Energy source supply systems, energy source supply devices, and related methods

Abstract

Some embodiments include a system. The system can comprise an energy source supply hub and an energy source supply appliance. The energy source supply hub can comprise a hub energy source supply system and a hub vehicle configured to transport the hub energy source supply system. Further, the hub energy source supply system can comprise a hub energy source supply subsystem configured to receive an energy source. Meanwhile, the energy source supply appliance can comprise an appliance energy source supply system and an appliance vehicle configured to transport the appliance energy source supply system. Further, the appliance energy source supply system can comprise an appliance energy source supply subsystem configured to receive the energy source from the hub energy source supply subsystem and to make available the energy source received to a receiver vehicle. Other embodiments of related systems, devices, and methods also are provided.

1 . A system comprising:
 an energy source supply hub comprising:
 a hub energy source supply system comprising:
 a first hub energy source supply subsystem; and 
 
 a hub vehicle configured to transport the hub energy source supply system; and 
   a first energy source supply appliance comprising:
 a first appliance energy source supply system comprising:
 a first appliance energy source supply subsystem configured to receive a first energy source from the first hub energy source supply subsystem; and 
 a second appliance energy source supply subsystem configured to:
 receive the first energy source from the first hub energy source supply subsystem or the first appliance energy source supply subsystem; and 
 convert the first energy source to a second energy source; and 
 
 
 a first appliance vehicle configured to transport the first appliance energy source supply system:
 proximal to the energy source supply hub to receive the first energy source; and 
 to make available: (a) the first energy source to a first receiver vehicle for using the first energy source to motively power the first receiver vehicle and (b) the second energy source to a second receiver vehicle for using the second energy source to motively power the second receiver vehicle, 
 
 wherein:
 the second energy source is different from the first energy source; and 
 the hub vehicle, the first receiver vehicle, the second receiver vehicle, and the first appliance vehicle are different from each other. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of:
 the first energy source comprises a hydrogen fuel energy source; or 
 the second energy source comprises an electrical energy source. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the hub vehicle is further configured to transport the hub energy source supply system to make available the first energy source directly to the first receiver vehicle. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the hub vehicle is further configured to transport the hub energy source supply system to receive the first energy source from an energy source supply station. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the second energy source comprises an electrical energy source; and 
 the second appliance energy source supply subsystem further comprises at least one of:
 an appliance electric power converter configured to convert a voltage of the electrical energy source; or 
 an appliance electrical energy storage system configured to store the electrical energy source. 
 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the second energy source comprises an electrical energy source; and 
 the second appliance energy source supply subsystem further comprises a first appliance fuel cell system configured to convert the first energy source to the second energy source. 
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the hub energy source supply system further comprises a second hub energy source supply subsystem configured to:
 receive the first energy source from the first hub energy source supply subsystem; and 
 convert the first energy source received from the first hub energy source supply subsystem to the second energy source. 
 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein:
 the second energy source comprises an electrical energy source; and 
 the second hub energy source supply subsystem further comprises at least one of:
 a hub electric power converter configured to convert a voltage of the electrical energy source; or 
 a hub electrical energy storage system configured to store the electrical energy source. 
 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein:
 the second energy source comprises an electrical energy source; and 
 the second hub energy source supply subsystem further comprises a hub fuel cell system configured to convert the first energy source to the second energy source. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein:
 the first energy source comprises a hydrogen fuel energy source. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second energy source supply appliance comprising:
 a second appliance energy source supply system comprising:
 a third appliance energy source supply subsystem configured to receive the first energy source from the first hub energy source supply subsystem; and 
 
 a second appliance vehicle configured to transport the second appliance energy source supply system:
 proximal to the energy source supply hub to receive the first energy source; and 
 to make available the first energy source to the first receiver vehicle for using the first energy source to motively power the first receiver vehicle, 
 
 wherein:
 the hub vehicle, the first receiver vehicle, the second receiver vehicle, the first appliance vehicle, and the second appliance vehicle are different from each other. 
 
 
 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein:
 the hub energy source supply system operates within a hub operating zone; 
 the first energy source supply appliance operates within a first appliance operating zone; 
 the second energy source supply appliance operates within a second appliance operating zone; and 
 the hub operating zone, the first appliance operating zone, and the second appliance operating zone are different than each other. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein:
 the first appliance operating zone and the second appliance operating zone overlap each other. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein:
 the second appliance energy source supply system further comprises a fourth appliance energy source supply subsystem configured to make available the second energy source to the second receiver vehicle. 
 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein:
 the fourth appliance energy source supply subsystem is further configured to:
 receive the first energy source from the first hub energy source supply subsystem or the third appliance energy source supply subsystem; and 
 convert the first energy source to the second energy source. 
 
