Home hydrogen fueling station

Abstract

A personal hydrogen fueling station capable of producing hydrogen from solar radiation at a good efficiency via combined photovoltaic and thermal energy and then storing hydrogen safely at a home or business site. The station comprises a hydrogen-generating unit that includes primarily: a) a solar energy conversion subsystem to capture solar radiation, with the subsystem comprising a photovoltaic device to convert a portion of the captured solar radiation to electricity and a solar thermal device to convert another portion of the captured solar radiation to heat energy; and b) a fuel cell electrolyzer that uses the converted electricity and heat to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, wherein the fuel cell electrolyzer operates at a temperature between 80° C. and 300° C. The station preferably further comprises c) a hydrogen storage container comprising a metal hydride, chemical hydride, or other solid or liquid phase material as a storage medium to capture and store the generated hydrogen; and d) control means to regulate uptake or release of hydrogen from the storage container.

1 . A personal hydrogen fueling station comprising:
 a) a solar energy conversion subsystem to capture solar radiation, said subsystem comprising a photovoltaic device to convert a portion of the captured solar radiation to electricity and a solar thermal device to convert another portion of the captured solar radiation to heat energy;   b) a fuel cell electrolyzer in electricity- and heat-receiving relation to said solar energy conversion subsystem wherein said electrolyzer uses the converted electricity and heat to split water into hydrogen and oxygen and said fuel cell electrolyzer operates at a temperature between 80° C. and 300° C.; and   c) means for receiving and storing the generated hydrogen.   
     
     
         2 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 1  wherein said solar energy conversion subsystem comprises means for separating the solar radiation into a shorter wavelength component and a longer wavelength component, and means for converting the shorter wavelength component into electricity and converting the longer wavelength component into heat energy. 
     
     
         3 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 2  wherein said means for separating comprises apparatus for concentrating solar radiation and a mirror for selectively reflecting either the longer wavelength component or the shorter wavelength component of the solar radiation spectrum. 
     
     
         4 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 1  wherein said solar thermal device comprises a device or material selected from the group consisting of (a) a concentrator and a receiver; (b) an array of heliostats and a power tower; (c) an infrared-absorbing material; (d) a thermal storage material; (e) a heat exchanger; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 1  wherein said fuel cell electrolyzer comprises a proton exchange membrane fuel cell or an alkaline fuel cell operating at a temperature between 100° C. and 250° C. 
     
     
         6 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 1  wherein said means of receiving and storing hydrogen comprises:
 c) a hydrogen storage container in hydrogen-receiving relation to said electrolyzer, said storage container comprising a solid or liquid phase material as a storage medium to capture and store said generated hydrogen therein; and   d) control means in control relation to said hydrogen storage container to regulate uptake or release of hydrogen in or from said storage container.   
     
     
         7 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 6  wherein said solid phase material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a metal hydride, a chemical hydride, a carbon-based material, a nano material, a meso-porous structure, an ammonia-borane material, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 6  wherein said solid or liquid phase material stores hydrogen therein via a mechanism of absorption, adsorption, chemical reaction, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 1  further comprising means for receiving, on demand, electrical energy from a different source than solar energy. 
     
     
         10 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 6  further comprising means for receiving, on demand, electrical energy from a different source than solar energy. 
     
     
         11 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 1  wherein said photovoltaic device has a solar-to-electricity efficiency of at least 15%. 
     
     
         12 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 6  wherein said photovoltaic device has a solar-to-electricity efficiency of at least 15%. 
     
     
         13 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 1  wherein said photovoltaic device has a solar-to-electricity efficiency of at least 30%. 
     
     
         14 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 6  wherein said photovoltaic device has a solar-to-electricity efficiency of at least 30%. 
     
     
         15 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 1  wherein said electrolyzer generates hydrogen at a rate of at least 0.1 kilograms per hour. 
     
     
         16 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 6  wherein said electrolyzer generates hydrogen at a rate of at least 0.1 kilograms per hour. 
     
     
         17 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 1  wherein said electrolyzer generates hydrogen at a rate of at least 1 kilogram per day. 
     
     
         18 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 6  wherein said electrolyzer generates hydrogen at a rate of at least 1 kilogram per day. 
     
     
         19 . The hydrogen fueling station of  claim 6  wherein said hydrogen storage container is connected to said electrolyzer through a tubing and a quick-disconnect mechanism.