External protection device of IV-type hydrogen storage cylinder

Abstract

The utility model discloses an external protection device of an IV-type hydrogen storage cylinder, which comprises at least two protection parts and a connecting assembly, and the at least two protection parts are sleeved on the outer side of the hydrogen storage cylinder so as to wrap the hydrogen storage cylinder. The protection piece comprises an inner armor layer, a shear thickening layer and an outer armor layer which are sequentially arranged from inside to outside. Every two adjacent protective parts are connected through a connecting assembly. The outer surface of the hydrogen storage cylinder is completely covered, so that the cylinder body and the shoulder part of the IV-type hydrogen storage cylinder are protected, and the overall structure of the gas cylinder is effectively protected; the shear thickening layer is arranged between the outer armor layer and the inner armor layer, flexible absorption of low-speed impact and resistance to high-speed impact are achieved by means of different characteristics of various different materials, and the safety and reliability of the protection device are greatly improved. The device is suitable for the technical field of hydrogen energy storage and transportation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of hydrogen energy storage and transportation, specifically to an external protective device for a Type IV hydrogen storage cylinder. Background Technology

[0002] Type IV hydrogen storage cylinders play a crucial role in modern hydrogen energy applications as an advanced high-pressure hydrogen storage solution. With the rapid development of hydrogen fuel cells and electric vehicles, the performance of hydrogen storage cylinders, as a key storage and transportation medium, directly affects the efficiency and safety of hydrogen energy systems.

[0003] Type IV hydrogen storage cylinders have a high hydrogen storage density, making their safety paramount. This involves aspects such as explosion-proof capabilities, rapid and safe hydrogen release, and leak detection and monitoring systems. Therefore, the importance of cylinder protection devices cannot be overlooked. The challenges of high pressure and hydrogen permeability for Type IV hydrogen storage cylinders necessitate that their protection devices possess extremely high impact resistance to ensure the cylinder's safety and reliability in various environments. The design of the protection device must not only consider preventing external impacts and abrasion but also ensure that the pressure and temperature of the cylinder are controlled within safe ranges during filling and use. Therefore, the technical solutions for Type IV hydrogen storage cylinders and their protection devices must comprehensively consider materials science, structural design, and safety requirements to meet the growing demand for hydrogen energy applications.

[0004] Current gas cylinder protective devices mainly suffer from the following problems: they only protect the shoulder or cylinder body; and their structure and performance are limited, making them unable to effectively resist high-speed impacts. Utility Model Content

[0005] This invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this invention provides an external protective device for a Type IV hydrogen storage cylinder, which can provide all-around protection for the hydrogen storage cylinder and has extremely high impact resistance.

[0006] An external protective device for a type IV hydrogen storage cylinder according to a first aspect of the present invention includes:

[0007] The protective component is provided in at least two parts, and the at least two protective components are fitted onto the outside of the hydrogen storage cylinder to enclose the hydrogen storage cylinder. The protective component includes an inner armor layer, a shear thickening layer and an outer armor layer arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside.

[0008] A connecting component is used to connect two adjacent protective components.

[0009] An external protective device for a type IV hydrogen storage cylinder according to an embodiment of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0010] This invention uses at least two protective components fitted onto the outside of the hydrogen storage cylinder to completely cover its outer surface, thus protecting the cylinder body and shoulder of the Type IV hydrogen storage cylinder and effectively protecting the overall structure of the cylinder. By setting a shear thickening layer between the outer and inner armor layers and utilizing the different properties of various materials, it achieves flexible absorption of low-speed impacts and resistance to high-speed impacts, greatly improving the safety and reliability of the protective device.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the connecting component includes a plurality of buckles, which are evenly spaced along the edges of two adjacent protective members that are in contact with each other, and the buckles are respectively connected to two adjacent protective members.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the edges of two adjacent protective components that come into contact with each other are provided with a plurality of slots corresponding to the plurality of buckles, and the buckles engage with the slots.

[0013] According to some embodiments of this utility model, two protective components are provided, and the two protective components are symmetrically arranged along the axis of the hydrogen storage cylinder.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, at least one end of the protective member is provided with a slot, and the slots on the two protective members form a through hole corresponding to the mouth of the hydrogen storage cylinder.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the external protective device further includes a monitoring module, which includes a hydrogen concentration monitoring component, a temperature monitoring component, and a stress monitoring component. The hydrogen concentration monitoring component is used to monitor hydrogen leakage in the hydrogen storage cylinder, the temperature monitoring component is used to monitor the temperature of the hydrogen storage cylinder, and the stress monitoring component is used to monitor the stress on the hydrogen storage cylinder.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the hydrogen concentration monitoring component includes a hydrogen concentration monitoring fiber optic sensor, the temperature monitoring component includes a temperature sensing fiber optic matrix, and the stress monitoring component includes a stress sensing fiber optic matrix. The hydrogen concentration monitoring fiber optic sensor, the temperature sensing fiber optic matrix, and the stress sensing fiber optic matrix are disposed on the inner side of the inner armor layer.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the external protection device further includes an optical fiber demodulator, which is connected to the hydrogen concentration monitoring optical fiber sensor, the temperature sensing optical fiber matrix, and the stress sensing optical fiber matrix, respectively.

