Fuel Cell Gas Supply System with Temperature-Adaptive Valve Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas supply systems for fuel cell systems do not effectively utilize hydrogen gas from multiple tanks simultaneously, leading to gas shortages and inefficient use of remaining gas, as they stop supplying gas when internal pressure of a tank decreases below a threshold.
Innovation Solution
A gas supply system that includes multiple tanks, valves, and a valve control unit which determines pressure threshold values based on tank temperatures to manage gas supply and shutoff, ensuring gas is supplied from one tank while the other is warmed to recover pressure, thereby optimizing gas usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the controller stops supply of hydrogen gas when the pressure decreases to a predetermined value or less, then gas shortage is prevented, but hydrogen gas cannot be effectively used as sufficient amount remains in other tanks and in the current tank
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure threshold parameter dynamically based on tank temperature. Instead of using a fixed pressure threshold, the system determines the pressure threshold according to the current tank temperature, allowing the valve to remain open longer when temperature is high (which maintains pressure) and closing earlier when temperature is low. This resolves the contradiction by enabling effective use of remaining hydrogen gas while still preventing gas shortage through adaptive threshold adjustment.
2Device complexity
If the controller uses a fixed pressure threshold value for determining gas supply, then control is simple, but hydrogen gas utilization is inefficient due to temperature variations affecting pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the pressure threshold dynamic by linking it to tank temperature. The valve control unit determines the pressure threshold value based on the current tank temperature, so the threshold adapts to temperature changes. This dynamic approach improves hydrogen gas utilization efficiency while maintaining relatively simple control logic, resolving the contradiction between control simplicity and energy efficiency.
3Duration of action of moving object
If multiple tanks supply hydrogen gas simultaneously to the fuel cell, then gas supply continuity is improved, but hydrogen gas cannot be effectively used due to premature shutoff when individual tank pressure decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter change by using temperature-dependent pressure thresholds for each tank. When switching between multiple tanks, each tank's valve is controlled based on its own temperature-specific pressure threshold. This allows the system to maintain gas supply continuity through multiple tanks while improving hydrogen gas utilization efficiency by preventing premature shutoff caused by not considering temperature effects on pressure.
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
This approach ensures effective use of hydrogen gas by continuing supply from one tank while warming the other to recover pressure, extending the cruising range of fuel cell vehicles by minimizing gas shortages and optimizing tank utilization.
Implementation Method 1
a first tank and a second tank configured to store gas
Implementation Method 2
open the first valve to resume supply of the gas from the first tank to the gas consumption device after the first valve is closed and if the first tank temperature rises to a first predetermined temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A valve control unit of a gas supply system acquires a gas pressure of gas supplied to a gas consumption device and a first tank temperature, determines a first pressure threshold value associated with the first tank temperature, closes a first valve to shut off gas from a first tank to the gas consumption device if the gas pressure is less than the first pressure threshold value, and opens the first valve to resume gas supply from the first tank to the gas consumption device after the first valve is closed and if the first tank temperature rises to a first predetermined temperature.