Hydrogen Carrier Medium Absorption in Crankcase
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hydrogen internal combustion engines, the blow-by gas containing hydrogen and oxygen can reach critical levels, leading to a sudden exothermic reaction and potential engine damage due to the high energy release.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the injection of a hydrogen carrier medium, such as liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs), into the crankcase to absorb hydrogen through an exothermic reaction, followed by heating to dehydrogenate and extract hydrogen, which is then reused in the combustion process, maintaining low hydrogen concentrations below 4% to prevent explosions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If hydrogen is used as fuel in the combustion chamber, then energy efficiency is improved, but hydrogen accumulates in the crankcase leading to explosion risk
Solution Approach 1:
A hydrogen carrier medium is introduced as an intermediary substance that absorbs hydrogen from the crankcase through chemical reaction. The carrier medium circulates between the crankcase and a heating device, continuously removing hydrogen without requiring direct intervention in the combustion process, thus maintaining energy efficiency while preventing accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical and chemical parameters of hydrogen management by using a carrier medium that undergoes reversible hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactions. By controlling temperature parameters (heating to release hydrogen, cooling to absorb hydrogen), the system dynamically manages hydrogen concentration in the crankcase.
2Reliability
If hydrogen concentration in crankcase is reduced to prevent explosion, then safety is improved, but additional systems are required to manage hydrogen
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen carrier medium serves multiple functions simultaneously: it absorbs hydrogen from the crankcase, transports it to the heating device, and releases hydrogen for potential reuse. The circulation system integrates hydrogen removal, thermal management, and potential fuel recovery into a single multi-functional loop, reducing the need for separate dedicated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrogen carrier medium automatically absorbs hydrogen from the crankcase through chemical affinity, requiring no active control for the absorption process. The system self-regulates by circulating the carrier medium through heating and cooling zones, where temperature differences drive the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions without external intervention.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If hydrogen is continuously removed from crankcase, then explosion prevention is improved, but energy loss occurs from removing combustible hydrogen
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simply discarding the hydrogen removed from the crankcase, the system recovers it through the carrier medium. The hydrogen is transported to a heating device where it is released from the carrier and can be captured and fed back to the combustion chamber, converting what would be waste into useful fuel and eliminating energy loss.
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
Effectively reduces hydrogen concentration in the crankcase, preventing exothermic reactions and ensuring engine safety by continuously recycling and managing hydrogen levels.
Implementation Method 1
injecting, by a nozzle, a hydrogen carrier medium into the crankcase for hydrogenation of the carrier medium inside the crankcase with hydrogen leaked from the combustion chamber
Implementation Method 2
The carrier medium then absorbs the hydrogen of the blow-by gas by an exothermic reaction
Implementation Method 3
heating, by a heater, the hydrogenated carrier medium for dehydrogenation of the carrier medium and extracting hydrogen from the hydrogenated carrier medium
Implementation Method 4
heating, by a heater, the hydrogenated carrier medium for dehydrogenation of the carrier medium and extracting hydrogen from the hydrogenated carrier medium
Implementation Method 5
The absorption of hydrogen, or hydrogenation, is an exothermic reaction, whereas the dehydrogenation needs an input of energy and thus is an endothermic reaction
Data Source
AI summary
A method for absorbing hydrogen in a crankcase of a hydrogen internal combustion engine is provided, comprising injecting, by a hydrogen injector, hydrogen into a combustion chamber of the hydrogen combustion engine; wherein a piston of the hydrogen combustion engine is configured to compress and expand the hydrogen injected into the combustion chamber; injecting, by a nozzle, a hydrogen carrier medium into the crankcase for hydrogenation of the carrier medium inside the crankcase with hydrogen leaked from the combustion chamber past a side wall of the piston into the crankcase; collecting, by a collector, the hydrogenated carrier medium from the crankcase; heating, by a heater, the hydrogenated carrier medium for dehydrogenation of the carrier medium and extracting hydrogen from the hydrogenated carrier medium; and injecting, by the nozzle, the dehydrogenated carrier medium into the crankcase for hydrogenation. The present disclosure further provides a system for a motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle comprising the inventive system.