Hydrogen energy unmanned aerial vehicle hydrogenation safety protection system and hydrogen energy unmanned aerial vehicle hydrogenation station
By installing a spray cooling device and an anomaly detection circuit on one side of the drone landing pad at the hydrogen refueling station, the temperature is monitored in real time and liquid cooling medium is sprayed, which solves the problem of lack of active cooling for the hydrogen refueling device and improves the safety and reliability of hydrogen refueling operations for hydrogen-powered drones.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202511490851.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-10-17
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing hydrogen refueling devices lack active cooling mechanisms, making it difficult to cope with abnormal temperatures during hydrogen refueling operations by hydrogen-powered drones, posing safety hazards.
A spray cooling device and anomaly detection circuit are installed on one side of the drone take-off and landing pad. Temperature is monitored in real time using temperature detectors and anomaly detection units. Active cooling is achieved by spraying liquid cooling medium, and hydrogen leakage is handled in conjunction with a vacuum tank and metal catalyst.
This technology enables rapid cooling of hydrogen-powered drones, reducing the risk of fire or explosion and significantly improving the safety and reliability of hydrogen refueling operations.
Smart Images

Figure CN121291855A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of hydrogen refueling drone technology, and in particular to a hydrogen refueling safety protection system and a hydrogen refueling station for hydrogen-powered drones. Background Technology
[0002] During the operation of hydrogen-powered drones, hydrogen refueling is a crucial step in ensuring their continuous flight capability, and its safety is directly related to the normal operation of the drones and the safety of surrounding personnel and property.
[0003] However, due to the frequent connections and high-pressure conditions at hydrogen refueling station interfaces, there is a potential risk of hydrogen leakage. Furthermore, during hydrogen refueling operations on hydrogen-powered drones, if an anomaly occurs in the drone's hydrogen storage system or fuel cell, it could cause a rapid increase in heat. Once the temperature exceeds a critical point, the reaction will accelerate, creating a vicious cycle that could ultimately lead to overheating or even an explosion of the hydrogen-powered drone.
[0004] However, existing hydrogen refueling devices generally rely on natural ventilation to dissipate heat and cool down hydrogen-powered drones, lacking an active cooling mechanism. When temperature anomalies occur during hydrogen refueling operations, it is difficult to respond to the abnormal temperature phenomenon, resulting in a low overall safety of hydrogen refueling operations for hydrogen-powered drones. Summary of the Invention
[0005] In view of this, this application provides a hydrogen refueling safety protection system and a hydrogen refueling station for hydrogen-powered drones, the main purpose of which is to solve the technical problem of low safety of hydrogen-powered drones during hydrogen refueling operations.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention first provides a hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones, which includes a drone take-off and landing pad, a dual-gun dual-metering hydrogen refueling machine, and a spray cooling device. The dual-gun, dual-metering hydrogen refueling machine is located on one side of the UAV take-off and landing pad and is used to refuel the hydrogen-powered UAV when it lands on the UAV take-off and landing pad. The spray cooling device is located on one side of the UAV take-off and landing pad, with the spray nozzles of the spray cooling device facing the UAV take-off and landing pad and being higher than the UAV take-off and landing pad. The spray cooling device is used to spray liquid cooling medium onto the UAV take-off and landing pad in a controlled manner.
[0007] In an optional embodiment, the hydrogen refueling safety protection system for the hydrogen-powered drone further includes an anomaly detection circuit, wherein the anomaly detection circuit includes a temperature detector and an anomaly detection unit; the temperature detector is located at the drone's take-off and landing pad and is used to collect ambient temperature information at the drone's take-off and landing pad and send the ambient temperature information to the anomaly detection unit; the anomaly detection unit is used to determine whether a high temperature condition has occurred at the drone's take-off and landing pad based on the ambient temperature information, and when it is determined that a high temperature condition has occurred at the drone's take-off and landing pad, it controls the spray cooling device to spray the cooling medium onto the drone's take-off and landing pad.
[0008] In an optional embodiment, the temperature detector is an analog output temperature sensor, used to generate a voltage signal based on the ambient temperature at the UAV landing pad, and send the voltage signal as the ambient temperature information to the anomaly detection unit; the anomaly detection unit includes a first voltage source and a voltage comparator, the first voltage source is connected to the inverting input of the voltage comparator, used to send a first reference voltage of a first preset voltage value to the voltage comparator; the non-inverting input of the voltage comparator is connected to the analog output temperature sensor to receive the voltage signal, and the output of the voltage comparator is connected to the spray cooling device, used to send a high-level enable signal to the spray cooling device; when the voltage value of the voltage signal received by the voltage comparator is higher than the first preset voltage value of the first reference voltage, the voltage comparator sends an enable signal to the spray cooling device, so that the spray cooling device sprays the cooling medium onto the UAV landing pad.
[0009] In an optional embodiment, the output of the voltage comparator is also connected to a remote host computer, so that the host computer can send a high-level control signal to the spray cooling device to control the spray cooling device to spray the cooling medium onto the UAV landing pad.
