Hydrogen Manifold Throttle Design for Flow Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-pressure hydrogen manifolds for refuelling systems suffer from non-uniform hydrogen flow, pressure imbalances, and distribution inefficiencies across outlets during refuelling cycles.
Innovation Solution
A manifold design featuring a main body with radial interfaces connected via a main bore, incorporating throttles between the bore and interfaces to ensure uniform hydrogen distribution, made from austenitic stainless steel for resistance to hydrogen embrittlement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional manifold designs are used with standard bore configurations, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the hydrogen flow distribution is non-uniform and pressure balancing is poor across outlets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the inner diameter of the bore at specific locations to optimize flow distribution. The bore has different diameters in different sections: a first inner diameter in a first section and a second inner diameter in a second section, allowing local adjustment of flow characteristics to achieve uniform distribution across outlets while maintaining overall structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the bore, specifically the inner diameter, to control flow characteristics. By adjusting the bore's inner diameter along its length, the patent achieves uniform flow distribution and pressure balancing without requiring complex additional components, thus improving flow uniformity while keeping the device structure relatively simple
2Reliability
If the manifold is designed to handle high-pressure hydrogen up to 700 bar and higher, then the system can meet future refuelling requirements, but material selection becomes more critical due to hydrogen embrittlement risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter by specifying austenitic stainless steel with minimum chromium content of 18% and minimum nickel content of 8%. This material selection provides resistance to hydrogen embrittlement at high pressures up to 700 bar and higher, while remaining manufacturable using conventional welding and fabrication techniques for stainless steel
3Productivity
If the inner diameters are designed to enable favourable flow, then the flow characteristics improve, but the uniformity of flow, pressure, and distribution balancing varies across outlets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different bore diameter sections: a first section with a first inner diameter and a second section with a second inner diameter. This allows optimization of flow efficiency in each section while achieving uniform distribution across all outlets, resolving the contradiction between flow efficiency and distribution uniformity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the bore into multiple sections with different inner diameters along its length. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for specific flow requirements, achieving both favourable flow characteristics and uniform distribution balancing across the outlets
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a manifold (110) for a high-pressure H2-system (100), the manifold (110) comprising a main body (120) with a number of radial interfaces (124) to connect the manifold (110) to a refuelling infrastructure (150) and the high-pressure H2-system (100), wherein the number of radial interfaces (124) are fluid communicatingly connected via a main bore (126) along the main body (120), wherein the main body (120), comprises at least one throttle (170) between the main bore (126) and at least one of the number of radial interfaces (124), wherein the at least one throttle (170) comprises a throttle length (171) and a throttle diameter (172). Furthermore, the invention relates to a high-pressure H2-system (100) comprising at least one manifold (110).