Solid-state hydrogen storage device and safety control scheme thereof

Abstract

The application relates to the field of solid-state hydrogen storage technology and discloses a solid-state hydrogen storage device and a safety control scheme thereof. The device comprises a sealed box body, a modular hydrogen storage tank, a box body heat exchange module, a fuel cell system, a refrigeration and heat dissipation system, a tank body protection valve module and the like. The device takes gas as a heat exchange medium between the box body and the tank body, realizes rapid and efficient heat exchange through a double-heat-source heat exchange architecture, adopts modular design to adapt to different hydrogen storage demands, realizes leakage monitoring, automatic protection and standardized maintenance through a sealed box body, protective gas, multiple sensors, a pressure relief valve and a tank body protection valve module and the like in combination with a safety control strategy. The application solves the problems of low heat exchange efficiency, customization limitation, high leakage risk and the like of the existing device, has the advantages of rapid and efficient heat exchange, strong adaptability, high safety, low maintenance cost and the like, and is suitable for the field of solid-state hydrogen storage technology.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of solid-state hydrogen storage technology, and in particular to a solid-state hydrogen storage device and its safety control scheme. Background Technology

[0002] Hydrogen energy, as one of the most promising clean energy sources in the 21st century, boasts advantages such as high energy conversion efficiency, pollution-free use, and abundant sources. In hydrogen energy applications, hydrogen storage technology is a crucial link, with alloy materials playing a vital role as the core hydrogen storage medium. They safely and efficiently store hydrogen through chemical or physical mechanisms, which is key to realizing the feasibility of solid-state hydrogen storage technology. Solid-state hydrogen storage devices using alloy materials as storage materials (hereinafter referred to as alloy material solid-state hydrogen storage devices) release heat when absorbing hydrogen; the lower the ambient temperature, the faster the hydrogen filling rate and the larger the hydrogen filling volume. Conversely, they absorb heat when releasing hydrogen; the higher the ambient temperature, the faster the hydrogen release rate and the larger the hydrogen release volume. Therefore, temperature regulation is crucial for improving device performance.

[0003] Existing solid-state hydrogen storage devices made of alloy materials with temperature regulation functions mainly employ two heat exchange methods: one is external water bath heat exchange (e.g., patent publication number CN223090423U), where the hydrogen storage alloy material is placed inside a sealed tube and immersed in water, and the temperature of the hydrogen storage alloy is indirectly regulated by controlling the water temperature. However, due to the high specific heat capacity of water (4.2 kJ / (kg·kg·℃)...) The first method involves adjusting the temperature of the hydrogen storage alloy. Firstly, the water temperature must be changed before the alloy temperature can be adjusted, resulting in slow response and low overall heat exchange efficiency, making it difficult to meet the demands of rapid heat exchange. Secondly, heat exchange pipes can be installed inside the hydrogen storage tank (e.g., patent publications CN223121181U, CN120292408A, CN119508721A, CN222527394U). This method directly introduces heat into the tank, resulting in relatively high heat exchange efficiency. However, the tank requires highly customized design, necessitating redesign when hydrogen storage requirements change, leading to poor flexibility. Furthermore, the hydrogen storage alloy undergoes volume changes during hydrogen absorption and desorption. The internal heat exchange pipes are subjected to cyclic stress from the alloy during hydrogen charging and discharging cycles, making them highly susceptible to leakage, which can lead to device failure and alloy contamination.

[0004] From an assembly perspective, existing solid-state hydrogen storage devices made of alloy materials are mainly divided into integrated and modular types. Integrated devices contain all alloy materials within a single tank, typically using internal heat exchange piping. Modular devices divide the alloy materials into multiple portions and load them into multiple tanks, then connect the outlet pipes of each tank (e.g., patent publication number CN120043033A), generally using external water bath heat exchange. Both assembly methods share a common safety hazard: if a pipeline or tank ruptures and leaks, the alloy materials or hydrogen inside the device can come into contact with outside air or circulating water, potentially causing contamination, combustion, or even a hydrogen explosion. Furthermore, once the alloy powder inside the hydrogen storage device is activated and leaks, the device is either irreparable or extremely dangerous to repair, resulting in significant material waste and safety risks.

[0005] In addition, existing solid-state hydrogen storage technologies (such as patent publication number CN116314977A) mainly focus on backup power for fuel cells under low-temperature conditions. Although they involve heat exchange and safety protection of solid-state hydrogen storage tanks, they have failed to effectively solve the core problems of the existing technologies in terms of heat exchange efficiency optimization, modular design to adapt to different hydrogen storage needs, and precise protection and repair after leakage. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the shortcomings of existing solid-state hydrogen storage devices made of alloy materials in terms of heat exchange efficiency, customizability, and safety, this invention aims to provide a solid-state hydrogen storage device made of alloy materials and its safety control scheme. This device uses gas as the heat exchange medium, combining a fuel cell module and a refrigerator module to achieve rapid and efficient heat exchange. The device adopts a modular design, allowing for adaptation to different hydrogen storage needs by changing the number of tanks without redesigning the tanks themselves. Simultaneously, through multiple safety structures and control strategies, leakage risks and related safety hazards are mitigated, reducing material loss and maintenance difficulty.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A solid hydrogen storage device includes a sealed box, with a rear end cover and a front end cover connected to opposite sides of the box, and a cooling and heat dissipation system, a safety pressure relief valve, a box inlet and outlet gas pipeline, a circulating gas pump, an internal gas sensor and a fuel cell system installed on the outer surface of the box perpendicular to the front end cover. The box is equipped with a tank support frame inside. At least one tank for encapsulating hydrogen storage alloy material passes through the tank support frame and is sealed by pressing the front end cover forward with a tank fixing bracket. Each tank is connected to a tank protection valve module at its end. The protection valve module is connected to a manifold, which is connected to a manifold valve to control the entry and exit of gas in the tank. The front cover connects to the pipeline protection cover, which encloses the manifold and the tank protection valve module; A heat exchange module is installed on one inner surface of the housing. The heat exchange module is connected to the refrigeration and heat dissipation system and the fuel cell system respectively to achieve heat exchange through a liquid heat exchange medium.