[0010] In an optional embodiment, the upper surface of the drone landing pad is provided with an electrostatic conductive coating, which is connected to the ground via a grounding wire to conduct the static electricity generated during the landing and refueling of the hydrogen-powered drone to the ground.
[0011] In an optional embodiment, the hydrogen refueling safety protection system for the hydrogen-powered drone further includes a vacuum tank; the tank body of the vacuum tank is disposed below the drone's take-off and landing pad, and the vent pipe of the vacuum tank passes through the drone's take-off and landing pad, forming a vent hole on the upper surface of the drone's take-off and landing pad; a solenoid valve is provided at the vent pipe, and the control end of the solenoid valve is connected to the abnormality detection unit for controlled opening or closing; the gas chamber of the vacuum tank is connected to the vent hole so that when the solenoid valve is opened, the negative pressure in the gas chamber draws the gas at the drone's take-off and landing pad into the gas chamber.
[0012] In an optional embodiment, a metal catalyst is filled inside the vent pipe, at the position between the gas chamber of the vacuum tank and the solenoid valve; wherein the metal catalyst is one or both of platinum or palladium, and the metal catalyst is used to catalyze the hydrogen and oxygen flowing through the metal catalyst to promote the conversion of hydrogen and oxygen into water, thereby reducing the concentration of hydrogen and oxygen inhaled into the gas chamber.
[0013] In an optional embodiment, a porous carrier is disposed in the vent pipe between the gas chamber and the solenoid valve, and the metal catalyst is disposed on the porous carrier.
[0014] In an optional embodiment, the porous carrier comprises one or both of a metal mesh or a honeycomb structure.
[0015] In an optional embodiment, the hydrogen storage tank of the hydrogen-powered drone is equipped with a temperature sensor and a wireless communication module. The temperature sensor is used to collect the temperature value of the hydrogen storage tank in real time and send the temperature value to the wireless communication module. The wireless communication module is used to establish a wireless communication connection with the anomaly detection unit to send the temperature value to the anomaly detection unit. The anomaly detection unit is also used to receive the temperature value and determine whether the temperature value exceeds a preset temperature threshold. When the temperature value exceeds the preset temperature threshold, the unit controls the dual-gun dual-metering hydrogen refueling machine to stop refueling the hydrogen-powered drone and controls the spray cooling device to spray a cooling medium onto the drone's landing pad, wherein the cooling medium includes liquid carbon dioxide or liquid nitrogen.
[0016] In an optional embodiment, the anomaly detection circuit further includes a hydrogen concentration sensor, which is located at the UAV take-off and landing pad and is used to collect hydrogen concentration information at the UAV take-off and landing pad and send the hydrogen concentration information to the anomaly detection unit; the anomaly detection unit is also used to determine whether the hydrogen concentration information is within a preset explosion concentration range, and when the hydrogen concentration information is within the preset explosion concentration range, control the solenoid valve to open.
[0017] This invention provides a hydrogen refueling safety protection system and a hydrogen refueling station for hydrogen-powered drones. By installing a spray cooling device on one side of the drone's landing pad, it effectively solves the problem that existing hydrogen refueling devices cannot actively cool hydrogen-powered drones. When the temperature of the hydrogen-powered drone rises sharply during refueling due to battery abnormalities or uncontrolled reactions, the spray cooling device can be activated manually or electrically to spray liquid cooling media (such as liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide) onto the landing pad area, achieving rapid cooling of the hydrogen-powered drone and suppressing the spread of thermal runaway. The technical solution of this application breaks through the traditional passive heat dissipation mode that relies on natural ventilation, significantly improving the ability to handle abnormal temperatures, and thus significantly improving the safety of hydrogen-powered drones during hydrogen refueling operations.
[0018] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this application. In order to better understand the technical means of this application and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this application more obvious and understandable, the following are specific embodiments of this application. Attached Figure Description
[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with their description, serve to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation thereof. In the drawings: Figure 1 This figure shows one of the structural schematic diagrams of a hydrogen refueling safety protection system for a hydrogen-powered drone provided by an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This figure shows one of the structural schematic diagrams of an anomaly detection unit provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a second schematic diagram of the structure of an anomaly detection unit provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention provides a conductive coating configuration. Figure 5 This is a second schematic diagram of the structure of a hydrogen refueling safety protection system for a hydrogen-powered drone provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This diagram illustrates a configuration of a porous carrier within a ventilation tube, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation
[0020] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in the present application can be combined with each other.
[0021] Currently, due to the frequent connections and high-pressure operation of hydrogen refueling stations, there is a potential risk of hydrogen leakage. Furthermore, during hydrogen refueling operations on hydrogen-powered drones, if an anomaly occurs in the drone's hydrogen storage system or fuel cell, it could cause a rapid increase in heat. Once the temperature exceeds a critical point, the reaction will accelerate, creating a vicious cycle that could ultimately lead to overheating or even an explosion of the drone. However, existing hydrogen refueling devices generally rely on natural ventilation for cooling and lack active cooling mechanisms. This makes it difficult to respond to abnormal temperature phenomena during drone refueling operations, resulting in a generally low safety profile for hydrogen refueling drones.
