US 12,224,463 B2
Installation and method for supplying a fuel cell with hydrogen
Laurent Allidieres, Paris (FR)
Assigned to L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Paris (FR)
Filed by L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Paris (FR)
Filed on Jan. 16, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/413,932.
Application 18/413,932 is a division of application No. 17/212,680, filed on Mar. 25, 2021, granted, now 11,916,267.
Claims priority of application No. FR 2002892 (FR), filed on Mar. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0154138 A1, May 9, 2024
Int. Cl. H01M 8/04089 (2016.01); F17C 13/02 (2006.01); H01M 8/04014 (2016.01); H01M 8/04082 (2016.01); H01M 8/04746 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/04089 (2013.01) [F17C 13/025 (2013.01); H01M 8/04014 (2013.01); H01M 8/04208 (2013.01); H01M 8/04753 (2013.01); F17C 2205/0323 (2013.01); F17C 2227/0302 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An installation for supplying a fuel cell with hydrogen, the installation comprising:
the fuel cell;
a liquefied hydrogen storage tank; and
a supply circuit comprising at least one upstream end connected to the liquefied storage tank and one downstream end connected to a fuel inlet of the fuel cell, the supply circuit comprising: a set of control valves and a hydrogen heating system configured to heat hydrogen by heat exchange with a heat source, wherein the hydrogen heating system comprises a first heating heat exchanger, wherein the liquefied hydrogen storage tank is configured to keep the liquefied hydrogen in equilibrium with a gaseous phase at a determined nominal storage pressure of between 1.5 and 4.5 bar,
wherein the supply circuit further comprises a liquid withdrawal pipe and a buffer tank for pressurized gaseous hydrogen that is configured to store the hydrogen withdrawn from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank and heated by the hydrogen heating system,
wherein the set of control valves is configured to accumulate pressurized gas in the buffer tank at a determined storage pressure of between 4 and 100 bar,
wherein the liquid withdrawal pipe connects a lower portion of the liquefied hydrogen storage tank to the fuel inlet of the fuel cell, the liquid withdrawal pipe comprising, arranged in series, the first heating heat exchanger and a first pressure- and/or flow rate-regulating valve, said first pressure- and/or flow rate-regulating valve being configured to feed the fuel inlet of the fuel cell at a determined operating pressure of between 1 and 3 bar, wherein the fuel cell is fed with hydrogen by the liquefied hydrogen storage tank.