Fuel Cell Gas Supply Valve Sequencing by Tank Temperature

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gas supply systems in fuel cell systems face durability issues due to rapid pressure increases when shutoff valves are opened, leading to potential supply pipe and component deterioration.

Innovation Solution

A gas supply system that uses temperature measuring units to determine the optimal sequence for opening shutoff valves, prioritizing valves based on internal tank temperatures to minimize pressure impacts and thermal loads, thereby reducing wear and tear on the supply pipe and components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If shutoff valves are opened to start gas supply, then gas supply to destination is enabled, but rapid pressure increase causes impact on supply pipe and components reducing durability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas supply start capabilityVSAvoidsupply pipe durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit determines the opening sequence of shutoff valves in advance based on tank temperatures before opening them. Tanks with lower temperatures (indicating lower internal pressure) are opened first, preparing the system to minimize pressure surge impact before the actual gas supply begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If multiple shutoff valves are opened simultaneously, then gas supply speed is increased, but pressure impact on components is intensified

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas supply speedVSAvoidpressure impact on components

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The gas supply process is segmented into sequential valve opening stages rather than simultaneous opening. The control unit opens shutoff valves one by one according to the predetermined sequence based on tank temperatures, dividing the single rapid pressure surge into multiple smaller, controlled pressure increases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If tanks with high internal pressure are opened first, then gas supply efficiency is improved, but thermal load and pressure impact on supply pipe increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas supply efficiencyVSAvoidthermal load on supply pipe

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of opening tanks with high internal pressure first (conventional approach for efficiency), the control unit inverts the logic by opening tanks with lower temperatures (indicating lower pressure) first. This reverse approach prioritizes component protection while still achieving gas supply objectives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 system effectively reduces the impact of gas pressure on the supply pipe and components, enhancing durability and preventing supply failures by accurately identifying and managing pressure variations across tanks.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of temperature measuring units configured to measure internal temperatures of the plurality of tanks

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature measurement:

Implementation Method 2

there is a likelihood that durability of the supply pipe or the components attached to the supply pipe will decrease remarkably due to repeated impact from rapid gas pressure increase

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure increase: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS11502316B2Gas supply system, fuel cell system including gas supply system, and control method for gas supply system

Publication Date: 2022.11.15 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A gas supply system includes: a plurality of tanks that are filled with a gas; a supply pipe that branches and is connected to the plurality of tanks and supplies the gas to a destination of supply; a plurality of shutoff valves that shut off connections between the plurality of tanks and the supply pipe; a plurality of temperature measuring units that measures an internal temperature of the plurality of tanks; and a control unit that determines the shutoff valve that is to be opened first out of the plurality of shutoff valves by using the internal temperatures of the plurality of tanks, which are measured at a time of start of the supply of the gas, when the control unit switching the plurality of shutoff valves from a closed state to an open state at the time of start of the supply of the gas.