Hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicle hangar capable of being automatically filled with hydrogen

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of unmanned aerial vehicles, in particular to a hydrogen power unmanned aerial vehicle hangar capable of being automatically filled with hydrogen. The device is suitable for recovery of the hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicle and automatic hydrogen filling operation. A hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicle hangar capable of being automatically filled with hydrogen comprises a liftable parking apron, a nest opening and closing door, a centering system, a mechanical guide arm, hydrolysis hydrogen production equipment, hydrogen pressurization equipment, a hydrogen filling pipeline and a hydrogen monitoring system. The liftable parking apron is used for bearing the hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicle and is adjustable in height; the centering system is matched with the liftable parking apron and is used for positioning the hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicle to a preset filling position; the mechanical guide arm is used for controlling the hydrogen filling pipeline to be in butt joint with or separated from a high-pressure hydrogen cylinder filling port of the hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicle; automatic recovery, accurate centering, hydrogen on-site preparation and safe and efficient automatic filling of the hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicle are achieved, manual intervention is not needed, the hydrogen leakage risk is reduced, and continuous operation of the hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicle is guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, and more specifically to a hydrogen-powered UAV hangar that can be automatically refilled with hydrogen, suitable for the recovery and automatic hydrogen refilling of hydrogen-powered UAVs. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of drone technology, hydrogen-powered drones have gradually been applied in various industries due to their significant advantages such as long flight time, zero emissions, flexibility, convenience, and rapid recharging, and their application scenarios will become even more extensive in the future. However, current drone nesting products have obvious limitations: existing drone nests only have the function of recovering drones or automatically replacing lithium battery components, and lack dedicated equipment to automatically recharge hydrogen-powered drones with hydrogen.

[0003] Currently, hydrogen-powered drones primarily rely on manual hydrogen refueling for power replenishment. This manual operation is prone to errors and inefficiencies, posing a significant safety risk of hydrogen leakage and severely hindering the large-scale application and operational continuity of hydrogen-powered drones. Existing patents, such as patent numbers 202411762713.1, 202410877987.9, 202411325438.7, and 202410736772.5, which involve drone hangars and methods, do not address automatic hydrogen refueling technology for hydrogen-powered drones, thus failing to meet the practical needs of their use. Therefore, developing a dedicated hangar capable of facilitating the recovery, automatic repositioning, hydrogen production, and automatic refueling of hydrogen-powered drones is crucial to overcoming the current technological bottleneck. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention aims to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies and provide a hydrogen-powered drone hangar that can be automatically filled with hydrogen, enabling automatic recovery, precise centering, on-site hydrogen production, and safe and efficient automatic filling of hydrogen-powered drones without human intervention, reducing the risk of hydrogen leakage and ensuring the continuous operation capability of hydrogen-powered drones.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by this invention to solve its technical problem is:

[0006] A hydrogen-powered drone hangar capable of automatic hydrogen refilling includes a liftable helipad, a nest opening and closing door, a centering system, a mechanical guide arm, a water electrolysis hydrogen production device, a hydrogen pressurization device, a hydrogen filling pipeline, and a hydrogen monitoring system. The liftable helipad is used to carry the hydrogen-powered drone and its height is adjustable. The centering system works in conjunction with the liftable helipad to position the hydrogen-powered drone at a preset filling location. The mechanical guide arm controls the connection or disconnection of the hydrogen filling pipeline with the high-pressure hydrogen cylinder filling port of the hydrogen-powered drone. The water electrolysis hydrogen production device produces hydrogen, and its outlet is connected to the hydrogen pressurization device. The output end of the hydrogen pressurization device is connected to the hydrogen filling pipeline to pressurize and deliver the hydrogen to the pipeline. The hydrogen monitoring system monitors the ambient hydrogen concentration, humidity, and temperature parameters during the filling process. The nest opening and closing door enables the closing and opening of the nest.

[0007] Furthermore, it also includes a water collection tank, a water collection trough, and a water inlet pipe, wherein the water collection trough is connected to the water collection tank through the water inlet pipe.

[0008] Furthermore, the hydrogen monitoring system includes meteorological monitoring equipment, gas detection equipment, data transmission antenna, image transmission antenna, and internet antenna; the meteorological monitoring equipment is used to monitor ambient temperature and humidity; the gas detection equipment is used to monitor the hydrogen concentration in the environment; and the data transmission antenna, image transmission antenna, and internet antenna are used to realize monitoring data transmission.

[0009] Furthermore, it also includes a system controller, which is electrically connected to the liftable helipad, the helipad opening and closing door, the centering system, the mechanical guide arm, the water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment, the hydrogen pressurization equipment, and the hydrogen monitoring system, respectively, for controlling the coordinated operation of each component.

