Electrically driven hydrogen pressure booster for a hydrogen driven vehicle

Abstract

An electrically driven hydrogen pressure booster for a hydrogen driven vehicle includes an inlet for receiving a gas. Also included is a plurality of chambers for compressing the gas, wherein each of the plurality of chambers includes a piston operably coupled to, and driven by, a crankshaft, wherein the crankshaft is driven by an electric motor. Further included is a pipe for transferring the gas between at least two of the plurality of chambers. Yet further included is an outlet for expelling the gas.

1 . An electrically driven hydrogen pressure booster for a hydrogen driven vehicle comprising:
 an inlet for receiving a gas;   a plurality of chambers for compressing the gas, wherein each of the plurality of chambers includes a piston operably coupled to, and driven by, a crankshaft, wherein the crankshaft is driven by an electric motor;   a pipe for transferring the gas between at least two of the plurality of chambers; and   an outlet for expelling the gas.   
     
     
         2 . The booster of  claim 1 , wherein the gas is hydrogen. 
     
     
         3 . The booster of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet receives the gas at a first pressure and the outlet expels the gas at a second pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The booster of  claim 3 , wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure. 
     
     
         5 . The booster of  claim 3 , wherein the first pressure is approximately 100 psi. 
     
     
         6 . The booster of  claim 3 , wherein the second pressure is greater than approximately 8,000 psi. 
     
     
         7 . The booster of  claim 3 , wherein the second pressure is approximately 10,000 psi. 
     
     
         8 . The booster of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe is formed of a copper material. 
     
     
         9 . The booster of  claim 1 , further comprising a casing for at least partially enclosing the booster. 
     
     
         10 . The booster of  claim 1 , further comprising a flywheel operably coupled to the crankshaft. 
     
     
         11 . The booster of  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor drives at least one wheel of the electrically driven vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . A method of compressing a gas used in a hydrogen driven vehicle having a crankshaft of a booster device coupled to an electric motor, the method comprising:
 receiving the gas at an inlet of the booster device at a first pressure;   compressing the gas to a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure in a first piston assembly having a piston driven by the crankshaft; and   expelling the gas at an outlet of the booster device at an outlet pressure higher than the first pressure.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising compressing the gas through a plurality of piston assemblies. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of piston assemblies comprise the first piston assembly, a second piston assembly, a third piston assembly and a fourth piston assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the gas is hydrogen. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising transferring the gas throughout the booster device through a pipe. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pipe comprises copper. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the outlet pressure is greater than approximately 8,000 psi. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising driving an electric motor with the gas at the outlet pressure. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the electric motor drives at least one wheel of the electrically driven vehicle.