[0008] Furthermore, the front end of the tank is provided with an inclined annular groove, and a sealing ring is provided in the groove. The front end cover is provided with an inclined annular plane. The tank fixing bracket is tightened by the tank clamping bolts, so that the sealing ring is tightly fitted with the inclined annular plane to achieve internal sealing of the tank.

[0009] Furthermore, the tank protection valve module consists of two counter-parallel one-way valves and a controllable throttle valve connected in series.

[0010] Furthermore, the outer surface of the tank is provided with heat dissipation fins, and the inner surface of the box is provided with a heat insulation layer; the box heat exchange module includes stacked heat exchange pipelines, and the heat exchange pipelines wrap around the heat dissipation fins; the circulating air pump is used to realize the gas circulation flow inside the box, thereby exchanging heat with the box heat exchange module.

[0011] Furthermore, the gas sensors inside the chamber include a hydrogen sensor and an oxygen sensor, and the chamber is filled with argon gas at a pressure slightly higher than atmospheric pressure as a protective gas. The opening pressure of the safety relief valve is 0.05-0.1 MPa higher than the protective gas pressure. An external hydrogen sensor is installed on the outside of the pipeline protection cover; the enclosure is also equipped with an integrated control system, which is electrically connected to the refrigeration and heat dissipation system, the safety pressure relief valve, the circulating air pump, the internal gas sensor, the fuel cell system, the external hydrogen sensor, the enclosure heat exchange module, and the manifold valve.

[0012] This invention also protects a heat exchange system comprising the device, wherein the heat exchange process includes hydrogen release heat exchange and hydrogen absorption heat exchange: during hydrogen release, the heat of the fuel cell system is exchanged with the gas delivered by the circulating gas pump through the heat exchange module of the housing, providing energy for the hydrogen storage alloy in the tank to release hydrogen, and excess heat is dissipated through the fuel cell system; during hydrogen absorption, the cooling and heat dissipation system cools the gas delivered by the circulating gas pump through the heat exchange module of the housing, absorbs the heat of hydrogen absorption by the hydrogen storage alloy in the tank, thereby reducing the temperature of the tank.

[0013] Furthermore, during hydrogen release, if the internal temperature of the chamber reaches a preset temperature, the circulating gas pump is reduced or shut down; during hydrogen intake, the temperature is monitored by the temperature sensor inside the chamber, and the cooling power of the cooling and heat dissipation system is adjusted accordingly.

[0014] This invention also protects a safety control scheme based on the device, including leak monitoring, automatic protection, and maintenance. Specifically, leaks are monitored by the gas sensor inside the tank and the hydrogen sensor outside the tank, and the concentration of gas inside and outside the tank is monitored. When the tank leaks, the integrated control system closes the manifold valve on the manifold pipeline. For normal tanks that are not leaking, the tank protection valve module ensures that external gas will not enter. When the pressure is higher than a preset threshold, the safety relief valve is activated to release gas. During maintenance, only the leaking parts are replaced or repaired, without the need to scrap the entire device.

[0015] Furthermore, the automatic protection includes at least one of the following A to C: When hydrogen leaks into the tank inside the enclosure, the hydrogen sensor inside the enclosure detects that the hydrogen concentration exceeds the alarm threshold and immediately sends an alarm signal to the integrated control system. Upon receiving the alarm signal, the integrated control system immediately controls the manifold valve on the manifold pipeline to close and simultaneously sends an alarm message to the maintenance and management personnel. If the hydrogen leak continues to increase, causing the internal pressure of the enclosure to rise to the opening pressure of the safety relief valve, the safety relief valve will automatically activate, discharging the gas inside the enclosure to a safe area to prevent excessive pressure from causing danger. When hydrogen leaks in the manifold, the external hydrogen sensor detects that the hydrogen concentration exceeds the alarm threshold and sends an alarm signal to the integrated control system. Upon receiving the alarm signal, the integrated control system immediately closes the manifold valve and sends an alarm message to the maintenance and management personnel. C. When the outer casing of the device is damaged or the seal at the connection of the components fails, causing outside air to enter the chamber, the oxygen sensor inside the chamber detects that the oxygen concentration exceeds the alarm threshold and sends an alarm signal to the integrated control system. After receiving the alarm signal, the integrated control system immediately controls the manifold valve to close and sends alarm information to the maintenance and management personnel.

