Hydrogen Pump Cooling Control for Sliding Member Durability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hydrogen pumps in hydrogen power systems experience efficiency degradation due to insufficient cooling of sliding members, leading to increased friction and potential damage when operated under decreased efficiency conditions.

Innovation Solution

A controller is implemented to detect decreased efficiency in the hydrogen pump by monitoring pressure and temperature conditions, temporarily stopping the pump to allow cooling, and restarting it after a wait period, while maintaining hydrogen supply through an intermediate chamber.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the hydrogen pump operates continuously to maintain hydrogen supply, then productivity is improved, but the sliding member temperature rises and friction increases leading to degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen supply continuityVSAvoidsliding member durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hydrogen pump operates in periodic cycles of operation and temporary suspension. When efficiency degradation is detected, the pump is temporarily suspended to allow cooling of the sliding member, then restarted after a wait period. This periodic operation prevents continuous overheating while maintaining overall hydrogen supply through the intermediate chamber buffer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate chamber acts as a buffer between the hydrogen pump and the power device. It temporarily stores hydrogen, allowing the pump to be temporarily suspended without immediately interrupting hydrogen supply to the power device. This mediator enables pump cooling periods while maintaining system productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the hydrogen pump is temporarily stopped to cool the sliding member, then reliability is improved, but productivity decreases due to interruption in hydrogen supply

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesliding member coolingVSAvoidhydrogen supply interruption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate chamber serves as a hydrogen buffer that decouples the pump operation from power device operation. When the pump is temporarily stopped for cooling, the intermediate chamber releases stored hydrogen to maintain supply to the power device, thus the productivity impact is minimized while reliability is improved.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate chamber is pre-filled with hydrogen before pump suspension is needed. This beforehand cushioning of hydrogen supply allows the pump to be stopped for cooling without immediate interruption to the power device, smoothing out the productivity impact of reliability-maintaining actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Productivity

If the sliding member is not sufficiently cooled, then productivity is maintained, but friction increases leading to degradation and potential seizure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoidfriction and temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The controller monitors pump operation parameters and detects efficiency degradation. When degradation is detected, it triggers a temporary suspension of the pump to allow cooling. This feedback mechanism ensures that cooling action is taken only when necessary, maintaining productivity during normal operation while preventing friction-related degradation when efficiency drops.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system takes preliminary cooling action by temporarily suspending pump operation when efficiency degradation is first detected, before friction and temperature rise to dangerous levels that would cause seizure. This preliminary anti-action prevents the harmful effects from developing further.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 approach effectively prevents degradation of the hydrogen pump by cooling the sliding components and ensuring continuous hydrogen supply, reducing the risk of seizure and maintaining system efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

This sliding member is cooled by liquid hydrogen while the hydrogen pump sucks and discharges the liquid hydrogen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the hydrogen pump is cooled by the liquid hydrogen during the period in which the hydrogen pump is temporarily stopped

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

a vaporizer configured to vaporize the pumped liquid hydrogen to convert the liquid hydrogen to hydrogen gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS12385602B2Hydrogen power system

Publication Date: 2025.08.12 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A hydrogen power system includes a hydrogen engine that operates using hydrogen as an energy source, a hydrogen tank that stores liquid hydrogen, and a hydrogen pump that pumps up the liquid hydrogen from the hydrogen tank and outputs it to the hydrogen engine, A hydrogen pump, a part of which slides within the hydrogen tank, and a controller, and the controller stops driving the hydrogen pump when it is determined that the efficiency of the hydrogen pump is decreasing, and then, after a prescribed wait time has elapsed, the hydrogen pump is driven again.