Distributed Hydrogen Refueling Cascade System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrogen refueling systems face challenges in efficiently handling high volumes of vehicle traffic while ensuring each vehicle receives a full tank, as they require large, costly high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks, which are inefficient and energy-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A distributed hydrogen refueling cascade system with multiple compressed fuel reservoirs (low, medium, and high pressure) and electrochemical compressors that scavenge fuel from lower pressure reservoirs to compress and discharge it into higher pressure reservoirs, allowing for prioritized distribution and rapid refilling of vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large capacity high pressure hydrogen storage tank is used to handle high volume vehicle traffic, then the station can serve more vehicles, but the cost and inefficiency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the hydrogen storage system into multiple pressure levels (high, medium, low pressure tanks) rather than using a single large high-pressure tank. This segmentation allows the system to serve multiple vehicles simultaneously by drawing from different pressure levels, reducing the need for one enormous high-pressure storage capacity while maintaining high service capacity.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If a single high pressure storage tank is used, then the system is simpler, but energy consumption increases due to compression requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-compresses hydrogen into multiple pressure levels and stores it across different tanks before refueling vehicles. By having medium and low pressure tanks already filled in advance, the system avoids the energy-intensive process of compressing hydrogen from atmospheric pressure during peak refueling demand, thus reducing overall compression energy consumption.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If multiple pressure level tanks are used, then energy consumption is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control system that acts as an intermediary to manage the complex interactions between multiple pressure-level tanks. This control system automatically directs vehicles to appropriate pressure levels, manages hydrogen transfer between tanks, and optimizes the cascade operation, thereby managing the system complexity without requiring manual intervention.
4Productivity
If high pressure storage is used for full tank refueling, then vehicle range is maximized, but storage cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides different pressure levels to different vehicles based on their specific needs. Vehicles that require full tanks for maximum range can be serviced from high-pressure tanks, while vehicles with smaller requirements can be serviced from medium or low-pressure tanks. This local quality approach ensures that high-pressure storage capacity is allocated only where necessary, reducing overall high-pressure tank manufacturing costs while maintaining refueling efficiency for vehicles that need it.
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 system enables efficient and rapid refueling of vehicles by utilizing smaller high-pressure reservoirs, reducing energy consumption, and allowing for scalable station capacity to handle peak traffic, ensuring all vehicles receive a full fill while minimizing storage costs.
Implementation Method 1
electrochemical compressors that scavenge fuel from lower pressure reservoirs to compress and discharge it into higher pressure reservoirs
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a compressed fuel dispensing station having a compressor configured to compress a fuel source, a plurality of fuel dispensing units, at least one low pressure compressed fuel reservoir fluidly connected to the fuel compressor and the plurality of fuel dispensing units, and a plurality of high pressure compressed fuel reservoirs, wherein each high pressure compressed fuel reservoir is fluidly connected to the fuel compressor and at least one fuel dispensing unit.