Systems and methods for suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion using fan-driven systems

Abstract

This invention discloses a system and method for suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion using a fan-driven system. The method includes acquiring first hydrogen concentration measurement data based on a first preset direction of a fan array; acquiring second hydrogen concentration measurement data based on a second preset direction of the fan array under fan drive; triggering a drive control command based on the first hydrogen concentration measurement data and a preset command triggering mechanism to drive a first number of fans in the fan array to operate at a first speed and obtain a first operating result; comparing a preset hydrogen concentration threshold with the first and second hydrogen concentration measurement data respectively, and controlling a second number of fans in the fan array to operate at a second speed based on the data comparison result and the first operating result. This invention can effectively control the number of fans started and the fan speed, forming a reverse airflow to disperse the hydrogen, greatly reducing the effect of hydrogen leakage and diffusion into the nuclear power plant.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of nuclear hydrogen production technology, and in particular to a system and method for suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion using a fan drive. Background Technology

[0002] A nuclear hydrogen production system mainly consists of three parts: a hydrogen production plant, a gas storage tank, and a nuclear power plant. The distance between the nuclear power plant and the hydrogen production plant is a crucial design parameter for the system. Taking a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor coupled with thermochemical water splitting for hydrogen production as an example, thermochemical water splitting requires temperatures as high as 850 degrees Celsius to operate. As a fourth-generation reactor, the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor's outlet temperature can meet these requirements. The high-temperature gas-cooled reactor nuclear power plant and the hydrogen production plant are connected via heat transfer pipelines. Due to unavoidable heat loss during transportation, the heat and medium temperature reaching the plant for hydrogen production are lower than those at the nuclear power plant outlet. To meet the temperature standards for the hydrogen production process and minimize heat loss, the heat transfer pipelines need to be insulated, and their length cannot be excessive, meaning the distance between the nuclear power plant and the plant cannot be too great. Furthermore, the hydrogen produced by the plant cannot be entirely used for industrial consumption in a short time, necessitating storage in high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks within the plant. Because hydrogen molecules have strong diffusivity, this can easily reduce the strength of the pipeline's metal materials, leading to hydrogen embrittlement. Hydrogen embrittlement can cause leaks in long-used pipes or connections, leading to hydrogen leakage. Hydrogen itself possesses unique physical and chemical properties, particularly its flammability and explosiveness. If hydrogen diffuses into the atmosphere and is ignited, it can cause a series of dangerous accidents, including combustion, explosion, and detonation. If the distance between a nuclear power plant and a hydrogen production plant is too short, a leak would pose a significant safety risk to the nuclear power plant. Therefore, an optimal design distance exists between the nuclear power plant and the hydrogen production plant to balance economic efficiency and safety. Effectively preventing hydrogen leakage and diffusion, and reducing system safety risks, is a key concern in nuclear hydrogen production systems. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in the related art.

[0004] To address this issue, the present invention proposes a system for suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion using a fan-driven mechanism. This system comprises multiple fans, an automatic control system for the fans, and hydrogen concentration measurement sensors. When the hydrogen concentration detection device detects hydrogen, the automatic control system starts the fans and, based on the data obtained from the hydrogen concentration measurement device, controls the number of fans started and their rotation speed, creating a reverse airflow to disperse the hydrogen. This significantly reduces the leakage and diffusion of hydrogen into the nuclear power plant, thereby protecting the safety of the nuclear power plant.

[0005] Another objective of this invention is to propose a method for suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion using a fan drive.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this invention proposes a system for suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion using a fan-driven mechanism, comprising a first hydrogen concentration measuring device, a second hydrogen concentration measuring device, a fan array, and an automatic control system; wherein,

[0007] The first hydrogen concentration measuring device is used to measure the first hydrogen concentration measurement data based on the first preset direction of the fan array, and to feed back the first hydrogen concentration measurement data to the automatic control system in real time;

[0008] The automatic control system is used to trigger drive control commands based on the first hydrogen concentration measurement data and a preset command triggering mechanism to drive a first number of fans in the fan array to run at a first speed.

[0009] The second hydrogen concentration measuring device is used to measure the second hydrogen concentration measurement data based on the second preset direction of the fan array under the drive of the fan, and to feed back the second hydrogen concentration measurement data to the automatic control system;

[0010] The automatic control system is also used to compare the first hydrogen concentration measurement data and the second hydrogen concentration measurement data under the drive of the fan with a preset hydrogen concentration threshold, and control the second number of fans in the fan array to run at a second speed according to the data comparison result to optimize the performance of the entire system.

