regulator valve connected to a cryo-compressed hydrogen supply tank and the mixing tank, the regulator valve downstream of the cryo-compressed hydrogen supply tank, the mixing tank downstream of the regulator valve, wherein the refueler controller includes pressure loop circuitry to determine a target output pressure of the regulator valve based on the pressure of the mixing tank, the pressure of the vessel, or the target pressure of the vessel, and position loop circuitry to adjust an output pressure of the regulator valve based on the target output pressure of the regulator valve.
Example 11 includes at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a refueler controller to at least defuel a vessel prior to a refuel process based on a pressure of the vessel, fill a mixing tank with at least cryo-compressed hydrogen based on the pressure of the vessel and a pressure of the mixing tank, initiate the refuel process of the vessel, adjust a temperature of the mixing tank in response to a temperature of the vessel not satisfying a target temperature of the vessel during the refuel process, wherein the temperature of the mixing tank is to be adjusted based on an increase or a decrease of flow of supercritical hydrogen, and end the refuel process in response to the pressure of the vessel satisfying a target pressure of the vessel.
Example 12 includes the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of any preceding clause, further including instructions that cause the refueler controller to defuel the vessel via a first valve connected to the vessel, direct, via a second valve, unused cryo-compressed hydrogen in the vessel to the mixing tank in response to the pressure of the mixing tank being less than the pressure of the vessel, the second valve connected to the first valve, the mixing tank, and a secondary destination, and direct, via the second valve, the unused cryo-compressed hydrogen to the secondary destination in response to the pressure of the mixing tank being greater than the pressure of the vessel, the secondary destination including one or more hydrogen containers.
Example 13 includes the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of any preceding clause, wherein the cryo-compressed hydrogen is provided by a cryogenic pump connected to a liquid hydrogen supply tank, and wherein the supercritical hydrogen is provided by a vaporizer connected to the cryogenic pump via a proportional valve, further including instructions that cause the refueler controller to determine a target temperature of the mixing tank based on the temperature of the vessel and the target temperature of the vessel, and adjust an output flowrate of the proportional valve based on the target temperature of the mixing tank.
Example 14 includes the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of any preceding clause, wherein a proportional valve is connected to hydrogen storage tanks and a regulator valve, the proportional valve downstream of the hydrogen storage tanks, the regulator valve downstream of the proportional valve, further including instructions that cause the refueler controller to determine a target temperature of the mixing tank based on the temperature of the vessel and the target temperature of the vessel, determine a target output pressure of the regulator valve based on the pressure of the mixing tank, adjust an output flowrate of the proportional valve based on the target temperature of the mixing tank, and adjust an output pressure of the regulator valve based on the target output pressure of the regulator valve.
Example 15 includes the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of any preceding clause, wherein a regulator valve is connected to a cryo-compressed hydrogen supply tank and the mixing tank, the regulator valve downstream of the cryo-compressed hydrogen supply tank, the mixing tank downstream of the regulator valve, further including instructions that cause the refueler controller to determine a target output pressure of the regulator valve based on the pressure of the mixing tank, the pressure of the vessel, or the target pressure of the vessel, and adjust an output pressure of the regulator valve based on the target output pressure of the regulator valve.
Example 16 includes a method to refuel a vessel with cryo-compressed hydrogen comprising determining a target pressure of a mixing tank based on a pressure of the vessel, filling the mixing tank with at least the cryo-compressed hydrogen based on the target pressure of the mixing tank, determining whether a flowrate of the cryo-compressed hydrogen satisfies a target flowrate, adjusting the flowrate of the cryo-compressed hydrogen in response to the flowrate not satisfying the target flowrate, determining whether a pressure of the mixing tank satisfies the target pressure of the mixing tank, adjusting the pressure of the mixing tank in response to the pressure not satisfying the target pressure of the mixing tank, determining whether a temperature of the vessel satisfies a target temperature of the vessel, adjusting a flowrate of supercritical hydrogen into the mixing tank at the pressure of the mixing tank based on the temperature of the vessel and the target temperature of the vessel, determining whether the pressure of the vessel satisfies a target pressure of the vessel, and ending a refueling process in response to the pressure of the vessel satisfying the target pressure of the vessel.
Example 17 includes the method of any preceding clause, further including defueling the vessel based on the pressure of the vessel, directing unused cryo-compressed hydrogen in the vessel to the mixing tank in response to the pressure of the mixing tank being less than the pressure of the vessel, and directing the unused cryo-compressed hydrogen to a secondary destination in response to the pressure of the mixing tank being greater than the pressure of the vessel, the secondary destination including one or more hydrogen containers.
Example 18 includes the method of any preceding clause, wherein the cryo-compressed hydrogen is provided by a cryogenic pump connected to a liquid hydrogen supply tank, and wherein the supercritical hydrogen is provided by a vaporizer connected to the cryogenic pump via a proportional valve, further including determining a target temperature of the mixing tank based on the temperature of the vessel and the target temperature of the vessel, and adjusting an output flowrate of the proportional valve based on the target temperature of the mixing tank.
Example 19 includes the method of any preceding clause, wherein a proportional valve is connected to hydrogen storage tanks and a regulator valve, the proportional valve downstream of the hydrogen storage tanks, the regulator valve downstream of the proportional valve, further including determining a target temperature of the mixing tank based on the temperature of the vessel and the target temperature of the vessel, determining a target output pressure of the regulator valve based on the pressure of the mixing tank, adjusting an output flowrate of the proportional valve based on the target temperature of the mixing tank, and adjusting an output pressure of the regulator valve base on the target output pressure of the regulator valve.