[0016] Furthermore, the maintenance procedures include at least one of the following three situations: hydrogen leak repair in the tank, hydrogen leak repair in the manifold, and oxygen entering the tank. The repair of hydrogen leaks in the tank includes: S11: After receiving the alarm, the maintenance personnel will arrive at the scene and first close all controllable throttle valves and manifold valves of the tank protection valve module to ensure that the normal tank no longer discharges gas; S12: Connect a vacuum pump through the inlet and outlet pipes of the chamber to pump the gas inside the chamber to the specified vacuum level. After stopping the pumping, let it stand and observe. If the pressure no longer rises, it means that the hydrogen has been completely extracted. S13: Remove the rear or front cover of the box, remove all tanks, and use airtightness testing equipment to check for leaks in each tank to find the leaking tank. S14: Replace the leaking tank and reinstall the normal tank inside the enclosure for sealing assembly; S15: Inject protective gas into the chamber through the inlet and outlet gas pipes, close the valves of the inlet and outlet gas pipes, perform an airtightness test on the chamber, and put the device back into use after ensuring there is no leakage. The repair of hydrogen leaks in the manifold includes: S21: After receiving the alarm, the maintenance and management personnel shall close all controllable throttle valves and manifold valves of the tank protection valve module; S22: Remove the pipe protective cover and locate the leak point in the manifold. If the pipe is damaged, replace the damaged section of the pipe. If the joint is leaking, reseal the joint. S23: After the maintenance is completed, the manifold will be tested for air tightness to ensure there are no leaks; S24: Reassemble the pipeline protective cover, fill the inside of the box with protective gas through the inlet and outlet gas pipelines of the box, and put the device into use after confirming that there is no leakage. The oxygen inlet chamber maintenance includes: S31: After receiving the alarm, the maintenance and management personnel shall close all controllable throttle valves and manifold valves of the tank protection valve module; S32: Inspect the sealing condition of the device housing and component connections, locate the failure points of the seals, replace the damaged seals or repair the damaged housing; S33: After the repair is completed, the airtightness of the enclosure is tested; S34: Inject protective gas into the housing through the inlet and outlet gas pipes. After confirming that there are no leaks, put the device into use.

[0017] Beneficial effects: First, this invention uses gas as the heat exchange medium, combining a fuel cell system, a refrigeration and heat dissipation system, and a heat exchange module in the housing to construct a dual-heat-source heat exchange architecture. The specific heat capacity of gas is much lower than that of water, resulting in a faster temperature regulation response. Simultaneously, the heat exchange pipes within the housing heat exchange module can be wrapped with heat sinks, and a circulating air pump enables forced gas circulation within the housing, significantly improving heat exchange efficiency. Compared to existing water bath heat exchange methods, this effectively solves the problems of slow temperature regulation response and low heat exchange efficiency. Compared to internal heat exchange pipe methods, it avoids the risk of leakage caused by cyclic stress generated by the alloy materials within the device, and also eliminates the need for highly customized tanks, resulting in greater adaptability.

[0018] Secondly, the present invention adopts a modular hydrogen storage tank combination design. When the hydrogen storage requirements need to be changed, only the number of hydrogen storage tanks inside the device needs to be adjusted. There is no need to redesign the hydrogen storage tank body, which simplifies the design and assembly process of the new device, reduces production costs, and solves the defects of existing internal heat exchange pipeline devices that require high customization and have poor flexibility.

[0019] Furthermore, this invention designs a tank protection valve module, which consists of two counter-parallel one-way valves and a controllable throttle valve connected in series. When a component of the device leaks, it can automatically isolate the outside air from the inside of the unleashed hydrogen storage tank, effectively protecting the alloy materials inside the unleashed tank from contamination. This avoids the problem that existing devices would render all alloy materials unusable once a leak occurs, thus reducing material loss.

[0020] Furthermore, this invention, through a multi-layered structure including a sealed enclosure, internally sealed argon gas, a safety relief valve, a hydrogen sensor, an oxygen sensor, and a pipeline protective cover, combined with the safety control strategy of an integrated control system, achieves comprehensive monitoring and rapid response to various leakage scenarios, such as tank leaks, pipeline leaks, and oxygen entering the enclosure. After a leak occurs, the system can automatically stop operation, release excessively high-pressure gas to prevent further damage, and issue an alarm to maintenance personnel. During maintenance, only the leaking component needs to be replaced or repaired; the entire system does not need to be scrapped, reducing maintenance difficulty and cost, and solving the problem of difficult or irreparable repair after a leak in existing devices.

[0021] Finally, this invention makes reasonable use of the heat generated during the operation of the fuel cell in the hydrogen release process of the hydrogen storage device, realizing energy recovery and reuse. At the same time, the cooling and heat dissipation system efficiently cools down the hydrogen during the hydrogen absorption process, further improving the hydrogen charging and discharging performance of the device. Compared with the prior art, it has significantly improved energy utilization efficiency and overall device performance. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, the accompanying drawings will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings described below only relate to some embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall external structure of the hydrogen storage device of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the overall internal structure of the hydrogen storage device of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the sealing structure of the hydrogen storage device of the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of heat exchange during hydrogen release from the hydrogen storage device of the present invention. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of heat exchange during hydrogen absorption by the hydrogen storage device of the present invention. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the tank protection valve module of the present invention; Figure 7 is a flowchart of the safety control scheme for the hydrogen storage device system of the present invention.

[0024] In the diagram: 1 - Housing; 2 - Rear end cover; 3 - Front end cover; 301 - Inclined annular plane; 4 - Pipeline protection cover; 5 - Refrigeration and heat dissipation system; 6 - Safety pressure relief valve; 7 - Housing inlet and outlet gas pipelines; 8 - Circulating air pump; 9 - Internal gas sensor; 10 - Fuel cell system; 1001 - Fuel cell radiator; 11 - External hydrogen sensor; 12 - Tank; 1201 - Inclined annular groove; 1202 - Sealing ring; 13 - Tank support frame; 14 - Tank fixing bracket; 1401 - Tank clamping bolt; 15 - Housing heat exchange module; 16 - Manifold valve; 17 - Manifold pipeline; 18 - Tank protection valve module; 1801 - Check valve; 1802 - Controllable throttle valve. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail. While preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below, it should be understood that the invention can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Where specific techniques or conditions are not specified in the embodiments, they shall be performed in accordance with the techniques or conditions described in the literature in the art or in accordance with the product manual.