[0022] To address the above problems, in one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, a hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones is provided. Taking the application of this system in a hydrogen refueling station for hydrogen-powered drones as an example, the system includes a drone landing pad 100, a dual-nozzle dual-metering hydrogen refueling machine 200, and a spray cooling device 300. The dual-nozzle dual-metering hydrogen refueling machine 200 is a high-efficiency hydrogen refueling device specifically designed for hydrogen fuel cell equipment, such as hydrogen-powered drones. It is equipped with dual hydrogen refueling nozzles and an independent metering system, enabling simultaneous refueling of two hydrogen-powered drones and achieving precise flow control. Furthermore, the drone landing pad 100 can be a horizontally arranged flat plate, the upper surface of which can be divided into multiple landing areas to allow for the simultaneous parking of multiple hydrogen-powered drones 400.
[0023] Specifically, the dual-nozzle dual-metering hydrogen refueling machine 200 is positioned on one side of the UAV landing pad 100 and is in contact with the UAV landing pad 100. It is used to refuel the hydrogen-powered UAV 400 after it lands on the UAV landing pad 100. After the hydrogen-powered UAV 400 lands on the UAV landing pad 100 via a navigation system or manual control, the refueling nozzle of the dual-nozzle dual-metering hydrogen refueling machine 200 can be connected to the hydrogen storage tank interface of the hydrogen-powered UAV 400 through automatic mechanical docking or manual operation, thereby completing the hydrogen refueling operation. Simultaneously, the refueling nozzle of the dual-nozzle dual-metering hydrogen refueling machine 200 can be equipped with an electromagnetic lock to control whether the refueling nozzle can output hydrogen. The electromagnetic lock can be remotely controlled via a host computer. When starting hydrogen refueling for the hydrogen-powered UAV 400, the host computer can control the electromagnetic lock to open, allowing the refueling nozzle to output hydrogen; when hydrogen refueling is completed or an emergency occurs during the refueling process, the host computer can control the electromagnetic lock to close, stopping the refueling nozzle from outputting hydrogen.
[0024] Furthermore, the spray cooling device 300 can be installed on one side of the UAV landing pad 100, adjacent to or opposite the dual-gun dual-metering hydrogen refueling machine 200. The spray nozzle 310 of the spray cooling device 300 is positioned above the UAV landing pad 100 and faces the UAV landing pad 100, allowing it to spray cooling medium onto the hydrogen-powered UAV 400 on the UAV landing pad 100. The cooling medium can be liquid carbon dioxide or liquid nitrogen, etc. Here, the cooling medium can be stored in a storage tank inside the spray cooling device 300. The storage tank can be connected to the spray nozzle 310 via a pipeline. When cooling medium is needed, the storage tank can be pressurized, causing the cooling medium to be sprayed out from the spray nozzle 310 along the pipeline for rapid cooling. Furthermore, the storage tank can also be under high pressure. A spray nozzle solenoid valve can be installed at the spray nozzle 310. The spray nozzle solenoid valve can be opened or closed under control. When the cooling medium needs to be sprayed by the cooling spray device 300, the spray nozzle solenoid valve can be controlled to open. At this time, the high-pressure cooling medium in the storage tank can be sprayed out from the spray nozzle 310 through the pipeline. In addition, the spray nozzle solenoid valve can also be installed at the pipeline to control the complete opening or closing of the pipeline passage.
[0025] In addition, the spray cooling device 300 can also communicate with a remote host computer. When the spray cooling device 300 needs to be activated and spray cooling medium, relevant personnel can control the spray cooling device 300 through a host computer such as a computer to control it to spray cooling medium onto the hydrogen-powered drone 400 on the drone take-off and landing pad 100.
[0026] In actual operation, when the temperature of a hydrogen-powered drone rises sharply during refueling due to hydrogen leakage, battery malfunction, or uncontrolled reaction, relevant personnel can manually or electrically control the spray cooling device to spray liquid cooling medium onto the take-off and landing area to cool down the hydrogen-powered drone during refueling.
[0027] Furthermore, a ventilation system, such as a fan, can be installed at the drone landing pad 100, with its airflow side facing the drone landing pad 100. When the spray cooling device 300 sprays cooling medium onto the hydrogen-powered drone 400 on the drone landing pad 100, the ventilation system can be manually or electrically controlled to output airflow to the hydrogen-powered drone 400 on the drone landing pad 100. This airflow blows away ice crystals formed by water vapor condensation due to cooling from the drone landing pad 100, and simultaneously disperses the high concentration of asphyxiating gas locally formed after the cooling medium vaporizes, as well as any potential hydrogen leaks. An oxygen concentration sensor can also be installed at the drone landing pad 100 to monitor the oxygen concentration there.