[0018] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the protective component further includes a buffer foam layer disposed on the inner side of the inner armor layer, the hydrogen concentration monitoring fiber optic sensor disposed between the buffer foam layer and the inner armor layer, and the temperature sensing fiber optic matrix and the stress sensing fiber optic matrix disposed on the side of the buffer foam layer near the hydrogen storage cylinder.

[0019] According to some embodiments of this utility model, the cushioning foam layer is made of foamed material.

[0020] Other features and advantages of this invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent in part from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, wherein:

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the external protective device for the Type IV hydrogen storage cylinder provided by this utility model;

[0023] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the external protective device for the Type IV hydrogen storage cylinder provided by this utility model;

[0024] Icon labels:

[0025] Protective component 100; Inner armor layer 110; Shear thickening layer 120; Outer armor layer 130; Buffer foam layer 140; Through hole 150;

[0026] Connecting component 200; Snap fastener 210;

[0027] Monitoring module 300; hydrogen concentration monitoring fiber optic sensor 310; temperature sensing fiber optic matrix 320; stress sensing fiber optic matrix 330; fiber optic demodulator 340;

[0028] Hydrogen storage cylinder 400. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model.

[0030] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the orientation descriptions, such as up, down, etc., are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0031] In the description of this utility model, "multiple" refers to two or more. The use of "first" and "second" is for distinguishing technical features only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of technical features or their sequential relationship.

[0032] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "setting," "installation," and "connection" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0033] The technical solution of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described below are some embodiments of this utility model, not all embodiments.

[0034] Type IV hydrogen storage cylinders play a crucial role in modern hydrogen energy applications as an advanced high-pressure hydrogen storage solution. With the rapid development of hydrogen fuel cells and electric vehicles, the performance of hydrogen storage cylinders, as a key storage and transportation medium, directly affects the efficiency and safety of hydrogen energy systems.

[0035] Type IV hydrogen storage cylinders have a high hydrogen storage density, making their safety paramount. This involves aspects such as explosion-proof capabilities, rapid and safe hydrogen release, and leak detection and monitoring systems. Therefore, the importance of cylinder protection devices cannot be overlooked. The challenges of high pressure and hydrogen permeability for Type IV hydrogen storage cylinders necessitate that their protection devices possess extremely high impact resistance to ensure the cylinder's safety and reliability in various environments. The design of the protection device must not only consider preventing external impacts and abrasion but also ensure that the pressure and temperature of the cylinder are controlled within safe ranges during filling and use. Therefore, the technical solutions for Type IV hydrogen storage cylinders and their protection devices must comprehensively consider materials science, structural design, and safety requirements to meet the growing demand for hydrogen energy applications.

[0036] Current gas cylinder protective devices mainly suffer from the following problems: they only protect the shoulder or cylinder body; and their structure and performance are limited, making them unable to effectively resist high-speed impacts.

[0037] To address the aforementioned problems, this utility model proposes an external protective device for a Type IV hydrogen storage cylinder, providing comprehensive protection for the cylinder and enhancing its impact resistance.

[0038] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The following are embodiments of the external protective device for a Type IV hydrogen storage cylinder of this utility model:

[0039] Reference Figure 1 As shown, an external protective device for a type IV hydrogen storage cylinder according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a protective component 100 and a connecting assembly 200.

[0040] The protective component 100 includes at least two components, which fit around the outside of the hydrogen storage cylinder 400 to completely enclose it. (Refer to...) Figure 2 As shown, the protective component 100 includes an inner armor layer 110, a shear thickening layer 120 and an outer armor layer 130 arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside. Adjacent protective components 100 are connected by a connecting component 200, thereby achieving comprehensive protection for the hydrogen storage cylinder 400 and effectively protecting the overall structure of the cylinder.

[0041] In order to connect the various protective components 100, the connecting assembly 200 of this embodiment includes a plurality of buckles 210. The plurality of buckles 210 are evenly spaced along the contact edges between two adjacent protective components 100. The buckles 210 are connected to two adjacent protective components 100 respectively. The contact edges between two adjacent protective components 100 are respectively provided with a plurality of slots corresponding to the plurality of buckles 210. The buckles 210 engage with the slots, thereby enabling the protective component 100 to cover the hydrogen storage cylinder 400 and be fixed to the outside of the hydrogen storage cylinder 400.