Example 20 includes the method of any preceding clause, wherein a regulator valve is connected to a cryo-compressed hydrogen supply tank and the mixing tank, the regulator valve downstream of the cryo-compressed hydrogen supply tank, the mixing tank downstream of the regulator valve, further including determining a target output pressure of the regulator valve based on the pressure of the mixing tank, the pressure of the vessel, or the target pressure of the vessel, and adjusting an output pressure of the regulator valve based on the target output pressure of the regulator valve.
Example 21 includes a system comprising a cryo-compressed hydrogen refueler to refuel a vessel including a mixing tank structured to include cryo-compressed hydrogen, the mixing tank to combine the cryo-compressed hydrogen and supercritical hydrogen, wherein the cryo-compressed hydrogen is sent to the mixing tank at a first temperature and the supercritical hydrogen is sent to the mixing tank at a second temperature greater than the first temperature, and a refueler controller configured to adjust a temperature of the mixing tank in response to a temperature of the vessel not satisfying a target temperature of the vessel during a refuel process, wherein the temperature of the mixing tank is to be adjusted based on an increase or a decrease of flow of supercritical hydrogen.
Example 22 includes the system of any preceding clause, wherein the vessel is a cryo-compressed hydrogen storage tank onboard an aircraft, the vessel to include unused cryo-compressed hydrogen prior to the refuel process.
Example 23 includes the system of any preceding clause, wherein the vessel is a first tank removable from the aircraft, wherein the cryo-compressed hydrogen refueler is to refuel a second tank detached from the aircraft, the second tank to replace the first tank following the refuel process.
Example 24 includes the system of any preceding clause, wherein the cryo-compressed hydrogen refueler includes a first valve and a second valve, the first valve connected to the vessel, the second valve connected to the first valve, the mixing tank, and a secondary destination, wherein the first valve is a quick opening valve, wherein the second valve is a split valve, the secondary destination including one or more hydrogen containers.
Example 25 includes the system of any preceding clause, wherein the refueler controller includes pressure loop circuitry to determine if the pressure of the mixing tank is less than the pressure of the vessel, and position loop circuitry to direct, via the second valve, the unused cryo-compressed hydrogen to the mixing tank in response to the pressure of the mixing tank being less than the pressure of the vessel, and direct, via the second valve, the unused cryo-compressed hydrogen to the secondary destination in response to the pressure of the mixing tank being greater than the pressure of the vessel.
Example 26 includes the system of any preceding clause, further including a cryogenic valve connected downstream of the mixing tank and upstream of the vessel, wherein the mixing tank is connected to a cryo-compressed hydrogen source, a supercritical hydrogen source, and the cryogenic valve via one or more rigid vacuum-jacketed flowlines, and wherein the cryogenic valve is connected to the vessel via one or more flexible vacuum jacketed flowlines.
Example 27 includes the system of any preceding clause, wherein the cryo-compressed hydrogen source is a cryogenic pump connected downstream of a liquid hydrogen supply tank and upstream of the mixing tank, the supercritical hydrogen source is a vaporizer connected downstream of a proportional valve and upstream of the mixing tank, the proportional valve connected downstream of the cryogenic pump.
Example 28 includes the system of any preceding clause, wherein the cryo-compressed hydrogen source is a cryogenic pump connected downstream of a liquid hydrogen supply tank and upstream of the mixing tank, the supercritical hydrogen source is one or more hydrogen storage tanks connected upstream of the mixing tank.
Example 29 includes the system of any preceding clause, wherein the cryo-compressed hydrogen source is a cryo-compressed hydrogen supply tank, the supercritical hydrogen source is one or more hydrogen storage tanks connected upstream of the mixing tank.
Example 30 includes the system of any preceding clause, further including a cryogenic pump connected to a liquid hydrogen supply tank, wherein the refueler controller includes pressure loop circuitry to determine a target output pressure of the cryogenic pump based on the pressure of the vessel, and position loop circuitry to adjust an output pressure of the cryogenic pump based on the target output pressure.
Example 31 includes the system of any preceding clause, further including a vaporizer connected to the cryogenic pump via a proportional valve, wherein the refueler controller includes temperature loop circuitry to determine a target temperature of the mixing tank based on the temperature of the vessel and the target temperature of the vessel, wherein the position loop circuitry adjusts an output flowrate of the proportional valve based on the target temperature of the mixing tank.
Example 32 includes the system of any preceding clause, further including a proportional valve connected to hydrogen storage tanks and a regulator valve, the proportional valve downstream of the hydrogen storage tanks, the regulator valve downstream of the proportional valve, wherein the refueler controller includes temperature loop circuitry to determine a target temperature of the mixing tank based on the temperature of the vessel and the target temperature of the vessel, pressure loop circuitry to determine a target output pressure of the regulator valve based on the pressure of the mixing tank, and position loop circuitry to adjust an output flowrate of the proportional valve based on the target temperature of the mixing tank, and adjust an output pressure of the regulator valve based on the target output pressure of the regulator valve.
Example 33 includes the system of any preceding clause, further including a regulator valve connected to a cryo-compressed hydrogen supply tank and the mixing tank, the regulator valve downstream of the cryo-compressed hydrogen supply tank, the mixing tank downstream of the regulator valve, wherein the refueler controller includes pressure loop circuitry to determine a target output pressure of the regulator valve based on the pressure of the mixing tank, the pressure of the vessel, or the target pressure, and position loop circuitry to adjust the output pressure of the regulator valve based on the target output pressure.
The following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description by this reference, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the present disclosure.
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