Angled Hydrogen Tank Nozzle for Thermal Stratification Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogen tanks in fuel cell vehicles experience thermal stratification during filling, leading to decreased filling efficiency, increased filling time, and potential overheating, necessitating the use of temperature sensors and higher costs.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen tank design featuring a nozzle with an inclined portion and injection member that disperses hydrogen gas at a predetermined angle, creating a loop within the tank to uniformly distribute temperature and prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a straight nozzle is used to fill the hydrogen tank, then the filling process is simple, but thermal stratification occurs causing decreased filling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is designed with an inclined portion that forms an asymmetric structure, causing the hydrogen gas to be injected at an inclined angle rather than straight ahead. This asymmetric injection pattern creates a loop flow that prevents thermal stratification and improves filling efficiency while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The injection direction is changed from a one-dimensional straight path to a two-dimensional inclined trajectory. The inclined portion redirects the gas flow to move both axially and radially, creating a loop circulation pattern that enhances mixing and prevents temperature stratification throughout the tank volume
2Device complexity
If a straight nozzle is used, then the device structure is simple, but the upper portion of the tank overheats requiring temporary stopping of filling
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined portion creates asymmetric flow distribution that directs cooler gas toward the upper portion of the tank. This asymmetric injection pattern ensures uniform temperature distribution and prevents overheating in the upper region, eliminating the need for temporary filling stops
Solution Approach 2:
The loop flow pattern created by the inclined nozzle ensures continuous circulation of hydrogen gas throughout the tank during the entire filling process. This continuous circulation prevents temperature buildup and allows filling to proceed without interruption, maintaining continuous useful action
3Stability of the object's composition
If thermal stratification occurs, then hydrogen gas separates and does not mix, but this requires temperature sensors and increases costs
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined nozzle creates a loop flow pattern that moves gas in both axial and radial directions, enhancing three-dimensional mixing. This multi-dimensional circulation ensures uniform temperature and composition distribution throughout the tank, eliminating thermal stratification and the need for temperature sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous loop circulation created by the inclined injection maintains constant mixing of hydrogen gas throughout the filling process. This continuous useful action prevents gas separation and ensures uniform composition, making temperature monitoring unnecessary
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design suppresses thermal stratification, prevents overheating, reduces the need for temperature sensors, and enhances filling efficiency, allowing the tank to operate at maximum capacity.
Implementation Method 1
spray hydrogen gas at a predetermined angle with respect to the axial direction of the tank body... creating a loop within the tank to uniformly distribute temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrogen tank includes a tank body, a boss connected to at least one end of the tank body and having a skirt extending radially with respect to an axial direction of the tank body, and a nozzle installed inside the tank body via the boss and configured to spray hydrogen gas at a predetermined angle with respect to the axial direction of the tank body. The nozzle includes a connector coupled to the boss, an extension portion extending from the connector parallel to the axial direction of the tank body, an inclined portion connected to an end portion of the extension portion and inclined with respect to the axial direction of the tank body, and an injection member provided at an end portion of the inclined portion.