[0011] The system for suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion using a fan drive, as described in this embodiment of the invention, may also have the following additional technical features:

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the wind turbine array is located at the intermediate position between the hydrogen production plant's gas storage tank and the nuclear power plant.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first hydrogen concentration measuring device is located between the hydrogen production plant storage tank and the fan array, and the second hydrogen concentration measuring device is located between the fan array and the nuclear power plant; wherein the distance between the fan array and the hydrogen production plant storage tank is greater than a first preset safe distance threshold.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the cross-sectional area of ​​the wind turbine array is the cross-sectional area covering the hydrogen cloud.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the actual height of the first hydrogen concentration measuring device and the second hydrogen concentration measuring device is higher than the actual arrangement height of the connecting pipe of the hydrogen production plant storage tank.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the distances between the first hydrogen concentration measuring device and the second hydrogen concentration measuring device and the fan array are respectively greater than a second preset safe distance threshold.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the number of measuring points of the first hydrogen concentration measuring device and the second hydrogen concentration measuring device are at least one.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first hydrogen concentration measuring device and the second hydrogen concentration measuring device are respectively connected to the automatic control system.

[0019] To achieve the above objectives, another aspect of the present invention proposes a method for suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion using a fan drive, comprising:

[0020] Acquire first hydrogen concentration measurement data based on the first preset direction of the wind turbine array;

[0021] Acquire second hydrogen concentration measurement data based on the second preset direction of the wind turbine array under the drive of the wind turbine;

[0022] Based on the first hydrogen concentration measurement data and the preset instruction triggering mechanism, a drive control instruction is triggered to drive a first number of fans in the fan array to run at a first speed and obtain a first running result;

[0023] The preset hydrogen concentration threshold is compared with the first hydrogen concentration measurement data and the second hydrogen concentration measurement data respectively, and the second number of fans in the fan array is controlled to run at the second speed according to the data comparison result and the first operation result.

[0024] The system and method for suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion using a fan drive according to embodiments of the present invention can effectively control the number and speed of the fans and suppress hydrogen leakage and diffusion.

[0025] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a system for suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion using a fan drive, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of a method for suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion using a fan drive, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0029] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in the present invention can be combined with each other. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0030] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] The following describes, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a system and method for suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion using a fan drive, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 1 This is a system structure diagram of an embodiment of the present invention that uses a fan to suppress hydrogen leakage and diffusion.

[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, the system includes: a first hydrogen concentration measuring device 1, a second hydrogen concentration measuring device 4, a fan array 2, and an automatic control system 3; wherein,

[0034] The first hydrogen concentration measuring device 1 is used to measure the first hydrogen concentration measurement data based on the first preset direction of the fan array 2, and to feed back the first hydrogen concentration measurement data to the automatic control system 3 in real time.

[0035] Automatic control system 3 is used to trigger drive control commands based on the first hydrogen concentration measurement data and a preset command triggering mechanism to drive a first number of fans in the fan array 2 to run at a first speed.

[0036] The second hydrogen concentration measuring device 4 is used to measure the second hydrogen concentration measurement data based on the second preset direction of the fan array 2 under the drive of the fan, and to feed the second hydrogen concentration measurement data back to the automatic control system 3.

[0037] The automatic control system 3 is also used to compare the first hydrogen concentration measurement data and the second hydrogen concentration measurement data under the drive of the fan with a preset hydrogen concentration threshold, and to control the second number of fans of the fan array 2 to run at a second speed according to the data comparison result in order to optimize the performance of the entire system.

[0038] As can be seen, the working principle of this invention is as follows: When a hydrogen storage tank at an upstream hydrogen production plant leaks, the most extreme scenario is that the leak point is directly opposite the nuclear power plant. The released hydrogen diffuses downstream with the airflow. If the distance between the hydrogen production plant and the nuclear power plant is not far enough and no measures are taken, the hydrogen leak may pose a significant safety hazard to the nuclear power plant. Therefore, a fan array system is arranged along the path of hydrogen leakage from the hydrogen production plant to the nuclear power plant. The system of this invention consists of multiple fans, an automatic control system for the fans, and hydrogen concentration measurement sensors. When the hydrogen concentration detection device detects hydrogen, the automatic control system of the fans starts the fans. Driven by the fans, a reverse airflow is formed to disperse the hydrogen, greatly reducing the effect of hydrogen leakage and diffusion towards the nuclear power plant, thereby protecting the safety of the nuclear power plant.

[0039] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fan array 2 is composed of multiple fans, all of which are controlled by the automatic control system 3. During operation, all fans can be started, or some fans can be started as needed. The speed of the fans is adjustable and is also controlled by the automatic control system 3.

