Patent ID: 11885465
Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  Y | IPC F

Claim 0:
1. An apparatus to refuel a vessel with cryo-compressed hydrogen, the apparatus comprising:
a mixing tank structured to include the cryo-compressed hydrogen, the mixing tank coupled to the vessel, a cryo-compressed hydrogen source, and a supercritical hydrogen source;
a first valve coupled to the mixing tank and the vessel, the first valve positioned downstream of the vessel and upstream of the mixing tank;
a second valve coupled to the mixing tank and the vessel, the second valve positioned downstream of the mixing tank and upstream of the vessel;
a third valve coupled to the mixing tank and the supercritical hydrogen source; and
a refueler controller configured to:
open the first valve to defuel the vessel prior to a refuel process based on a pressure of the vessel;
cause the mixing tank to fill with at least the cryo-compressed hydrogen based on the pressure of the vessel and a pressure of the mixing tank;
open the second valve to initiate the refuel process of the vessel;
cause the third valve to increase or decrease a flow of supercritical hydrogen from the supercritical hydrogen source to the mixing tank to adjust a temperature of the mixing tank in response to a temperature of the vessel not satisfying a target temperature of the vessel during the refuel process; and
close the second valve to end the refuel process in response to the pressure of the vessel satisfying a target pressure of the vessel.