Hydrogen Dispensing System Using Flash Drum Vaporization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrogen fueling systems for vehicles are expensive, large, require excessive maintenance, and have high energy usage due to the need for mechanical compression or pumping to raise hydrogen pressure, making them less viable than gasoline fueling stations.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen dispensing system that stores liquid hydrogen at a temperature below 30 K and uses a flash drum to vaporize the hydrogen without mechanical compression, achieving pressures greater than 300 bar, thereby eliminating the need for compression apparatus and reducing system size and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If mechanical compression or pumping is used to raise hydrogen pressure, then high pressure hydrogen can be achieved, but system complexity, size, and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical compression systems with a thermal field-based solution. Liquid hydrogen is stored in an expanded cryogenic tank and allowed to evaporate naturally, using thermal energy from the environment to convert liquid hydrogen to gaseous form. This eliminates compressors, pumps, and associated mechanical infrastructure, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving high pressure and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the phase transition of hydrogen from liquid to gas state. By storing hydrogen as liquid at cryogenic temperatures and allowing it to evaporate, the system achieves high-pressure gaseous hydrogen without mechanical compression. The phase change itself provides the pressure increase needed for fueling, eliminating the need for complex compression apparatus.
2Stress or pressure
If mechanical compression or pumping is used to raise hydrogen pressure, then high pressure hydrogen can be achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces energy-intensive mechanical compression with a passive thermal process. The liquid hydrogen evaporates using ambient thermal energy, converting to gas and increasing in pressure without requiring external power input for compressors or pumps. This directly addresses the energy consumption issue while maintaining the ability to deliver high-pressure hydrogen.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows liquid hydrogen to self-evaporate using environmental heat, without requiring active compression equipment. The hydrogen essentially services itself by utilizing available thermal energy to transition to gaseous state and achieve the necessary pressure for dispensing, eliminating the need for external energy input to drive compression mechanisms.
3Stress or pressure
If mechanical compression or pumping is used to raise hydrogen pressure, then high pressure hydrogen can be achieved, but system size and footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces large mechanical compression equipment with a compact cryogenic storage system. The expanded liquid hydrogen tank serves dual purposes: storage and pressure generation through evaporation. This eliminates the need for large compressor rooms, piping infrastructure, and associated mechanical equipment, dramatically reducing the station footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The cryogenic storage tank performs multiple functions: it stores liquid hydrogen, provides thermal isolation, and generates high-pressure gaseous hydrogen through controlled evaporation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate compression equipment and infrastructure, reducing the overall system footprint while maintaining the capability to deliver high-pressure hydrogen for fueling.
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 provides a cost-effective, space-efficient, and low-maintenance method for producing high-pressure gaseous hydrogen, ensuring a viable alternative to gasoline fueling stations by minimizing energy use and footprint while maintaining high purity and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
providing sufficient heat to the flash drum to convert the liquid hydrogen to gaseous hydrogen
Implementation Method 2
storing liquid hydrogen at a temperature of less than 30 K
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a hydrogen dispensing system comprising: a feed vessel for storing liquid hydrogen having an inlet and an outlet; a flash drum having an inlet and an outlet; a dispenser for dispensing gaseous hydrogen at a pressure of greater than 300 bar, having an inlet and an outlet wherein the feed vessel outlet is in fluid communication with the flash drum inlet, the flash drum outlet is in fluid communication with the dispenser inlet and there is no compression apparatus between the feed vessel outlet and the dispenser outlet. The invention also provides a method of providing gaseous hydrogen to a vehicle.