[0010] Furthermore, the hydrogen-powered drone is equipped with a drone composite gas valve, which is connected to a high-pressure hydrogen cylinder and is compatible with the docking end of a hydrogen filling pipeline.

[0011] Furthermore, the mechanical guide arm drives the hydrogen filling pipe to complete the alignment, insertion, and extraction actions. After filling is completed, the hydrogen filling pipe can be stored inside the machine nest on the side.

[0012] Furthermore, after the water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment is started, the hydrogen produced is directly fed into the hydrogen pressurization equipment, and the pressurized hydrogen is transported unidirectionally to the high-pressure hydrogen cylinder of the hydrogen-powered drone through the hydrogen filling pipeline.

[0013] Furthermore, after the hydrogen-powered drone lands on the liftable landing pad, the centering system positions it, the liftable landing pad descends to the designated position, the drone's nest door closes, the mechanical guide arm controls the hydrogen filling pipeline to connect with the high-pressure hydrogen cylinder filling port, the hydrolysis hydrogen production equipment and hydrogen pressurization equipment start to fill the hydrogen, and after filling is completed, the relevant equipment stops operating, and the hydrogen-powered drone remains in a ready-to-fly state.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this invention, a hydrogen-powered drone hangar capable of automatically filling with hydrogen, are:

[0015] Advantage 1: The thruster provides a simple and convenient way to apply hydrogen energy to aircraft. The hydrogen-electric thruster can be directly installed on the corresponding multi-rotor UAVs and eVTOL aircraft, using hydrogen energy to achieve long endurance and environmental protection.

[0016] Advantage 2: The hydrogen electric propulsion system has a higher power-to-weight ratio compared to existing separately assembled fuel cell stacks. It uses a self-developed composite-cooled closed-loop hydrogen fuel cell, which has better power-to-weight ratio, energy conversion rate, and thermal management.

[0017] Advantage 3: The hydrogen-electric propulsion system features an integrated coupling design, resulting in a small size and weight. The reuse of multiple structures throughout the system effectively reduces size and weight, increasing the aircraft's operational range and endurance, and ensuring stable high-power operation of the fuel cell stack.

[0018] Advantage 4: The hydrogen-electric propulsion system is a complete system component with high system matching, resulting in greater stability, reliability, and extended lifespan. The overall design incorporates multiple airflow couplings for composite heat dissipation of the fuel cell, specifically tailored to the operating environment of the fuel cell and the characteristics of the UAV's power system. The highly matched design of each component effectively reduces the heat dissipation burden, making the system more stable, reliable, and extending its lifespan.

[0019] Advantage 5: The close proximity arrangement of the fuel cell and power module results in low energy loss and increased aircraft endurance. With no unnecessary interfaces, adapters, and extremely short cables, energy loss is negligible, maximizing energy utilization.

[0020] Advantage 6: The hydrogen-electric propulsion engine uses a hydrogen fuel cell system as its main energy module, which is pollution-free, low-carbon, and environmentally friendly, with water as its only emission. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a hydrogen-powered drone hangar that can automatically refill with hydrogen. Figure 1 ;

[0023] Figure 2A schematic diagram of a partial structure of a hydrogen-powered drone hangar that can automatically refill with hydrogen. Figure 1 ;

[0024] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a partial structure of a hydrogen-powered drone hangar that can automatically refill with hydrogen. Figure 2 ;

[0025] In the diagram: 1. Hydrogen production equipment via hydrolysis; 2. Water collection tank; 3. Hydrogen pressurization equipment; 4. Hydrogen filling pipeline; 5. System controller; 6. Monitoring system; 7. Mechanical guide arm; 8. UAV composite gas valve; 9. UAV high-pressure hydrogen cylinder; 10. Hydrogen-powered UAV; 11. Centering system; 12. Liftable landing pad; 13. Water collection tank; 14. Water diversion pipeline.

[0026] The monitoring system installation structure is 601; the meteorological monitoring equipment is 602; the image transmission antenna is 603; the data transmission antenna is 604; the gas detection equipment is 605; and the Internet antenna is 606. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1-3 The following is a detailed description of a specific embodiment of the hydrogen-powered drone hangar that can be automatically filled with hydrogen according to the present invention:

[0028] I. Overall Deployment of the Equipment

[0029] The hydrogen-powered drone hangar capable of automatic hydrogen refilling described in this invention is an integrated device, with each component installed and fixed in a preset position to form a complete operating system.

[0030] The liftable landing pad 12 is located in the upper area of ​​the hangar and serves as a landing and carrying platform for the hydrogen-powered drone 10. Its lifting mechanism is connected to the drive components inside the hangar body to ensure that the lifting action is smooth and controllable.

[0031] The centering system 11 is installed in conjunction with the liftable landing pad 12, and through positioning coordination with the hydrogen-powered drone 10, it enables the drone to return to its correct position.

