Key information

Title
SYSTEM, ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR COMPRESSION OF HYDROGEN GAS
Application number
20230963
Case type
National
Status
18.08.2025 Patent meddelt (B1)
Filed
08.09.2023
Effective date
08.09.2023
Publicly available
10.03.2025
Next annual fee due
30.09.2027
Applicant
STRAEN ENERGY AS (NO)
Owner
STRAEN ENERGY AS (NO)
Inventor
Arild Aarskog (NO) et al.
Agent
HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS (NO)
Granted
18.08.2025
Patent number
348978
Expiry date
08.09.2043

Abstract and drawing

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.
There is disclosed a system for compression of hydrogen from a hydrogen source, the system comprising: - a compression vessel having an upper portion with an upper end and a lower portion with a lower end, the compression vessel being provided with a first inlet for receiving hydrogen from a hydrogen source, a second inlet for receiving pressurized water from a water reservoir, a first outlet for compressed hydrogen and a second outlet for draining of water; and - a water supply pump, upstream of the second inlet, for pressurizing water from the water reservoir, wherein - the compression vessel further is provided with a third inlet for water, the third inlet being in fluid connection with one or more nozzles inside the compression vessel. There is also disclosed a hydrogen compression assembly including such a system as well as a method for compression of hydrogen by means of the compression assembly.

Publications

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Documents

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Date
 Date Doc. No. Process Case number In/Out Journal description To/from
 20.08.2025 11-01 Saksbehandling 20230963(348978) UT PT Registreringsbrev nasjonal patent (15) (PT20230963)
02.08.2025 10-01 Saksbehandling 20230963 UT PT Varsel om betaling av første årsavgift (3317) (PT20230963) HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 20.05.2025 09-01 Saksbehandling 20230963 UT Intention to grant HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 13.05.2025 08-05 Saksbehandling 20230963 INN P30700NO00_response HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 13.05.2025 08-04 Saksbehandling 20230963 INN P30700NO00_norske krav HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 13.05.2025 08-03 Saksbehandling 20230963 INN P30700NO00_description and claims_MU HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 13.05.2025 08-02 Saksbehandling 20230963 INN P30700NO00_description and claims_clean HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 13.05.2025 08-01 Saksbehandling 20230963 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 10.03.2025 07-01 Saksbehandling 20230963 UT Substantive Examination HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 06.09.2024 06-04 Saksbehandling 20230963 INN P30700NO00_description and claims_MU HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 06.09.2024 06-03 Saksbehandling 20230963 INN P30700NO00_description and claims_clean HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 06.09.2024 06-02 Saksbehandling 20230963 INN P30700NO00_ reponse HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 06.09.2024 06-01 Saksbehandling 20230963 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 15.03.2024 05-02 Saksbehandling 20230963 UT PT report 04:39:45
15.03.2024 05-01 Saksbehandling 20230963 UT 20230963_1828352_PT 08 Eng HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 18.09.2023 04-02 Saksbehandling 20230963 INN P30700NO00_GPoA_Straen_Energy_AS HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 18.09.2023 04-01 Saksbehandling 20230963 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 11.09.2023 03-01 Saksbehandling 20230963 UT Formal Examination 1 HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 11.09.2023 02-01 Saksbehandling 20230963 UT Informasjon til oppfinner Arild Aarskog
 08.09.2023 01-03 Saksbehandling 20230963 INN P30700NO00_figs1-7 HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 08.09.2023 01-02 Saksbehandling 20230963 INN P30700NO00_description and claims HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 08.09.2023 01-01 Saksbehandling 20230963 INN Søknadsskjema Patent HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS

