Billings Energy Research Corporation

Paul P Hindmarsh

Roger E Billings

Harold M Simons

Donald B MacKay

Brian C Nielson

Dale L Henriksen

A hydride fuel system is disclosed for use with a motor vehicle or other apparatus having a combustion unit and a mixing device for mixing hydrogen gas with air for introduction into the combustion unit. The system includes a hydride storage tank having a housing and a plurality of containers disposed in the housing for holding hydride material. The containers are spaced apart to enable the flow thereabout of fluid introduced into the housing of the hydride storage tank. Either exhaust gases or combustion unit cooling fluid is delivered into the hydride storage tank housing to heat the hydride material in the containers and cause the material to release hydrogen gas which is then conveyed to the mixing device. The pressure of the hydrogen gas in the containers is monitored and the amount of exhaust gases or cooling fluid delivered to the hydride storage tank is controlled accordingly. Thus, if the pressure exceeds some predetermined level, then the delivery of exhaust gases or cooling fluid to the hydride tank is inhibited. Apparatus is also provided for introducing a hydride coolant into the hydride storage tank to circulate about the containers and thereby cool the hydride material. Hydrogen gas is introduced into the containers during the cooling operation and the hydride material is thereby caused to absorb hydrogen gas for future release and delivery to the engine.

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Provo, UT, United States of America

Paul P Hindmarsh