Fuel Efficiency Measuring System for Fuel Cell Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel efficiency measuring systems for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are complex and costly due to numerous parts, making assembly difficult and expensive, and struggle with separating the quick coupler under high residual hydrogen pressure.
Innovation Solution
The system simplifies hydrogen supply lines by removing the purging hydrogen tank and high-cost break-away coupler, using a vehicle-side hydrogen tank to remove residual air and incorporating a pressure relief valve, residual air discharging unit, and hydrogen purging safety unit to reduce manufacturing costs and enhance workability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional fuel efficiency measuring system with multiple valves, purging hydrogen tank, and break-away coupler is used, then hydrogen supply line can be controlled and purged, but the system becomes complex and expensive with difficult assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the purging hydrogen tank from the system by utilizing the vehicle-side hydrogen tank for purging operations instead. This extraction of the dedicated purging tank simplifies the system structure while maintaining the ability to remove residual air from hydrogen supply lines.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle-side hydrogen tank is given multiple functions: it serves both as the primary hydrogen storage for the fuel cell and as the purging source for removing residual air from the hydrogen supply line. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate purging tank.
2Reliability
If a break-away coupler is used to prevent hydrogen leakage, then safety is improved, but the coupler cannot be separated under high residual hydrogen pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pressure relief valve that opens before the coupler separation process, preliminarily reducing the hydrogen pressure in the supply line. This preliminary pressure relief action enables the coupler to be separated safely without requiring break-away mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If multiple valves and components are installed in hydrogen supply lines, then hydrogen flow control is improved, but manufacturing cost and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the purging function with the vehicle-side hydrogen tank system, merging what were previously separate functions (primary hydrogen storage and purging) into a single integrated system. This reduces the total number of components and simplifies assembly.
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 reduces manufacturing costs, simplifies the system, and allows for easier separation of the quick coupler by lowering hydrogen pressure, resulting in a more compact and cost-effective fuel efficiency measurement system.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure relief valve, configured to reduce pressure of hydrogen supplied to the fuel cell vehicle
Implementation Method 2
an electronic scale configured to measure the weight of the fuel efficiency measuring hydrogen tank
Implementation Method 3
a fuel cell stack configured to produce electricity through an electrochemical reaction using hydrogen and oxygen
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an improved fuel efficiency measuring system for a fuel cell vehicle which simplifies various valves and hydrogen lines and modulizes its individual elements. More specifically, the present invention provides an improved fuel efficiency measuring system for a fuel cell vehicle that eliminates a purging hydrogen tank previously used for removing residual air in a hydrogen supply line and instead removes residual air in a hydrogen supply line by using a vehicle side hydrogen tank. Additionally, the present invention simplifies couplers installed in a hydrogen supply line, and considerably reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating a high-cost break-away coupler adapted to couple a fuel efficiency measuring unit and the vehicle side.