[0026] Example 1: Device Structure Design This embodiment provides a specific structural design for a solid hydrogen storage device, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.

[0027] The external structure of the device includes a housing 1, a rear end cover 2, a front end cover 3, a pipe protection cover 4, a cooling and heat dissipation system 5, a circulating air pump 8, and a fuel cell system 10. The housing 1 is made of stainless steel, providing good sealing and pressure resistance. All inner surfaces of the housing 1 are equipped with a 20mm thick polyurethane insulation layer to reduce the heat transfer from the external environment. The rear end cover 2 and the front end cover 3 are bolted to the front and rear sides of the housing 1, respectively. The front end cover 3 has an inclined annular plane 301. The cooling and heat dissipation system 5, the circulating air pump 8, and the fuel cell system 10 are bolted to the upper part of the housing 1. The fuel cell system 10 is equipped with a fuel cell radiator 1001 (see reference). Figure 4The pipeline protection cover 4 is bolted to the front of the front cover 3, enclosing the manifold 17 and the tank protection valve module 18, thus protecting the pipeline and valve. The upper surface of the housing 1 is equipped with a safety relief valve 6, housing inlet / outlet gas pipelines 7, and an internal gas sensor 9. The opening pressure of the safety relief valve 6 is set slightly higher than the pressure of the protective gas inside the housing. The internal gas sensor 9 includes a hydrogen sensor and an oxygen sensor, used to monitor the hydrogen and oxygen concentrations inside the housing, respectively. The pipeline protection cover 4 is equipped with an external hydrogen sensor 11, used to monitor for leaks in the manifold 17. The housing inlet / outlet gas pipeline 7 is equipped with a housing inlet / outlet valve, serving as the inlet and outlet for argon gas inside the housing.

[0028] The internal structure of the device includes a tank 12, a tank support frame 13, a tank fixing bracket 14, a heat exchange module 15, a manifold valve 16, a manifold pipeline 17, and a tank protection valve module 18. The tank support frame 13 is welded to the inside of the housing 1. The tank 12 passes through the tank support frame 13. The tank 12 is made of aluminum alloy, with aluminum alloy heat sinks in the middle of its outer surface. The heat sinks are 3mm thick and spaced 10mm apart to increase the heat exchange area. An inclined annular groove 1201 is provided at the front end of the tank 12, and a fluororubber sealing ring 1202 is installed inside the groove. The tank fixing bracket 14 is bolted to the tank support frame 13. The tank clamping bolts 1401 on the tank fixing bracket 14 push the tank 12 forward, ensuring a tight fit between the sealing ring 1202 and the inclined annular plane 301 of the front cover 3, thus achieving a seal inside the housing 1. Each tank 12 has a tank protection valve module 18 installed at its front end via a threaded connection.

[0029] refer to Figure 6 The tank protection valve module 18 consists of two anti-parallel one-way valves 1801 and a controllable throttle valve 1802 connected in series. The conduction pressure of the one-way valve 1801 is set to 0.1 MPa. Each tank protection valve module 18 is connected to the manifold 17 via a flange. The manifold 17 is equipped with a manifold valve 16, which is electrically connected to the integrated control system. The manifold valve 16 is the hydrogen inlet and outlet for all tanks 12.

[0030] The heat exchange module 15 is installed at the top inside the housing 1. Its internal structure consists of two layers, each with a bent stainless steel heat exchange pipe connected to the refrigeration system 5 and the fuel cell system 10 via pipes. The heat exchange pipes are wrapped with copper heat sinks to increase the heat exchange rate. The inlet of the circulating air pump 8 is connected to the bottom of the housing 1, and its outlet is connected to the inlet of the heat exchange module 15. This allows it to extract gas from the bottom of the housing 1 and deliver it to the heat exchange module 15, where it is then diffused back into the housing 1, achieving forced circulation of gas within the housing.

[0031] In this embodiment, the modular design of the hydrogen storage tank assembly allows for easy adjustment of hydrogen storage requirements by simply increasing or decreasing the number of tanks 12 without redesigning the tanks 12 themselves, thus ensuring strong adaptability. The sealing structure between the tank 12 and the front cover 3, through the cooperation of the inclined annular groove 1201, the sealing ring 1202 and the inclined annular plane 301, combined with the tightening action of the tank clamping bolts 1401, ensures the sealing performance inside the housing 1, effectively preventing the leakage of protective gas and the entry of external gas.

[0032] The solid-state hydrogen storage device of this embodiment integrates a cooling and heat dissipation system 5, a fuel cell system 10, and a housing heat exchange module 15. The housing heat exchange module 15 integrates the internal cooling and heating cycles of the device, achieving rapid and efficient heat exchange. Simultaneously, the heat generated by the fuel cell system 10 increases the hydrogen release rate and quantity, while the cooling and heat dissipation system 5 increases the hydrogen charging rate and quantity. Furthermore, the modular design of this device simplifies the redesign process by allowing for adjustments to the number of tanks the device can accommodate, eliminating the need to redesign the tanks for different hydrogen storage requirements.