[0028] The hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones proposed in this invention can spray liquid cooling medium onto the drone manually or electronically when the temperature rises abnormally, thereby achieving emergency cooling. It can effectively cope with sudden high temperatures caused by drone battery malfunctions or uncontrolled reactions, quickly reduce the temperature of the drone and its surrounding environment, reduce the risk of fire or explosion, provide operators with a flexible and efficient emergency response means, and greatly improve the safety and reliability of hydrogen refueling operations.
[0029] In one embodiment, the hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones further includes an anomaly detection circuit, wherein the anomaly detection circuit includes a temperature detector and an anomaly detection unit.
[0030] Specifically, the temperature detector is positioned above the drone's take-off and landing pad so that when the hydrogen-powered drone lands on the take-off and landing pad, the temperature detector is located between the hydrogen-powered drone and the take-off and landing pad to collect the ambient temperature information at the take-off and landing pad and send the ambient temperature information to the anomaly detection unit. The anomaly detection unit can be a microcontroller, digital signal processor, or other computer equipment or circuit structure, which can be electrically connected to the temperature detector to obtain the ambient temperature information.
[0031] Furthermore, the anomaly detection unit is used to determine whether a high-temperature condition has occurred at the drone's take-off and landing pad based on the ambient temperature information, and when a high-temperature condition is determined to occur, it controls the spray cooling device to spray cooling medium onto the drone's take-off and landing pad. Here, the anomaly detection unit can have a preset temperature comparison program that compares the ambient temperature information with a preset temperature threshold. If the ambient temperature is higher than the temperature threshold, it is determined that a high temperature has occurred at the drone's take-off and landing pad. Alternatively, a temperature acquisition device can be installed at the hydrogen storage tank of the hydrogen-powered drone to collect the temperature value of the hydrogen storage tank. When the collected temperature value is higher than the temperature threshold, it can be determined that a high temperature has occurred at the drone's take-off and landing pad.
[0032] Furthermore, the temperature detector can be an analog output temperature sensor, which is an existing semiconductor device capable of continuously converting temperature changes into analog voltage. The amplitude of its output signal is linearly related to temperature. For example, the LM35 analog output temperature sensor manufactured by National Semiconductor increases its output voltage by 10mV for every 1°C increase in ambient temperature. This type of sensor integrates a temperature sensing element, signal amplification, and conditioning circuitry, directly outputting an analog quantity proportional to temperature without complex external processing. Compared to digital sensors, analog output temperature sensors offer faster response, lower cost, and more stable performance, making them suitable for real-time temperature measurement systems. Here, the analog output temperature sensor is used to generate a voltage signal characterizing the ambient temperature based on the ambient temperature at the UAV landing pad, and sends this voltage signal as the ambient temperature information to the anomaly detection unit.
[0033] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 As shown, the anomaly detection unit may include a first voltage source E1 and a voltage comparator U1. The first voltage source E1 is connected to the inverting input terminal of the voltage comparator U1 and is used to output a first reference voltage of a first preset voltage value to the voltage comparator U1. Here, a temperature judgment standard value for judging whether the ambient temperature is too high can be predetermined, that is, it can be determined at what value the ambient temperature at the drone landing pad is higher than that the hydrogen refueling operation is considered to have a safety hazard. When the ambient temperature at the drone landing pad is higher than the temperature judgment standard value, it is determined that a high temperature condition has occurred at the drone landing pad. Further, through experiments or tests, the voltage value of the voltage signal output by the analog output temperature sensor T at the temperature of the temperature judgment standard value is determined, and this voltage value is determined as the first preset voltage value. The voltage source that can output the voltage of the first preset voltage value is used as the first voltage source E1, so that the first voltage source E1 continuously outputs the first reference voltage of the first preset voltage value.
[0034] Furthermore, the non-inverting input of the voltage comparator U1 is connected to the analog output temperature sensor T to receive the voltage signal, and the output of the voltage comparator U1 is connected to the spray cooling device 300 to send a high-level enable signal to the spray cooling device 300.
[0035] Here, when the voltage value of the voltage signal received by the voltage comparator U1 is higher than a first preset voltage value of the first reference voltage, the voltage comparator U1 sends a high-level enable signal to the spray cooling device 300 to start the spray cooling device 300. Here, the voltage comparator U1 can be connected to the control terminal of the spray cooling device 300. When the enable signal is applied to the control terminal of the spray cooling device 300, the spray cooling device 300 starts and begins spraying the cooling medium.
[0036] In addition, the output of voltage comparator U1 can also be connected to the solenoid coil of the spray port solenoid valve of the spray cooling device 300. When voltage comparator U1 outputs a high-level enable signal to the solenoid valve coil, the solenoid valve coil is energized to generate a magnetic field, which drives the iron core (valve core) inside the spray port solenoid valve to move, thereby opening the spray port solenoid valve to spray the cooling medium.
