Patent ID: 6918430

Claim:
A hydrogen storage unit for a hydrogen powered vehicle comprising: a hydrogen storage vessel at least partially filled with a hydrogen storage alloy said hydrogen storage vessel having a hydrogen inlet including a connector for detachably connecting said hydrogen storage vessel to an outside hydrogen source, wherein said hydrogen storage vessel is adapted to receive hydrogen from an outside hydrogen source; a primary loop in thermal communication with and at least partially disposed within said hydrogen storage vessel wherein said primary loop transfers heat from said hydrogen storage vessel during vehicle refueling and transfers heat to said hydrogen storage vessel during operation of the vehicle said primary loop having a cooling fluid inlet for receiving a cooling fluid and a cooling fluid outlet for expelling said cooling fluid from said primary loop, said inlet including a connector for detachably connecting said primary loop to an outside source of cooling fluid such that said primary loop and said source of cooling fluid are in fluid communication; a secondary loop thermally coupled to said primary loop wherein said secondary loop transfers heat to said primary loop during operation of the vehicle and, a catalytic combustor thermally connected to said primary loop, said catalytic combustor being adapted to provide heat to said primary loop.