[0040] In one embodiment of the present invention, hydrogen concentration measuring devices 1 and 4 are arranged in front of and behind the fan array 2. Depending on the actual situation, the number of measuring points of each device can be single or multiple. The specific arrangement position can be determined according to the actual situation. Hydrogen concentration measuring devices 1 and 4 are connected to the automatic control system 3, and the measured data are fed back to the automatic control system 3 in real time.

[0041] The specific implementation of the system for suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion using a fan drive according to the present invention is as follows:

[0042] 1) A hydrogen storage tank at the hydrogen production plant ruptured and leaked. The leak was directly facing the nuclear power plant, and the released hydrogen gas spread towards the nuclear power plant along with the airflow.

[0043] 2) At the intermediate position between the hydrogen production plant's gas storage tank and the nuclear power plant, a fan array 2 is arranged, which consists of multiple fans. The fans are controlled by an automatic control system 3 to control their start-up, shutdown, and rotation speed.

[0044] 3) Hydrogen concentration measuring devices 1 and 4 are respectively arranged in front of and behind the fan array 2;

[0045] 4) When the hydrogen concentration measuring device 1 detects the hydrogen concentration data, it feeds back the measurement result to the automatic control system 3 in real time, and the automatic control system 3 starts the fan array 2.

[0046] 5) The hydrogen concentration detection device 4 will measure the hydrogen concentration data in the downstream direction driven by the fan and feed the data back to the automatic control system 3. The automatic control system 3 will adjust the speed of the fans in the fan array 2 and the number of fans to be turned on according to the data of the hydrogen concentration measuring devices 1 and 4 after the fan is started, so as to optimize the performance of the system as much as possible, so that the hydrogen is dispersed in the process of flowing to the nuclear power plant and reduce the safety threat to the nuclear power plant.

[0047] 6) During the long-term purging process of the blower, the on-site personnel also simultaneously inspected and repaired the hydrogen storage tank and its connecting pipelines. If the hydrogen concentration detection devices 1 and 4 can no longer detect the hydrogen concentration, it means that the leakage accident has been effectively controlled, and then the blower operation is gradually stopped according to the situation.

[0048] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fan array 2 is positioned midway between the hydrogen production plant's storage tank and the nuclear power plant. A first hydrogen concentration measuring device 1 is located between the hydrogen production plant's storage tank and the fan array 2, and a second hydrogen concentration measuring device 4 is located between the fan array 2 and the nuclear power plant; wherein the distance between the fan array 2 and the hydrogen production plant's storage tank is greater than a first preset safety distance threshold. The cross-sectional area of ​​the fan array 2 is the cross-sectional area covering the hydrogen cloud. The actual height of the first hydrogen concentration measuring device 1 and the second hydrogen concentration measuring device 4 is higher than the actual arrangement height of the connecting pipes of the hydrogen production plant's storage tank. The distances between the first hydrogen concentration measuring device 1 and the second hydrogen concentration measuring device 4 and the fan array 2 are respectively greater than the second preset safety distance threshold. The number of measuring points of the first hydrogen concentration measuring device 1 and the second hydrogen concentration measuring device 4 are each at least one. The first hydrogen concentration measuring device 1 and the second hydrogen concentration measuring device 4 are respectively connected to an automatic control system 3.

[0049] In the aforementioned system layout, the distance between the blower array and the hydrogen storage tank should not be too close; otherwise, it could easily cause reverse flow of hydrogen, posing a safety hazard to the hydrogen production plant. It is advisable to consider placing the blower array at a certain distance from the hydrogen storage tank. Simultaneously, the cross-sectional area formed by the blower array should not be too small; it should cover as much of the cross-sectional area of ​​the hydrogen cloud as possible to achieve a better purging effect.

[0050] In the aforementioned system layout, there is a hydrogen concentration measuring device both before and after the fan array. The device at the front of the fan array detects the hydrogen concentration in the atmosphere to confirm whether a leak has occurred. The device at the rear of the fan array is typically activated after an incident to assess the effectiveness of the fan purging and the severity of the incident. If, after a leak, the device at the rear of the array detects a decrease in hydrogen concentration to a safe level, it indicates that the leak has been effectively contained. Otherwise, it is necessary to continuously increase the fan speed or the number of fans started to rapidly dilute the hydrogen concentration in the atmosphere.

[0051] In the aforementioned system layout, the hydrogen concentration measuring devices before and after the fan array should be positioned at appropriate heights. Based on the actual height of the connecting pipes to the hydrogen storage tank, the hydrogen concentration measuring devices should be higher than the distance from the bottom of the connecting pipes to ensure effective detection of leaked hydrogen into the atmosphere. Simultaneously, the two hydrogen concentration measuring devices should not be too close to the fan array; a certain distance should be maintained to ensure detection effectiveness. It is advisable to place the hydrogen concentration measuring device in front of the fan array slightly closer to the hydrogen storage tank for timely detection of leaked hydrogen, and place the hydrogen concentration measuring device behind the fan array slightly further away to confirm that most of the downstream area is safe.