[0037] In addition, power can also be supplied to the operation of the spray cooling device 300 by setting up a power supply; specifically, such as Figure 3 As shown, the anomaly detection unit may also include a power supply E and a first relay S1. Specifically, the output terminal of the voltage comparator U1 is connected to the first relay coil S01 of the first relay S1, the first end of the normally open contact S02 of the first relay S1 is connected to the power output terminal of the power supply E, and the second end of the normally open contact S02 of the first relay is connected to the power supply terminal of the spray cooling device 300. Here, the output terminal of the voltage comparator U1 can be connected to the first end of the first relay coil S01, and the second end of the first relay coil S01 can be grounded. When the first relay coil S01 receives a high voltage signal from the voltage comparator U1, the first relay coil S01 is energized and generates magnetic force, causing the normally open contact S02 of the first relay to conduct, thereby enabling the spray cooling device 300 to receive power from the power supply E, and thus starting the spray cooling device 300 to spray the cooling medium.
[0038] Here, the second terminal of the normally open contact S02 of the first relay can also be connected to a pressurizer (not shown in the figure) installed inside the spray cooling device 300. When the normally open contact S02 of the first relay is turned on, the pressurizer is energized and in working condition, pressurizing the storage tank containing the cooling medium so that the cooling medium in the storage tank is sprayed out from the spray nozzle to cool the hydrogen-powered drone. Furthermore, the explosion-proof rating of all electrical components included in this embodiment is not lower than EXiiCT4 level to improve the safety of the system.
[0039] The embodiments provided in this application can achieve real-time detection and rapid response to high-temperature anomalies in the hydrogen refueling operation area by setting up a temperature detector and an anomaly detection unit to form a temperature control protection circuit. Specifically, the analog output temperature sensor linearly converts the ambient temperature into a voltage signal, which is compared with a preset threshold by a voltage comparator. Once the temperature exceeds the threshold, a high-level trigger signal is output, which directly or through a relay drives the spray cooling device to spray cooling medium onto the hydrogen-powered drone on the drone landing pad to cool it down. The entire process does not require software intervention, has a fast response speed and high reliability. Through hardware comparison and control, the risk of program delay or crash is avoided, improving the safety and stability of the system.
[0040] In an optional embodiment, the hydrogen storage tank of the hydrogen-powered drone is equipped with a temperature sensor and a wireless communication module; furthermore, the anomaly detection unit may also be equipped with a wireless receiving module to establish a communication connection with the wireless communication module. The wireless communication module can be a Wi-Fi communication module, a Bluetooth communication module, or a ZigBee communication module, and the wireless receiving module can also be a Wi-Fi communication module, a Bluetooth communication module, or a ZigBee communication module to establish a communication connection between the two.
[0041] Furthermore, the temperature sensor is used to collect the temperature value of the hydrogen storage tank in real time and send the temperature value to the wireless communication module; here, the temperature sensor can be set inside the hydrogen storage tank to collect the internal temperature value of the hydrogen storage tank as the temperature value of the hydrogen storage tank; the temperature sensor can also be set on the outer surface of the hydrogen storage tank to collect the surface temperature value of the hydrogen storage tank as the temperature value of the hydrogen storage tank.
[0042] Furthermore, during the hydrogen refueling operation of the hydrogen-powered drone, the wireless communication module is used to establish a wireless communication connection with the anomaly detection unit to send the temperature value to the anomaly detection unit. The anomaly detection unit is also used to receive the temperature value and determine whether the temperature value exceeds a preset temperature threshold. If the temperature value exceeds the preset temperature threshold, the dual-gun dual-metering hydrogen refueling machine is controlled to stop refueling the hydrogen-powered drone, and a spray cooling device is controlled to spray cooling medium onto the drone's landing pad. The specific value of the preset temperature threshold can be determined based on the actual situation.
[0043] The embodiments provided in this application integrate a temperature sensor and a wireless communication module at the hydrogen storage tank, enabling real-time monitoring and wireless transmission of the internal or surface temperature of the tank. This allows the anomaly detection unit to dynamically monitor the thermal state of the tank during refueling. By configuring a matching wireless receiving module, stable communication can be established without a physical connection, improving deployment flexibility and reliability. When the system detects that the temperature exceeds a preset threshold, it automatically stops the refueling operation and activates a spray cooling device to prevent hydrogen leakage or explosion risks caused by overheating. This solution achieves direct monitoring of key components of the hydrogen storage tank, providing timely response and precise control, effectively avoiding thermal runaway accidents, and significantly enhancing the safety and intelligence level of the hydrogen refueling process for hydrogen-powered drones. It is suitable for unattended or high-safety-level hydrogen refueling scenarios.
[0044] In an optional embodiment, the output of the voltage comparator is also connected to a remote host computer, so that the host computer can control the spray cooling device to spray the cooling medium onto the UAV landing pad by sending a high-level control signal to the spray cooling device.
[0045] Here, when staff or other systems at the hydrogen refueling station detect an abnormal temperature on the drone landing pad, a control command can be sent to the spray cooling device via a computer or other host computer to initiate emergency cooling.