Description, claims and drawings

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content. Description
3489781SYSTEM, ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR COMPRESSION OF HYDROGEN GASThe invention relates to a system for compression of hydrogen. More particularly, the invention relates to a system for compression of hydrogen using one or more compression vessels with water or another pressurizing fluid. The invention also relates to a hy-5 drogen compression assembly comprising such as system as well as to a method of operating the hydrogen compression assembly.Use of hydrogen as en energy carrier is expected to be a key enabler for replacement of fossil fuels in the shift towards more environmentally friendly energy solutions. Today, hydrogen is used i.a. for powering vehicles, generating electricity, powering industrial 10 processes, heating and much more. Hydrogen from electrolyses of water is usually produced at relative low pressures, in order of 4-30 bar, and should preferably be compressed before transport and/or storage.Known systems for compression of hydrogen are relatively large and complex with significant auxiliary equipment and also suffer from low efficiency. Many typical gas compres-15 sors are also less suitable for compression of hydrogen because of its low molecular weight compared to other gasses.US 2013/0315818 A1 discloses a high pressure hydrogen gas compressor comprising a source of high pressure fluid and a pressure vessel having a gas inlet for the gas to be compressed, a gas outlet for the compressed gas and a fluid inlet for the high pressure 20 fluid. The compressor is arranged to introduce the high pressure fluid into the pressure vessel via the fluid inlet whereby to compress a volume of gas in the pressure vessel. US 2006/0144229 A1 discloses a biogas pressurization apparatus comprising a biogas inlet pipe having at least a biogas feeding element, a biogas outlet pipe having at least a cut-off element, a washing water inlet pipe having at least a washing water pressurization device, 25 a washing water outlet pipe having at least a cut-off valve, the apparatus being controlled 3489782either manually or automatically.US 2010/0139777 A1 discloses a compressed gas transfer system comprising at least one first pressure vessel able to hold a volume of gas; and a first gas line to allow gas to pass out of the at least one first pressure vessel wherein the volume of the first pressure vessel 5 is able to be varied to maintain the gas within the pressure vessel at a constant pressure.WO 2023/114228 A1 discloses a high-pressure gas compression, storage, and dispensing system including a storage vessel, a liquid sump tank, and a separation system. The pressure in the storage vessel can be controlled by partially filling or draining the storage vessel with the liquid. The stored gas can become partially saturated with the liquid, and the 10 separation system can reduce the saturation.US 2012/0130549 A1 discloses a plant for storing and supplying compressed gas comprises a storage tank for gas, at least one pressurization tank for gas and a buffer tank for a pressure support fluid to be filled into or evacuated from lower portions of the storage and pressurization tanks. The lower portions of the storage and pressurization tanks are 15 communicating with the buffer tank via fluid flow lines to fill fluid during supplying from and pressurizing gas in the plant, and a flow line for evacuating fluid during refilling of the pressurization tank.The invention has for its object to remedy or to reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art, or at least provide an useful alternative to prior art.20 The object is achieved through features, which are specified in the description below and in the claims that follow.The invention is defined by the independent patent claims. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments of the invention.In a first aspect, the invention relates to a system for compression of hydrogen from a 25 hydrogen source, the system comprising:- a compression vessel having an upper portion with an upper end and a lower portion with a lower end, the compression vessel being provided with a first inlet for receiving 3489783hydrogen from a hydrogen source, a second inlet for receiving pressurized water from a water reservoir, a first outlet for compressed hydrogen and a second outlet for draining of water; and- a water supply pump, upstream of the second inlet, for pressurizing water from the wa-5 ter reservoir, wherein- the compression vessel further is provided with a third inlet for water, the third inlet being in fluid connection with one or more nozzles inside the compression vessel; and - the first inlet, the second inlet, the third inlet, the first outlet, and the second outlet each occupy a different position on the compression vessel.10 The purpose of the nozzles is to spray a cooling fluid, such as water, over the hydrogen as it is being compressed in order to approach isothermal compression. Preferably, the cooling water (or other fluid) is supplied to the compression vessel through the third inlet with an overpressure compared to the water supplied through the second inlet.It should also be noted that the system for compression for hydrogen may also be suita-15 ble for compressing other types of gasses, in addition to H2, such as CO2, NH3, N2 or any noble gas, and that it is not limited to compression of H2 only.In one embodiment the second inlet for pressurised water may be provided at the lower portion of the compression vessel, the third inlet for water may be provided at the upper portion of the compression vessel, and the first inlet for hydrogen may be provided be-20 tween the second and third inlets.The water supply pump, upstream of the second inlet, may in one embodiment supply water to both the second and third inlets. Additionally, the second and third inlets may be directly connected to the water supply pump.In a second aspect the invention relates to a hydrogen compression assembly, the hydro-25 gen compression assembly comprising:- a system according to the first aspect of the invention;- a hydrogen source connected to the first inlet of the compression vessel;- a water reservoir connected to the second and third inlets of the compression vessel; 3489784and- a receiver for compressed hydrogen connected to the first outlet.In one embodiment the water reservoir may also be connected to the second outlet of the compression vessel for receiving water and any residual hydrogen dissolved in the 5 water drained from the compression vessel.Additionally, the water reservoir may have an inlet for water and residual hydrogen, a first outlet connected to the inlet of the water supply pump and a second outlet for hydrogen. Separation of water from hydrogen may simply be enabled by gravitation.Further additionally, the compression vessel may be provided with a fourth inlet for water 10 and residual hydrogen, wherein the second outlet of the water reservoir is connected to the fourth inlet of the compression vessel via a residual ejector connected to the outlet discharge of the water supply pump.In one embodiment, the hydrogen source may be directly connected to the first inlet of the compression vessel, i.e. without an intermediate ejector.15 Alternatively, the hydrogen source may be connected to the first inlet of the compression vessel via one or more supply ejectors for increasing the pressure of hydrogen prior to its supply to the compression vessel.When the hydrogen source is connected to the first inlet of the compression vessel via one or more ejectors, the hydrogen compression assembly may further comprise an ejec-20 tor supply pump with an inlet connected to the water reservoir and an outlet connected to the supply ejector, the outlet of the supply ejector being directly connected to the first inlet of the compression vessel.In one embodiment the compression vessel may be a first compression vessel among a plurality of compression vessels.25 In a practical embodiment, the hydrogen compression assembly may comprise two pairs of compression vessels, a first compression vessel pair including the first compression 3489785vessel and a second compression vessel, and a second compression vessel pair, including a third compression vessel and a fourth compression vessel.In one embodiment, the hydrogen compression assembly may comprise two water supply pumps, where the first pair of compression vessels is connected to the first water supply 5 pump and where the second pair of compression vessels is connected to the second water supply pump. As an alternative to using two water supply pumps, a single water supply pump with a suitable valve arrangement may achieve a similar distribution of water. As a further alternative, the number of water supply pumps may be equal to the number of compression vessels.10 The first compression vessel may preferably comprise first and second level switches for sensing first and second liquid filling levels, respectively, and wherein the second, third and fourth compression vessels each comprises a level switch for sensing a liquid filling level corresponding to the second filling level. In one embodiment one or more, preferably each of, the compression vessels may comprise a low-level switch indicating that the 15 compression vessel is empty or substantially empty after draining of water and dissolved hydrogen. The low-level switch may be connected to a drain valve, typically via a control unit, so that the drain valve closes when a liquid level corresponding to the low level is sensed.In a third aspect the invention relates to method of operating a hydrogen compression 20 assembly including two pairs of compression vessels, wherein the method includes the steps of:- supplying hydrogen to each of the