High Pressure Gas Container Temperature Control via Chamber Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
High pressure gas containers in fuel cell vehicles face sealing issues due to temperature changes, leading to potential hydrogen gas leakage and occupant discomfort from air flow and temperature fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle design with a heat generating body in a separate interior chamber, where atmospheric air is introduced, heated, and then used to temper the high pressure gas container, preventing seal contraction and minimizing air flow into the passenger compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If atmospheric air is supplied to the container chamber to maintain temperature, then the sealing function of the seal member is improved, but hydrogen gas may intrude into the passenger compartment and occupants experience discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle interior is divided into separate chambers: a first interior chamber (passenger compartment) and a second interior chamber (container chamber). This segmentation prevents hydrogen gas from the container chamber from mixing with the passenger compartment, eliminating the harmful effects while allowing independent temperature control in each chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
A communication passage with a communication opening serves as an intermediary structure between the two chambers. The opening is positioned at a lower level than the container chamber, creating a one-way flow path that allows air to enter the container chamber without allowing hydrogen gas to escape into the passenger compartment.
2Temperature
If air flow is generated from passenger compartment to container chamber, then temperature compensation is achieved, but occupants experience discomfort from wind and sound
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of generating air flow from the passenger compartment toward the container chamber (which causes discomfort), the system inverts the flow direction by supplying air from the container chamber side or from external sources directly to the container chamber, achieving temperature compensation without exposing occupants to harmful air flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The air supply system for temperature compensation is extracted from the passenger compartment environment and positioned independently. The communication opening is strategically located to receive air from sources that do not involve passenger compartment air flow, thereby separating the temperature control function from the passenger comfort zone.
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
Ensures the sealing function of the seal member in the high pressure gas container and prevents occupant discomfort by maintaining a stable temperature and reducing air flow into the passenger compartment.
Implementation Method 1
a rise in temperature occurs by the atmospheric air coming into contact with the heat generating body in the interior chamber
Implementation Method 2
the atmospheric air, for which the rise in temperature has occurred in this manner, comes into contact with the high pressure gas container in the container chamber. Since the atmospheric air, for which the rise in temperature has occurred in this manner, comes into contact with the high pressure gas container, a temperature compensation that is effected with respect to the high pressure gas container is carried out
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle is provided with an interior chamber apart from a passenger compartment, and a container chamber in which a high pressure gas container is accommodated. A heat generating body is accommodated in the interior chamber. Further, in the vehicle, there are formed introduction ports through which atmospheric air is introduced into the interior chamber, a communication passage that enables communication between the interior chamber and the container chamber, and a lead-out port through which the atmospheric air is led out from the container chamber. The atmospheric air that is introduced into the interior chamber through the introduction ports flows into the container chamber via the communication passage, and furthermore, is led out to the exterior of the container chamber from the lead-out port.