PORTABLE HYDROGEN SUPPLY EQUIPMENT AND METHODS THEREIN

PORTABLE HYDROGEN SUPPLY EQUIPMENT AND METHODS THEREINThe present invention provides a portable hydrogen dispensing system comprising:(a) a hydrogen dispensing module for dispensing hydrogen received from an external hydrogen source to a hydrogen receptacle in fluid communication with said hydrogen dispensing module, said hydrogen dispensing module is capable of dispensing hydrogen to the receptacle,(b) a power module for providing electricity to operate the portable hydrogen dispensing system, said power module is capable of receiving hydrogen from the external hydrogen source wherein said power module is configured to use a portion of the hydrogen received from the external hydrogen source to generate said electricity and wherein the power module is capable of generating at least all the electricity to operate the portable hydrogen dispensing system to enable operation of the portable hydrogen dispensing system to be independent of an external source of power;(c) a distribution module operable to (i) enable fluid communication between the external hydrogen source and thehydrogen dispensing module or isolate the hydrogen dispensing module from the hydrogen source, and (ii) enable fluid communication between the hydrogen source and the power module or isolate the power module from the hydrogen source, (d) a control module for operating the distribution module to (i) enable fluid communication between the hydrogen source and the hydrogen dispensing module, (ii) isolate the hydrogen dispensing module from the hydrogen source, (iii) enable fluid communication between the hydrogen source and the power module, or (iv) isolate the power module from the hydrogen source based at least on whether the portable hydrogen dispensing system is being connected to or disconnected from the hydrogen source,wherein said control module is configured to operate the hydrogen dispensing module to provide hydrogen to the hydrogen receptacle at a variable flow rate in a range from greater than zero grams/second to a maximum rate of 300 grams/second, wherein said hydrogen dispensing module is capable of operating at a variable flow rate as determined by the control module based at least on inputs comprising the pressure of hydrogen in the hydrogen receptacle and the pressure rating of the hydrogen receptacle; wherein said control module is configured to operate the power module to generate an amount of energy determined by the control module based at least on inputs comprising the