Hydrogen fuel delivery systems

Abstract

A method for providing hydrogen to a hydrogen-powered device comprises providing a buffer connected to supply hydrogen to the device. The buffer is filled with hydrogen by coupling the buffer to a cartridge containing a predetermined quantity of hydrogen. The hydrogen in the cartridge may be stored in a form having a higher energy density than the hydrogen in the buffer. Systems comprising hydrogen-powered devices that include such buffers are also described.

1 . A method of supplying hydrogen to a hydrogen consuming device, comprising:
 providing a buffer operable to supply hydrogen to the device, wherein the buffer is configured to reversibly store a first amount of hydrogen;   providing a cartridge including a hydrogen precursor sufficient to generate a second amount of hydrogen that is less than or approximately equal to the first amount of hydrogen;   initiating the generation of hydrogen from the hydrogen precursor by fluidly coupling the buffer to the cartridge; and   communicating the generated hydrogen from the buffer to the device.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising decoupling the cartridge and the buffer. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the buffer includes a pressure relief valve operable to release hydrogen gas from the buffer when an internal pressure in the buffer reaches a predetermined limit. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the buffer includes a chemisorpitive or a phisisorptive material that at least partially retains the first amount of hydrogen. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the buffer comprises metal hydrides, carbon nanotubes and zeolites. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a gas pressure in the buffer is less than or approximately equal to a gas pressure in the cartridge. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen consuming device comprises a hydrogen consumption requirement, further wherein the first amount of hydrogen is approximately equal to the hydrogen consumption requirement. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein decoupling the cartridge from the buffer comprises removing the cartridge from the device after a maximum useable amount of hydrogen is communicated from the cartridge to the buffer. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein initiating the generation of hydrogen from the hydrogen precursor comprises simultaneously initiating the generation and fluidly coupling the buffer to the cartridge. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the generated hydrogen from the buffer to the device includes controlling the flow of hydrogen from the buffer to the device. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein controlling the flow of hydrogen from the buffer to the device includes interposing at least one of a valve and a flow rate restriction between the buffer and the device. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein interposing at least one of a valve and a flow rate restriction between the buffer and the device includes providing a flow-restrictive tubing or an orifice between the buffer and the device. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein controlling the flow of hydrogen from the buffer to the device includes interposing a pressure regulator between the buffer and the device. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises a pressure vessel configured to contain pressurized hydrogen gas. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises a glass vial or a paper container. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge generates the second amount of hydrogen via hydrolysis, alcoholysis or thermolysis. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes a first reactant and a second reactant, wherein the first reactant and the second reactant are segregated into respective first and second internal compartments. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes a seal, and wherein coupling the buffer to the cartridge includes puncturing the seal to place the buffer and cartridge in fluid communication. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the generated hydrogen from the buffer to the device comprises communicating the hydrogen to the device at a rate that is approximately equal to a rate of consumption by the device. 
   
   
       20 . A method of supplying hydrogen to a hydrogen-consuming device, comprising:
 providing a buffer fluidly coupled to the device;   providing a cartridge having a hydrogen precursor and configured to fluidly couple to the buffer;   fluidly coupling the buffer to the cartridge to transfer hydrogen between the cartridge and the buffer and to initiate the generation of hydrogen from the hydrogen precursor; and   communicating the generated hydrogen from the buffer to the device at a rate that approximately equals a hydrogen consumption requirement of the device.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , comprising decoupling the cartridge from the buffer. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , comprising fluidly controlling the flow of hydrogen from the buffer to the device. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein fluidly controlling the flow of hydrogen comprises interposing at least one of a valve and a flow rate restrictor between the buffer and the device. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein fluidly controlling the flow of hydrogen comprises interposing a flow-restrictive tubing having a suitable diameter and length or an orifice between the buffer and the device. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein fluidly controlling the flow of hydrogen comprises interposing a pressure regulator between the buffer and the device. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein decoupling the cartridge from the buffer comprises removing the cartridge from the device after a maximum useable amount of hydrogen is communicated from the cartridge to the buffer. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein fluidly coupling the buffer to the cartridge comprises simultaneously coupling the buffer and initiating the generation of hydrogen. 
   
   
       28 . A method of supplying hydrogen to a hydrogen-consuming device, comprising:
 providing a buffer configured to fluidly couple to the device;   providing a cartridge including a predetermined amount of at least one reactant;   coupling the buffer to the cartridge to initiate the generation of hydrogen from the predetermined amount of at least one reactant and placing the buffer and cartridge in fluid communication;
 allowing hydrogen generated by the predetermined amount of at least one reactant to flow from the cartridge into the buffer without restriction; and 
 allowing hydrogen to flow from the buffer to the device, wherein the buffer includes at least one of a pressure relief valve and a one-way valve for preventing overpressure conditions in the buffer and wherein the rate of supply of hydrogen to the device is approximately equivalent to a rate of hydrogen consumption by the device. 
   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , comprising decoupling the cartridge from the buffer. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein allowing hydrogen generated by the predetermined amount of at least one reactant and allowing hydrogen to flow from the buffer to the device occur simultaneously. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein decoupling the cartridge from the buffer comprises decoupling the cartridge from the device after a maximum useable amount of hydrogen is communicated from the cartridge to the buffer. 
   
   
       32 . A method, comprising:
 providing a hydrogen precursor operable to generate gaseous hydrogen upon initiation of the precursor; and   sealably containing the hydrogen precursor so that the gaseous hydrogen generated by the hydrogen precursor is deliverable to a hydrogen gas consumer, wherein initiation of the hydrogen precursor is responsive to fluidly coupling the sealably contained hydrogen precursor to the hydrogen gas consumer.   
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein initiation of the precursor and fluidly coupling the sealably contained hydrogen precursor to the hydrogen gas consumer occur simultaneously. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein providing a hydrogen precursor comprises generating gaseous hydrogen by hydrolysis, alcoholysis or thermolysis. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein providing a hydrogen precursor comprises providing an amount of the precursor that is operable to generate an amount of gaseous hydrogen that is approximately equal to, or greater than a hydrogen consumption requirement of the hydrogen gas consumer. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein providing a hydrogen precursor comprises providing more than one reactant that, upon initiation, generates the gaseous hydrogen. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein providing a hydrogen precursor comprises providing a metal hydride.