Apparatus comprising a metal hydride store for operating an exothermic hydrogen consumer

US11616245B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Helmholtz-Zentrum hereon GmbH · DE

Inventors

• José M. Bellosta Von Colbe · Wentorf (Amt Sandesneben), DE
• Thomas Klassen · Hamburg, DE
• Martin Dornheim · Reppenstedt, DE
• Julian Jepsen · Hamburg, DE
• Klaus Taube · Hamburg, DE
• Julián Puszkiel · Barcelona, ES
• Dieter Platzek · Bad Hersfeld, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 15, 2020
• Grant date: Mar 28, 2023
• Expiry date: May 13, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T90/40
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a cold start apparatus for an exothermic hydrogen consumer such as a fuel cell and also a method for operating an exothermic hydrogen consumer having a metal hydride store or hydrogen supply from a reformer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell having an efficient cold start apparatus, which can be taken into operation immediately and does not require any pressure tank. Furthermore, the cold start apparatus should be available for an unlimited number of starting operations. The object is achieved by an apparatus for operation of a fuel cell or another exothermic hydrogen consumer, which comprises at least one starter tank comprising a metal hydride having cold start properties and also at least one operating tank comprising at least one intermediate-temperature hydride or at least one reformer, wherein the starter tank is in fluidic communication with the exothermic hydrogen consumer and the operating tank or the reformer, wherein the first starter tank comprises a metal hydride which has an equilibrium pressure for desorption at a temperature of −40° C. of at least 100 kPa and further comprises a cooling device in order to be abl…