Liquefied Hydrogen Pump Disconnection Without Nitrogen Solidification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for disconnecting equipment from a liquefied hydrogen system risk nitrogen gas solidification due to exposure to cold energy, which can damage valves and flow paths.
Innovation Solution
A method involving filling the flow path with hydrogen gas before and after disconnecting equipment, followed by filling with nitrogen gas to prevent nitrogen solidification, using hydrogen as a temperature buffer to isolate the nitrogen from the cold energy of liquefied hydrogen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If nitrogen gas is used to perform purge when equipment is disconnected from the liquefied hydrogen flow path, then the equipment can be separated from the flow path, but nitrogen may solidify when exposed to the cold energy of liquefied hydrogen
Solution Approach 1:
Hydrogen gas is introduced as an intermediary substance between the nitrogen gas and liquefied hydrogen. The hydrogen gas acts as a thermal buffer that isolates the nitrogen gas from the cold energy of liquefied hydrogen, preventing nitrogen solidification while still enabling equipment separation from the flow path
Solution Approach 2:
Hydrogen gas is filled into the flow path segment before disconnecting the equipment and before introducing nitrogen gas. This preliminary action establishes a protective hydrogen atmosphere that prevents nitrogen solidification when the equipment is separated
2Object-affected harmful factors
If helium gas is used to prevent nitrogen solidification, then nitrogen can be protected from cold energy, but the cost increases due to helium usage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive helium gas with cheaper hydrogen gas as the protective buffer substance. Hydrogen serves the same function of preventing nitrogen solidification but at significantly lower cost, making the maintenance operation more economically viable
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
Prevents nitrogen gas solidification, allowing safe equipment disconnection and maintenance, reduces maintenance costs, and enables quick resumption of operations without helium, which is typically used as an inert gas.
Implementation Method 1
using hydrogen as a temperature buffer to isolate nitrogen from liquefied hydrogen's cold energy
Data Source
AI summary
An equipment maintenance method that allows prevention of nitrogen gas from solidifying is provided when separating the equipment from a flow path for liquefied hydrogen. In the equipment maintenance method, an operator allows hydrogen gas to flow into a first section, a second section, a third section, and a fourth section, and discharges liquefied hydrogen. Thereafter, the operator allows the nitrogen gas to flow into the second section and the third section, and discharges the hydrogen gas. With the second section and the third section filled with the nitrogen gas, the operator decouples the flow path at a first joint part and a second joint part, and detaches the pump.