Hydrogen Fueling Indicators for Freeze and Hazard Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogen fueling systems pose safety risks due to the unique properties of hydrogen, such as extreme cold temperatures and high pressures, leading to potential thermal injuries and accidents, especially for operators who are not familiar with the refueling process, and there is a lack of standardized safety protocols and communication between vehicles and dispensers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing visual and acoustical indicators on hydrogen fueling handles, hoses, and dispensers to provide real-time status information, including freezing alerts and malfunction warnings, and using sensors to detect hazardous conditions, which can be transmitted to both the vehicle and nearby areas, ensuring safe refueling practices and emergency responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrogen fueling systems operate without standardized safety indicators, then device complexity is reduced, but safety reliability deteriorates due to lack of operator awareness and standardized protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-coded visual indicators (LED lights in red, yellow, green) to communicate hydrogen fueling status and safety conditions. Different colors represent different operational states (e.g., green for safe fueling, red for hazards), providing intuitive safety information to operators without requiring complex displays or interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces visual and acoustic indicator systems as intermediaries between the hydrogen fueling system and operators. These indicators mediate the communication of safety status, translating complex system states into simple, understandable signals that guide operator actions and improve safety awareness.
2Reliability
If real-time safety monitoring indicators are implemented, then operator safety awareness is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and indicator systems
Solution Approach 1:
Visual indicators use color changes to communicate hazardous conditions and safety status to operators. The system employs LED lights that change color or illuminate to alert operators of specific conditions (e.g., freezing alerts, malfunction warnings), providing clear safety information without complex displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates acoustic indicators including vibration alerts to warn operators of hazardous conditions. Vibration provides tactile feedback that can alert operators to safety issues even in noisy environments or when visual attention is occupied, enhancing operator awareness through multiple sensory channels.
3Reliability
If visual and acoustic indicators are added to fueling handles and dispensers, then safety communication is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements color-coded visual indicators on fueling handles, hoses, and dispensers using LED lights and colored markings. These indicators provide clear safety communication about fueling status and hazards. The use of standard LED components and color-coding schemes facilitates manufacturing while maintaining effective safety communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator systems are designed to be universal and multi-functional, serving multiple safety communication purposes through standardized components. The same visual indicator system communicates various safety states (freezing conditions, malfunction warnings, fueling status) across different fueling equipment, simplifying manufacturing and maintenance while improving safety communication.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more indicators provide an indication of fueling status of a hydrogen powered vehicle. One or more sensors detect temperature and/or other characteristics of the fuel provided to the vehicle and provide an electrical signal to one or more of the indicators to permit an indication of fueling status. The indicators, which may be visual and/or audible, may be positioned on the fueling apparatus and on the vehicle in the vicinity of a fueling receptacle. The indicators may also be positioned elsewhere on the vehicle and may be separate from the vehicle such as on or around a fueling station and/or on separate computerized devices. Certain of the visual indicators may be positioned on a fueling hose and may include electrically energized paint and an illuminated sheath.