[0042] In this embodiment, two protective components 100 are provided, and the two protective components 100 are symmetrically arranged along the axis of the hydrogen storage cylinder 400. The buckles 210 are evenly spaced along the contact edges between the two protective components 100. In other embodiments, the number of protective components 100 can be set according to actual needs, and the protective components 100 can be in other forms, such as: the two protective components 100 are symmetrically arranged along the vertical plane of the axis, etc.

[0043] To retain the functionality of the hydrogen storage cylinder 400 opening, a slot is provided on one end of the protective component 100. The slots on the two protective components 100 form a through hole 150. The position and size of the through hole 150 correspond to the opening of the hydrogen storage cylinder 400. In some embodiments, the hydrogen storage cylinder 400 has two openings, in which case both ends of the protective component 100 are provided with slots.

[0044] Specifically, the inner armor layer 110 has a thin-layer structure and is made of a material with high hydrogen barrier properties. The inner armor layer 110 can be made of one or more materials such as ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), nylon (PA), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), ceramics and 316L stainless steel, which protect the hydrogen storage cylinder 400 and help prevent hydrogen leakage or seepage.

[0045] The shear thickening layer 120 is made of shear thickening material. Under normal conditions, shear thickening material is very soft. Once it encounters high-speed impact or compression, the material becomes hard to absorb the external force. When the external force disappears, the material will return to a soft state. Shear thickening material has a strong ability to absorb impact. Through shear thickening properties, it can resist high-energy impacts and collisions, and further protect the hydrogen storage cylinder 400.

[0046] Among them, the shear thickening material is a particle suspension composed of a dispersed phase and a dispersion medium. The dispersed phase can be one or a mixture of several nanoparticles such as inorganic oxides (such as silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide), calcium carbonate, polystyrene (PS) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The dispersion medium can be ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, decahydronaphthalene solution and ionic liquids, etc.

[0047] In other embodiments, the shear thickening layer 120 may be a material composition composed of shear thickening material impregnated, sprayed, sandwiched, filled, blended and encapsulated with other materials.

[0048] The outer armor layer 130 can be made of textile materials made of single or multiple fibers such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polypropylene terephthalate (PTT), polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and aramid. The outer armor layer 130 protects against minor bumps, scratches and low-energy impacts.

[0049] To enable real-time monitoring of the Type IV hydrogen storage cylinder 400, this embodiment also includes a monitoring module 300. The monitoring module 300 includes a hydrogen concentration monitoring component, a temperature monitoring component, and a stress monitoring component. The hydrogen concentration monitoring component is used to monitor the hydrogen concentration outside the hydrogen storage cylinder 400 in real time, thereby monitoring for hydrogen leakage or seepage. The temperature monitoring component is used to monitor the temperature of the hydrogen storage cylinder 400 in real time, especially the temperature change of the cylinder during hydrogen filling and discharging. The stress monitoring component monitors the stress it is subjected to in real time, especially the stress on the cylinder when subjected to impact, thereby ensuring that the temperature and stress are controlled within a safe range during the filling, transportation, and use of the hydrogen storage cylinder 400, ensuring the safety and reliability of the hydrogen storage cylinder 400.

[0050] The hydrogen concentration monitoring component in this embodiment includes a hydrogen concentration monitoring fiber optic sensor 310, the temperature monitoring component includes a temperature sensing fiber optic matrix 320, and the stress monitoring component includes a stress sensing fiber optic matrix 330. The hydrogen concentration monitoring fiber optic sensor 310, the temperature sensing fiber optic matrix 320, and the stress sensing fiber optic matrix 330 are disposed on the inner side of the inner armor layer 110. The sensing fiber has advantages such as high sensitivity, small size, light weight, strong shape adaptability, and strong resistance to electromagnetic interference. In some other embodiments, the hydrogen concentration monitoring component, the temperature monitoring component, and the stress monitoring component may adopt other types of sensors, such as piezoelectric sensors.

[0051] The sensing information obtained from the sensing fiber needs to be demodulated to restore the external parameter information. Therefore, the external protection device is also equipped with a fiber demodulator 340. The fiber demodulator 340 is connected to the hydrogen concentration monitoring fiber sensor 310, the temperature sensing fiber matrix 320 and the stress sensing fiber matrix 330 respectively. The fiber demodulator 340 reads and transforms the return values ​​of different center wavelengths of the fiber grating, and the obtained real-time monitoring signal is transmitted to the external controller or display through fiber optic or other data transmission methods. In this embodiment, the fiber demodulator 340 is located on the opposite side of the slot.

