Intelligent network of hydrogen supply modules

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing hydrogen deployment within a heterogeneous hydrogen supply environment is provided. An electronic controller monitors hydrogen supply modules, evaluates conditions relating to the hydrogen supply modules, and affects hydrogen deployment. The electronic controller may also monitor hydrogen utilizers within the heterogeneous hydrogen supply environment. Various means for adjusting hydrogen deployment are discussed.

1 . A method for distributing hydrogen within a heterogeneous hydrogen supply environment comprising: 
 dispensing hydrogen from a plurality of hydrogen supply modules to a plurality of hydrogen utilizers, wherein a first hydrogen utilizer of said plurality of hydrogen utilizers has a first hydrogen requirement and a second hydrogen utilizer of said plurality of hydrogen utilizers has a second hydrogen requirement different from the first hydrogen requirement;    subsequently measuring at least one condition relating to a hydrogen source at each of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules thereby forming a set of measured conditions;    communicating the set of measured conditions to an electronic controller;    evaluating the set of measured conditions via the electronic controller; and    adjusting hydrogen deployment in response to the step of evaluating the set of measured conditions.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of adjusting hydrogen deployment comprises moving at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules and subsequently dispensing hydrogen from the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of dispensing hydrogen from a plurality of hydrogen supply modules to a plurality of hydrogen utilizers comprises dispensing hydrogen to the first hydrogen utilizer from the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules at a first location; and 
 wherein the step of adjusting hydrogen deployment further comprises dispensing hydrogen to the second hydrogen utilizer from the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules at a second location.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising transferring hydrogen from at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers to the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules during the dispensing step; 
 and wherein at least a portion of the hydrogen transferred from the at least one of the hydrogen utilizers is at least a portion of the hydrogen dispensed from the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules at the second location.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of adjusting hydrogen deployment comprises directing at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers to at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules and dispensing hydrogen from the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules to the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising determining the position of the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers and evaluating the position of the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers via the electronic controller prior to the step of directing the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of adjusting hydrogen deployment comprises transferring hydrogen from at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules to another of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining the position of at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules and evaluating the position of the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules via the electronic controller prior to the step of adjusting hydrogen deployment.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 acquiring information relating to a hydrogen delivery to the heterogeneous hydrogen supply environment from an external supply;    communicating the information relating to the hydrogen delivery from the external supply to said electronic controller; and    evaluating the information relating to the hydrogen delivery from the external supply via the electronic controller;    wherein the step of adjusting hydrogen deployment is additionally in response to the step of evaluating the information relating to the hydrogen delivery.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 determining the position of at least two of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers;    measuring at least one condition relating to the stored hydrogen in each of the at least two of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers;    communicating the at least one condition relating to the stored hydrogen in each of the at least two of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers to the electronic controller; and    evaluating the at least one condition relating to the stored hydrogen in each of the at least two of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers via the electronic controller;    wherein the step of adjusting hydrogen deployment comprises transferring hydrogen from at least one of the at least two of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers to the other of the at least two of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 measuring at least one condition relating to the stored hydrogen associated with at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers; and    communicating the at least one condition relating to the stored hydrogen associated with the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers to the electronic controller;    wherein the step of adjusting hydrogen deployment comprises directing the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers to at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules and transferring hydrogen from the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers to the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 measuring at least one condition relating to the stored hydrogen associated with at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers;    measuring at least one condition relating to stored electricity associated with the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers;    communicating the at least one condition relating to the stored hydrogen associated with the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers to the electronic controller; and    communicating the at least one condition relating to the stored electricity associated with the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers to the electronic controller;    wherein the step of adjusting hydrogen deployment comprises instructing the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers to consume at least a portion of the stored electricity associated with the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 consuming at least a portion of the hydrogen from the hydrogen source associated with at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules to generate electricity; and    storing at least a portion of the generated electricity in at least one of a battery and a capacitor associated with at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules.    
   
   
       14 . A method for distributing hydrogen within a heterogeneous hydrogen supply environment comprising: 
 dispensing hydrogen from a plurality of hydrogen supply modules to a plurality of hydrogen utilizers, wherein a first hydrogen utilizer of said plurality of hydrogen utilizers has a first hydrogen requirement and a second hydrogen utilizer of said plurality of hydrogen utilizers has a second hydrogen requirement different from the first hydrogen requirement;    subsequently measuring at least one condition relating to at least one of a hydrogen storage vessel and a hydrogen generator at each of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules thereby forming a set of measured conditions;    communicating the set of measured conditions to an electronic controller;    evaluating the set of measured conditions via the electronic controller; and    adjusting hydrogen deployment in response to the step of evaluating the set of measured conditions, wherein the step of adjusting hydrogen deployment comprises at least one of (a) moving at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules and subsequently dispensing hydrogen from the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules, (b) directing at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers to at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules and dispensing hydrogen from the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules to the at least one of the plurality of hydrogen utilizers, and (c) transferring hydrogen from at least one of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules to another of the plurality of hydrogen supply modules.