[0052] Therefore, the technical effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0053] 1) The structure is simple, and the required device consists of a fan, a control system and a hydrogen concentration sensor, which is easy to implement.

[0054] 2) The detection is timely and the level of intelligence is high. The device does not require manual control. After the hydrogen concentration sensor detects hydrogen, it immediately starts the fan according to the severity, which can reduce the risk of accident in a short time.

[0055] 3) This system can greatly reduce the potential safety hazards of hydrogen leakage from hydrogen production plants to nuclear power plants, thereby shortening the design of the safety distance between hydrogen production plants and nuclear power plants, which can reduce the loss of process heat in nuclear power plants and improve energy utilization.

[0056] According to the present invention, the system for suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion using a fan drive automatically starts the fan when the hydrogen concentration detection device detects hydrogen. Based on the data detected by the hydrogen concentration measurement device, the system effectively controls the number of fans started and the fan speed, forming a reverse airflow to disperse the hydrogen, thereby greatly reducing the effect of hydrogen leakage and diffusion into the nuclear power plant and protecting the safety of the nuclear power plant.

[0057] To achieve the above embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment also provides a method for suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion using a fan drive. The method includes:

[0058] S1, acquire first hydrogen concentration measurement data based on the first preset direction of the wind turbine array;

[0059] S2, acquire second hydrogen concentration measurement data based on the second preset direction of the wind turbine array under wind turbine drive;

[0060] S3, based on the first hydrogen concentration measurement data and the preset instruction triggering mechanism, trigger the drive control instruction to drive the first number of fans in the fan array to run at the first speed and obtain the first running result;

[0061] S4, compare the preset hydrogen concentration threshold with the first hydrogen concentration measurement data and the second hydrogen concentration measurement data respectively, and control the second number of fans in the fan array to run at the second speed according to the data comparison result and the first operating result.

[0062] According to the method of suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion by using a fan drive according to the present invention, the number of fans started and the fan speed can be effectively controlled by starting the fans through an automatic control system and according to the data detected by the hydrogen concentration measuring device. This forms a reverse airflow that blows the hydrogen away, greatly reducing the effect of hydrogen leakage and diffusion into the nuclear power plant, thereby protecting the safety of the nuclear power plant.

[0063] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0064] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

Claims

1. A system for suppressing hydrogen leakage and diffusion using a fan-driven mechanism, characterized in that, include: The system comprises a first hydrogen concentration measuring device, a second hydrogen concentration measuring device, a fan array, and an automatic control system; among which... The first hydrogen concentration measuring device is used to measure the first hydrogen concentration measurement data based on the first preset direction of the fan array, and to feed back the first hydrogen concentration measurement data to the automatic control system in real time; The automatic control system is used to trigger drive control commands based on the first hydrogen concentration measurement data and a preset command triggering mechanism to drive a first number of fans in the fan array to run at a first speed. The second hydrogen concentration measuring device is used to measure the second hydrogen concentration measurement data based on the second preset direction of the fan array under the drive of the fan, and to feed back the second hydrogen concentration measurement data to the automatic control system; The automatic control system is also used to compare the first hydrogen concentration measurement data and the second hydrogen concentration measurement data under the drive of the fan with a preset hydrogen concentration threshold, and control the second number of fans in the fan array to run at a second speed according to the data comparison result to optimize the performance of the entire system. The wind turbine array is located in the middle position between the hydrogen production plant's gas storage tank and the nuclear power plant. The first hydrogen concentration measuring device is located between the hydrogen production plant's storage tank and the fan array, and the second hydrogen concentration measuring device is located between the fan array and the nuclear power plant; wherein the distance between the fan array and the hydrogen production plant's storage tank is greater than a first preset safe distance threshold.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cross-sectional area of ​​the wind turbine array is the cross-sectional area covering the hydrogen cloud.

3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The actual height of the first hydrogen concentration measuring device and the second hydrogen concentration measuring device is higher than the actual arrangement height of the connecting pipeline of the hydrogen production plant's storage tank.

4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The distances between the first hydrogen concentration measuring device and the second hydrogen concentration measuring device and the fan array are both greater than the second preset safe distance threshold.

5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first hydrogen concentration measuring device and the second hydrogen concentration measuring device each have at least one measuring point.

6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first hydrogen concentration measuring device and the second hydrogen concentration measuring device are respectively connected to the automatic control system.

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