Fuel Cell Tank Housing for Fire-Triggered Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell tank storage systems for hydrogen in vehicles are complex and costly due to the need for multiple valves for safety and temperature pressure relief, which can lead to unnecessary hydrogen release and increased risk of explosion, especially when a fire occurs away from the safety valve's position.
Innovation Solution
A tank device with a frame-shaped housing element containing temperature-sensitive materials and meltable mediums, such as wax, ensures reliable and rapid opening of safety valves by generating a pressure drop upon heat input, allowing hydrogen release before tank failure, and includes pressure sensors to activate heating elements for efficient safety valve operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple standardized safety valves and overflow valves are installed on each tank module, then the safety and temperature pressure relief capability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple safety functions into a single integrated safety valve assembly. The housing contains both the safety valve and overflow valve in one unit, eliminating the need for separate standardized valves on each tank module. This merging reduces the total number of valves while maintaining comprehensive safety and pressure relief capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated safety valve assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a safety valve for pressure relief and an overflow valve for temperature management. The single assembly can handle both safety-critical pressure releases and routine temperature-based overflow, making the system more versatile and reducing component count.
2Reliability
If safety valves are positioned at specific locations on tank modules, then the valve triggering reliability is improved for local fires, but the system fails to respond to fires occurring away from the valve position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fire-responsive material as an intermediary between the heat source and the safety valve mechanism. This material is distributed throughout the housing and acts as a mediator that transmits thermal energy from any location to the valve actuation mechanism, ensuring reliable triggering regardless of fire position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical direct-heat sensing system with a thermal chemistry-based system. Instead of relying on mechanical thermal expansion at a specific point, the system uses fire-responsive material that undergoes chemical or physical changes when exposed to heat anywhere in the housing, which then triggers the valve mechanism.
3Ease of manufacture
If standardized safety valves are used on each tank module, then the manufacturing standardization is improved, but the cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the safety valve system into a standardized housing assembly that can be manufactured as a single integrated unit. This segmentation allows the complex multi-function valve system to be produced as one standardized component rather than assembling multiple separate standardized valves, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining manufacturing standardization benefits.
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 design simplifies the safety valve mechanism, ensuring reliable hydrogen release in emergencies while preventing tank bursting, reducing the risk of explosion and maintaining system integrity by triggering safety valves independently of heat source location and minimizing false openings.
Implementation Method 1
The housing element comprises a temperature-sensitive material, in particular plastic, wherein the temperature-sensitive material has a melting temperature below the melting temperature of the material of the tank container
Implementation Method 2
The safety valve comprises a meltable medium, such as wax, so that it is, in particular, a meltable safety valve
Implementation Method 3
the respective safety valve has a pressure sensor which, when the pressure in the interior changes, activates a heating element that heats the fusible medium of the safety valve
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a tank device (1) for temperature pressure relief in a fuel cell tank, the tank device (1) comprising at least two tank containers (2) and a supply line (4) which can be connected to the tank containers (2), each of the at least two tank containers (2) having at least one shutoff valve (8) at one end (20), said shutoff valve (8) being arranged between the respective tank container (2) and the supply line (4). According to the invention, at least one safety valve (10) is arranged at another end (21) of the tank container (2), wherein at least the at least two tank containers (2) and the respective safety valve (10) are at least almost completely enclosed by a housing element (24) and/or are encapsulated, in particular in a pressure-tight manner, from an environment (190). A positive pressure (181), in particular in relation to the environment (190) and/or to an ambient pressure (191), prevails in the housing element (24), in particular the inner space (180), wherein the housing element (24) contains a temperature-sensitive material (25), in particular plastic, wherein the meltable medium of the safety valve (10) melts when the pressure, in particular the positive pressure (181), prevailing in the inner space (180) falls, and thus opens the safety valve (10).