[0046] The embodiments provided in this application enable remote control of the spray cooling device by connecting the output of a voltage comparator to a host computer. When the monitoring system or operators detect abnormal temperatures in the drone, they can directly send a high-level signal to the spray cooling device via the output of the voltage comparator through the host computer, bypassing the automatic detection process of the circuit and forcibly activating the spray cooling device. This enhances the system's emergency response flexibility and reliability, avoids the inability to respond in case of automatic system failure, and ensures timely cooling in emergency situations, thereby improving the safety assurance capability of hydrogen refueling operations.
[0047] In one embodiment, such as Figure 4 As shown, the upper surface of the UAV landing pad 100 is provided with a static-dissipating coating 110. The static-dissipating coating 110 can be composed of conductive fillers (such as carbon black, graphite, metal powder, or conductive polymer) and a resin matrix, and is coated on the surface of the UAV landing pad 100 to achieve static discharge and prevent charge accumulation that could cause sparks. Furthermore, the static-dissipating coating 110 is connected to the ground via a grounding wire to conduct the static electricity generated during UAV landing and hydrogen refueling to the ground.
[0048] The embodiments provided in this application, by setting an electrostatic conductive coating on the surface of the UAV landing pad and grounding it, can effectively conduct away the static charge generated during the UAV landing and hydrogen refueling process, prevent static electricity accumulation from causing sparks, reduce the risk of hydrogen being ignited, and thus significantly improve the safety and reliability of the hydrogen refueling operation environment.
[0049] In an optional embodiment, such as Figure 5 As shown, the hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones also includes a vacuum tank 500. Further, the vacuum tank 500 is positioned below the drone's landing pad 100. The vacuum tank 500 is connected to a vent pipe 510, and a solenoid valve 520 is installed at the vent pipe 510. The solenoid valve 520 is used for controlled opening or closing. Here, the solenoid valve 520 can be a pneumatic solenoid valve to control the flow of gas in the vent pipe 510. The vent pipe 510 can include two sections, a first vent pipe and a second vent pipe. One end of the first vent pipe is connected to the gas chamber 530 of the vacuum tank 500, allowing gas to flow into the gas chamber 530 through the vent pipe 510. The other end of the first vent pipe is connected to the first vent of the solenoid valve 520, and the second vent of the solenoid valve 520 is connected to one end of the second vent pipe, allowing gas in the vent pipe 510 to flow through the solenoid valve 520. Furthermore, the other end of the second vent pipe penetrates the drone landing pad 100 and forms a vent hole on the upper surface of the drone landing pad 100; here, the vent hole can be located at the position on the drone landing pad 100 where the hydrogen-powered drone 400 is parked. The gas chamber 530 inside the vacuum tank 500 is pre-set to a vacuum state to create negative pressure. Furthermore, a vacuum pump (not shown in the figure) and a water pump (not shown in the figure) can also be installed at the vacuum tank 500. The vacuum pump is connected to the gas chamber 530 to remove gas from the gas chamber 530, preventing gas accumulation and maintaining the gas chamber 530 in a vacuum or negative pressure state; here, the water pump is also connected to the gas chamber 530 to remove any liquid that may be present in the gas chamber 530.
[0050] Furthermore, in the initial state, the solenoid valve 520 can be closed, at which point it blocks the vent pipe 510, preventing external gas from flowing into the air chamber 530. When the solenoid valve 520 is open, the air chamber 530 of the vacuum tank 500 connects to the vent, allowing the negative pressure within the air chamber 530 to draw gas from the UAV landing pad 100 into it. Here, the vent pipe 510 can be made of insulating material and can be grounded to prevent static electricity.
[0051] Specifically, when the anomaly detection unit identifies a high temperature at the drone's take-off and landing pad, it can send a control signal to the solenoid valve 520 to open the solenoid valve 520. This allows the vacuum tank 500 to quickly absorb the leaked hydrogen and high-temperature gas from the hydrogen-powered drone 400 into the gas chamber 530 of the vacuum tank 500, effectively eliminating the leaked gas and significantly improving the overall safety of hydrogen refueling operations for the hydrogen-powered drone.
[0052] The hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones proposed in this invention features a vacuum tank located below the drone's landing pad. The tank's vent pipe is connected to a vent on the upper surface of the landing pad, and the vent pipe's opening and closing is controlled by a solenoid valve. This enables the active extraction and rapid collection of leaked hydrogen in the refueling area. When the dual-gun, dual-metering hydrogen refueling machine is refueling a drone parked on the landing pad, in the event of abnormal conditions such as high temperatures, the solenoid valve can be manually or automatically opened. The negative pressure inside the vacuum tank draws the leaked hydrogen into the gas chamber through the vent, effectively preventing hydrogen accumulation in the landing pad area and significantly improving the safety of hydrogen refueling operations for hydrogen-powered drones.