[0033] Example 2: Heat exchange system and control method Based on the device structure of Embodiment 1, this embodiment provides a heat exchange system and control method including the device. The heat exchange process includes hydrogen release heat exchange and hydrogen absorption heat exchange, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, respectively.

[0034] The core of the heat exchange system is to use gas as the heat exchange medium between the inside of the housing and the tank, combined with the fuel cell system 10, the refrigeration and heat dissipation system 5, and the housing heat exchange module 15 to achieve efficient heat transfer. The specific control method is as follows: S1: System initialization. Argon gas at a pressure slightly higher than atmospheric pressure (e.g., 0.12 MPa) is introduced into the housing 1 through the housing inlet / outlet gas pipe 7 as a protective gas. The manifold valve 16 is closed, the controllable throttle valve 1802 is in the open state, and the circulating gas pump 8, the refrigeration and heat dissipation system 5, and the fuel cell system 10 are in standby state. S2: Hydrogen release heat exchange process: S21: When hydrogen needs to be released, the integrated control system issues a command to open the manifold valve 16, and the hydrogen storage alloy in the tank 12 begins to release hydrogen. At the same time, the fuel cell system 10 starts working. S22: The heat Q1 released by the fuel cell system 10 during operation is introduced into the upper heat exchange pipeline of the heat exchange module 15 of the housing through the circulation pipeline of the liquid heat exchange medium (i.e. the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange pipeline). S23: The integrated control system starts the circulating air pump 8. The circulating air pump 8 extracts the gas from the bottom of the box 1 and delivers it to the box heat exchange module 15. After the gas exchanges heat with the upper heat exchange pipeline and absorbs heat Q3, it diffuses back into the box 1 to provide the required heat for the hydrogen storage alloy to release hydrogen, thereby increasing the amount and speed of hydrogen release. S24: The internal temperature of the chamber 1 is monitored in real time by the internal temperature sensor. When the temperature reaches the preset temperature (e.g., 40°C), the integrated control system controls the circulating air pump 8 to reduce its speed or shut down. The excess heat Q2 of the fuel cell system 10 is dissipated to the outside through the fuel cell radiator 1001. S25: After hydrogen release is completed, the integrated control system closes the manifold valve 16, shuts down the circulating gas pump 8 and the fuel cell system 10.

[0035] S3: Hydrogen absorption heat exchange process: S31: When hydrogen needs to be added, the integrated control system issues a command to open the manifold valve 16, and hydrogen enters the tank 12 through the manifold pipe 17. The hydrogen storage alloy begins to absorb hydrogen and release heat. S32: The integrated control system starts the cooling and heat dissipation system 5 and the circulating air pump 8. When the cooling and heat dissipation system 5 is working, it discharges heat Q6 and introduces the low temperature medium into the lower heat exchange pipeline of the heat exchange module 15 of the box through the liquid heat exchange medium circulation pipeline. S33: The circulating air pump 8 extracts the gas from the bottom of the box 1 and delivers it to the heat exchange module 15 of the box. The gas exchanges heat with the lower heat exchange pipeline and releases heat Q4. Then it diffuses back into the box 1, reducing the temperature inside the box 1 and the temperature of the tank 12. It absorbs the heat Q5 released during the hydrogen absorption process of the hydrogen storage alloy, thereby increasing the hydrogen charging speed and the amount of hydrogen stored. S34: The internal temperature of the cabinet 1 is monitored in real time by the internal temperature sensor. When the temperature drops to the preset temperature (e.g., 10℃), the integrated control system controls the cooling and heat dissipation system 5 to adjust the cooling power to maintain the internal temperature of the cabinet 1. S35: After hydrogen charging is completed, the integrated control system closes the manifold valve 16, shuts down the circulating gas pump 8 and the cooling system 5.

[0036] In this embodiment, gas is used as the heat exchange medium between the inside of the box and the tank. Combined with forced circulation and a high-efficiency heat exchange structure, the heat exchange efficiency and response speed can be improved by more than 30% compared with the existing water bath heat exchange method. The heat exchange process is precisely controlled by an integrated control system to ensure that the hydrogen storage alloy absorbs and releases hydrogen in the optimal temperature environment. The hydrogen charging speed and hydrogen release speed are significantly improved compared with the existing technology. At the same time, the heat generated by the fuel cell system 10 is rationally utilized, thereby improving the energy utilization efficiency.

[0037] Example 3: Design of Tank Protection Valve Module Based on Example 1, this embodiment details the structural design and working principle of the tank protection valve module 18, as shown in Figure 6.

[0038] The tank protection valve module 18 consists of two anti-parallel one-way valves 1801 and a controllable throttle valve 1802 connected in series. The one-way valve 1801 is a spring-loaded one-way valve with a conduction air pressure of 0.1MPa, and the controllable throttle valve 1802 is a manual throttle valve.

[0039] The specific working principle is as follows: Normal operating conditions: During hydrogen filling, the hydrogen pressure in manifold 17 is higher than the internal pressure of tank 12, and the pressure difference is greater than the opening pressure of check valve 1801. Hydrogen enters tank 12 through check valve 1801. During hydrogen discharge, the hydrogen pressure inside tank 12 is higher than the pressure in manifold 17, and the pressure difference is greater than the opening pressure of check valve 1801. Hydrogen is discharged to manifold 17 through check valve 1801, thus achieving a normal hydrogen filling and discharging process.

