Fuel Cell Hydrogen Tank Valve Failure Detection via Pressure Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell vehicle systems cannot accurately determine if tank valves are normally open, leading to potential hydrogen supply failures and reduced driving range, as they rely solely on electrical signals without verifying physical opening.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses a pressure sensor in the hydrogen supply line to determine tank valve opening by measuring pressure changes, allowing for individual tank valve control and identification of poor openings, and adjusts vehicle operations accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If tank valve opening is determined only by electrical signal without physical verification, then the system complexity is reduced, but the reliability of hydrogen supply determination deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the pressure sensor continuously monitors hydrogen supply pressure and feeds this information back to the controller. The controller compares the actual pressure with expected pressure values to determine whether tank valves are properly open, creating a closed-loop verification system that resolves the contradiction between simplicity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical feedback mechanisms (such as direct mechanical linkages or switches) with a pressure-based sensing system. The pressure sensor electronically detects valve opening status through pressure changes, substituting mechanical verification with a simpler electronic sensing approach that maintains reliability without increasing mechanical complexity.
2Reliability
If pressure sensing is added to verify tank valve opening, then the reliability of valve status detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor serves multiple functions: it monitors hydrogen supply pressure for normal operation, detects tank valve opening status, and provides data for determining driving range adjustments. By making the pressure sensing system multi-functional, the patent avoids adding dedicated verification hardware, thus improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing pressure sensor in the hydrogen supply line is utilized for dual purposes: its primary function of pressure monitoring and its secondary function of valve status verification. The system uses the pressure information already being collected for operational control to also determine valve opening status, allowing the system to verify valve status using existing infrastructure rather than adding separate verification components.
3Speed
If all tank valves are controlled to open simultaneously, then the hydrogen supply speed is improved, but the ability to identify specific failed valves deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the valve control process into individual controllable units, where each tank valve can be opened separately through sequential control. This segmentation allows the system to identify which specific valve failed to open by monitoring pressure changes after each individual valve actuation, thereby maintaining precise failure identification while still enabling full hydrogen supply when all valves function properly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary sequential actuation of tank valves before full hydrogen supply operation. By opening valves one by one and monitoring pressure responses, the system pre-identifies functional valves and isolates failures. This preliminary segmentation action enables subsequent simultaneous operation of confirmed-working valves to achieve high supply speed without sacrificing diagnostic capability.
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
Accurately identifies tank valve failures without additional hardware feedback, enabling correction of driving range and vehicle operations by determining pressure changes, ensuring reliable hydrogen supply and optimal vehicle performance.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor provided in the hydrogen supply line for sensing pressure in the hydrogen supply line
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a system for determining a hydrogen supply failure of a fuel cell, the system including: a fuel cell, a plurality of hydrogen tanks having hydrogen, a hydrogen supply line connected to the hydrogen tanks and supplying hydrogen from the hydrogen tanks to the fuel cell, a plurality of tank valves mounted on the hydrogen tanks, respectively, and discharging hydrogen in the hydrogen tanks to the hydrogen supply line when opening, a pressure sensor sensing pressure in the hydrogen supply line, and a determiner determining poor opening of the hydrogen tanks on the basis of pressure information sensed by the pressure sensor.