Key information

Title
Construction machinery using fuel cells
Application number
20210873
Case type
National
Status
12.02.2023 P.g.a. manglende svar. Søker har ikke begjært gjenopptakelse
Filed
07.07.2021
Effective date
07.07.2021
Publicly available
09.01.2023
Applicant
APPLIED HYDROGEN AS (NO)
Inventor
ÅGE STEINAR ULSERØD (NO) et al.
Agent
THORVALDSEN KONSULENT (NO)

Abstract and drawing

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.
The invention concerns a system where an excavator (1) is powered by fuel cells. A hydrogen resupply unit (2) is housed in a container located adjacent the excavator and is transportable between the site and a refilling station. Electricity from the excavator powers the compressor for transferring hydrogen from the resupply unit to the excavator.

Publications

A1
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Documents

 Expand Download files (23)
Date
 Date Doc. No. Process Case number In/Out Journal description To/from
 15.06.2023 11-01 Saksbehandling 20210873 UT Finally shelved THORVALDSEN KONSULENT
 06.06.2023 10-01 Saksbehandling 20210873 UT PT Varsel om betaling av første årsavgift (3317) (PT20210873) THORVALDSEN KONSULENT
 27.02.2023 09-01 Saksbehandling 20210873 UT Henlagt manglende svar ENG THORVALDSEN KONSULENT
 12.11.2022 08-01 Saksbehandling 20210873 UT Realitet patent THORVALDSEN KONSULENT
 06.07.2022 02-01 Endring av søker/innehaver 2022/10312 UT GH Forespørsel THORVALDSEN KONSULENT
 30.06.2022 07-02 Saksbehandling 20210873 INN P21-08 besvarelse THORVALDSEN KONSULENT
 30.06.2022 07-01 Saksbehandling 20210873 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) THORVALDSEN KONSULENT
 30.06.2022 01-02 Endring av søker/innehaver 2022/10312 INN P21-08 adresseendring THORVALDSEN KONSULENT
 30.06.2022 01-01 Endring av søker/innehaver 2022/10312 INN Generell henvendelse THORVALDSEN KONSULENT
 17.01.2022 06-02 Saksbehandling 20210873 UT PT report 10:10:44
17.01.2022 06-01 Saksbehandling 20210873 UT Substantive examination THORVALDSEN KONSULENT
 12.07.2021 04-01 Saksbehandling 20210873 UT Infobrev til oppfinner THORVALDSEN KONSULENT
 08.07.2021 03-01 Saksbehandling 20210873 UT Generelt brev uten frist ENG THORVALDSEN KONSULENT
 08.07.2021 02-01 Saksbehandling 20210873 UT Infobrev til oppfinner THORVALDSEN KONSULENT
 07.07.2021 05-02 Saksbehandling 20210873 INN oppfinner THORVALDSEN KONSULENT
 07.07.2021 05-01 Saksbehandling 20210873 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) THORVALDSEN KONSULENT
 07.07.2021 01-07 Saksbehandling 20210873 INN fuel system rett Knut Thorvaldsen
 07.07.2021 01-06 Saksbehandling 20210873 INN fuel system fullm Knut Thorvaldsen
 07.07.2021 01-05 Saksbehandling 20210873 INN Fuel system figs Knut Thorvaldsen
 07.07.2021 01-04 Saksbehandling 20210873 INN fuel system desc Knut Thorvaldsen
 07.07.2021 01-03 Saksbehandling 20210873 INN Fuel system claims Knut Thorvaldsen
 07.07.2021 01-02 Saksbehandling 20210873 INN Fuel system abstract Knut Thorvaldsen
 07.07.2021 01-01 Saksbehandling 20210873 INN Søknadsskjema Patent Knut Thorvaldsen

