Hydrogen Fuel Conduit Sleeve for Vehicle Leak Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogen gas leakage in vehicles is difficult to detect and poses a safety risk due to the potential for ignitable gas accumulation, especially in hydrogen fuel cell systems where small leaks can be challenging to identify without costly and complex sensors.
Innovation Solution
A gas consumer system with an elongated sleeve housing the conduit between the gas tank and consumer, directing potential leakage away from the compartment and incorporating a gas sensor and control unit to manage valve positions and alert operators of leaks, thereby reducing the risk of accidents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hydrogen gas storage and delivery systems are used, then the vehicle can operate with hydrogen fuel, but gas leakage can accumulate and create ignitable hazards that are difficult to detect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful leakage gas from the compartment environment by providing a dedicated escape path through the elongated sleeve. The sleeve acts as a separate channel that removes leakage gas from the hazardous accumulation zone and directs it to a safe external outlet, effectively isolating the harmful factor from the sensitive environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongated sleeve serves as an intermediary structure between the gas storage system and the external environment. It provides a controlled interface for leakage gas, mediating between the internal system and external atmosphere by directing gas flow through a predetermined path that avoids accumulation in the compartment.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If costly and complex sensors are used to detect hydrogen leakage, then small leaks can be detected, but the system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to detect and prevent leakage gas, the patent converts the harmful leakage into a beneficial controlled flow. The elongated sleeve takes the unavoidable leakage gas and directs it usefully away from the compartment, transforming the hazard into a managed flow that exits through a predetermined safe path.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service safety by using the leakage gas itself as the indicator of system operation. The presence of gas flow through the sleeve outlet naturally indicates that the system is functioning, and the continuous external discharge ensures that any leakage is automatically managed without requiring additional detection systems.
3Ease of operation
If gas leakage is allowed to escape into the compartment, then the gas can be dispersed naturally, but ignitable gas may accumulate to dangerous levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing an escape path for leakage gas before any actual leakage occurs. The elongated sleeve is pre-configured with its outlet positioned to direct gas flow away from the compartment, so that when leakage does occur, the gas is immediately channeled along the predetermined safe path without requiring real-time detection or response.
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 system effectively collects and directs hydrogen gas leakage to a safer outlet, reducing the risk of accidents and allowing for timely operator intervention or system shutdown in case of significant leaks, enhancing safety and operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the elongated sleeve comprising a sleeve outlet configured to convey leakage of gas between the gas consumer and the gas tank away from the gas consumer system
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a gas consumer system for a vehicle, the gas consumer system being configured to generate power by consuming gas, the gas consumer system comprising a gas consumer comprising an inlet configured to receive a flow of gas, at least one gas tank, the gas tank comprising a gas tank outlet, a conduit connecting the gas tank outlet of the tank to the inlet of the gas consumer, and an elongated sleeve attached to the inlet of the gas consumer and to the gas tank outlet of the gas tank, wherein the conduit is housed within the elongated sleeve, the elongated sleeve comprising a sleeve outlet configured to convey leakage of gas between the gas consumer and the gas tank away from the gas consumer system.