compression vessels from the hydrogen source;- start supplying pressurized water to the first compression vessel to pressurize the hydrogen therein;25 - sensing, by means of the first level switch, that the liquid level in the first compression vessel has reached a first filling level (H1); and then- start supplying pressurised water to the third compression vessel to pressurise the hydrogen therein;- cooling the hydrogen during compression by supplying cooling water through the noz 3489786zles; and- opening the first outlet for compressed hydrogen in the first compression vessel when the pressure in the first compression vessel has reached a pre-determined pressure.It should be noted that opening the first outlet for compressed hydrogen may be fully 5 automatic in the sense that the outlet opens through a check valve when the pressure inside the compression vessel is larger than in the supply line downstream of the outlet. This may also be the case for feeding hydrogen into the first inlet of the compression vessel, which may also be through a check valve that opens into the compression vessel when the pressure on the inside is lower than that on the outside in the supply line up-10 stream of the first inlet.In one embodiment, the method may further comprise the steps of:- sensing, by means of the second level switch, that the liquid level in the first compression vessel has reached the second filling level; and then- start supplying pressurised water to the second compression vessel through its second 15 inlet and start draining water and any residual hydrogen from the first compression vessel through the second outlet;- opening the first outlet for compressed hydrogen from the third compression vessel when the pressure in the third compression vessel has reached a pre-determined pressure,20 - sensing, by means of the level switch, that the liquid level in third compression vessel has reached the second filling level; and then-start supplying pressurised water to the fourth compression vessel through its second inlet and start draining water and any residual hydrogen from the third compression vessel through the second outlet; and25 - cooling the hydrogen during compression by supplying cooling water through the nozzles.In one embodiment, the method may further comprise the steps of:- opening the first outlet for compressed hydrogen from the second compression vessel when the pressure in the second compression vessel has reached a pre-determined pres 3489787sure;- sensing, by means of the level switch, that the liquid level in second compression vessel has reached the second filling level; and then- again start supplying pressurised water to the first compression vessel through its sec-5 ond inlet and start draining water and any residual hydrogen from the second compression vessel through the second outlet, and- cooling the hydrogen during compression by supplying cooling water through the nozzles.In one embodiment, the method may further comprise the steps of:10 - opening the first outlet for compressed hydrogen from the fourth compression vessel when the pressure in the fourth compression vessel has reached a pre-determined pressure- sensing, by means of the level switch, that the liquid level in fourth compression vessel has reached the second filling level; and then15 - again start supplying pressurised water to the third compression vessel through its second inlet and start draining water and any residual hydrogen from the fourth compression vessel through the second outlet; and- cooling the hydrogen during compression by supplying cooling water through the nozzles.20 The cycle of filling and emptying the compressions vessels may be repeated as necessary.In one embodiment, the method may include, for each compression vessel, supplying a volume of water for cooling through the nozzles through the third inlet that is 5% or less, preferably 2% or less, of the total supply of water to the compression vessel, i.e. more than 95%, preferably more than 98%, of the water being supplied through the second 25 inlet for compressing the hydrogen therein.In one embodiment, the system for compression of hydrogen and the hydrogen compression assembly may comprise a plurality of check valves at the hydrogen inlet(s) and outlet(s) which will provide gas supply to the compression vessel(s) as long as the pressure inside the compression vessels is lower than the upstream pressure, and gas will leave the 3489788compression vessel as long as the pressure inside the compression vessel is higher than the gas export pressure. During liquid draining of a compression vessel, hydrogen (or other gas) will enter the compression vessel as soon as the pressure in the supply line to the first inlet is higher than the pressure inside the compression vessel. Hydrogen entering 5 the compression vessel during draining will assist in “pushing out” the remaining water from the compression vessel. In alternative embodiment, a similar filling and supply cycle may be enabled by means of “on-off” valves with suitable logic and pressure sensors. In the following is described examples of preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:10 Fig.1 shows a first embodiment of a system according to the invention;Fig.2 shows a second embodiment of a system according to the invention;Fig.3 shows a third embodiment of a system according to the invention;Fig.4 shows a fourth embodiment of a system according to the invention;Fig.5 shows a fifth embodiment of a system according to the invention;15 Fig.6 shows liquid level as a function of time in a system according to the invention; andFig.7 shows pressure as a function of time in system according to invention. Any positional indications refer to the position shown in the figures.In the figures, same or corresponding elements are indicated by same reference numer-20 als. For clarity reasons, some elements may in some of the figures be with-out reference numerals. A person skilled in the art will understand that the figures are just principal drawings and that relative proportions of individual elements may also be distorted. In the figures, reference numeral 1 will be used to denote a system for compression of hydrogen according to the first aspect of the invention, whereas reference numeral 10 25 denotes a hydrogen compression assembly according to the second aspect of the inven 3489789tion.It should be noted that the embodiments of the invention shown in Figs.1-5 are drawn highly schematic and simplified.In Fig.1 a first embodiment of a system for compression of hydrogen 1 is shown. The sys-5 tem 1 is connected to a hydrogen source 2, a water reservoir 4 and a not shown receiver/consumer of compressed hydrogen to define a hydrogen compression assembly 10. The source of hydrogen 2 may e.g. be hydrogen that is produced by means of electrolysis of water or, as alternative, hydrogen produced by reforming of hydrocarbons. The system 1 comprises a compression vessel 6, the compression vessel having and upper portion 60 10 with an upper end 62 and a lower portion 64 with an lower end 66. The compression vessel 6 is provided with a first inlet 8 for receiving hydrogen from the hydrogen source 2, a second inlet 12 for receiving pressure water from the water reservoir 4 and a third inlet 14 for water, where the third inlet is in fluid connection with one or more nozzle outlets 16 on the inside of the compression vessel 6. In Fig.1 three nozzle outlets 16 are highly 15 schematically indicated in the closed circle, showing an enlarged view into the interior of the compression vessel 6. However, it should be understood that the number of nozzles 16 may differ depending on the size and type of nozzles as well as the size of the compression vessel 6 as such. The nozzle outlets 16, arranged near the upper end 62 of the compression vessel, create a water mist efficiently cooling the hydrogen during compres-20 sion to establish an isothermal or close to isothermal compression. The compression vessel 6 is further provided with a first outlet 18 for compressed hydrogen and second outlet 20 for draining of water and, optionally, residual/dissolved hydrogen. The system 10 further comprises a water supply pump 22 for pressurizing water from the water reservoir 4 from a first outlet 26 on the water reservoir and supplying the pressurized water to the 25 compression vessel through the second inlet 12. A water cooler 24 is provided upstream of the water supply pump 22, downstream of the water reservoir 4. In the shown onevessel embodiment, one and the same water supply pump 22 both pressurizes water into the second inlet 12 and supplies water through the third inlet 14 to the nozzle outlets 16. Distribution of water between the second and third inlets may be adjusted by means of 30 one or more not shown control valves and/or by using different diameter supply pipes. 