Continuous flow thermodynamic pump

Abstract

A thermodynamic pump for provides gaseous hydrogen employing a plurality of liquid hydrogen (LH2) tanks sequentially pressurized with gaseous hydrogen (GH2) from an accumulator. A heat exchanger receiving LH2 from each of the plurality of tanks as sequentially pressurized returns pressurized GH2 to the accumulator for supply to an engine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gaseous hydrogen (GH2) supply system comprising:
 a dewar for liquid hydrogen (LH2);   a thermodynamic pump having a plurality of tanks receiving LH2 from the dewar and a heat exchanger providing GH2, said plurality of tanks sequentially providing LH2 to the heat exchanger and refilling from the dewar when depleted; and, an accumulator for supplying GH2, said accumulator receiving GH2 from the heat exchanger and providing pressurizing GH2 to the plurality of tanks.   
     
     
         2 . The GH2 supply system as defined in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a supply manifold interconnecting the plurality of tanks to the heat exchanger and having a plurality of supply valves for sequential supply of LH2 to the heat exchanger; 
 
     
     
         3 . The thermodynamic pump as defined in  claim 2  further comprising a pressurization manifold interconnecting the accumulator to the plurality of tanks and having a plurality of pressurization valves for sequential pressurization of the tanks concurrent with the sequential supply of LH2. 
     
     
         4 . The thermodynamic pump as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a fill manifold interconnecting the plurality of tanks to the dewar and having a plurality of fill valves for sequential fill of the tanks with LH2. 
     
     
         5 . The thermodynamic pump as defined in  claim 4  further comprising a blow down manifold interconnecting the plurality of tanks to the dewar and having a plurality of depressurization valves for sequential depressurization of GH2 from the tanks concurrent with the sequential fill of LH2. 
     
     
         6 . The thermodynamic pump as defined in  claim 5  further comprising an accumulator condenser intermediate the dewar and tanks, said accumulator condenser providing LH2 to the fill manifold and receiving GH2 from the blowdown manifold. 
     
     
         7 . A method of supplying an engine with hydrogen comprising:
 alternatingly connecting one of a plurality of liquid hydrogen tanks through a boost pump with an accumulator containing hydrogen gas providing a continuous flow of hydrogen gas to an engine.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising;
 increasing the temperature of the hydrogen with a heat exchanger intermediate the tanks and accumulator; and 
 supplying hot working gas to the heat exchanger from the engine. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 interconnecting the tanks to the accumulator with a pressurization manifold having a plurality of pressurization valves connected to the tanks; and, operating the pressurization valves for control the sequential flow of hydrogen from the tanks. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 operating a plurality of supply valves intermediate the heat exchanger and each of the liquid hydrogen tanks sequentially. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  where the system operates continuously at a flow rate. 
     
     
         12 . A method for continuous gaseous hydrogen (GH2) supply to an engine using a thermodynamic pump comprising:
 filling a plurality of tanks and a supply dewar with liquid hydrogen (LH2);   connecting a first one of the plurality of tanks to an accumulator through a pressurization manifold with high pressure GH2 for pressurization and connecting said first tank through a supply manifold to a heat exchanger;   supplying hot working fluid to the heat exchanger from an engine and supplying GH2 from the heat exchanger to the accumulator;   providing GH2 from the accumulator to the engine;   upon depletion of said first one of the tanks, disconnecting the first tank from the supply manifold and pressurization manifold;   connecting a second one of the plurality of tanks to the pressurization manifold and the supply manifold;   connecting said first tank through a blowdown manifold through a second heat exchanger to the dewar and connecting said first tank through a fill manifold to the dewar through the second heat exchanger to refill said first tank;   upon depletion of said second one of the tanks, disconnecting the second tank from the supply manifold and pressurization manifold;   connecting a next one of the plurality of tanks to the pressurization manifold and the supply manifold;   connecting said second one of the plurality of tanks through a blowdown manifold through the second heat exchanger to the dewar and connecting said next one of the plurality of tanks through a fill manifold to the dewar through the second heat exchanger to refill said first tank;   sequentially connecting and disconnecting the plurality of tanks for continuous GH2 flow to the engine.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of connecting a first boost pump intermediate the supply manifold and the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of connecting a second boost pump intermediate the dewar and the second heat exchanger.