US4386309A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Storage of liquid hydrogen
Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt eV
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Filing: 1981-06-08
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Granted: 1983-05-31
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Expires: 2001-06-08
Abstract
Abstract Hydrogen evaporating in a liquid hydrogen tank is fed to a fuel cell generating electrical energy used to drive a cooling unit which cools the tank.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter Peschka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 00:55
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B27/00; F17; F17C; F17C9/00; F17C9/02; F17C9/04; F25J; F25J1/00; F25J1/0002; F25J1/0005; F25J1/001; F25J1/02; F25J1/0225; F25J1/0228; F25J1/0229; F25J1/023; F25J1/0243; F25J1/0257; F25J1/0261; H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/42; H01M10/44; H01M8/00; H01M8/04; F17C2203/00; F17C2203/01; F17C2203/03; F17C2203/0304; F17C2203/0308; F17C2203/032; F17C2203/0391; F17C2203/06; F17C2203/0602; F17C2203/0612; F17C2203/0626; F17C2203/0629; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/01; F17C2221/012; F17C2265/00; F17C2265/03; F17C2265/032; F17C2270/00; F17C2270/01; F17C2270/0165; F17C2270/0184; F25J2210/00; F25J2210/90; F25J2230/00; F25J2230/22; F25J2270/00; F25J2270/90; F25J2270/908; F25J2290/00; F25J2290/62; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/32; Y02E60/50; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of increasing the storage time of a liquid hydrogen tank, comprising the steps of feeding hydrogen evaporating in the tank to a hydrogen fuel cell, generating electrical energy by means of the fuel cell, utilizing electrical energy generated by the fuel cell to drive a cooling unit, and cooling the tank by means of the cooling unit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of increasing the storage time of a liquid hydrogen tank, comprising the steps of feeding hydrogen evaporating in the tank to a hydrogen fuel cell, generating electrical energy by means of the fuel cell, utilizing electrical energy generated by the fuel cell to drive a cooling unit, and cooling the tank by means of the cooling unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the steps of cooling the tank comprises cooling a radiation shield surrounding the tank by means of the cooling unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising utilizing electrical energy generated by the fuel to charge a battery of a motor vehicle fuelled by liquid hydrogen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus for storing liquid hydrogen, comprising a liquid hydrogen tank, an outlet line for removing evaporated hydrogen from the tank, a hydrogen fuel cell having a hydrogen gas intake communicating with the outlet line, an electrically powered cooling unit arranged to cool the tank, and means for transmitting electrical energy from the fuel cell to the cooling unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus for storing liquid hydrogen, comprising a liquid hydrogen tank, an outlet line for removing evaporated hydrogen from the tank, a hydrogen fuel cell having a hydrogen gas intake communicating with the outlet line, an electrically powered cooling unit arranged to cool the tank, and means for transmitting electrical energy from the fuel cell to the cooling unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a radiation shield surrounding the tank and being in thermal contact with the cooling unit so as to be cooled by it, thereby cooling the tank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a vacuum insulation casing surrounding the radiation shield.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the cooling unit comprises a thermoelectric cooling element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the cooling unit comprises a linear-oscillating Stirling cooler.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a battery and means for transmitting electrical energy from the fuel cell to the battery to charge the battery.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US3460706A
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US3565201A
Cited
US3681609A
Cited
US3821626A
Cited
US4288002A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-05-30 | 1986-11-29 | 1987-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-05-30 | 1990-11-29 | 1991-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-05-30 | 1994-11-29 | 1995-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |