Connector for connecting hose in hydrogen conveying system and control system

Abstract

The invention provides a connector for connecting hoses in a hydrogen conveying system and a control system, a hydrogen conveying hose comprises multiple sections of hoses, and a connector is arranged between every two adjacent sections of hoses; a first sealing gasket and a second sealing gasket are arranged at the two ends of the connector respectively, the first sealing gasket is connected with one end of the first hose, and the second sealing gasket is connected with one end of the second hose. The connector is provided with a cavity, the cavity is filled with inert gas, the cavity is provided with a gas injection hole communicated with the outside, and an electromagnetic valve is arranged at the gas injection hole. A hydrogen monitor is arranged in the cavity, and the hydrogen monitor is used for detecting the content of hydrogen in the cavity and giving out early warning under the condition that the content of hydrogen in the cavity reaches a threshold value. The inert gas is adopted to block hydrogen permeation, the sealing performance can be improved, and the hydrogen and the inert gas are non-flammable after being mixed. And the electromagnetic valve can control the injection amount of the inert gas, so that the injection amount of the inert gas can be accurately controlled. And the hydrogen monitor realizes real-time monitoring of hydrogen leakage, so that potential safety hazards are effectively prevented.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of hydrogen transportation, and in particular to a connector for connecting a hose in a hydrogen transportation system and a control system. Background Art

[0002] With the growing global demand for clean energy, especially in cutting-edge areas like offshore wind power generation, hydrogen energy is attracting widespread attention due to its environmentally friendly properties. In the field of hydrogen transportation, pipeline hydrogen transportation, with its economic advantages in long-distance transportation, is gradually becoming a key research and application direction.

[0003] Thermoplastic reinforced flexible pipe (RTP) is considered a more promising hydrogen transportation solution due to its excellent flexibility and corrosion resistance. The RTP structure is usually composed of an inner lining layer, a reinforcement layer and an outer protective layer, but in practical applications, hydrogen permeability is still a key issue, and a barrier layer is usually required to be added to the pipeline structure to improve airtightness. Therefore, hydrogen permeation control of the hose is crucial, especially in joints, valves and other parts prone to leakage, and the sealing design needs to be strengthened. At present, although the pipeline transportation of high-pressure gaseous or liquid hydrogen has a certain application basis, traditional steel pipelines face many technical challenges due to high construction costs and susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. In contrast, as a key connection part, the airtightness of the pipeline joint directly affects the safety and stability of the hydrogen transmission system. Optimizing the design of the joint to reduce the risk of hydrogen leakage is one of the current research focuses. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the embodiments of the present application is to provide a connector for connecting a hose in a hydrogen transmission system and a control system.

[0005] The embodiments of the present application adopt the following technical solution: a connector for connecting hoses in a hydrogen delivery system, wherein the hydrogen delivery hose comprises multiple hose sections, and the connector is provided between two adjacent hose sections; the connector is used to connect the adjacent first hose and the second hose;

[0006] A first sealing gasket and a second sealing gasket are respectively provided at both ends of the joint, the first sealing gasket is connected to one end of the first hose, and the second sealing gasket is connected to one end of the second hose;

[0007] The joint has a cavity filled with an inert gas, the cavity has a gas injection hole connected to the outside, and a solenoid valve is provided at the gas injection hole;

[0008] A hydrogen monitor is provided in the cavity, and is used to detect the hydrogen content in the cavity and issue an early warning when the hydrogen content in the cavity reaches a threshold value.

[0009] In some embodiments, the inner wall of the cavity is made of aluminum.

[0010] In some embodiments, along the axial direction of the hydrogen transport hose, the inner wall of the cavity is smoothly wavy.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first sealing gasket and the second sealing gasket are made of aluminum.

[0012] In some embodiments, when the joint is a socket-type joint, an outer sheath is provided on the outside of the cavity, and the outer sheath is made of a thermoplastic resin material.

[0013] The embodiment of the present application further provides a control system for controlling a connector of a connecting hose in a hydrogen delivery system as described in any of the above embodiments;

[0014] The control system includes:

[0015] A host computer and a switch output module and a relay electrically connected to the host computer, the host computer is also electrically connected to the hydrogen monitor in the connector, and the relay is electrically connected to the solenoid valve of the connector;

[0016] The hydrogen monitor sends a detection signal to the host computer, wherein the detection signal represents the detection result of the hydrogen content in the cavity of the connector; the host computer sends a first control signal to the switch output module based on the detection signal received from the hydrogen monitor, and the switch output module sends a second control signal to the relay based on the first control signal to control the on and off of the solenoid valve through the relay, thereby controlling the amount of inert gas injected into the cavity of the connector.

[0017] In some embodiments, the control system also includes an isolation conversion module, which is electrically connected to the host computer and the switch output module respectively. The host computer sends a third control signal to the isolation conversion module based on the detection signal received from the hydrogen monitor, and the isolation conversion module converts the third control signal into a first control signal and sends it to the switch output module.

[0018] In some embodiments, the switch output module is an ADAM-4050 module.

[0019] In some embodiments, the isolation converter module is an ADAM-4520 module.

[0020] The beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present application are:

[0021] Using inert gas to block hydrogen permeation can effectively improve the sealing performance of joints in high-pressure hydrogen environments, preventing hydrogen leakage, thereby ensuring the safety and long-term reliability of the pipeline system. If hydrogen permeates, it will mix with the inert gas, and the mixed gas will be non-flammable and flame retardant.

[0022] The solenoid valve can control the injection amount of inert gas, achieving precise control of the injection amount of inert gas.

[0023] The hydrogen monitor can realize real-time monitoring of hydrogen leakage and issue early warning in the early stage of hydrogen leakage, thus effectively preventing potential safety hazards. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or related technologies, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or related technical descriptions. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative labor.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the plug-in connector of the present application connected to the first hose and the second hose;

[0026] Figure 2 For this application Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the cross section of AA;

[0027] Figure 3 For this application Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the cross section of the middle BB;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of the flange connector of the present application connected to the first hose and the second hose;

[0029] Figure 5 This is the structural block diagram of the control system of this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Various aspects and features of the present application are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] It should be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments of the present application. Therefore, the above description should not be considered as limiting, but merely as an example of an embodiment. Other modifications within the scope and spirit of the present application will occur to those skilled in the art.

[0032] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present application and, together with the general description of the present application given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0033] These and other characteristics of the present application will become apparent from the following description of a preferred form of embodiment given as a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] It should also be understood that although the present application has been described with reference to certain specific examples, those skilled in the art will readily be able to implement many other equivalent forms of the present application.

[0035] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present application will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0036] Specific embodiments of the present application will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, it should be understood that the embodiments described are merely examples of the present application and may be implemented in a variety of ways. Familiar and / or repetitive functions and structures are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present application with unnecessary or redundant details. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details described herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather serve merely as a basis and representative basis for the claims to teach those skilled in the art to variously utilize the present application with substantially any suitable detailed structure.

[0037] This specification may use the phrases "in one embodiment," "in another embodiment," "in yet another embodiment," or "in other embodiments," which may all refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments according to the present application.

[0038] Targeting pipeline joints, a leak-prone area, the inert gas hydrogen-barrier hydrogen hose joint structure and design method proposed in this application can improve the joint's sealing performance in high-pressure hydrogen environments. This not only prevents hydrogen leakage but also further prevents hydrogen penetration within the pipe, thereby strengthening the hydrogen barrier performance at the pipe-to-pipe connection. This ensures the safety and long-term reliability of the pipeline system. This application significantly improves the overall airtightness of the flexible hydrogen hose, demonstrating significant technological innovation and application value in long-distance hydrogen transportation.

[0039] The present application provides a connector for connecting hoses in a hydrogen delivery system. The hydrogen delivery hose comprises multiple hose sections, and a connector is provided between two adjacent hose sections. The connector can be used to connect a first hose 1 and a second hose 2 that are adjacent to each other.

[0040] A first sealing gasket and a second sealing gasket are respectively provided at each end of the joint. The first sealing gasket is connected to one end of the first hose 1, and the second sealing gasket is connected to one end of the second hose 2. The first and second sealing gaskets can be made of aluminum. The aluminum sealing gaskets are used to reinforce the joint in the axial direction and provide a seal in areas prone to leaks in the pipe.

[0041] The connector has a cavity filled with an inert gas. The cavity has an injection hole connected to the outside world, and a solenoid valve is installed at the injection hole. The inert gas can be, but is not limited to, nitrogen or helium. During the injection of the inert gas, the system should be filled with a high-purity inert gas to ensure that no outside air enters. When the solenoid valve is open, the inert gas can be injected into the cavity through the injection hole. The on and off of the solenoid valve can be controlled by a control system.

[0042] The inner wall of the cavity is made of aluminum. Using aluminum as a barrier at the joint can significantly improve the joint's resistance to permeation. The inert gas filled in the inert gas cavity can mix with the permeating hydrogen, further preventing hydrogen from escaping the joint structure (equivalent to sealing it with inert gas). This method can further improve the pipe joint's resistance to hydrogen permeation.

[0043] A hydrogen monitor can be installed in the cavity and fixed to the inner wall of the cavity. The hydrogen monitor can be used to detect the hydrogen content in the cavity and issue an early warning if the hydrogen content reaches a threshold. In other words, the hydrogen monitor is used to obtain real-time changes in the hydrogen concentration in the inert gas cavity and promptly issue an alarm when it exceeds a reasonable range, thus effectively monitoring hydrogen leaks.

[0044] Using inert gas to block hydrogen permeation can effectively improve the sealing performance of joints in high-pressure hydrogen environments, preventing hydrogen leakage, thereby ensuring the safety and long-term reliability of the pipeline system. If hydrogen permeates, it will mix with the inert gas, and the mixed gas will be non-flammable and flame retardant.

[0045] The solenoid valve can control the injection amount of inert gas, achieving precise control of the injection amount of inert gas.

[0046] The hydrogen monitor can realize real-time monitoring of hydrogen leakage and issue early warning in the early stage of hydrogen leakage, thus effectively preventing potential safety hazards.

[0047] Along the axial direction of the hydrogen hose, the inner wall of the cavity exhibits a smooth, wavy shape. This wavy shape of the inert gas cavity facilitates manufacturing, avoids stress concentration, and enhances pipeline sealing. Furthermore, the wavy shape creates a more complex escape path for hydrogen than a flat structure, similar to the principle of a labyrinth seal.

[0048] The joint in this application can be at least one of the following joint forms:

[0049] Socket joint;

[0050] Flange type connector.

[0051] Of course, other joint types, such as threaded joints, grooved joints and quick joints, can all adopt this inert gas hydrogen barrier method during the design stage, that is, this application can extend the design concept of inert gas hydrogen barrier to all joints.

[0052] In the case that the joint is a socket-type joint, an outer sheath is provided on the outside of the cavity, and the outer sheath is made of thermoplastic resin material.

[0053] Combine Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 3 This embodiment provides a socket-type joint for connecting flexible hydrogen transport hoses and performing sealing and fixing after the socket-type connection.

[0054] The aluminum sealing gasket reinforces the joint axially and, as a leak-prone point between pipe connections, is made of aluminum, a material with a high barrier to hydrogen, to prevent hydrogen from escaping from the pipe connections. A first sealing gasket 31 can be inserted into the first hose 1, and a second sealing gasket 32 ​​can be inserted into the second hose 22. Reinforcement clips 9 are installed where the first sealing gasket is located on the first hose and where the second sealing gasket is located on the second hose 2. These clips reinforce the connection between the sealing gaskets and the hoses from outside the first and second hoses 1 and 2, further enhancing the sealing effect.

[0055] An outer sheath 5 is placed over the aluminum cylinder forming the cavity. A gas injection hole 6 is provided on the outer side of the outer sheath 5. A solenoid valve 7 located at the gas injection hole 6 can be opened by a remote control device to inject an inert gas (nitrogen, helium, etc.) into the inert gas cavity 4. This effectively mixes the inert gas with the permeating hydrogen, further preventing hydrogen from escaping the joint structure. This method can further enhance the pipe joint's resistance to hydrogen permeation.

[0056] The inert gas cavity 4 can be made of aluminum. Using aluminum for blocking at the joint can greatly improve the anti-permeability of the joint. The inert gas filled in the inert gas cavity can be mixed with the permeated hydrogen, which can further block the hydrogen from escaping the joint structure. This method can further improve the hydrogen permeability resistance of the pipeline joint.

[0057] The outer sheath 5 can adopt a cylindrical structure and be made of non-metallic thermoplastic resin. The outer sheath as a whole adopts a streamlined design, which is more convenient for installation and construction and for coordination with other components.

[0058] Combine Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, since the cavity 4 is arranged in a wave shape, the cross-sectional dimensions of the cavity 4 are different in the screenshots at different positions.

[0059] The hydrogen monitor 8 is used to obtain the change of hydrogen concentration in the inert gas chamber in real time, and to give an alarm in time when the concentration exceeds a reasonable range, thereby realizing effective monitoring of hydrogen leakage.

[0060] Combine Figure 4 , this embodiment provides a flange joint for sealing and fixing after flange connection.

[0061] The flange joint is used to connect the first hose 1 and the second hose 2. The flange joint may include a first vertical arm 102, a second vertical arm 105, a third vertical arm 106, a fourth vertical arm 116, a bolt 104, a seal 115, a first horizontal arm 108, a second horizontal arm 109, a left inert gas cavity 103, a right inert gas cavity 107, a left gas injection hole 111, a right gas injection hole 112, an ester injection hole 110, and an aluminum sealing gasket 101. The first vertical arm 102, the second vertical arm 105, the third vertical arm 106, the fourth vertical arm 116, the bolt 104, the first horizontal arm 108, and the second horizontal arm 109 cooperate with each other to form the main structure of the flange joint.

[0062] The flange joint contains two inert gas cavities, namely the left inert gas cavity 103 and the right inert gas cavity 107. Inert gas is injected into the left inert gas cavity 103 through the left gas injection hole 111, and inert gas is injected into the right inert gas cavity 107 through the right gas injection hole 112.

[0063] Different from the left side, the joint space on the right side is larger, and ester can be injected into the cavity 107 through the ester injection hole 110 to perform multiple sealing.

[0064] A seal 115 is placed between the second vertical arm 105 and the third vertical arm 106 , and aluminum sealing gaskets 101 are placed on the two leak-prone ends in contact with the pipeline to seal the leak-prone parts of the joint.

[0065] A left hydrogen detector 113 and a right hydrogen detector 114 are respectively provided in the left inert gas cavity 103 and the right inert gas cavity 107, which can monitor the changes in the hydrogen concentration in the inert gas cavity in real time and promptly alarm when it exceeds a reasonable range, thereby effectively realizing the monitoring of hydrogen leakage.

[0066] The control system includes:

[0067] The host computer is electrically connected to a switch output module and a relay, the host computer is also electrically connected to the hydrogen monitor in the connector, and the relay is electrically connected to the solenoid valve of the connector.

[0068] The hydrogen monitor sends a detection signal to the host computer, wherein the detection signal represents the detection result of the hydrogen content in the cavity of the connector; the host computer sends a first control signal to the switch output module based on the detection signal received from the hydrogen monitor, and the switch output module sends a second control signal to the relay based on the first control signal to control the on and off of the solenoid valve through the relay, thereby controlling the amount of inert gas injected into the cavity of the connector. The switch output module is an ADAM-4050 module

[0069] The control system also includes an isolation conversion module, which is electrically connected to the host computer and the switch output module. The isolation conversion module is an ADAM-4520 module. Based on the detection signal received from the hydrogen monitor, the host computer sends a third control signal to the isolation conversion module. The isolation conversion module converts the third control signal into a first control signal and sends it to the switch output module.

[0070] When injecting inert gas, the system should be filled with high purity inert gas to ensure that no outside air enters. The inert gas injection system can be controlled and monitored by a remote computer.

[0071] The control unit of the inert gas system is mainly composed of ADAM-4050 module (digital I / O module), ADAM-4520 module (isolation conversion module), relay control circuit, and relay. Its principle is as follows Figure 5 As shown in the figure, each component cooperates with each other to achieve accurate injection of inert gas through precise signal transmission and control. The gas injection volume is adjusted according to system requirements to ensure gas stability and efficiency.