[0040] Leakage Protection Status: When a leak occurs in a tank 12, the gas pressure inside that tank 12 gradually decreases, causing the gas pressure in the manifold 17 to decrease accordingly. Simultaneously, the gas sensor 9 inside the tank detects the leaking hydrogen and triggers the integrated control system to close the manifold valve 16. At this time, the internal pressure of other normal tanks 12 is higher than the pressure in the manifold 17. Gas is exhausted through the one-way valve 1801 of the tank protection valve module 18 into the manifold 17. As the exhaust process proceeds, the pressure difference between the normal tanks 12 and the manifold 17 gradually decreases. When the pressure difference is less than the conduction pressure of the one-way valve 1801 (0.1 MPa), the one-way valve 1801 closes, and the normal tanks 12 no longer exchange gas with the outside, thus preventing outside air from entering the normal tanks 12 and protecting the internal alloy materials from contamination.

[0041] When a leak occurs in manifold 17, the gas pressure inside manifold 17 decreases. The external hydrogen sensor 11 detects the leaking hydrogen and triggers the integrated control system to close manifold valve 16. At this time, the internal pressure of the normal tank 12 is higher than the pressure inside manifold 17. Gas is discharged into manifold 17 through check valve 1801 until the pressure difference is less than the conduction pressure of check valve 1801. Check valve 1801 then closes, thus protecting the normal tank 12.

[0042] In this embodiment, the tank protection valve module 18 has an ingenious structural design. It achieves bidirectional flow and automatic shut-off functions through the reverse parallel one-way valve 1801. When a leak occurs, it can quickly isolate the normal tank from the outside world, effectively protecting the alloy material and solving the problem of easy contamination of the alloy material after leakage in existing devices. At the same time, the setting of the controllable throttle valve 1802 makes it easy to achieve independent closure of each tank 12 when a leak occurs, which facilitates the disassembly and maintenance of the tank in the next step.

[0043] Example 4: Security Control Scheme This embodiment, based on the device structure of Embodiments 1 and 3, provides a complete safety control scheme, including leakage monitoring, automatic protection, and maintenance procedures, as shown in Figure 7.

[0044] The core of the safety control scheme is to ensure the safety of hydrogen storage devices during use through multiple monitoring, automatic response, and standardized maintenance, as detailed below: 1. Leakage monitoring: The internal gas sensors 9 (including hydrogen and oxygen sensors) monitor the hydrogen and oxygen concentrations inside chamber 1 in real time, with alarm thresholds set at 1000 ppm for hydrogen and 5000 ppm for oxygen. The external hydrogen sensor 11 monitors the hydrogen concentration inside the pipeline protective cover 4 in real time, with an alarm threshold set at 1000 ppm. The safety relief valve 6 monitors the internal pressure of chamber 1 in real time, with an opening pressure set at 0.2 MPa. Data from all sensors is transmitted to the integrated control system in real time, which performs real-time analysis and judgment.

[0045] 2. Automatic protection: S1: When hydrogen leaks into tank 12 inside the enclosure, the hydrogen sensor inside the enclosure detects that the hydrogen concentration exceeds the alarm threshold and immediately sends an alarm signal to the integrated control system. After receiving the alarm signal, the integrated control system immediately controls the manifold valve 16 to close and simultaneously sends an alarm message to the maintenance personnel. If the amount of hydrogen leaked is large, causing the internal pressure of the enclosure 1 to rise to the opening pressure of the safety relief valve 6, the safety relief valve 6 will automatically start to discharge the gas inside the enclosure 1 to a safe area to prevent excessive pressure from causing danger.

[0046] S2: When hydrogen leaks in manifold 17, the external hydrogen sensor 11 detects that the hydrogen concentration exceeds the alarm threshold and sends an alarm signal to the integrated control system. After receiving the alarm signal, the integrated control system immediately controls the manifold valve 16 to close and sends alarm information to the maintenance and management personnel.

[0047] S3: When the outer casing of the device is damaged or the seal at the connection of the components fails, causing outside air to enter the chamber 1, the oxygen sensor inside the chamber detects that the oxygen concentration exceeds the alarm threshold and sends an alarm signal to the integrated control system. After receiving the alarm signal, the integrated control system immediately controls the manifold valve 16 to close and sends alarm information to the maintenance management personnel.

[0048] 3. The maintenance and handling process includes at least one of the following three situations: hydrogen leak repair in the tank, hydrogen leak repair in the manifold, and oxygen entering the tank. Details are as follows: S1: Repair of hydrogen leak in tank: S11: After receiving the alarm, the maintenance personnel will arrive at the scene and first close the controllable throttle valves 1802 and manifold valves 16 of all tank protection valve modules 18 to ensure that the normal tank 12 no longer discharges gas. S12: Connect the vacuum pump through the inlet and outlet gas pipes 7 of the chamber to pump the gas inside the chamber 1 to the specified vacuum level (≤0.01MPa). After stopping the pumping, let it stand for 30 minutes. If the pressure no longer rises, it means that the hydrogen has been completely extracted. S13: Remove the rear end cover 2 and front end cover 3 of the box 1, remove all tanks 12, and use an airtightness testing device to check for leaks in each tank 12 to find the leaking tank. S14: Replace the leaking tank and reinstall the normal tank 12 inside the box 1, and seal and assemble it according to the sealing method of Example 1; S15: Fill the chamber 1 with argon gas at a pressure slightly higher than atmospheric pressure (0.12MPa) as a protective gas through the chamber inlet / outlet gas pipe 7, close the valve of the chamber inlet / outlet gas pipe 7, perform an airtightness test on the chamber 1, and put the device back into use after ensuring there is no leakage.

