Hydrogen Filling System with Multi-Feeder Temperature and Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Filling multiple hydrogen tanks connected in series with hydrogen is time-consuming, and existing methods struggle to accurately determine the hydrogen fill factor, especially when filling large tanks, due to varying pressure and temperature conditions.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen filling system with multiple hydrogen feeders and a controller that estimates the hydrogen fill factor based on internal temperatures and pressures of connected tanks, stopping the feeders when a predetermined threshold is reached to prevent overfilling, using a configuration where one tank is primarily fed by one feeder and the other by another, and calculating fill factors based on average values for variance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple hydrogen feeders are used to fill tanks simultaneously, then filling time is reduced, but measurement precision of hydrogen fill factor deteriorates due to local pressure variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different measurement roles to different feeders based on their positions. The first feeder measures pressure at its own location while the second feeder measures temperature at its location. This localized measurement approach accounts for spatial variations in pressure and temperature within the tank system, enabling accurate fill factor calculation even when multiple feeders operate simultaneously.
2Device complexity
If hydrogen fill factor is calculated using single pressure and temperature values, then calculation is simple, but measurement precision deteriorates when tanks have large capacity and local variations exist
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement function by having the first feeder measure pressure and the second feeder measure temperature. This segmentation allows the system to capture spatially distributed parameters without requiring complex multi-point measurement systems. The controller then integrates these segmented measurements to calculate the overall hydrogen fill factor, balancing simplicity with accuracy.
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 system allows for accurate and efficient filling of hydrogen tanks to an appropriate fill factor, reducing filling time and preventing overfilling by using multiple feeders and calculating fill factors from internal temperatures and pressures.
Implementation Method 1
The controller estimates a hydrogen fill factor of the first tank and the second tank, based on an internal temperature of the first tank (first internal temperature) and an internal temperature of the second tank (second internal temperature), and a pressure of hydrogen fed from the first hydrogen feeder (first pressure) and a pressure of hydrogen fed from the second hydrogen feeder (second pressure)
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrogen filling system includes a first tank and a second tank that are configured to be filled with hydrogen and communicate with each other, a first hydrogen feeder and a second hydrogen feeder configured to feed hydrogen to the first tank and the second tank, and a controller configured to control the first hydrogen feeder and the second hydrogen feeder. The controller estimates a hydrogen fill factor of the first tank and the second tank, based on a first internal temperature of the first tank and a second internal temperature of the second tank, and a first pressure of hydrogen gas fed from the first hydrogen feeder and a second pressure of hydrogen gas fed from the second hydrogen feeder. The controller is configured to stop the first hydrogen feeder and the second hydrogen feeder when the hydrogen fill factor reaches a predetermined threshold fill factor.