Hydrogen liquefaction device

Abstract

An example hydrogen liquefaction apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an outer container; a liquefaction container positioned at least partially within the outer container; a heat pipe positioned within the liquefaction container. The head pipe includes a condensing portion, an evaporating portion, an inner tube portion containing a working fluid and operatively coupling the condensing portion to the evaporating portion, and an outer tube portion surrounding the inner tube portion and defining a dual tube region between the outer tube and the inner tube. Also included is a cryocooler in thermal communication with the liquefaction container, a pre-cooling tube, and an ortho-para converting part having a catalyst configured to induce an ortho-para conversion of gaseous hydrogen within the pre-cooling tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hydrogen liquefaction apparatus, comprising:
 an outer container;   a liquefaction container positioned at least partially within the outer container;   a heat pipe positioned within the liquefaction container and comprising a condensing portion, an evaporating portion, an inner tube portion containing a working fluid and operatively coupling the condensing portion to the evaporating portion, and an outer tube portion surrounding the inner tube portion and defining a dual tube region between the outer tube and the inner tube;   a cryocooler in thermal communication with the liquefaction container and configured to cool the condensing portion of the heat pipe;   a pre-cooling tube positioned at least partially within the dual tube region and comprising an inlet port for receiving gaseous hydrogen and an outlet port for discharging gaseous hydrogen into the liquefaction container; and   an ortho-para converting part positioned at least partially within the pre-cooling tube, the ortho-para converting part comprising a catalyst configured to induce an ortho-para conversion of gaseous hydrogen within the pre-cooling tube.   
     
     
         2 . The hydrogen liquefaction apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a gaseous hydrogen transfer tube operatively connected to the inlet port of the pre-cooling tube and configured to supply gaseous hydrogen to the pre-cooling tube. 
     
     
         3 . The hydrogen liquefaction apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a liquefaction guide tube operatively connected to the outlet port of the pre-cooling tube and configured to transfer liquid hydrogen from the pre-cooling tube to the liquefaction container. 
     
     
         4 . The hydrogen liquefaction apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-cooling tube is configured to pre-cool and ortho-para convert gaseous hydrogen. 
     
     
         5 . The hydrogen liquefaction apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-cooling tube is configured to pre-cool the gaseous hydrogen to an equilibrium state of about 77 degrees Kelvin. 
     
     
         6 . The hydrogen liquefaction apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporating portion causes the gaseous hydrogen to liquefy upon contact. 
     
     
         7 . The hydrogen liquefaction apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the dual tube region is at least partially filled with solid nitrogen. 
     
     
         8 . The hydrogen liquefaction apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the solid nitrogen is formed via cooling of gaseous or liquid nitrogen within the dual tube region. 
     
     
         9 . The hydrogen liquefaction apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet port is configured to expel gaseous hydrogen toward a surface of the evaporating portion. 
     
     
         10 . The hydrogen liquefaction apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ortho-para converting part is provided along the entire pre-cooling tube. 
     
     
         11 . The hydrogen liquefaction apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet port comprises a valve for controlling the transfer of gaseous hydrogen. 
     
     
         12 . The hydrogen liquefaction apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a liquid hydrogen transferring tube configured to transfer liquid hydrogen from the liquefaction container. 
     
     
         13 . The hydrogen liquefaction apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a nitrogen transferring tube configured to transfer gaseous or liquid nitrogen into the dual tube region. 
     
     
         14 . The hydrogen liquefaction apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporating portion of the heat pipe is configured to maintain a temperature of about 20 degrees Kelvin. 
     
     
         15 . A method of liquefying hydrogen, comprising
 providing a liquefaction container positioned at least partially within an outer container;   providing a heat pipe within the liquefaction container, the heat pipe comprising a condensing portion, an evaporating portion, an inner tube portion, and an outer tube portion, wherein the inner and outer tube portions for a dual tube region;   introducing gaseous hydrogen into a pre-cooling tube positioned within the dual tube region;   ortho-para converting the gaseous hydrogen within the pre-cooling tube; and   collecting liquid hydrogen within the liquefaction container.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising cooling a condensing portion of the heat pipe via a cryocooler. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising filling at least a portion of the dual tube region with solid nitrogen. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein filling further comprises converting gaseous or liquid nitrogen into solid nitrogen within the dual tube region. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising liquefying the gaseous hydrogen upon thermal contact with the evaporating portion of the heat pipe. 
     
     
         20 . A heat pipe, comprising:
 a condensing portion;   an evaporating portion;   an inner tube portion containing a working fluid and operatively coupling the condensing portion to the evaporating portion;   an outer tube portion surrounding the inner tube portion and defining a dual tube region between the outer tube and the inner tube;   a cryocooler in thermal communication with the condensing portion;   a pre-cooling tube positioned at least partially within the dual tube region and comprising an inlet port for receiving gaseous hydrogen and an outlet port for discharging gaseous hydrogen into the liquefaction container; and   an ortho-para converting part positioned at least partially within the pre-cooling tube, the ortho-para converting part comprising a catalyst configured to induce an ortho-para conversion of gaseous hydrogen within the pre-cooling tube.