Description, claims and drawings

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content. Description
The following invention relates to a system for providing power to construction machines such as excavators.At present, construction machinery is mainly powered by internal combustion engines, usually diesel engines. These provide power for all the functions of the machines. However, diesel engines emit troublesome gases, especially CO2 and there is a growing awareness of the need to reduce CO2 emissions to combat climate change. To solve these problems, vehicles such as cars and buses powered by electricity is becoming more common.The main power source for electric cars is batteries. However, these are not well suited for powering heavy construction machinery as this need significantly more power than normal cars. This translates into larger and heavier batteries which in turn might impede functionality and still not have sufficient capacity to power the unit during normal working shifts. Such machinery is also often working in areas without access to charging. Therefore, heavy construction machinery such as heavy excavators powered by batteries is not efficient. At off-the-grid locations, which is often the case at large construction sites, such equipment is not usable.Another solution for reducing CO2 emissions is electric power generated by fuel cells powered by hydrogen. At present such power is used on cars in certain regions but they have not found widespread use globally. Heavier fuel cell systems are being developed for use in trucks and other heavy equipment, but utilization is not yet wide spread.In KR 101179617 there is described a fuel cell excavator in which a fuel cell is mounted as a main power source. The fuel cell excavator according to the present invention includes a hydrogen storage alloy vessel for storing a hydrogen fuel in a solid state and supplying the hydrogen fuel to a fuel cell, and a supercapacitor is provided instead of a storage battery. The fuel cell excavator has two or more hydrogen storage alloy vessels and can use sequentially filled hydrogen. After use, the empty hydrogen storage alloy vessel can be replaced with a filled hydrogen storage alloy vessel, and an extra hydrogen storage alloy vessel. In addition, since the recovered empty hydrogen storage alloy container can be recharged at the charging station and supplied through the existing distribution network, it is possible to construct a new infrastructure for the supply of hydrogen fuel.One problem with this type of arrangement is that the hydrogen alloy vessels are housed inside the excavator and therefore with difficult access for replacement. Frequent replacement for re-charging will require access to lifting equipment and be a manpower intensive and dangerous operation. Another disadvantage is the limited capacity of the hydrogen alloy vessels since there is a trade-off between weight, size and capacity when sizes have to be manageable during replacement for recharging. An excavator needs a lot of power and this may result in frequent exchanges of the hydrogen alloy vessels. This may be difficult with sites located far from infrastructure, i.e., roads. In CN 209873925 there is described a fuel cell powered excavator with the power source i.e., the fuel cell is arranged in a nearby power supply vehicle and connected to the excavator via a slip ring. This arrangement has obvious shortcomings, not least in that the excavator will have only a limited manoeuvring capability.Hydrogen has however, the potential to provide enough energy to power such machinery if the infrastructure problem can be solved. One problem with hydrogen is refilling. Due to the Joule-Thompson effect, hydrogen will heat up during filling an empty bottle at temperatures above approximately -68° C (inversion temperature for hydrogen). It will therefore require cooling. To completely fill a bottle to a required pressure it also needs a compressor. Both translate into a need for an electric power source. Electricity might not be available at a construction site, especially in a more remote location.The main aim of the present invention is to solve the logistics problem associated with recharging construction equipment at any location and make fuel cells a viable alternative to diesel engines. This is achieved by having a hydrogen resupply unit close to the excavator and providing an electric cable between the excavator and the resupply unit and powering the resupply unit from the excavator. The resupply unit includes hydrogen bottles and at least one compressor and coolerPreferably the resupply unit is transportable to be easily transported to a location where it can be refilled from a road vehicle.The invention also comprises a method for controlling the system where the parts are interconnected and connected to a control station.The invention shall now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanied drawings whereFig.1 is a diagram of the system according to the inventionFig.2 is a detail of the energy part of Fig.1Fig.3 is a diagram of the resupply units power system, andFig.4 is a diagram representing the interconnection between the units.In the following the invention will be described using an excavator as an example. An excavator is seen as a good but challenging candidate for conversion to fuel cells. It is often stationary or only moving short distances during work. Such machines must therefore be re-charged on the working site. However, it should be understood that there may be other types of equipment that can make use of the invention, for example crushers, cranes, bulldozers, drilling machines etc.In Fig.1 there is shown a diagram representing an excavator 1. This excavator is of a common type and as such is equipped with a propulsion unit, a digger and turning mechanism. Other functions may also be included, such as a cabin. These are normal parts of an excavator and are as such well known to someone skilled in the art and therefore not described in more detail.The excavator has a main housing 11 containing one or more fuel cells 12 that provides an output of electrical energy to a motor 13. The motor is in its turn coupled to a hydraulic pump 14 that supplies pressurized hydraulic fluid via line 16 to the working parts of the excavator. Bottles 15 containing hydrogen under pressure is likewise located in the excavator. Note that there could be one or more bottles or that hydrogen alternatively may be contained in a solid-state device.The excavator has a connector 17 for a cable 24. Preferably the connector is a fast-recharging connector of a type that is standard for the recharging of electric vehicles. In this way, other equipment, such as cars, can also be recharged from the excavator electricity supply.One typical Example to illustrate order of magnitude of key parameters for a heavy excavator:Engine shaft power: 180 kWElectric Output: 300 V DCBottle Capacity H2: 40 kg at 350 or 700 bar A movable hydrogen resupply unit 2 is located near the excavator at the construction site. The resupply unit is preferable in the form of a transportable container. In the container is arranged a number of bottles or bottles 21 of hydrogen. The resupply unit is also provided with means 22 for enabling hydrogen to be transferred from the resupply unit to the excavator. This includes compressor and cooling systems needed for H2 filling as will be described later. A pipe 23 for hydrogen and an electric cable 24 can be connected between the excavator and the resupply unit. The resupply unit is preferably designed as a standardized unit. It is intended to be easily transportable so that it can be moved (as indicated with the numeral 30) from the construction site to a rigging site that normally is close to roads and be refilled from, for example, a haulage vehicle 35 with a tank. The unit may have its own propulsion system but it is preferable that it is of a size that can be carried by, for example, a wheel loader. Since the excavator often is located at remote places where the access roads are poor it is important that the unit is of a size that is easily transportable. In Fig.2 there is shown a diagram of the power parts in the excavator. As shown, Hydrogen is stored in bottles or bottles 15. In the figure there are shown a unit with 4 bottles. This is intended as an example only as there can be as many bottles as necessary to meet the consumption needs of the excavator for a working shift. A pipe 