[0053] In an optional embodiment, the anomaly detection circuit further includes a hydrogen concentration sensor, which is disposed at the drone's take-off and landing pad to collect hydrogen concentration information at the drone's take-off and landing pad and send the hydrogen concentration information to the anomaly detection unit. Specifically, the hydrogen concentration sensor is disposed above the drone's take-off and landing pad so that when the hydrogen-powered drone lands on the drone's take-off and landing pad, the hydrogen concentration sensor is located between the hydrogen-powered drone and the drone's take-off and landing pad, or to the side and above the hydrogen-powered drone, to collect the hydrogen concentration at the drone's take-off and landing pad and send the hydrogen concentration information to the anomaly detection unit.
[0054] Furthermore, the anomaly detection unit is also used to determine whether the hydrogen concentration information is within a preset explosive concentration range, and when the hydrogen concentration information is within the preset explosive concentration range, to control the solenoid valve to open, so as to absorb hydrogen in the air at the drone's take-off and landing pad and prevent an explosion accident. The preset explosive concentration range can be 4.0% to 75.6% (volume fraction), and its specific value range can also be determined according to actual conditions.
[0055] The embodiments provided in this application, by adding a hydrogen concentration sensor, enable real-time monitoring of hydrogen leakage in the take-off and landing area. Combined with the judgment of concentration data by the anomaly detection unit, the solenoid valve can be immediately triggered to open when the hydrogen concentration enters the explosive limit range (4.0%~75.6%), and the vacuum suction system can be started to quickly reduce the local hydrogen concentration, prevent hydrogen accumulation from causing an explosion, thereby enhancing the active safety protection capability of the system, realizing dual monitoring of temperature and concentration, and significantly improving the safety and reliability of hydrogen refueling operations for hydrogen-powered drones.
[0056] In one embodiment, the vent tube is filled with a metal catalyst, which can be one of platinum or palladium, or a mixture of both metals. The metal catalyst is located within the vent tube between the gas chamber and the solenoid valve, i.e., in the first vent tube, to catalyze the hydrogen and oxygen flowing through it. This causes the inhaled hydrogen and oxygen to undergo the following chemical reaction: + ->2 O in, It is hydrogen gas. For oxygen, O represents water. Here, using a platinum (Pt) or palladium (Pd) catalyst to promote the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen is a highly efficient and rapid technique for removing hydrogen. Adding a platinum or palladium catalyst to the vent pipe alters the reaction pathway of hydrogen and oxygen, significantly reducing the activation energy required for the reaction. This allows hydrogen and oxygen to spontaneously and continuously react at room temperature and pressure without ignition to produce water. Through this method, the hydrogen and oxygen drawn into the vacuum tank can be converted into water, thereby reducing the concentration of hydrogen and oxygen in the gas chamber and preventing hydrogen explosions.
[0057] The embodiments provided in this application fill the vent pipe with a platinum or palladium catalyst, so that the drawn-in hydrogen and oxygen undergo a catalytic recombination reaction at room temperature and pressure to produce water. This effectively reduces the concentration of combustible gases in the vacuum tank, prevents hydrogen accumulation from causing an explosion, improves the safety and explosion suppression capability of the vacuum tank system, and ensures the safety of hydrogen refueling operations.
[0058] In one embodiment, such as Figure 6 As shown, a porous carrier 600 capable of permeating air is disposed within the first vent pipe 510, at the position between the gas chamber 530 and the solenoid valve 520; the metal catalyst is disposed on the surface of the porous carrier 600. Here, the porous carrier 600 can be one of a metal mesh or a honeycomb structure, or a mixture of the two structures. The porous carrier 600 can fill the first vent pipe 510, so that the gas must pass through the porous carrier 600 before flowing into the gas chamber 530, thereby fully contacting the catalyst and improving the efficiency of the hydrogen-oxygen catalytic reaction.
[0059] The embodiments provided in this application significantly improve the catalytic reaction efficiency of hydrogen and oxygen by placing a porous support loaded with a metal catalyst inside the vent pipe. The porous support adopts a metal mesh or honeycomb structure, which has a high surface area and good air permeability, and can fully disperse the platinum or palladium catalyst, increasing the contact area between the gas and the catalytic active sites. This forces the gas to flow through the porous support during the suction process, prolonging the reaction contact time and promoting the efficient recombination of hydrogen and oxygen to form water at room temperature and pressure. Combined with a vacuum suction system, this achieves active capture and chemical conversion of leaked hydrogen, providing dual protection for the safety of hydrogenation operations.
[0060] On the other hand, embodiments of the present invention provide a hydrogen refueling station for hydrogen-powered drones, which includes multiple hydrogen refueling safety protection systems as described above, to enable simultaneous refueling operations for multiple hydrogen-powered drones.
[0061] The serial numbers in this application are for descriptive purposes only and do not represent the superiority or inferiority of any particular implementation scenario. The above disclosures are merely a few specific implementation scenarios of this application; however, this application is not limited thereto, and any variations conceived by those skilled in the art should fall within the protection scope of this application.