34897810The one or more valves may be controlled by a not shown control unit. Through testing and experiments, the present applicant has surprisingly found that only 5% or less, preferably 2% or less, of the water supplied to the compression vessel 6 need to be supplied to the nozzle outlets 16 for efficient cooling, the remaining water being supplied through 5 the second inlet 12 where pressurized water acts as a piston/cushion for pressurizing hydrogen received from the hydrogen source 2. The embodiment according to the first embodiment of Fig.1, will not be able to deliver a constant supply of pressurized hydrogen since compression and subsequent draining of water take place sequentially.The embodiments shown in Figs.2-5, each comprises four compression vessels, where 10 the second, third and fourth compression vessels will be denoted 6’, 6’’ and 6’’’ respectively. With careful control of pressure and liquid levels the four-vessel set-ups may be able to deliver a substantially constant supply of pressurized hydrogen if desirable, as will be explained below.Fig.2 shows a second embodiment of a system from compression of hydrogen 1 and hy-15 drogen compression assembly 10 according to the invention. The system 1 in the shown embodiment comprises four compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’ and 6’’’ arranged in two pairs, 6, 6’ and 6’’, 6’’’. The system 1 comprises two water supply pumps 22, 22’, the first water supply pump 22 supplying water to the first pair of compression vessels 6, 6’ and the second water supply pump 22’ supplying water to the second pair of compression vessels 6’’, 20 6’’’. In addition to the first outlet 26 for water to the water supply pumps 22, 22’, the water reservoir 4 in the shown embodiment is provided with a second outlet 28 for supply of residual hydrogen back to the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’. It should be noted that each of the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ comprises nozzle outlets 16, as indicated in Fig.1. It should also be noted that by using two pumps, it will always be possible to pro-25 vide a higher pressure to the nozzle outlets 16 than to the simultaneous pressure inside the compression vessel due to the filling and discharging cycle disclosed below. While e.g. hydrogen is being compressed in the third compression vessel 6’’ by the second water supply pump 22’, the discharge pressure of the first water supply pump 22 is at its maximum pressure level (see Fig.7). At the same time as the first water supply pump 70 is 30 supplying maximum pressure to first compression vessel 6, the high-pressure water sup 34897811ply may also be “branched” to supply high pressure cooling water to the third compression vessel 6’’ during compression of hydrogen. The branching may be enabled by providing a first check valve 70 downstream of the first water supply pump 22 and upstream of the third inlets 14 and similarly a second check valve 70’ downstream of the second water 5 supply pump and upstream of the third inlets 14. The check valves 70, 70’ open when maximum pressure level is reached. Similarly, when the second water supply pump 22’ is operating at maximum pressure, the second check valve 70’ will open so that cooling water at high pressure may be delivered to the first or second compression vessels 6, 6’, depending on stage in the cycle. Since, in the cycle disclosed in more detail below, one of 10 the water supply pumps 22, 22’ will always be supplying water through one of the second inlets at maximum pressure, cooling water to the nozzles 16 in one of the third inlets 14 (for the compression vessel that is the compression phase) will always be available through the mentioned branching. It should also be noted that each third inlet 14 to the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, and 6’’’ will normally contain an on-off valve, which may in 15 certain embodiments close just before discharge of hydrogen starts from the compression vessel through first outlet 18. This will be beneficial in to prevent water droplets in discharged hydrogen. In an alternative embodiment, the supply of water to the third inlets 14 may be provided by means of a designated, independent not shown water supply pump, where this water supply pump may be significantly smaller than the shown first 20 and second water supply pumps 22, 22’ due the reduced flow requirements. In some embodiments, water drained from the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ through second outlets 20, may include residual hydrogen that should preferably be fed back to the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’. In the shown embodiment, residual hydrogen from the water reservoir 4 is led into a fourth inlet 30 in each of the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’.25 However, tests and experiments performed by the present applicant have shown that the level of residual hydrogen in drained water may be negligible in certain set-ups and that the second outlet 28 from the water reservoir should be regarded as optional. Where the second outlet 28 from the water reservoir 4 is indeed present, hydrogen is led through the second outlet 28 of the water reservoir 4 into residual ejector 36, where the residual 30 hydrogen is entrained with water, as motive fluid, from the water supply pumps 22, 22’.In the embodiment of Fig.2, each of the water supply pumps 22, 22’ supplies water 34897812through three different inlets for each of the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’; the second inlet 12 for pressurized water for compressing hydrogen, the third inlet 14 for cooling through the nozzle outlets 16 and the fourth inlet 30 for water and residual hydrogen via residual ejector 36. The water supply pumps 22, 22’ are directly connected to the com-5 pression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ through the second inlet 12 and third inlet 14, where “directly” in this regard means that there is no ejector between the water supply pumps 22, 22’ and the respective inlet, which is in contrast to the third inlet 30. The distribution of water may be enabled by a selection of not shown valves and/or pipe arrangements, where the valves may be controlled by means of the not shown control unit. In the em-10 bodiment of Fig.2 the source of hydrogen 2 has a sufficient pressure for the hydrogen to be lifted into the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ without additional assistance from pumps, ejectors etc. As mentioned above, the first inlet 8 for hydrogen may be provided with a not shown check valve ensuring a flow of hydrogen into the respective compression vessel 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ when the pressure inside the vessel is lower than in the supply 15 line into the first inlet 8. Similarly, the first outlet 18 may also be provided with a checkvalve ensuring supply of hydrogen when the pressure inside a compression vessel 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ is higher than in the supply line.Fig.3 shows an embodiment of a system for hydrogen compression 1 and a hydrogen compression assembly 10 similar to the one in Fig.2, with the difference that hydrogen is 20 pressure-assisted before being supplied to the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’. This may be necessary or preferred if the hydrogen source 2 does not have sufficient pressure. Pressure assistance is enabled by means of a pair of ejector supply pumps 32, 32’ connected to the water reservoir 4, downstream of the water reservoir 4. A first ejector supply pump 32 is connected to a supply ejector 34 to pump water, as a motive fluid, 25 therethrough to entrain hydrogen from the hydrogen source 2 so as to increase its pressure for supply to the first inlet 8 of the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’. A second ejector supply pump 32’ is used to pump the residual hydrogen from the water reservoir 4 into the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ through the first inlet 8, i.e. the residual hydrogen is mixed with “fresh” hydrogen from the hydrogen source upstream of the first inlet 30 8, downstream of the supply ejector 34 and residual ejector 36, implying that the water supply pumps 22, 22’ in the embodiment of Fig.3 “only” supplies water directly to the 34897813compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ through the second and third inlets 12, 14.Fig.4 shows yet another embodiment a system for hydrogen compression 1 and a hydrogen compression assembly 10. The embodiment resembles the one in Fig.3, but with some differences, as will now be explained. In this embodiment, the supply pressure of 5 hydrogen from the hydrogen source 2 is so low that pressure-assistance is provided by two supply ejectors, the first supply ejector 34 and a second supply ejector 34’. Similar to the embodiment in Fig.3, the first supply ejector 34 receives hydrogen from the hydrogen source 2, where the hydrogen is entrained with water supplied from the first water supply pump 32. However, instead of thereafter being supplied directly to the compres-10 sion vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ through the first inlet 8, hydrogen undergoes one more pressurization stage before being supplied to the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’. From the first supply ejector 34, water and entrained hydrogen flow into a suction tank 38 through a suction tank inlet 40. From the suction tank 38 hydrogen flows into the second supply ejector 34’ through a first outlet 42 of the suction tank 38. The second supply ejector 34’ 15 is driven by water as motive fluid from the second ejector supply pump 32’. Water is pumped out from a second outlet 44 of the suction tank 38 back to the water reservoir 4, implying that the water reservoir 4, in the shown embodiment, has two inlets for water and residual hydrogen, one from the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ as before, and an additional one from the second outlet 44 of the suction tank 38. The pumping of water to 20 the water reservoir 4 from the suction tank 38 is provided by a water drain pump 46, the pressure in the suction tank 38 being lower than that in the water reservoir 4.. Further, in the shown embodiment, the water reservoir 4 has a separate outlet 48 for residual hydrogen connected to an inlet 50 of the hydrogen source, implying that instead of feeding the residual hydrogen back into the compression vessels through a residual ejector 36, 25 residual/dissolved hydrogen is fed back to the hydrogen source 2.Fig.5 shows another embodiment where pressure from the hydrogen source 2 is increased in two stages, as in Fig.4. In addition, the system for compression of hydrogen 1 also includes the residual ejector 36 for supply of residual hydrogen