Fuel Tank Blocking Valve Layout for Lower High-Pressure Opening Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-pressure gas tank shut-off valves in fuel cell systems require powerful coils due to high opening forces, making miniaturization difficult and complicating the design.
Innovation Solution
A blocking device with spatially separate main and servo valves, where the main valve needle is moved by a first coil and the servo valve needle by a second coil, facilitating a space-optimized arrangement and reducing the opening force required to open the valve by pressure equalization between the control and high-pressure connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a single powerful solenoid valve is used to handle high-pressure fuel, then the valve can be opened against high pressure, but the coil becomes large and miniaturization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The single high-pressure valve is segmented into two separate valves: a main valve for high-pressure fuel and a servo valve for control pressure. This segmentation allows each valve to be optimized independently, with the main valve handling high-pressure fuel and the servo valve managing control pressure, thereby reducing the size requirements for each individual valve while maintaining the ability to open against high pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
A servo valve is introduced as an intermediary component that controls the pressure in the control chamber of the main valve. Instead of directly opening the main valve against full high-pressure fuel force, the servo valve mediates by equalizing control pressure with fuel pressure, thereby reducing the net opening force required from the main valve coil and enabling miniaturization.
2Device complexity
If a single valve design is used, then the structure is simple, but the opening force required is high
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is segmented into a main valve and a servo valve, each with distinct functions. The main valve handles high-pressure fuel flow while the servo valve controls the pressure differential across the main valve. This functional segmentation reduces the opening force requirement for the main valve by using the servo valve to manage pressure balance, thereby solving the contradiction between structural simplicity and reduced opening force.
Solution Approach 2:
The servo valve acts as an intermediary that controls the pressure in the control chamber of the main valve. By equalizing control pressure with fuel pressure through the servo valve, the net force required to open the main valve is significantly reduced, even though this adds a second valve to the system. The servo valve mediates the pressure forces to reduce the opening force burden on the main valve.
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 configuration allows for a more compact design with reduced magnetic force needed to open the main valve, enabling miniaturization and efficient operation of the fuel cell system.
Implementation Method 1
a first valve seat and a second valve seat, and a valve stem that can be moved through an electrical coil
Implementation Method 2
A closing force is thereby applied to the first sealing element as a result of the pressure that is applied to the inlet. The valve stem further comprises a through-hole connecting a secondary chamber located on a low-pressure side of the second sealing element to the inlet. An opening force is thereby applied to the second sealing element, that acts in the opposite direction to the closing force acting on the first sealing body.
Implementation Method 3
a valve needle is biased against a sealing seat by a spring
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a blocking device comprising a first connection for connecting to a high-pressure tank; a second connection for connecting to a supply line; a main valve chamber which comprises a first opening connected to the first connection in a fluidically conducting manner, a second opening connected to the second connection in a fluidically conducting manner, and a first control opening; a main valve, said main valve being designed as a switchable solenoid valve and comprising a main valve needle that is arranged in the main valve chamber and can be moved between a closed position, in which the main valve needle rests against a main valve seat surrounding the second opening, and an open position, in which the main valve needle is lifted from the main valve seat, wherein the main valve needle divides the main valve chamber into an outlet chamber, into which the first and second opening lead, and a control chamber, into which the first control opening leads and which is connected to the outlet chamber in a fluidically conducting manner; a servo valve chamber which is spatially separate from the main valve chamber and which comprises a second control opening connected to the first control opening in a fluidically conducting manner and a servo opening connected to the second connection in a fluidically conducting manner; and a servo valve, said servo valve being designed as a switchable solenoid valve and comprising a servo valve needle that is arranged in the servo valve chamber and can be moved between a closed position, in which the servo valve needle rests against a servo valve seat surrounding the servo opening, and an open position, in which the servo valve needle is lifted from the servo valve seat.