Patent ID: 8789379
Filing Date: 2014-07-29
Classification: F02M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A hydrogen pump, comprising: a supply tank storing liquid hydrogen; a pump housing receiving the liquid hydrogen from the supply tank through a housing inlet; a heating mechanism comprising at least one of a heating element on an exterior of the pump housing and a probe extending into the liquid hydrogen the heating mechanism vaporizing at least a portion of the liquid hydrogen into gaseous hydrogen and increasing a pressure thereof within the pump housing, the pump housing releasing the gaseous hydrogen through a housing outlet upon attainment of a predetermined pressure of the gaseous hydrogen in the pump housing; the pump housing closing the housing outlet and venting residual gaseous hydrogen from the pump housing to allow additional liquid hydrogen to enter the pump housing through the housing inlet; a vent line extending between the pump housing and the supply tank; and a vent valve mounted in the vent line and venting residual gaseous hydrogen from the pump housing to the supply tank to reduce a pressure within the pump housing such that liquid hydrogen flows from the supply tank and into the pump housing; an intermediate section fluidly connecting the supply tank to the housing inlet and containing liquid hydrogen; and a heat extraction mechanism comprising a portion of the vent line extending through the liquid hydrogen in the intermediate section and extracting heat from the gaseous hydrogen in the vent line.