from the water reservoir 4, similar to the embodiments of Figs.1 and 2. The residual ejector 36 is driven by 30 water from the water supply pumps 22, 22’ as motive fluid. In contrast to the embodi 34897814ment shown in Fig.4, there is no hydrogen inlet 50 to the hydrogen source 2 and corresponding outlet 48 from the water reservoir.Desired output pressure for hydrogen from the first outlet 18 may typically be around 100 bar. However, for certain recipients, the output pressure may be higher, such as around 5 200 bar or higher. To ensure sufficient compression, the input pressure from the hydrogen source may preferably be in the order of 20 bar. In case of insufficient supply pressure, the supply of hydrogen may be pressure-assisted in one or more pressure-increasing stages by ejectors as explained above. In one embodiment, where the pressure from the hydrogen source 2 is in the order of 10 bar, the first supply ejector 34 may increase the 10 hydrogen pressure from 10 bar to 20 bar upstream of the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’, which corresponds to the embodiment of Fig.3. In another embodiment, where the hydrogen supply pressure at the hydrogen source 2 is in the order of 4 bar, the first supply ejector may be used to increase the pressure from 4 bar to 10 bar, whereas the second supply ejector is used to increase the hydrogen pressure from 10 bar to 20 bar up-15 stream of the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’ , 6’’’, corresponding to the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5. It should of course be noted that the pressures and pressure increases presented above are indicative only, and that other desired pressures and pressure increases are achievable by use of ejector technology.Fig.6 is a graph showing simulated liquid level (mm) as a function of time (min) for each 20 of the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ in a four-vessel set-up, similar to the one in Fig.2.Fig.7 is a graph showing pressure (bara) as a function of time (min) contemporaneous with Fig.6. The compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ are also denoted CCV1, CCV2, CCV3 and CCV4, respectively, in the graphs. As mentioned above, the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ are arranged in pairs, each pair 6, 6’ and 6’’, 6’’’ being connected to one of the water 25 supply pumps 22, 22’ each. As can be seen in Fig.6, filling of the second compression vessel 6’/CCV2 starts when the liquid level in the first compression vessel 6 reaches a predetermined maximum filling level H2, herein also referred to as a second filling level. Draining of the first compression vessel 6 starts when (water) filling of the second compression vessel 6’ starts. The supply switch from the first compression vessel 6 to the sec-30 ond compression vessel 6’ is typically enabled by means of operating one or more not 34897815shown valves controlled by means of a not shown control unit. The not shown drain valve may be operated in a similar way and closes when the liquid level reaches a low-level L1. In an alternative embodiment, each compression vessel 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ could be supplied with pressurised water from a designated water supply pump. In yet another embodi-5 ment, all of the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’ may be supplied with water from a single water supply pump. However, this may be undesirable in certain embodiments, due to a substantial loss of pressure energy when two compression vessels would have been supplied from the pump at the same time. Reaching of the second/maximum filling level in the first compression vessel 6 is sensed by a not shown level switch for sensing the 10 second filling level, the level switch communicating with the control unit, thus receiving information that the second filling level H2 is reached in first compression vessel 6. Draining of the first compression vessel 6 starts at the same time filling of the second compression vessel 6’ commences. Filling of the third compression vessel 6’’ is triggered by the filling level in the first compression level 6 reaches a first level H1. In the shown embodi-15 ment, the first filling level H1 is approximately 75% of the second filling level H2. The first filling H1, which is sensed by a separate, not shown level switch is communicated to the control unit, is chosen to establish start of filling of the third compression vessel 6’’. The time/delay between reaching of the second filling levels for the various compression vessels is substantially constant as can be seen in Fig.6. Filling of the fourth compression 20 vessels 6’’’ starts when the third compression vessels 6’’ reaches it second filling level H2 and draining of its water content commences. This leads to an order of filling of the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ which is 1 (6/CCV1), 3 (6’’/CCV3), 2 (6’/CCV2), and 4 (6’’’/CCV4) before the cycle is repeated. The substantially constant time interval between when the various compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ reaches their respective second filling 25 level H2, also leads to a substantially constant output pressure, and stable supply of hydrogen to the not shown recipient, as can be seen in Fig.7. In the exemplary embodiment, the desired pressure level / output pressure P1 is approximately 200 bara. As described above, the flow of hydrogen into and out from the compression vessels may be enabled by check valves operating on pressure differences, i.e. so that a compression ves-30 sel starts filling if the pressure inside the compression vessel is lower than the pressure in the supply line to the first inlet 8. Similarly, supply of hydrogen to the first outlet 18 may 34897816start if the pressure inside the compression vessel is higher than the pressure in the supply line from the first outlet 18. Selected check valves may be set to operate with a very small delta P.In an alternative embodiment, each of the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ may also 5 comprises a respective not shown pressure sensor, each of the pressure sensors also communicating with the not shown control unit and being adapted to send pressure data to the control unit. When the pressure in each of the compression vessels reaches as predetermined pressure value P1, corresponding to the desired supply pressure, a not shown outlet valve opens so that compressed hydrogen starts flowing out the first outlet 18 of 10 the respective compression vessel 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’. However, as mentioned above, the supply of hydrogen may also start without any use “on-off valves”, but instead with mechanical check vales. By comparing the graphs in Figs.6 and 7 it can be observed that the desired pressure level P1 in the first compression vessel 6, at which the not shown outlet valve opens (either by delta P or electronic signal), is reached at approximately the onset 15 of start of filling of third compression vessel 6’’. The supply pressure P1 from the first compression vessel 6 is then maintained until the first compression vessel 6 reaches its second filling level H2 and a not shown drain valve opens and the pressure immediately falls below the supply pressure P1 and the supply valve closes. The drain valve remains open until a low / substantially empty liquid filling level is sensed by a not shown low-20 level switch. Due to the delay in filling of the third compression vessel 6’’, the pressure in the third compression vessel 6’’ reaches the pre-determined pressure level P1 when the pressure in the first compression vessel 6 drops below the supply pressure P1 (in the shown graph, it can be seen that pressure level in the third compression vessel 6’’ reaches the supply pressure P1 immediately before draining of the first compression vessel 6 25 starts). With the substantially constant time-offset between filling and draining of the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ one of the compression vessels 6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’ will always be able to supply hydrogen with a substantially constant pressure and flow. With the four-vessel set-up the supply, filling and draining cycle presented above, there is always only one compression vessel discharging hydrogen at any time, and another compression 30 vessel draining water at any time. 34897817It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use 5 of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.10
Claims