18 connects the bottle(s) to one or more fuel cells 12. The electrical output from the fuel cell is in turn transferred via cable 19 to the electric motor 13 that in its turn powers the hydraulic pumps 14 of the excavator.Preferably a high-capacity battery 5, or capacitor is also housed in the excavator. This may be used for powering auxiliary functions or for balancing power at fast changing loads and also act as a power source when the Fuel Cell system is not turned on. The recharge connector 17 is also shown.In Fig.3 is shown a diagram of the means 22 for transferring hydrogen from the resupply container to the excavator. For simplicity the diagram only shows one bottle. Preferably the container houses several bottles or flasks containing hydrogen, as shown in Fig.2. Since the resupply unit is transportable there must be a trade-off between weight and capacity but it is envisaged that there should be enough hydrogen in the container to last for several days. The bottle(s) are connected to a compressor 25 with pipes 26. The compressor is driven by an electric motor (not shown). As stated in the preamble, it is necessary to cool the hydrogen during filling to the tank 15 in the excavator. To this end a cooler 28 is arranged in the output pipe 27. Various sensors are located in the pipes for monitoring pressure, temperature and flow (illustration only). A connector 29, preferably of the quick connector type. is arranged so that the pipe 23 can be connected to the resupply unit.In an alternative, a storage unit can be located between the compressor and the cooler. This acts as an auxiliary cooler to cool the hydrogen gas using natural convection.In another alternative the compression is performed in several steps, having two or more compressors with coolers in between.In the invention the electric power for powering the compressor and cooling system required for filling the excavator tanks is supplied by the fuel cells mounted in the excavator. The electric power required for this operation is significant and this unique feature is enabling the filling operation to take place anywhere without access to grid power or other local power sources. For monitoring there is a communication link between a control system with sensors in the excavator and the control system and sensors on the resupply unit. The control of the filling operation can be either by the electronics in the excavator or by electronics in the filling unit. The link can be either wireless or via a cabled connection between the excavator and the filling unit. When envisioning the excavator being used on a construction site as for building a highway the distance between the excavator working location and the rigg site may be several kilometres. In the preferred embodiment the unit is standardized and can be loaded onto the truck or trailer pulled by a tractor for transport to a refilling station to refill the (now empty) hydrogen bottles. Alternatively, the truck may have a tank and the hydrogen can be pumped over from the tank to the bottles. Since that requires electricity, this can only be feasible if there are electric power available at the transfer site which typically would be at a rigging or workshop site.In another alternative the resupply unit may be self-powered and able to move between the site and a rig location.When necessary, the excavator will move the short distance from the working location and park adjacent the container. The pipe 23 and electric cable 24 is connected between the container and the excavator. The fuel cells are then operated to provide electricity through the cable 24 to the container to run the motor for the compressor 25 and the cooler 28. One concern is of course that there must be enough hydrogen available in the excavator for the needed electricity. To solve this, a continuous monitoring of system status on all units and H2 remaining capacities can be provided by a central control station such that recharging can be planned correctly.The control system for monitoring all aspects of the running of the system is illustrated in Fig.4. where there is shown a central control station. This may be located in the site headquarter but may normally be located remotely with communication via wireless communication channels such as over 4G or 5G networks. As illustrated, the excavator has a number of sensors to monitor state and operation of the equipment, The sensor may include pressure sensor for the hydrogen bottles, temperature sensors, sensors for electricity consumption and so on (Fig.3). The main control station will include a computer that can calculate power consumption and warn when replenishment of hydrogen becomes necessary as well as general condition monitoring of the whole system for safety and for predictable operation.The construction machine is such that the excavator can be a key unit for Mixed Energy Management allowing efficient selection of the right machines for different tasks, locations and machine availability. This will enable minimized CO2 emissions and high overall efficiency because hydrogen fuel cell powered machines, electric machines charged from excavator fuel cell and diesel-powered machines can be utilized where they best fit. Actual CO2 emissions can be monitored by the overall system and it’s built in Mixed Energy Management system will provide guide for optimizing the mix of systems.The electrical interface for powering the resupply unit can as an alternative be connection directly to the grid power such as typically 400VAC often available at rigging site. Alternatively, it can receive electric power from another electric power source when charging itself from the bottle container.
Claims
CLAIMS1. System for providing power to construction equipment such as an excavator (1), where the excavator comprising a fuel cell (12), an electric motor (13) and at least one hydrogen bottle (14), characterized in that it comprises a hydrogen resupply unit (2) located adjacent the excavator, a pipe (23) for transferring hydrogen from the resupply unit to the excavator and an electric cable (24) for electricity transmission from the excavator to the resupply unit. 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the resupply (2) unit comprises a compressor (25) and a cooler (28), the elements being powered from the excavator.3. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the resupply unit (2) is transportable between a work site and a refilling station.4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that the resupply unit (2) can be a replacement container moved between construction site and a hydrogen production facility.5. System according to claim 3, characterized in that the hydrogen resupply unit (2) is configured with valves and sensors such that the unit can charge itself from a passive hydrogen bottle container at a rig site of the construction site.6. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the excavator (1) comprises a battery charging unit (17).7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that the battery charging unit (17) has an electrical interface designed according to electrical vehicle charging standards8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the charging unit is provided for allowing electrical vehicles and other battery powered construction machines to be charged by the excavator fuel cell when the machine is parked.9. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the excavator comprises a battery (5). 10. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a control system.11. System according to claim 10, characterized in that the control system is at a remote location.12. System according to claim 11, characterized in that the control system monitors the state of the excavator and the resupply unit.13. System according to claim 11, characterized in that parameters are stored in a computer. 14. Method for controlling a system according to claim 1 - 12, characterized by:• monitoring the hydrogen level in the excavator,• monitoring the hydrogen level in the resupply unit, and• when hydrogen level is below a pre-set level, connecting the hydrogen pipe and the electric cable between the excavator and the resupply unit and starting refilling the excavator hydrogen bottle.15. Method according to claim 14, characterized by monitoring the hydrogen level in the resupply unit and if the level is below a pre-set level, transporting the resupply unit to a rig location for refilling.
Drawings

