HYBRID PLUG-IN BATTERY AND HYDROGEN FUEL ENGINE VEHICLE WITH SWAPPABLE HYDROGEN TANKS AND METHOD FOR MODULAR HYDROGEN STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION AND DISTRIBUTION

Abstract

A hybrid plug-in battery and hydrogen fuel engine vehicle with swappable modular hydrogen tanks and integrated with solar power generation system synergistically combines the advantages of electric vehicle, the solar powered electric vehicle, and the hydrogen fuel engine vehicle. This combination of battery electric vehicle and hydrogen fuel engine vehicle mitigates the issues of prolong charging time of battery electric vehicle and prohibitive high cost of fuel cell electric vehicle. This hybrid configuration of vehicle is able to take advantages of the electric vehicle charging station infrastructure and the hydrogen charging station infrastructure simultaneously. The introduction of the water electrolysis system into the new structure of the hybrid vehicle enables onboard hydrogen generation; has the advantage of conventional hybrid vehicle, but without using fossil fuel. The swappable hydrogen tanks comprise sensors and wireless communication electronic terminals to be shared by all vehicles.

Claims

1. A hybrid plug-in battery and hydrogen fuel engine vehicle with swappable hydrogen tanks comprises: (a) a plug-in battery; (b) a hydrogen fuel engine; (c) a water electrolysis system; (d) multiple swappable modular hydrogen tanks; (e) a photovoltaic power generation system; Wherein, the photovoltaic power generation system is electrically coupled to the plug-in battery bank to charge the battery bank; the battery bank is electrically coupled to the water electrolysis system to generate hydrogen to charge the swappable modular hydrogen tanks; and the hydrogen tanks supply hydrogen to the hydrogen fuel engine through high pressure pipes; When in operation, in sunny days, the solar radiation is collected and converted into electric power to store in the plug-in battery bank for powering the water electrolysis system to generate hydrogen; in cloudy days or at nights, the plug-in battery is charged by electric vehicle charging station for powering the water electrolysis system to generate hydrogen, or directly swap the hydrogen tanks at hydrogen charging stations or other places; with constant hydrogen supply, the hydrogen fuel engine is employed to drive the vehicle by combusting the hydrogen.

2. The hybrid plug-in battery and hydrogen fuel engine vehicle of claim 1 comprises an onboard charger, a battery bank, a control system, a water electrolysis system, and a hydrogen fuel engine; wherein, the onboard charger is electrically coupled to the battery bank through electric cables; the battery bank is electrically coupled to the water electrolysis system through electric cables; the control system is electrically coupled to every component of the vehicle.

3. The water electrolysis system of claim 2 is connected to the multiple swappable hydrogen tanks of claim 1 through high pressure pipes.

4. The multiple swappable hydrogen tanks of claim 1 are connected to the hydrogen fuel engine of claim 1 through high pressure pipes.

5. The multiple swappable hydrogen tanks of claim 1 comprises at least one sensor for temperature measurement, at least one sensor for pressure measurement, and a wireless communication electronic terminal for connecting to internet.

6. The control system of claim 2 comprises a wireless communication electronic terminal for connecting to internet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0019] FIG. 1 is the schematic indication of the hybrid plug-in battery and hydrogen fuel engine vehicle with swappable hydrogen tanks.

[0020] FIG. 2 is the system structure of the hybrid plug-in battery and hydrogen fuel engine vehicle with swappable hydrogen tanks.

[0021] FIG. 3 is the top view of the photovoltaic system integrated on the roof of the hybrid plug-in battery and hydrogen fuel engine vehicle with swappable hydrogen tanks.

[0022] FIG. 4 is the schematic configuration of the individual components of the hybrid plug-in battery and hydrogen fuel engine vehicle with swappable hydrogen tanks.

[0023] FIG. 5 is the view of the swappable hydrogen tank with a wireless communication electronic terminal with sensors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Reference will now be made in detail to the present exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, the hybrid plug-in battery and hydrogen fuel engine vehicle with swappable hydrogen tanks consists of a hybrid plug-in battery and hydrogen fuel engine vehicle 100, multiple swappable modular hydrogen storage tanks 200, and a photovoltaic system 300 integrated on the roof of the vehicle.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, the power train of the hybrid plug-in battery and hydrogen fuel engine vehicle with swappable hydrogen tanks comprises the plug-in battery bank 110, the onboard charger 120, the control system 130, the water electrolysis system 140, the hydrogen fuel engine 150, and the swappable modular hydrogen tanks 200. The photovoltaic system will power the water electrolysis system to generate hydrogen to charge the modular hydrogen tanks during the daytime on sunny days, the plug-in battery system will power the water electrolysis system to generate hydrogen to charge the modular hydrogen tanks during night and cloudy days. The modular hydrogen tanks, which can be swapped to replenish the hydrogen, supply hydrogen to the hydrogen fuel engine to drive the vehicle. The configuration of the hybrid plug-in battery and hydrogen fuel engine vehicle with swappable hydrogen tanks is able to obtain the energy replenishment from solar radiation, electric vehicle charging network, and hydrogen charging network simultaneously.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 3, the photovoltaic panels 300 are integrated on the roof top of the hybrid plug-in battery and hydrogen fuel engine vehicle with swappable hydrogen tanks.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 4, the onboard charger 120 is connected to the battery bank 110 through electric cables; the photovoltaic power generation system 300 is also connected to the battery bank 110 through electric cables; the battery bank 110 is connected to the water electrolysis system 140 through electric cables; the water electrolysis system is connected to the swappable hydrogen tanks 200 through high pressure pipes; the swappable hydrogen tanks 200 are connected to the hydrogen fuel engine through high pressure pipes; and all of the above components are connected to the control system 130; the control system 130 has a wireless communication electronic terminal with sensors to detect the components.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 5, the swappable hydrogen tanks 200 has a wireless communication terminal 210 with sensors.

[0030] From the description above, a number of advantages of the hybrid plug-in battery and hydrogen fuel engine vehicle with swappable hydrogen tanks and integrated with photovoltaic power generation system become evident. The swappable hydrogen tanks simplify the hydrogen storage, transportation, and distribution processes and avoid the construction of the hydrogen charging station infrastructure. The hybrid plug-in battery and hydrogen fuel engine configuration, in conjunction with water electrolysis system, enables the energy replenishment of the vehicle from both of the electric vehicle charging station network and the hydrogen distribution network. Relative to the conventional battery based electric vehicle, the size of battery bank is dramatically reduced. Relative to the fuel cell based electric vehicle, the hydrogen fuel engine vehicle has great potential to dramatically reduce the cost of the vehicle. The introduction of the water electrolysis system realizes the onboard hydrogen generation and significantly reduces the risk of safety issues.

[0031] In the preceding specification, various preferred embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various other modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.

[0032] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.