Hydrogen Station Cooling Startup for Fast Supply
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogen stations face challenges in quickly initiating hydrogen supply to fuel cell vehicles while minimizing power consumption and preventing abrupt temperature increases in hydrogen due to the Joule-Thomson effect.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen station design incorporating a compressor, lubricant cooling unit, hydrogen cooling unit, and sensor system that starts up the cooling units in anticipation of vehicle arrival, using pressure sensors and valves to manage hydrogen flow and temperature, and a startup unit to initiate the cooling systems based on vehicle detection signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the compressor and cooling units are activated in advance to shorten hydrogen supply start-up time, then the response speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling units (hydrogen cooling unit and lubricant cooling unit) are activated in advance when a vehicle approaches the hydrogen station, before the compressor needs to operate. This preliminary cooling action reduces the thermal mass that the compressor must handle, enabling faster hydrogen supply start-up while avoiding continuous operation of all systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation state of cooling units based on real-time vehicle detection signals. The cooling units are activated only when needed (when a vehicle approaches), rather than operating continuously or statically, thereby optimizing the balance between response speed and power consumption
2Productivity
If hydrogen is compressed and supplied rapidly to the hydrogen tank, then charging speed is improved, but temperature increase due to Joule-Thomson effect worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen cooling unit is activated before hydrogen compression and charging begins. This preliminary cooling creates a thermal buffer that counteracts the temperature increase caused by the Joule-Thomson effect during rapid compression, allowing fast charging while maintaining temperature control
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrogen cooling unit acts as an intermediary between the compressor and the hydrogen tank. It provides active cooling to the hydrogen gas during the compression and charging process, mediating the temperature increase that would otherwise occur due to the Joule-Thomson effect during rapid compression
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 configuration reduces the time to initiate hydrogen supply after ordering and minimizes power consumption by pre-conditioning the cooling systems, effectively managing temperature changes and optimizing energy use.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor (a high-pressure compressor) which compresses hydrogen in a high-pressure state
Implementation Method 2
a lubricant cooling unit that cools the lubricant of the compressor while circulating the lubricant
Implementation Method 3
when a gas is expanded while a difference in pressure thereof is maintained when a high-pressure gas of a supply source is transferred (that is, expanded) to a low-pressure state of a supply target, a change in temperature occurs in the gas due to the Joule-Thomson effect
Implementation Method 4
a sensor that detects whether the vehicle approaches or reaches the hydrogen station
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a hydrogen station that is used to charge hydrogen to a hydrogen tank mounted on a vehicle, the hydrogen station including: a compressor that compresses hydrogen; a lubricant cooling unit that cools the lubricant of the compressor while circulating the lubricant; a hydrogen cooling unit that is capable of cooling hydrogen which is not charged to the hydrogen tank mounted on the vehicle yet and is compressed by the compressor; a sensor that detects whether the vehicle approaches or reaches the hydrogen station; and a startup unit that starts up at least one of the lubricant cooling unit and the hydrogen cooling unit by a signal from the sensor.