34897818C l a i m s1. System (1) for compression of hydrogen from a hydrogen source (2), the system (1) comprising:- a compression vessel (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′) having an upper portion (60) with an upper 5 end (62) and a lower portion (64) with a lower end (66), the compression vessel (6) being provided with a first inlet (8) for receiving hydrogen from a hydrogen source (2), a second inlet (12) for receiving pressurized water from a water reservoir (4), a first outlet (18) for compressed hydrogen and a second outlet (20) for draining of water; and10 - a water supply pump (22, 22′), upstream of the second inlet (12), for pressurizing water from the water reservoir (4), characterised in that- the compression vessel (6) further is provided with a third inlet (14) for water, the third inlet (14) being in fluid connection with one or more nozzles (16) inside the compression vessel (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′); and15 - the first inlet (8), the second inlet (12), the third inlet (14), the first outlet (18), and the second outlet (20) each occupy a different position on the compression vessel (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′).2. System (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second inlet (12) for pressurised water is provided at the lower portion (64) of the compression vessel (6, 6′, 20 6′′, 6′′′), the third inlet (14) for water is provided the upper portion (60) of the compression vessel (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′), and the first inlet (8) for hydrogen is provided between the second (12) and third (14) inlets.3. System (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the water supply pump (22, 22′), upstream of the second inlet (12), supplies water to both the second (12) and 25 third (14) inlets.4. System (1) according to claim 3, wherein the second (12) and third (14) inlets are directly connected to the water supply pump (22, 22′).348978195. Hydrogen compression assembly (10), the hydrogen compression assembly (10) comprising:- a system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims;- a hydrogen source (2) connected to the first inlet (8) of the compression ves-5 sel (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′);- a water reservoir (4) connected to the second (12) and third (14) inlets of the compression vessel (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′); and- a receiver for compressed hydrogen connected to the first outlet.6. Hydrogen compression assembly (10) according to claim 5, wherein the wa-10 ter reservoir (4) is also connected to the second outlet (20) of the compression vessel (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′) for receiving water and any residual hydrogen drained from the compression vessel (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′).7. Hydrogen compression assembly (10) according to claim 6, wherein the water reservoir (4) has an inlet for water and residual hydrogen, a first outlet (26) 15 connected to the inlet of the water supply pump and a second outlet (28) for hydrogen.8. Hydrogen compression assembly (10) according to claim 7, wherein the compression vessel (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′) is provided with a fourth inlet (30) for water and residual hydrogen, the second outlet (28) of the water reservoir being connected 20 to the fourth inlet (30) of the compression vessel (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′) via a residual ejector (36) connected to the water supply pump (22, 22′).9. Hydrogen compression assembly (10) according to any one of the claims 5-8, wherein the hydrogen source (2) is directly connected to the first inlet (8) of the compression vessel (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′).25 10. Hydrogen compression assembly (10) according to any one of the claims 5-8, wherein the hydrogen source (2) is connected to the first inlet (8) of the compression vessel (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′) via one or more supply ejectors (34, 34′).3489782011. Hydrogen compression assembly (10) according to claim 10, wherein the hydrogen compression assembly (10) further comprises an ejector supply pump (32, 32′) with an inlet connected to the water reservoir and an outlet connected to a supply ejector (34, 34′), the outlet of the supply ejector (34, 34′) being directly 5 connected to the first inlet (8) of the compression vessel (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′).12. Hydrogen compression assembly (10) according to any one of the claims 5-11, wherein the compression vessel (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′) is a first compression vessel (6) among a plurality of compression vessels (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′).13. Hydrogen compression assembly (10) according to claim 12, wherein the hy-10 drogen compression assembly (10) comprises two pairs of compression vessels (6,6′ and 6′′, 6′′′), a first compression vessel pair (6, 6′) including the first compression vessel (6) and a second compression vessel (6′) and a second compression vessel pair (6′′, 6′′′), including a third compression vessel (6′′) and a fourth compression vessel (6′′′).15 14. Hydrogen compression assembly (10) according to claim 13, wherein the water supply pump (22, 22′) is a first water supply pump (22), and wherein hydrogen compression assembly (10) further comprises a second water supply pump (22′), the first water supply pump (22) being connected to the first (6) and second (6′) compression vessels and the second water supply pump (22′) connected to the 20 third and fourth compression vessels (6′′, 6′′′).15. Hydrogen compression assembly (10) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the first compression vessel (6) comprises first and second level switches for sensing first and second liquid filling levels, respectively, and wherein the second (6′), third (6′′) and fourth (6′′′) compression vessels each comprises a level switch for 25 sensing a liquid filling level corresponding to the second filling level.16. Method of operating a hydrogen compression assembly (10) according to claim 15, wherein the method includes the steps of:- supplying hydrogen to each of the compression vessels (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′) from the34897821hydrogen source (2);- start supplying pressurized water to the first compression vessel (6) to pressurize the hydrogen therein;- sensing, by means of the first level switch, that the liquid level in the first com-5 pression vessel has reached a first filling level (H1); and then- start supplying pressurised water to the third compression vessel (6′′) to pressurise the hydrogen therein;- cooling the hydrogen during compression by supplying cooling water through the nozzles (16) to each of the first (6) and third (6′′) compression vessels during its re-10 spective hydrogen compression phase;- opening the first outlet (18) for compressed hydrogen from the first compression vessel (6) when the pressure in the first compression vessel (6) has reached a pre-determined pressure17. Method according to claim 16, wherein the method further comprises the 15 steps of:- sensing, by means of the second level switch, that the liquid level in the first compression vessel (6) has reached the second filling level; and then - start supplying pressurised water to the second compression vessel (6′) and start draining water and any residual hydrogen from the first compression vessel (6) 20 through the second outlet (20);- opening the first outlet (18) for compressed hydrogen from the third compression vessel (6′′) when the pressure in the third compression vessel (6′′) has reached a pre-determined pressure;- sensing, by means of the level switch, that the liquid level in the third compres-25 sion vessel (6′′) has reached the second filling level; and then-start supplying pressurised water to the fourth compression vessel (6′′′) and start draining water and any residual hydrogen from the third compression vessel (6′′) through the second outlet (20); and- cooling the hydrogen during compression by supplying cooling water through the 30 nozzles (16) to each of the second (6′) and fourth (6′′′) compression vessels during34897822its respective hydrogen compression phase.18. Method according to claim 17, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:5 - opening the first outlet (18) for compressed hydrogen from the second compression vessel (6′) when the pressure in the second compression vessel (6′) has reached a pre-determined pressure;- sensing, by means of the level switch, that the liquid level in the second compression vessel (6′) has reached the second filling level; and then10 - again start supplying pressurised water to the first compression vessel (6) and start draining water and any residual hydrogen from the second compression vessel (6′) through the second outlet (20), and- cooling the hydrogen during compression by supplying cooling water through the nozzles (16) to the first compression vessel (6) during its hydrogen compression 15 phase.19. Method according to claim 18, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:- opening the first outlet (18) for compressed hydrogen from the fourth compres-20 sion vessel (6′′′) when the pressure in the fourth compression vessel (6′′′) has reached a pre-determined pressure;- sensing, by means of the level switch, that the liquid level in the fourth compression vessel (6′′′) has reached the second filling level; and then- again start supplying pressurised water to the third compression vessel (6′′) and 25 start draining water and any residual hydrogen from the fourth compression vessel (6′′′) through the second outlet (20); and- cooling the hydrogen during compression by supplying cooling water through the nozzles (16) to the third compression vessel (6′′) during its hydrogen compression phase.3489782320. Repeating the steps of claims 16 – 19 as necessary.21. Method according to any one of the claims 16-20, wherein method includes the step, for each compression vessel (6, 6′, 6′′, 6′′′), supplying a volume of water for cooling through the nozzles (16) through the third inlet (14) that is 5% or less, 5 preferably 2% or less, of the total supply of water to the compression vessel (6, 6′,6′′, 6′′′), the rest of the water being supplied through the second inlet (12) for compressing the hydrogen therein.34897824P a t e n t k r a v1. System (1) for komprimering av hydrogen fra en hydrogenkilde (2), idet systemet (1) omfatter:- en kompresjonsbeholder (6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’) som har et øvre parti (60) med en øvre ende 5 (62) og et nedre parti (64) med en nedre ende (66), idet kompresjonsbeholderen (6) er forsynt med et første innløp (8) for å motta hydrogen fra en hydrogenkilde (2), et andre innløp (12) for å motta trykksatt vann fra et vannreservoar (4), et første utløp (18) for komprimert hydrogen og et andre utløp (20) for tømming av vann; og- en vanntilførselspumpe (22, 22’), oppstrøms for det andre innløpet (12), for å trykksette 