Hydrogen Supply Buffer and Bypass Storage for Load Fluctuations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrogen supply systems struggle to follow fluctuations in demand for hydrogen due to the complexity of chemical processes, making it difficult to maintain stable operation and adjust hydrogen supply accordingly.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen supply system incorporating a buffer tank and a storage tank with a bypass line, allowing for the retention and storage of hydrogen to absorb fluctuations in demand, using control devices to manage hydrogen production and distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hydrogen is produced by a chemical process with complicated steps, then hydrogen can be produced, but the system cannot quickly respond to load fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen supply system is segmented into multiple functional components: a hydrogen production device, a buffer tank for short-term storage, a storage tank for long-term storage, and a bypass line with control valves. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific aspects of hydrogen supply, enabling the system to respond quickly to load fluctuations while maintaining stable production operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer tank and storage tank are pre-filled with hydrogen before load fluctuations occur. When demand changes suddenly, the system can immediately draw from these pre-stored hydrogen reserves, eliminating the delay that would otherwise occur while waiting for the chemical production process to adjust its output.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the hydrogen production device operates at fixed conditions, then stable operation is maintained, but the system cannot adapt to fluctuating hydrogen demand
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer tank acts as an intermediary between the hydrogen production device and the hydrogen-consuming unit. It receives hydrogen from the production device under stable operating conditions and releases it to match fluctuating demand. This intermediary buffer allows the production device to maintain fixed, stable operations while the system as a whole adapts to changing demands through the buffer's storage and release mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces dynamic elements (control valves on the bypass line, variable storage capacity utilization) that allow the hydrogen flow to adapt to demand fluctuations while the production device itself remains operationally stable. The bypass line with control valves enables dynamic adjustment of hydrogen routing between the buffer tank and storage tank based on real-time demand conditions.
3Quantity of substance
If a simple storage tank is added to the system, then hydrogen storage is enabled, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer tank and storage tank are merged into a single integrated hydrogen storage system with a bypass line connecting them. Both tanks work together as a unified storage capacity, with the bypass line allowing hydrogen to flow between them. This merging approach provides enhanced storage capability while minimizing the additional complexity that would result from completely separate storage systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrogen supply system includes: a hydrogen production device; a hydrogen flow line through which hydrogen produced by the hydrogen production devices circulated; a buffer tank that is provided in the hydrogen flow line on the downstream side of the hydrogen production device; a compressor that is provided in the hydrogen flow line on a downstream side of the buffer tank; a bypass line that bypasses a portion of the hydrogen flow line and has a downstream-side end portion communicating with the hydrogen flow line on the downstream side of the buffer tank; and a storage tank that is provided in the bypass line and is capable of storing the hydrogen.