Hydrogen Fuel Charging Module With Tank Heat-Exchange Flow Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The charging speed of hydrogen in fuel cell vehicles is limited due to the rise in storage tank temperature from compression heat, necessitating a solution that optimizes charging speed while ensuring safety.
Innovation Solution
A fuel charging module with a heat-exchange system and flow rate control valve to manage hydrogen flow based on storage tank temperature, using heat-exchange pads and pipelines to regulate temperature and optimize fuel distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hydrogen is supplied to the storage tank at high speed, then charging speed is improved, but the internal temperature of the storage tank rises due to compression heat
Solution Approach 1:
A heat exchange pad is introduced as an intermediary component between the storage tank and the hydrogen supply system. The pad absorbs compression heat from the storage tank through thermal conduction, acting as a heat sink that prevents temperature rise in the tank while allowing continuous high-speed charging.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange system extracts thermal energy from the storage tank by providing an alternative heat dissipation path. The pad removes compression heat that would otherwise accumulate in the tank, separating the charging process from thermal accumulation constraints.
2Reliability
If the temperature of the storage tank is controlled to remain below a specific temperature, then safety is ensured, but the charging speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchange pad serves as a thermal mediator that maintains the storage tank temperature below safety thresholds while allowing aggressive charging. The pad absorbs excess heat, decoupling the safety constraint from the charging rate, enabling both safety and high productivity to be achieved simultaneously.
3Reliability
If a heat-exchange system is added to manage temperature, then safety and continuous operation are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchange pad is implemented as a thin-film flexible thermal management component that conforms to the storage tank geometry. This thin-film approach provides effective heat exchange with minimal added complexity, avoiding bulky heat exchanger assemblies while maintaining safety and continuous operation capability.
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
The system effectively maintains optimal charging speed by adjusting fuel flow to prevent overheating, ensuring safety and continuous operation.
Implementation Method 1
a heat-exchange pad contacting with the storage tank for exchange of heat with the storage tank
Implementation Method 2
a flow rate control valve mounted on the supply pipeline... configured to supply the fuel supplied through the charging station, to the storage tank or the heat-exchange pad
Implementation Method 3
an internal temperature of the storage tank may rise due to heat of compression of the hydrogen
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel charging module includes a storage tank that stores a fuel, a supply pipeline that supplies the fuel supplied from a charging station, to the storage tank, a flow rate control valve mounted on the supply pipeline and located on an upstream side of the supply pipeline with respect to a flow direction of the fuel, a heat-exchange pad contacting with the storage tank for exchange of heat with the storage tank, and a heat-exchange pipeline connected to the flow rate control valve, and that supplies the fuel to the heat-exchange pad. The flow rate control valve may be configured to determine the flow direction of the fuel supplied through the receptacle as a flow direction of the storage tank or the heat-exchange pad.