Hydrogen compressor

Claim 1

A hydrogen compressor comprising an inlet for hydrogen gas fed at a low inlet pressure and an outlet for hydrogen gas at high pressure, therebetween at least two sets of connected units A, C and E and at least two sets of units serving the unit functions B, D and F said A through F being A. a first chamber in communication with said inlet through a one-way valve adapted to admit hydrogen gas into said first chamber at said low inlet pressure containing a first hydridable material having an adsorption pressure below said low inlet pressure at a first temperature B. heat exchange means associated with said first chamber adapted to operate alternately to maintain said first chamber at or below said first temperature and to raise the temperature of said first chamber to a second temperature higher than said first temperature C. a second chamber in communication with said first chamber through a one-way valve adapted to prevent flow of hydrogen from said second chamber to said first chamber and containing a second hydridable material forming a less stable hydride than said first hydridable material and having a plateau pressure at a temperature below said second temperature less than the plateau pressure of said first hydridable material at said second temperature D. heat exchange means associated with said second chamber adapted to operate alternately to maintain said second chamber at a temperature lower than said second temperature and at a third temperature higher than said first temperature E. a third chamber in communication with said second chamber through a one-way valve adapted to prevent flow of hydrogen from said third chamber to said second chamber and in communication with said outlet and containing a third hydridable material forming a less stable hydride the said second hydridable material and having a plateau pressure at a temperature below said third temperature less than the plateau pressure of said second hydridable material at said third temperature F. heat exchange means associated with said third chamber adapted to operate alternately to maintain said third chamber at a temperature lower than said third temperature and at a fourth temperature higher than said first temperature and control means for alternating the temperature capability of heat exchange means B, D and F to maintain the lower of the two specified temperatures when hydrogen is being adsorbed by the hydridable material in the associated chambers and at the higher of the two specified temperatures when hydrogen is present in and being desorbed from the hydridable material in the associated chambers.