10 vann fra vannreservoaret (4), k a r a k t e r i s e r t v e d at- kompresjonsbeholderen (6) er videre forsynt med et tredje innløp (14) for vann, idet det tredje innløpet (14) er i fluid forbindelse med én eller flere dyser (16) inni kompresjonsbeholderen (6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’); og- det første innløpet (8), det andre innløpet (12), det tredje innløpet (14), det første utløpet 15 (18) og det andre utløpet (20) opptar hver en ulik posisjon på kompresjonsbeholderen (6,6’, 6’’, 6’’’).2. System (1) ifølge krav 1, hvor det andre innløpet (12) for trykksatt vann er tilveiebrakt på det nedre partiet (64) av kompresjonsbeholderen (6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’), det tredje innløpet (14) for vann er tilveiebrakt på det øvre partiet (60) av kompresjonsbeholderen (6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’), 20 og det første innløpet (8) for hydrogen er tilveiebrakt mellom de andre (12) og tredje (14) innløpene.3. System (1) ifølge krav 1 eller 2, hvor vanntilførselspumpen (22, 22’), oppstrøms for det andre innløpet (12), forsyner vann til både de andre (12) og de tredje (14) innløpene.4. System (1) ifølge krav 3, hvor de andre (12) og tredje (14) innløpene er direkte forbundet 25 med vanntilførselspumpen (22, 22’).5. Sammenstilling (10) for komprimering av hydrogen, idet sammenstillingen (10) for komprimering av hydrogen omfatter:- et system (1) ifølge et hvilket som helst av de foregående kravene;- en hydrogenkilde (2) koblet til det første innløpet (8) på kompresjonsbeholderen (6, 6’, 30 6’’, 6’’’);- et vannreservoar (4) koblet til de andre (12) og tredje (14) innløpene på kompresjonsbeholderen (6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’); og- en mottaker for komprimert hydrogen forbundet med det første utløpet.6. Sammenstilling (10) for komprimering av hydrogen ifølge krav 5, hvor vannreservoaret (4) 35 er også forbundet med det andre utløpet (20) på kompresjonsbeholderen (6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’)34897825for å motta vann og eventuelt resthydrogen som er tømt fra kompresjonsbeholderen (6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’).7. Sammenstilling (10) for komprimering av hydrogen ifølge krav 6, hvor vannreservoaret (4) har et innløp for vann og resthydrogen, et første utløp (26) forbundet med innløpet til 5 vannforsyningspumpen og et andre utløp (28) for hydrogen.8. Sammenstilling (10) for komprimering av hydrogen ifølge krav 7, hvor kompresjonsbeholderen (6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’) er forsynt med et fjerde innløp (30) for vann og resthydrogen, idet det andre utløpet (28) på vannreservoaret er forbundet med det fjerde innløpet (30) på kompresjonsbeholderen (6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’) via en restejektor (36) forbundet med vanntilførsels-10 pumpen (22, 22’).9. Sammenstilling (10) for komprimering av hydrogen ifølge et hvilket som helst av kravene 5–8, hvor hydrogenkilden (2) er direkte forbundet med det første innløpet (8) til kompresjonsbeholderen (6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’).10. Sammenstilling (10) for komprimering av hydrogen ifølge et hvilket som helst av kravene 15 5–8, hvor hydrogenkilden (2) er forbundet med det første innløpet (8) på kompresjonsbeholderen (6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’) via én eller flere tilførselsejektorer (34, 34’).11. Sammenstilling (10) for komprimering av hydrogen ifølge krav 10, hvor sammenstillingen (10) for komprimering av hydrogen videre omfatter en ejektortilførselspumpe (32, 32’) med et innløp forbundet med vannreservoaret og et utløp forbundet med en tilførselsejek-20 tor (34, 34’), idet utløpet på tilførselsejektoren (34, 34’) er direkte forbundet med det første innløpet (8) på kompresjonsbeholderen (6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’).12. Sammenstilling (10) for komprimering av hydrogen ifølge et hvilket som helst av kravene 5–11, hvor kompresjonsbeholderen (6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’) er en første kompresjonsbeholder (6) blant en flerhet av kompresjonsbeholdere (6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’).25 13. Sammenstilling (10) for komprimering av hydrogen ifølge krav 12, hvor sammenstillingen (10) for komprimering av hydrogen omfatter to par med kompresjonsbeholdere (6, 6’ og 6’’, 6’’’), et første par (6, 6’) med kompresjonsbeholdere inkluderer den første kompresjonsbeholderen (6) og en andre kompresjonsbeholder (6’), og et andre par (6’’, 6’’’) med kompresjonsbeholdere inkluderer en tredje kompresjonsbeholder (6’’) og en fjerde kom-30 presjonsbeholder (6’’’).14. Sammenstilling (10) for komprimering av hydrogen ifølge krav 13, hvor vanntilførselspumpen (22, 22’) er en første vanntilførselspumpe (22), og hvor sammenstillingen (10) for komprimering av hydrogen videre omfatter en andre vanntilførselspumpe (22’), idet den første vanntilførselspumpen (22) er forbundet med de første (6) og andre (6’) kompre34897826sjonsbeholderne, og den andre vanntilførselspumpen (22’) er forbundet med de tredje og fjerde kompresjonsbeholderne (6’’, 6’’’).15. Sammenstilling (10) for komprimering av hydrogen ifølge krav 13 eller 14, hvor den første kompresjonsbeholderen (6) omfatter første og andre nivåbrytere for å føle henholdsvis 5 første og andre væskefyllingsnivåer, og hvor de andre (6’), tredje (6’’) og fjerde (6’’’) kompresjonsbeholderne hver omfatter en nivåbryter for å føle et væskefyllingsnivå som tilsvarer det andre fyllingsnivået.16. Fremgangsmåte for å betjene en sammenstilling (10) for komprimering av hydrogen ifølge krav 15, hvor fremgangsmåten inkluderer trinnene:10 - å tilføre hydrogen til hver av kompresjonsbeholderne (6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’) fra hydrogenkilden (2);- å begynne å tilføre trykksatt vann til den første kompresjonsbeholderen (6) for å trykksette hydrogenet deri;- å føle, ved hjelp av den første nivåbryteren, at væskenivået i den første kompresjons-15 beholderen (6) har nådd et første fyllingsnivå (H1); og deretter- å begynne å tilføre trykksatt vann til den tredje kompresjonsbeholderen (6’’) for å trykksette hydrogenet deri;- å kjøle ned hydrogenet under komprimeringen ved å tilføre kjølevann gjennom dysene (16) til hver av de første (6) og tredje (6’’) kompresjonsbeholderne under dens respektive 20 hydrogenkomprimeringsfase;- å åpne det første utløpet (18) for komprimert hydrogen fra den første kompresjonsbeholderen (6) når trykket i den første kompresjonsbeholderen (6) har nådd et forhåndsbestemt trykk.17. Fremgangsmåte ifølge krav 16, hvor fremgangsmåten videre omfatter trinnene:25 - å føle, ved hjelp av den andre nivåbryteren, at væskenivået i den første kompresjonsbeholderen (6) har nådd et andre fyllingsnivå; og deretter- å begynne å tilføre trykksatt vann til den andre kompresjonsbeholderen (6’) og begynne å tømme vann og eventuelt resthydrogen fra den første kompresjonsbeholderen (6) gjennom det andre utløpet (20);30 - å åpne det første utløpet (18) for komprimert hydrogen fra den tredje kompresjonsbeholderen (6’’) når trykket i den tredje kompresjonsbeholderen (6’’) har nådd et forhåndsbestemt trykk;- å føle, ved hjelp av nivåbryteren, at væskenivået i den tredje kompresjonsbeholderen (6’’) har nådd det andre fyllingsnivået; og deretter35 - å begynne å tilføre trykksatt vann til den fjerde kompresjonsbeholderen (6’’’) og begynne å tømme vann og eventuelt resthydrogen fra den tredje kompresjonsbeholderen (6’’) gjennom det andre utløpet (20); og- å kjøle ned hydrogenet under komprimering ved å tilføre kjølevann gjennom dysene34897827(16) til hver av de andre (6’) og fjerde (6’’’) kompresjonsbeholderne under dens respektive hydrogenkomprimeringsfase.18. Fremgangsmåte ifølge krav 17, hvor fremgangsmåten videre omfatter trinnene:- å åpne det første utløpet (18) for komprimert hydrogen fra den andre kompresjonsbe-5 holderen (6’) når trykket i den andre kompresjonsbeholderen (6’) har nådd et forhåndsbestemt trykk;- å føle, ved hjelp av nivåbryteren, at væskenivået i den andre kompresjonsbeholderen (6’) har nådd det andre fyllingsnivået; og deretter- igjen å begynne å tilføre trykksatt vann til den første kompresjonsbeholderen (6) og be-10 gynne å tømme vann og eventuelt resthydrogen fra den andre kompresjonsbeholderen (6’) gjennom det andre utløpet (20), og- å kjøle ned hydrogenet under komprimering ved å tilføre kjølevann gjennom dysene (16) til den første kompresjonsbeholderen (6) under dens hydrogenkomprimeringsfase.19. Fremgangsmåte ifølge krav 18, hvor fremgangsmåten videre omfatter trinnene:15 - å åpne det første utløpet (18) for komprimert hydrogen fra den fjerde kompresjonsbeholderen (6’’’) når trykket i den fjerde kompresjonsbeholderen (6’’’) har nådd et forhåndsbestemt trykk;- å føle, ved hjelp av nivåbryteren, at væskenivået i den fjerde kompresjonsbeholderen (6’’’) har nådd det andre fyllingsnivået; og deretter20 - igjen å begynne å tilføre trykksatt vann til den tredje kompresjonsbeholderen (6’’) og begynne å tømme vann og eventuelt resthydrogen fra den fjerde kompresjonsbeholderen (6’’’) gjennom det andre utløpet (20); og- å kjøle ned hydrogenet under komprimering ved å tilføre kjølevann gjennom dysene (16) til den tredje kompresjonsbeholderen (6’’) under dens hydrogenkomprimeringsfase.25 20. Å gjenta trinnene ifølge krav 16–19 etter behov.21. Fremgangsmåte ifølge et hvilket som helst av kravene 16–20, hvor fremgangsmåten inkluderer trinnet, for hver kompresjonsbeholder (6, 6’, 6’’, 6’’’), å tilføre et volum vann til kjøling gjennom dysene (16) gjennom det tredje innløpet (14) som er 5 % eller mindre, fortrinnsvis 2 % eller mindre, av den totale vanntilførselen til kompresjonsbeholderen (6, 30 6’, 6’’, 6’’’), idet resten av vannet tilføres gjennom det andre innløpet (12) for komprimering av hydrogenet deri.
Drawings

