Hydrogen Charging Pipe Pre-cooling for Filling Volume

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Solution Overview

Problem

When filling hydrogen into multiple tanks, the hydrogen flow is branched, leading to a reduction in the intended hydrogen filling amount due to the increase in hydrogen temperature as it flows through the piping.

Innovation Solution

A hydrogen filling apparatus and method that involves circulating a refrigerant through the piping before hydrogen filling to pre-cool the pipes, thereby suppressing the rise in hydrogen temperature and maintaining the intended filling amount.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If hydrogen is filled into multiple tanks simultaneously through branched piping, then filling efficiency is improved, but hydrogen temperature rises due to heat capacity of the pipe, causing filling amount to decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling efficiencyVSAvoidhydrogen filling amount
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by cooling the piping system with a refrigerant before hydrogen filling begins. This pre-cooling step prepares the piping to minimize heat transfer to the hydrogen during filling, thereby maintaining lower hydrogen temperatures and ensuring the intended filling amount is achieved while simultaneously filling multiple tanks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If long piping is used to connect hydrogen supply unit to multiple hydrogen tanks, then adaptability is improved, but hydrogen temperature increases due to heat capacity of the pipe, reducing filling amount

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiping configuration flexibilityVSAvoidhydrogen filling amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by cooling the piping system with a refrigerant before hydrogen filling begins. This pre-cooling step prepares the piping to minimize heat transfer to the hydrogen during filling, thereby maintaining lower hydrogen temperatures and ensuring the intended filling amount is achieved while simultaneously filling multiple tanks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a refrigerant as an intermediary substance that flows through the piping to absorb heat from the pipe walls. This intermediary cooling mechanism mediates between the ambient heat and the hydrogen, preventing excessive heat transfer to the hydrogen and maintaining the required filling amount.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 pre-cooling of the piping effectively prevents unintentional reductions in the hydrogen filling amount by maintaining the hydrogen temperature, ensuring consistent and intended filling levels.

Implementation Method 1

circulating a refrigerant to at least a portion of the pipe for hydrogen charging

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

circulating a refrigerant to at least a portion of the pipe

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS20250109825A1Hydrogen charging equipment, hydrogen charging method
Publication Date: 2025.04.03 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • US20250109825A1 patent drawing
  • US20250109825A1 patent drawing
  • US20250109825A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Suppressing unintentional lowering of the filling volume to the hydrogen tank. Before hydrogen charging to the hydrogen tank, the control of cooling the pipe by circulating a refrigerant to at least a portion of the pipe for hydrogen charging to the hydrogen tank.