Priority

No priority

Patent classes

IPC classesE02F 9/20B60L 50/70B60L 50/75B60S 5/02CPC classesE02F 9/2091B60L 50/70B60L 50/75B60S 5/02

Citations

US 6755225 B1 (B1)CN 108622039 A (A)US 2020/055422 A1 (A1)US 2020/091254 A1 (A1)CN 112172606 A (A)US 2018/326865 A1 (A1)

Applicants, owners and inventors

Applicants
APPLIED HYDROGEN AS
Bergmannsveien 240 3615 KONGSBERG NO (KONGSBERG Municipality, Buskerud county)Org. number: 925992593Inventors
ÅGE STEINAR ULSERØD
BERGKNAPPEN 9 1352 KOLSÅS NO (BÆRUM Municipality, Akershus county)
John Aleksander Johansen
Helene Sembs vei 27 3610 KONGSBERG NO (KONGSBERG Municipality, Buskerud county)
VIDAR STEN-HALVORSEN
PROKURATOR TORPS GATE 14 3613 KONGSBERG NO (KONGSBERG Municipality, Buskerud county)

Agent

THORVALDSEN KONSULENT
THORVALDSEN KONSULENT

Org. number: 918596003

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Open in The Brønnøysund Register Centre
Christian IV. des gate 30 3616 KONGSBERG NO (KONGSBERG Municipality, Buskerud county)
Org. number: 918596003
Reference:

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