[0049] S2: Hydrogen leak repair in manifold: S21: After receiving the alarm, the maintenance personnel shall close all controllable throttle valves 1802 and manifold valves 16 of the tank protection valve module 18; S22: Remove the pipe protection cover 4 and locate the leak point in the manifold 17. If the pipe is damaged, replace the damaged section of the pipe. If the joint is leaking, reseal the joint. S23: After maintenance, perform an airtightness test on manifold 17 to ensure there are no leaks; S24: Reassemble the pipeline protection cover 4, and fill the inside of the housing 1 with protective gas through the housing inlet and outlet gas pipeline 7. After confirming that there is no leakage in the device, put it into use.

[0050] S3: Oxygen entering the chamber requires maintenance. S31: After receiving the alarm, the maintenance personnel shall close all controllable throttle valves 1802 and manifold valves 16 of the tank protection valve module 18; S32: Inspect the sealing condition of the device housing and component connections, locate the failure points of the seals, replace the damaged seals or repair the damaged housing; S33: After the repair is completed, perform an airtightness test on enclosure 1; S34: Inject protective gas into the housing 1 through the inlet / outlet gas pipe 7. After confirming that there is no leakage in the device, put it into use.

[0051] The safety control scheme in this embodiment includes safety response plans for three different leakage scenarios. These plans enable the device to automatically shut down after a leak occurs, release excessively high-pressure gas to prevent further damage, protect the alloy materials inside unleashed tanks, and alert maintenance personnel. After maintenance personnel repair the device according to the safety response plan, it can be put back into service, effectively avoiding device scrapping and significant material waste.

[0052] The above solution achieves comprehensive coverage of various leakage scenarios through multiple monitoring methods. The automatic protection measures can respond quickly after a leak occurs to prevent the danger from spreading. The maintenance and handling process is standardized and reasonable. Only the leaking parts need to be replaced or repaired, without scrapping the entire set of equipment and alloy materials. This significantly reduces maintenance costs and material losses, and improves the safety and reliability of the equipment.

[0053] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific details in the above embodiments. Within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solution of the present invention, and these simple modifications all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0054] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. To avoid unnecessary repetition, the present invention will not describe the various possible combinations separately.

[0055] Furthermore, various different embodiments of the present invention can be combined in any way, as long as they do not violate the spirit of the present invention, they should also be regarded as the content disclosed by the present invention.

Claims

1. A solid state hydrogen storage device, characterized by, The enclosure includes a sealed box (1), with a rear end cover (2) and a front end cover (3) connected to opposite sides of the box (1). A cooling and heat dissipation system (5), a safety pressure relief valve (6), a box inlet and outlet air pipe (7), a circulating air pump (8), an internal gas sensor (9), and a fuel cell system (10) are installed on the outer surface of the box (1) perpendicular to the front end cover (3). The box (1) is provided with a tank support frame (13) inside. At least one tank (12) for encapsulating hydrogen storage alloy material passes through the tank support frame (13) and is sealed by pressing the front end cover (3) forward through the tank fixing bracket (14). Each tank (12) is connected to a tank protection valve module (18) at its end. The protection valve module (18) is connected to a manifold (17). The manifold (17) is connected to a manifold valve (16) to control the entry and exit of gas in the tank (12). The front cover (3) is connected to the pipeline protection cover (4), and the pipeline protection cover (4) covers the manifold (17) and the tank protection valve module (18). A heat exchange module (15) is installed on one inner surface of the box (1). The heat exchange module (15) is connected to the cooling and heat dissipation system (5) and the fuel cell system (10) respectively to achieve heat exchange through liquid heat exchange medium.

2. The solid state hydrogen storage device of claim 1, wherein, The tank body (12) has an inclined annular groove (1201) at the front end, and a sealing ring (1202) is provided in the groove. The front end cover (3) has an inclined annular plane (301) corresponding to it. The tank body fixing bracket (14) tightens the tank body (12) by the tank body clamping bolt (1401) so that the sealing ring (1202) fits tightly with the inclined annular plane (301) to achieve internal sealing of the box body (1).

3. The solid state hydrogen storage device of claim 1, wherein, The tank protection valve module (18) consists of two parallel one-way valves (1801) and a controllable throttle valve (1802) connected in series.

4. The solid-state hydrogen storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer surface of the tank (12) is provided with heat dissipation fins, and the inner surface of the box (1) is provided with heat insulation layer; the box heat exchange module (15) includes heat exchange pipelines stacked together, and the heat exchange pipelines wrap around the heat dissipation fins; the circulating air pump (8) is used to realize the gas circulation flow inside the box (1), and then exchange heat with the box heat exchange module (15).

5. The solid-state hydrogen storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gas sensor (9) inside the box includes a hydrogen sensor and an oxygen sensor. The box (1) is filled with argon gas at a pressure slightly higher than atmospheric pressure as a protective gas. The opening pressure of the safety relief valve (6) is 0.05-0.1 MPa higher than the protective gas pressure. The outer side of the pipeline protection cover (4) is provided with an external hydrogen sensor (11); the box body (1) is also equipped with an integrated control system, which is electrically connected to the refrigeration and heat dissipation system (5), the safety pressure relief valve (6), the circulating air pump (8), the internal gas sensor (9), the fuel cell system (10), the external hydrogen sensor (11), the box body heat exchange module (15), and the manifold valve (16).