[0072] The Advantech ADAM-4050 module, which has been maturely applied in industry, is selected as the switch output module to control the operation of various components in the inert gas system. Under the control of the program, the microcomputer sends a digital signal which is converted by the ADAM-4520 module and reaches the ADAM-4050 module. The ADAM-4050 module is a digital input and output module with 7 digital input channels and 8 digital output channels. The switch signal input from the microcomputer (less than +1V is a logic low level, +3.5~30V is a logic high level) can drive small components with a maximum load of 30V and 30mA. In this device, the ADAM-4050 is used to control the drive relay, and its connection method is as follows: Figure 5As shown, R is the protection resistor, which is determined by the resistance of the electromagnetic relay and the voltage of the power supply circuit, and is used to prevent the drive current from exceeding the current limit of the ADAM-4050 output channel.

[0073] The hydrogen measurement device constructed with microcomputer and ADAM module as data acquisition and processing units is superior to the data acquisition and processing method with single chip microcomputer as the core in terms of development cycle, detection accuracy and redevelopment potential.

[0074] The hydrogen measurement device is constructed by using a microcomputer and ADAM module as the data acquisition and processing unit. Compared with the data acquisition and processing method based on a single-chip microcomputer, it has more advantages in terms of development cycle, detection accuracy and redevelopment potential.

[0075] The above describes in detail several embodiments of the present application, but the present application is not limited to these specific embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make various variations and modifications to the embodiments based on the concept of the present application, and these variations and modifications should all fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present application.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting a hose in a hydrogen delivery system, characterized in that: The hydrogen delivery hose comprises multiple sections of hose, and the connector is provided between two adjacent sections of hose; the connector is used to connect the adjacent first hose and the second hose; A first sealing gasket and a second sealing gasket are respectively provided at both ends of the joint, the first sealing gasket is connected to one end of the first hose, and the second sealing gasket is connected to one end of the second hose; The joint has a cavity filled with an inert gas, the cavity has a gas injection hole connected to the outside, and a solenoid valve is provided at the gas injection hole; A hydrogen monitor is provided in the cavity, and is used to detect the hydrogen content in the cavity and issue an early warning when the hydrogen content in the cavity reaches a threshold value.

2. The connector for connecting a hose in a hydrogen transport system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall of the cavity is made of aluminum.

3. The connector for connecting a hose in a hydrogen transport system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Along the axial direction of the hydrogen transport hose, the inner wall of the cavity is in a smooth wavy shape.

4. The connector for connecting a hose in a hydrogen transport system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first sealing gasket and the second sealing gasket are made of aluminum.

5. The connector for connecting a hose in a hydrogen transport system according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the case that the joint is a socket-type joint, an outer sheath is provided on the outside of the cavity, and the outer sheath is made of thermoplastic resin material.

6. A control system, characterized in that: Used for controlling a joint for connecting a hose in a hydrogen transport system according to any one of claims 1 to 5; The control system includes: A host computer and a switch output module and a relay electrically connected to the host computer, the host computer is also electrically connected to the hydrogen monitor in the connector, and the relay is electrically connected to the solenoid valve of the connector; The hydrogen monitor sends a detection signal to the host computer, wherein the detection signal represents the detection result of the hydrogen content in the cavity of the connector; the host computer sends a first control signal to the switch output module based on the detection signal received from the hydrogen monitor, and the switch output module sends a second control signal to the relay based on the first control signal to control the on and off of the solenoid valve through the relay, thereby controlling the amount of inert gas injected into the cavity of the connector.

7. The control system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The control system also includes an isolation conversion module, which is electrically connected to the host computer and the switch output module respectively. The host computer sends a third control signal to the isolation conversion module based on the detection signal received from the hydrogen monitor. The isolation conversion module converts the third control signal into a first control signal and sends it to the switch output module.

8. The control system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The switch output module is an ADAM-4050 module.

9. The control system according to claim 8, characterized in that: The isolation conversion module is the ADAM-4520 module.

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