 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein:
 the second energy source comprises an electrical energy source; and 
 the fourth appliance energy source supply subsystem further comprises a second appliance fuel cell system configured to convert the first energy source to the second energy source. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method of providing a system, the method comprising:
 providing an energy source supply hub, wherein:
 the energy source supply hub comprises a hub energy source supply system; and 
 the hub energy source supply system comprises a first hub energy source supply subsystem and is configured to be transported by a hub vehicle; and 
   providing a first energy source supply appliance, wherein:
 the first energy source supply appliance comprises:
 a first appliance energy source supply system comprising:
 a first appliance energy source supply subsystem configured to receive a first energy source from the first hub energy source supply subsystem; and 
 a second appliance energy source supply subsystem configured to: 
  receive the first energy source from the first hub energy source supply subsystem or the first appliance energy source supply subsystem; and 
  convert the first energy source to a second energy source; and 
 
 
 the first appliance energy source supply system is configured to be transported by a first appliance vehicle:
 proximal to the energy source supply hub to receive the first energy source; and 
 to make available: (a) the first energy source to a first receiver vehicle for using the first energy source to motively power the first receiver vehicle and (b) the second energy source to a second receiver vehicle for using the second energy source to motively power the second receiver vehicle; 
 
 the second energy source is different from the first energy source; and 
 the hub vehicle, the first receiver vehicle, the second receiver vehicle, and the first appliance vehicle are different from each other. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein:
 the first energy source comprises a hydrogen fuel energy source; and 
 the second energy source comprises an electrical energy source. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 moving a first energy source supply appliance proximal to an energy source supply hub, wherein:
 the energy source supply hub comprises a hub energy source supply system that is configured to be transported; 
 the hub energy source supply system comprises a first hub energy source supply subsystem; 
 the first energy source supply appliance comprises a first appliance energy source supply system; and 
 the first appliance energy source supply system comprises:
 a first appliance energy source supply subsystem configured to receive a hydrogen fuel energy source from the first hub energy source supply subsystem; and 
 a second appliance energy source supply subsystem configured to:
 receive the hydrogen fuel energy source from the first hub energy source supply subsystem or the first appliance energy source supply subsystem; and 
 convert the hydrogen fuel energy source to an electrical energy source; 
 
 
   after moving the first energy source supply appliance proximal to the energy source supply hub, receiving the hydrogen fuel energy source from the energy source supply hub at the first appliance energy source supply subsystem;   after receiving the hydrogen fuel energy source at the first appliance energy source supply subsystem, moving the first energy source supply appliance proximal to a first receiver vehicle; and   after moving the first energy source supply appliance proximal to the first receiver vehicle, supplying the hydrogen fuel energy source from the first appliance energy source supply subsystem to the first receiver vehicle for using the hydrogen fuel energy source to motively power the first receiver vehicle.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 moving the first energy source supply appliance proximal to a second receiver vehicle; and 
 after moving the first energy source supply appliance proximal to the second receiver vehicle, supplying the electrical energy source from the second appliance energy source supply subsystem to the second receiver vehicle for using the electrical energy source to motively power the second receiver vehicle. 
 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 an energy source supply hub comprising:
 a hub energy source supply system comprising:
 a first hub energy source supply subsystem; and 
 a second hub energy source supply subsystem configured:
 to receive a first energy source from the first hub energy source supply subsystem or a non-mobile energy source supply station; and 
 to convert the first energy source received from the first hub energy source supply subsystem or the non-mobile energy source supply station to a second energy source; and 
 
 
 a hub vehicle configured to transport the hub energy source supply system; and 
   a first energy source supply appliance comprising:
 a first appliance energy source supply system comprising:
 a first appliance energy source supply subsystem configured to receive the first energy source from the first hub energy source supply subsystem; and 
 a second appliance energy source supply subsystem configured to:
 (a) receive the second energy source from the second hub energy source supply subsystem; and 
 (b) receive the first energy source from the second hub energy source supply subsystem or the first hub energy source supply subsystem or the first appliance energy source supply subsystem; and 
  convert the first energy source to the second energy source; and 
 
 
 a first appliance vehicle configured to transport the first appliance energy source supply system:
 proximal to the energy source supply hub to receive the first energy source; and 
 to make available: (a) the first energy source to a first receiver vehicle for using the first energy source to motively power the first receiver vehicle and (b) the second energy source to a second receiver vehicle for using the second energy source to motively power the second receiver vehicle, 
 
   wherein:
 the second energy source is different from the first energy source; and 
 the hub vehicle, the first receiver vehicle, the second receiver vehicle, and the first appliance vehicle are different from each other. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein:
 the first energy source comprises a hydrogen fuel energy source; and 
 the second energy source comprises an electrical energy source.