[0032] The hangar opening door is installed at the top opening of the hangar, corresponding to the position of the liftable parking apron 12, and is used to close the hangar during operation and open it when in standby mode.

[0033] Hydrogen production equipment 1 and hydrogen booster equipment 3 are installed in the lower part of the hangar. The two are directly connected by pipelines to ensure that the hydrogen produced can be quickly transported to the booster stage.

[0034] The mechanical guide arm 7 is fixed to the inner side wall of the hangar, and its range of motion covers the preset filling area of ​​the liftable parking apron 12. Its end is fixedly connected to the hydrogen filling pipe 4.

[0035] The components of the hydrogen monitoring system 6 are integrated on the monitoring system installation structure 601 and installed in a location inside the hangar that is easy to monitor. The meteorological monitoring equipment 602 and the gas detection equipment 605 face the working space inside the hangar, while the data transmission antenna 604, the image transmission antenna 603 and the Internet antenna 606 face the signal transmission direction.

[0036] The system controller 5 is installed in a convenient maintenance location inside the hangar. It is connected to the liftable helipad 12, the helipad opening and closing door, the centering system 11, the mechanical guide arm 7, the water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment 1, the hydrogen pressurization equipment 3, and the hydrogen monitoring system 6 via wiring to achieve centralized control.

[0037] The water collection trough 13 is located below the liftable landing pad 12 and is connected to the water collection tank 2 outside or inside the hangar through the water pipe 14, forming a collection channel for condensate and wastewater.

[0038] II. Implementation of Work Procedures

[0039] standby preparation stage

[0040] After system startup, system controller 5 initializes the status of each component. The liftable helipad 12 rises to its highest position, the hangar door remains open, and the mechanical guide arm 7 retracts the hydrogen filling pipe 4 into the side of the hangar interior. The hydrolysis hydrogen production equipment 1 and the hydrogen pressurization equipment 3 are in a shutdown state. The hydrogen monitoring system 6 continues to operate. The meteorological monitoring equipment 602 monitors the ambient temperature and humidity inside the hangar in real time, and the gas detection equipment 605 monitors the hydrogen concentration in the environment. The monitoring data is transmitted to system controller 5 through data transmission antenna 604, image transmission antenna 603, and internet antenna 606 to ensure that the standby environment meets safety requirements.

[0041] Drone recovery and return phase

[0042] After completing its operation, the hydrogen-powered drone 10 establishes communication with the hangar's system controller 5 through its own control system to obtain the hangar's location information and autonomously flies to the lift-and-landing apron 12, landing smoothly on it. At this time, the centering system 11 is activated, cooperating with the positioning marker of the hydrogen-powered drone 10 to guide the drone to the preset filling position, ensuring that the filling port of the drone's high-pressure hydrogen cylinder 9 is precisely aligned with the docking position of the hydrogen filling pipe 4. After centering is completed, the system controller 5 issues a command, and the lift-and-landing apron 12 slowly descends to the designated working position, while the hangar's opening and closing door closes, forming a closed working space.

[0043] Hydrogen filling stage

[0044] After the nest door is fully closed, the system controller 5 controls the mechanical guide arm 7 to start. The mechanical guide arm 7 moves the hydrogen filling pipe 4 to the preset docking position and aligns it with the drone composite gas valve 8 of the hydrogen-powered drone 10. The drone composite gas valve 8 is connected to the high-pressure hydrogen cylinder 9 and is adapted to the docking end of the hydrogen filling pipe 4 to complete the insertion and docking action. After docking, it is fixed by the clamping mechanism of the mechanical guide arm 7 to ensure a sealed connection.

[0045] Subsequently, the system controller 5 starts the water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment 1. The hydrogen produced by the water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment 1 is directly fed into the hydrogen pressurization equipment 3. The hydrogen pressurization equipment 3 pressurizes the hydrogen to the pressure that meets the filling requirements of the high-pressure hydrogen cylinder 9, and then transports it unidirectionally to the high-pressure hydrogen cylinder 9 of the hydrogen-powered drone 10 through the hydrogen filling pipeline 4 to start the hydrogen filling operation.

[0046] During the filling process, the hydrogen monitoring system 6 continuously monitors the hydrogen concentration, humidity, and temperature parameters in the hangar. The monitoring data is fed back to the system controller 5 in real time. If any abnormal parameters occur, the system controller 5 will immediately activate the alarm mechanism and take safety measures such as suspending filling and shutting down related equipment according to the abnormal situation.

[0047] Filling complete and standby phase

[0048] When the high-pressure hydrogen cylinder 9 is filled to the preset capacity, the system controller 5 receives a feedback signal from the pressure sensor and sequentially shuts down the hydrolysis hydrogen production equipment 1 and the hydrogen pressurization equipment 3, stopping hydrogen production and delivery. Subsequently, the mechanical guide arm 7 drives the hydrogen filling pipe 4 to complete the pull-out action and stores it inside the hangar.

