Hydrogen Fueling Communication and Cooling for Secure Refueling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydrogen fueling stations face limitations in communication bandwidth, unidirectionality, equipment reliability, and cost, particularly in the communication between vehicles and hydrogen dispensers, which affect the efficiency and safety of hydrogen refueling.
Innovation Solution
Implementing vehicle-to-everything (V2X) wireless communication to enable bi-directional data exchange between vehicles and fueling stations, using on-board units (OBUs) and roadside units (RSUs) for secure and efficient vehicle-to-nozzle pairing, and employing advanced hydrogen cooling systems with large-volume reservoirs and small-capacity refrigeration units to manage coolant temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional IrDA communication protocols are used for hydrogen dispensing, then equipment cost is reduced, but communication bandwidth and bidirectionality are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces V2X communication as an intermediary layer between the vehicle and dispenser, enabling enhanced bidirectional data exchange while maintaining compatibility with existing IrDA protocols. The V2X system acts as a mediator that provides additional communication channels without completely replacing the existing infrastructure.
2Productivity
If V2X communication is implemented for bidirectional data exchange, then communication efficiency is improved, but equipment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The V2X communication system is designed to perform multiple functions including vehicle-to-nozzle pairing, data exchange, and coordination of refueling operations. By consolidating these functions into a single communication framework, the system improves refueling efficiency without proportionally increasing equipment complexity.
3Temperature
If large cast aluminum heat exchangers are used for hydrogen cooling, then cooling capacity is sufficient, but equipment weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential cooling function from the large cast aluminum heat exchanger and implements it using a compact plate heat exchanger. By removing the excessive material and retaining only the necessary cooling capacity, the system achieves adequate temperature control with significantly reduced weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the heat exchanger by transitioning from a large cast aluminum design to a compact plate configuration. This parameter change maintains the required cooling capacity while dramatically reducing weight and potentially cost.
4Volume of moving object
If conventional plate-to-plate heat exchangers are used, then compactness is improved, but cooling capacity may be insufficient for high-demand applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite construction in the plate heat exchanger, utilizing high-conductivity materials and optimized plate geometries to maximize cooling capacity within a compact volume. The composite design allows efficient heat transfer surfaces to be packed into a small footprint, achieving both compactness and adequate cooling capacity.
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
Enhances communication bandwidth, ensures vehicle anonymity, improves refueling efficiency, and maintains safety by allowing secure and efficient hydrogen dispensing with reduced equipment costs.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the coolant reservoir and a hydrogen gas source, the heat exchanger configured to cool the hydrogen gas using the coolant
Implementation Method 2
a refrigeration unit coupled to the coolant reservoir to cool the coolant to a temperature sufficient to cool the hydrogen gas to a target temperature range
Data Source
AI summary
According to aspects, hydrogen fueling systems and methods are provided, including vehicle-to-vehicle communication techniques, hydrogen cooling techniques and/or hydrogen dispenser control techniques that facilitate improving aspects of a hydrogen fueling station.