Cryogenic Hydrogen Storage and Supply With External Pressurization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing on-board hydrogen storage systems face challenges in efficiently controlling pressure and maintaining thermodynamic equilibrium, particularly when large capacities are required, and existing solutions like electric heating pins are cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A system with a separate pressurization pipe and vaporization heat exchanger, along with a set of valves and heat exchangers, allows for controlled pressure regulation and thermodynamic equilibrium by vaporizing liquid hydrogen within the tank, using a bypass mechanism and an auxiliary pressurization system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If an electric heating pin is used to evaporate liquid and increase tank pressure, then the pressure control is simple to implement, but the repair difficulty increases and energy consumption from the battery increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heating function from inside the tank (where electric heating pins are located) and moves it to an external heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is positioned outside the tank, allowing easy access for maintenance and repair without requiring tank access. This externalization resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple pressure control implementation while dramatically improving ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary component between the liquid hydrogen supply and the tank pressurization system. Instead of directly heating liquid inside the tank with an electric pin, the system uses the heat exchanger to vaporize liquid hydrogen externally, then reintroduces the vapor into the tank. This intermediary approach maintains effective pressure control while enabling easy maintenance of the heating component.
2Ease of manufacture
If an electric heating pin is used to evaporate liquid and increase tank pressure, then the pressure control is simple to implement, but the energy consumption from the battery increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses self-service by utilizing the vehicle's own waste heat or ambient thermal energy through the heat exchanger to vaporize liquid hydrogen for pressurization. Instead of consuming battery electrical power, the system leverages available thermal resources in the vehicle environment, thereby resolving the contradiction between simple implementation and reduced energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts available thermal energy (which may be waste heat from the vehicle) into a beneficial pressurization mechanism. By using the heat exchanger to capture and utilize thermal energy for vaporizing liquid hydrogen, the system transforms potentially wasted thermal resources into useful pressurization work, eliminating the need for battery-powered heating while maintaining simple pressure control.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a separate pressurization system with vaporization heat exchanger is used, then the energy consumption and maintenance complexity are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a vaporization chamber for pressurization and a potential preheating device for liquid hydrogen supply. This multi-functionality allows the system to reduce energy consumption through a single component rather than requiring separate dedicated systems, thereby resolving the contradiction between reduced energy use and avoided device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the pressurization function with the liquid supply system by using the same heat exchanger for both vaporizing pressurization gas and potentially preheating supply liquid. This consolidation integrates what could be separate complex systems into a unified component, reducing overall device complexity while achieving lower energy consumption through efficient thermal utilization.
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
Enables efficient pressure control and thermodynamic equilibrium, reducing energy consumption and maintenance complexity, while maintaining stable operation under various vehicle conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a vaporization heat exchanger and a set of valve(s) configured to allow the withdrawal of liquid from the tank, its reheating in the vaporization heat exchanger and its reintroduction into the tank
Implementation Method 2
a first reheating heat exchanger located outside the tank and a second reheating heat exchanger located inside the tank
Implementation Method 3
the first withdrawal pipe comprising a first reheating heat exchanger located outside the tank and a second reheating heat exchanger located inside the tank
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A fluid storage and supply device comprising a cryogenic reservoir (2) for storing liquefied fluid, a withdrawing circuit comprising a first withdrawing pipe (3) having a first upstream end (13) connected to the upper part of the reservoir (2) and a second downstream end (23) intended to be connected to a user member, the first withdrawing pipe (3) comprising a first heating heat exchanger (4) situated outside the reservoir (2) and a second heating heat exchanger (5) situated inside the reservoir (2), the withdrawing circuit comprising a set of valve(s) (6) configured to ensure the passage of a flow of fluid circulating from the first (13) end towards the second (23) end by passing through the first heat exchanger (4) and then through the second heat exchanger (5) or by passing solely through the first heat exchanger (4) without passing through the second heat exchanger (5), characterized in that the device (1) further comprises a system for pressurizing the reservoir (2) comprising a pressurizing pipe (8) separate from the withdrawing circuit and comprising two ends respectively connected to the upper and lower parts of the reservoir (2), a vaporizing heat exchanger (9) and a set of valve(s) (10, 11) configured to allow the withdrawal of liquid from the reservoir (2), the heating thereof in the vaporizing heat exchanger (9) and the reintroduction thereof into the reservoir (2).