6. A heat exchange system comprising the apparatus of any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The heat exchange process includes hydrogen release heat exchange and hydrogen absorption heat exchange: When releasing hydrogen, the heat of the fuel cell system (10) is exchanged with the gas delivered by the circulating gas pump (8) through the heat exchange module (15) of the housing, which provides energy for the hydrogen storage alloy in the tank (12) to release hydrogen, and the excess heat is dissipated through the fuel cell system (10); When absorbing hydrogen, the cooling and heat dissipation system (5) cools the gas delivered by the circulating gas pump (8) through the heat exchange module (15) of the housing, absorbs the heat of hydrogen absorption of the hydrogen storage alloy in the tank (12), thereby reducing the temperature of the tank (12).

7. The heat exchange system according to claim 6, characterized in that, When releasing hydrogen, if the internal temperature of the box (1) reaches the preset temperature, the circulating gas pump (8) is reduced or shut down; when absorbing hydrogen, the temperature is monitored by the temperature sensor inside the box (1), and the cooling power of the cooling and heat dissipation system (5) is adjusted.

8. A safety control scheme based on the device according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, It includes leak monitoring, automatic protection and maintenance. Specifically, the leak is monitored by the gas sensor (9) inside the box and the hydrogen sensor (11) outside the box, and the internal and external gas concentrations of the box (1) are monitored. When the tank (12) leaks, the integrated control system closes the manifold valve (16) on the manifold (17), and the normal tank (12) without leakage is automatically isolated from the outside through the tank protection valve module (18). When the pressure is higher than the preset threshold, the safety relief valve (6) starts to vent. During maintenance, only the leaking parts are replaced or repaired, and the entire set of equipment does not need to be scrapped.

9. The security control scheme according to claim 8, characterized in that, The automatic protection includes at least one of the following A to C: When hydrogen leaks into the tank (12) inside the box (1), the hydrogen sensor inside the box detects that the hydrogen concentration exceeds the alarm threshold and immediately sends an alarm signal to the integrated control system. After receiving the alarm signal, the integrated control system immediately controls the manifold valve 16 on the manifold (17) to close and sends an alarm message to the maintenance personnel. If the hydrogen leak continues to increase, causing the internal pressure of the box (1) to rise to the opening pressure of the safety relief valve (6), the safety relief valve (6) will automatically start and discharge the gas inside the box (1) to a safe area to diffuse, preventing the danger caused by excessive pressure. When hydrogen leaks in the manifold (17), the external hydrogen sensor (11) detects that the hydrogen concentration exceeds the alarm threshold and sends an alarm signal to the integrated control system. After receiving the alarm signal, the integrated control system immediately controls the manifold valve (16) to close and sends an alarm message to the maintenance management personnel. When the outer casing of the device is damaged or the seal at the connection of the components fails, causing outside air to enter the box (1), the oxygen sensor inside the box detects that the oxygen concentration exceeds the alarm threshold and sends an alarm signal to the integrated control system. After receiving the alarm signal, the integrated control system immediately controls the manifold valve (16) to close and sends alarm information to the maintenance management personnel.

10. The security control scheme according to claim 8, characterized in that, The repair procedures include at least one of the following three scenarios: hydrogen leak repair in the tank, hydrogen leak repair in the manifold, and oxygen entering the tank. The repair of hydrogen leaks in the tank includes: S11: After receiving the alarm, the maintenance personnel shall arrive at the scene and first close the controllable throttle valve (1802) and the manifold valve (16) of all tank protection valve modules (18) to ensure that the normal tank 12 no longer discharges gas; S12: Connect the vacuum pump through the gas inlet and outlet pipe (7) of the box to pump the gas inside the box (1) to the specified vacuum level. After stopping the pumping, observe the room. If the pressure no longer rises, it means that the hydrogen has been completely extracted. S13: Remove the rear end cover (2) or front end cover (3) of the box (1), remove all tanks (12), and use an airtightness testing device to check for leaks in each tank (12) to find the leaking tank; S14: Replace the leaking tank and reinstall the normal tank (12) inside the box (1) for sealing assembly; S15: Inject protective gas into the box (1) through the box inlet and outlet gas pipe (7), close the valve of the box inlet and outlet gas pipe (7), perform an airtightness test on the box (1), and put the device back into use after ensuring there is no leakage; The repair of hydrogen leaks in the manifold includes: S21: After receiving the alarm, the maintenance personnel shall close the controllable throttle valve (1802) and the manifold valve (16) of all tank protection valve modules (18); S22: Remove the pipe protection cover (4), find the leak point of the manifold (17), if the pipe is damaged, replace the damaged section of the pipe, if the joint is leaking, reseal the joint. S23: After the maintenance is completed, the manifold (17) shall be tested for air tightness to ensure that there is no leakage; S24: Reassemble the pipeline protection cover (4), fill the inside of the box (1) with protective gas through the inlet and outlet gas pipeline (7), and put the device into use after confirming that there is no leakage; The oxygen inlet chamber maintenance includes: S31: After receiving the alarm, the maintenance personnel shall close the controllable throttle valve (1802) and the manifold valve (16) of all tank protection valve modules (18). S32: Inspect the sealing condition of the device housing and component connections, locate the failure points of the seals, replace the damaged seals or repair the damaged housing; S33: After the repair is completed, the airtightness of the enclosure (1) is tested; S34: Fill the box (1) with protective gas through the inlet and outlet gas pipe (7). After confirming that there is no leakage, put it into use.

Images