Priority

No priority

Patent classes

IPC classesF17C 13/00F17C 13/02F17C 1/00F17C 5/00F17C 5/06F02M 21/02CPC classesF17C 13/00F17C 13/002F17C 13/02F17C 2221/00F17C 2221/012F17C 2227/00F17C 1/00F17C 5/00F17C 5/06F02M 21/02

Citations

US 2013315818 A1 (A1)US 2006144229 A1 (A1)US 2010139777 A1 (A1)WO 2023114228 A1 (A1)US 2012130549 A1 (A1)

Applicants, owners and inventors

Owners
STRAEN ENERGY AS
Fabrikkveien 10 4033 STAVANGER NO (STAVANGER Municipality, Rogaland county)Org. number: 819829322Inventors
Arild Aarskog
Rosenberggata 68 4007 STAVANGER NO (STAVANGER Municipality, Rogaland county)
Egil Tjelta
Rindavegen 70 4354 VOLL NO (KLEPP Municipality, Rogaland county)
Tor Eriksen
Ulsberghagen 60 4034 STAVANGER NO (STAVANGER Municipality, Rogaland county)
Torkel Bryne
Agderveien 10 4020 STAVANGER NO (STAVANGER Municipality, Rogaland county)

Agent

HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS

Org. number: 918752900

Name and address are automatically synchronized with the Brønnøysund Register Centre.

Open in The Brønnøysund Register Centre
Postboks 9 4068 STAVANGER NO (STAVANGER Municipality, Rogaland county)
Org. number: 918752900
Reference: P30700NO00

Status history

Payment history

Oppositions and appeals

No oppositions or appeals

Administrative limitation

No administrative limitation

Liens and licences

No liens or licenses registered

Gazette entries

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