[0052] Because the sensing optical fiber is easily damaged or even broken under impact, the hydrogen concentration monitoring optical fiber sensor 310, the temperature sensing optical fiber matrix 320, and the stress sensing optical fiber matrix 330 need to be buffered, protected, and flexibly fixed. Therefore, a buffer foam layer 140 is provided between the inner armor layer 110 and the hydrogen storage cylinder 400. The hydrogen concentration monitoring optical fiber sensor 310 is located between the buffer foam layer 140 and the inner armor layer 110, and the temperature sensing optical fiber matrix 320 and the stress sensing optical fiber matrix 330 are located on the side of the buffer foam layer 140 closer to the hydrogen storage cylinder 400.

[0053] The cushioning foam layer 140 is made of foaming materials with strong shock absorption capabilities, such as polyethylene (PE) foam, polyurethane (PU) foam, polypropylene (PP) foam, polyester foam, rubber foam, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam, and silicone foam.

[0054] The external protective device provided in this embodiment connects two protective components 100 via a snap-fit ​​210. The two protective components 100 cover the outside of the hydrogen storage cylinder 400, achieving all-round protection for the hydrogen storage cylinder 400. The shear thickening layer 120 absorbs low-speed impacts from the outside and resists high-speed impacts, improving the safety and reliability of the hydrogen storage cylinder 400. The inner armor layer 110 has good barrier properties for hydrogen. In conjunction with the hydrogen concentration detection fiber optic sensor located inside the inner armor layer 110, it enables real-time monitoring of hydrogen leakage in the hydrogen storage cylinder 400. The temperature sensing fiber optic matrix 320 and the stress sensing fiber optic matrix 330 are used to monitor the temperature and pressure of the hydrogen storage cylinder 400 in real time during filling and use, respectively, greatly improving the safety performance of the Type IV hydrogen storage cylinder 400. At the same time, since the sensing fibers are set on the protective device rather than integrated into the hydrogen storage cylinder 400, the manufacturing cost of the hydrogen storage cylinder 400 is reduced.

[0055] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0056] The embodiments of the present utility model have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. Within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An external protective device for a Type IV hydrogen storage cylinder, characterized in that, include: The protective component is provided in at least two parts, and the at least two protective components are fitted onto the outside of the hydrogen storage cylinder to enclose the hydrogen storage cylinder. The protective component includes an inner armor layer, a shear thickening layer and an outer armor layer arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside. A connecting component is used to connect two adjacent protective components.

2. The external protective device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting assembly includes multiple buckles, which are evenly spaced along the edges of two adjacent protective components that are in contact with each other, and the buckles are respectively connected to two adjacent protective components.

3. The external protective device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The edges of two adjacent protective components that come into contact with each other are provided with multiple slots corresponding to the multiple buckles, and the buckles engage with the slots.

4. The external protective device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two protective components are provided, and the two protective components are symmetrically arranged along the axis of the hydrogen storage cylinder.

5. The external protective device according to claim 4, characterized in that: At least one end of the protective component is provided with a slot, and the slots on the two protective components form a through hole corresponding to the opening of the hydrogen storage cylinder.

6. The external protective device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The external protection device also includes a monitoring module, which includes a hydrogen concentration monitoring component, a temperature monitoring component, and a stress monitoring component. The hydrogen concentration monitoring component is used to monitor hydrogen leakage in the hydrogen storage cylinder, the temperature monitoring component is used to monitor the temperature of the hydrogen storage cylinder, and the stress monitoring component is used to monitor the stress on the hydrogen storage cylinder.

7. The external protective device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The hydrogen concentration monitoring component includes a hydrogen concentration monitoring fiber optic sensor, the temperature monitoring component includes a temperature sensing fiber optic matrix, and the stress monitoring component includes a stress sensing fiber optic matrix. The hydrogen concentration monitoring fiber optic sensor, the temperature sensing fiber optic matrix, and the stress sensing fiber optic matrix are disposed on the inner side of the inner armor layer.

8. The external protective device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The external protection device also includes an optical fiber demodulator, which is connected to the hydrogen concentration monitoring optical fiber sensor, the temperature sensing optical fiber matrix, and the stress sensing optical fiber matrix, respectively.

9. The external protective device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The protective component also includes a cushioning foam layer, which is disposed inside the inner armor layer. The hydrogen concentration monitoring fiber optic sensor is disposed between the cushioning foam layer and the inner armor layer. The temperature sensing fiber optic matrix and the stress sensing fiber optic matrix are disposed on the side of the cushioning foam layer near the hydrogen storage cylinder.

10. The external protective device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The cushioning foam layer is made of foam material.

Images