Hydrogen-Permeation-Inhibiting Coating for Vehicle Compartment Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current shielding solutions for motor vehicle passenger compartments against hydrogen tanks are inadequate, as fiber-reinforced composite materials allow hydrogen permeation, requiring additional metal shielding plates that increase weight and reduce hydrogen tank size, while metal plates occupy valuable space and add weight.

Innovation Solution

A shielding device using a fiber-reinforced composite material with a hydrogen-permeation-inhibiting coating, preferably with metallic pigments, is integrated into the passenger compartment walls, preventing hydrogen penetration without the need for additional shielding plates, thus allowing a larger hydrogen tank within the same vehicle size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If fiber-reinforced composite materials are used for passenger compartment walls, then vehicle weight is reduced, but hydrogen permeation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle weightVSAvoidhydrogen permeation

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a composite material system consisting of a fiber-reinforced plastic basic body combined with a hydrogen-permeation-inhibiting coating containing metallic plate-shaped pigments. This composite structure maintains the lightweight advantage of fiber-reinforced composites while adding hydrogen barrier functionality through the coating layer, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and hydrogen permeation prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies the hydrogen-permeation-inhibiting coating specifically on the side of the basic body facing the hydrogen tank, creating a localized functional layer where hydrogen barrier properties are most needed. This selective coating approach prevents hydrogen permeation at the critical interface while maintaining the overall lightweight structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If metal shielding plates are added between hydrogen tank and passenger compartment, then hydrogen penetration is prevented, but vehicle weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen penetrationVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the protective function from requiring a thick metal plate structure to a thin coating layer by altering the material parameters at the surface level. The metallic plate-shaped pigments in the coating provide hydrogen barrier functionality with minimal thickness, dramatically reducing the weight compared to traditional metal shielding plates while maintaining effective hydrogen penetration prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If metal shielding plates are installed, then hydrogen penetration is blocked, but hydrogen tank size is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen penetrationVSAvoidhydrogen tank size

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The hydrogen-permeation-inhibiting coating functions as a thin film barrier that can be applied directly to the hydrogen tank surface or the adjacent basic body without requiring the thickness and rigidity of metal shielding plates. This thin film approach blocks hydrogen penetration while occupying minimal space, allowing the hydrogen tank to maintain its full designed capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If additional shielding plates are installed, then hydrogen safety is improved, but installation space is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen safetyVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the shielding function with the existing basic body structure by applying the hydrogen-permeation-inhibiting coating directly to the basic body that forms part of the passenger compartment wall or hydrogen tank assembly. This integration eliminates the need for separate shielding plates and their associated mounting space, as the protective function is combined with the structural element already present in the vehicle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution effectively shields the passenger compartment from hydrogen leakage while minimizing weight increase and maximizing hydrogen tank size, enhancing safety and range without additional installation space, using a cost-effective and lightweight hydrogen-permeation-inhibiting coating.

Implementation Method 1

Walls made of fiber-reinforced composite material have the disadvantage that, compared with walls made of metal, they provide a relatively poor shielding with respect to a hydrogen tank, and hydrogen can relatively easily diffuse through walls made of fiber-reinforced composites. This process is also called hydrogen permeation.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrogen permeation: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS10576911B2Shielding device, passenger compartment, motor vehicle, and shielding method

Publication Date: 2020.03.03 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

AI summary

A shielding device of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle for shielding an interior of the passenger compartment from a hydrogen tank in the motor vehicle includes a basic body. The basic body has a fiber-reinforced composite material with a hydrogen-permeation-inhibiting coating. The basic body is constructed as a wall or wall segment of the passenger compartment.