[0049] At this time, the hydrogen-powered drone 10 remains in a standby state. The system controller 5 can control the liftable landing pad 12 to rise to the initial position according to the operation requirements, and the hangar door opens to wait for the next flight command. If there is no need to take off immediately, the hangar remains closed, and the hydrogen monitoring system 6 continues to operate to ensure the safety of the drone in standby mode.

[0050] This embodiment strictly follows the technical solution disclosed in this invention. Through the orderly cooperation of various components, it realizes the automatic recovery, precise centering, on-site hydrogen production, and safe and efficient automatic refilling of hydrogen-powered drones without any human intervention. It effectively solves the problems of low refueling efficiency and high safety risks of hydrogen-powered drones in the prior art.

Claims

1. A hydrogen-powered drone hangar capable of automatic hydrogen refilling, characterized in that: The system includes a liftable helipad (12), a nest opening and closing door, a centering system (11), a mechanical guide arm (7), a water electrolysis hydrogen production device (1), a hydrogen pressurization device (3), a hydrogen filling pipeline (4), and a hydrogen monitoring system (6). The liftable helipad (12) is used to carry the hydrogen-powered UAV (10) and its height is adjustable. The centering system (11) works in conjunction with the liftable helipad (12) to position the hydrogen-powered UAV (10) to a preset filling position. The mechanical guide arm (7) is used to control the hydrogen filling. The pipeline (4) is connected to or disconnected from the filling port of the high-pressure hydrogen cylinder (9) of the hydrogen-powered drone (10); the hydrolysis hydrogen production equipment (1) is used to produce hydrogen, and its outlet is connected to the hydrogen pressurization equipment (3); the output end of the hydrogen pressurization equipment (3) is connected to the hydrogen filling pipeline (4) and is used to pressurize the hydrogen and transport it to the hydrogen filling pipeline (4); the hydrogen monitoring system (6) is used to monitor the environmental hydrogen concentration, humidity and temperature parameters during the filling process; the nest opening and closing door is used to realize the closing and opening of the nest.

2. The hydrogen-powered drone hangar capable of automatic hydrogen refilling according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a water collection tank (2), a water collection trough (13) and a water inlet pipe (14), wherein the water collection trough (13) is connected to the water collection tank (2) through the water inlet pipe (14).

3. A hydrogen-powered drone hangar capable of automatic hydrogen refilling according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hydrogen monitoring system (6) includes a meteorological monitoring device (602), a gas detection device (605), a data transmission antenna (604), an image transmission antenna (603), and an internet antenna (606); the meteorological monitoring device (602) is used to monitor ambient temperature and humidity; the gas detection device (605) is used to monitor the hydrogen concentration in the environment; the data transmission antenna (604), the image transmission antenna (603), and the internet antenna (606) are used to realize monitoring data transmission.

4. A hydrogen-powered drone hangar capable of automatic hydrogen refilling according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a system controller (5), which is electrically connected to the liftable helipad (12), the helipad opening and closing door, the centering system (11), the mechanical guide arm (7), the hydrolysis hydrogen production equipment (1), the hydrogen pressurization equipment (3) and the hydrogen monitoring system (6) respectively, and is used to control the coordinated operation of each component.

5. A hydrogen-powered drone hangar capable of automatically filling with hydrogen according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hydrogen-powered drone (10) is equipped with a drone composite gas valve (8), which is connected to a high-pressure hydrogen cylinder (9) and is adapted to the docking end of a hydrogen filling pipeline (4).

6. A hydrogen-powered drone hangar capable of automatic hydrogen refilling according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mechanical guide arm (7) drives the hydrogen filling pipe (4) to complete the alignment, insertion and removal actions. After filling, the hydrogen filling pipe (4) can be stored inside the machine nest.

7. A hydrogen-powered drone hangar capable of automatic hydrogen refilling according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the hydrogen production equipment (1) is started, the hydrogen produced is directly fed into the hydrogen pressurization equipment (3). The pressurized hydrogen is then transported unidirectionally to the high-pressure hydrogen cylinder (9) of the hydrogen-powered drone (10) through the hydrogen filling pipeline (4).

8. A hydrogen-powered drone hangar capable of automatically filling with hydrogen according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the hydrogen-powered drone (10) lands on the liftable landing pad (12), the centering system (11) positions it, the liftable landing pad (12) descends to the designated position, the drone nest door closes, the mechanical guide arm (7) controls the hydrogen filling pipeline (4) to connect with the filling port of the high-pressure hydrogen cylinder (9), the hydrolysis hydrogen production equipment (1) and the hydrogen pressurization equipment (3) start to fill the hydrogen, and after the filling is completed, the relevant equipment stops operating, and the hydrogen-powered drone (10) remains in a ready-to-fly state.

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