Claims
1. A hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones, characterized in that, The hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones includes a drone take-off and landing pad, a dual-gun dual-metering hydrogen refueling machine, and a spray cooling device. The dual-gun, dual-metering hydrogen refueling machine is located on one side of the UAV take-off and landing pad and is used to refuel the hydrogen-powered UAV when it lands on the UAV take-off and landing pad. The spray cooling device is located on one side of the UAV take-off and landing pad, with the spray nozzles of the spray cooling device facing the UAV take-off and landing pad and higher than the plane where the UAV take-off and landing pad is located. The spray cooling device is used to spray liquid cooling medium onto the UAV take-off and landing pad in a controlled manner.
2. The hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones also includes an anomaly detection circuit, which includes a temperature detector and an anomaly detection unit. The temperature detector is installed at the drone take-off and landing pad to collect ambient temperature information at the drone take-off and landing pad and send the ambient temperature information to the anomaly detection unit; The anomaly detection unit is used to determine whether a high temperature condition occurs at the drone take-off and landing pad based on the ambient temperature information, and when it is determined that a high temperature condition occurs at the drone take-off and landing pad, it controls the spray cooling device to spray the cooling medium onto the drone take-off and landing pad.
3. The hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones according to claim 2, characterized in that, The temperature detector is an analog output temperature sensor, used to generate a voltage signal based on the ambient temperature at the UAV take-off and landing pad, and send the voltage signal as the ambient temperature information to the anomaly detection unit. The anomaly detection unit includes a first voltage source and a voltage comparator. The first voltage source is connected to the inverting input terminal of the voltage comparator and is used to output a first reference voltage of a first preset voltage value to the voltage comparator. The non-inverting input of the voltage comparator is connected to the analog output temperature sensor to receive the voltage signal, and the output of the voltage comparator is connected to the spray cooling device to send a high-level enable signal to the spray cooling device. When the voltage value of the voltage signal received by the voltage comparator is higher than the first preset voltage value of the first reference voltage, the voltage comparator sends an enable signal to the spray cooling device so that the spray cooling device sprays the cooling medium onto the UAV take-off and landing pad.
4. The hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones according to claim 2, characterized in that, The hydrogen-powered drone is equipped with a temperature sensor and a wireless communication module at its hydrogen storage tank. The temperature sensor is used to collect the temperature value of the hydrogen storage tank in real time and send the temperature value to the wireless communication module; The wireless communication module is used to establish a wireless communication connection with the anomaly detection unit to send the temperature value to the anomaly detection unit. The anomaly detection unit is also used to receive the temperature value and determine whether the temperature value exceeds a preset temperature threshold. When the temperature value exceeds the preset temperature threshold, the unit controls the dual-gun dual-metering hydrogen refueling machine to stop refueling the hydrogen-powered drone and controls the spray cooling device to spray a cooling medium onto the drone's take-off and landing pad. The cooling medium includes liquid carbon dioxide or liquid nitrogen.
5. The hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper surface of the drone landing pad is provided with an electrostatic conductive coating, which is connected to the ground through a grounding wire to conduct the static electricity generated during the landing and refueling of the hydrogen-powered drone to the ground.
6. The hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones according to claim 2, characterized in that, The hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones also includes a vacuum tank; The vacuum tank is located below the drone landing pad, and the vent pipe of the vacuum tank passes through the drone landing pad and forms a vent hole on the upper surface of the drone landing pad. A solenoid valve is installed at the vent pipe, and the control end of the solenoid valve is connected to the abnormality detection unit for controlled opening or closing. The air chamber of the vacuum tank is connected to the vent, so that when the solenoid valve is opened, the negative pressure in the air chamber will draw the gas from the UAV landing pad into the air chamber.
7. The hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones according to claim 6, characterized in that, The anomaly detection circuit also includes a hydrogen concentration sensor, which is located at the UAV take-off and landing pad to collect hydrogen concentration information at the UAV take-off and landing pad and send the hydrogen concentration information to the anomaly detection unit. The anomaly detection unit is also used to determine whether the hydrogen concentration information is within the preset explosion concentration range, and when the hydrogen concentration information is within the preset explosion concentration range, control the solenoid valve to open.
8. The hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones according to claim 6, characterized in that, Inside the vent pipe, in the space between the gas chamber of the vacuum tank and the solenoid valve, there is a metal catalyst. The metal catalyst is one or both of platinum and palladium. The metal catalyst is used to catalyze the hydrogen and oxygen flowing through the metal catalyst to promote the conversion of hydrogen and oxygen into water, thereby reducing the concentration of hydrogen and oxygen inhaled into the gas chamber.
9. The hydrogen refueling safety protection system for hydrogen-powered drones according to claim 8, characterized in that, A porous carrier is disposed in the vent pipe between the gas chamber and the solenoid valve, and the metal catalyst is disposed on the porous carrier. The porous carrier includes one or both of the following: a metal mesh or a honeycomb structure.
10. A hydrogen refueling station for hydrogen-powered drones, characterized in that, The hydrogen refueling station for hydrogen-powered drones includes multiple hydrogen refueling safety protection systems as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.