Hydrogen Storage Assembly With Sorption-Catalyst Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hydrogen storage assemblies for fuel cell systems in vehicles, prolonged downtime leads to the formation of gaseous hydrogen, causing pressure increases in tanks, necessitating controlled release to prevent excessive pressure, which poses an explosion risk if not managed properly.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen storage assembly incorporating a hydrogen sorption/catalyst unit with a ceramic substrate and coated sorption and catalyst materials that sorb and catalytically convert gaseous hydrogen into water, utilizing energy from the sorption process to activate the catalytic reaction, thereby reducing the concentration of hydrogen released and minimizing explosion risk without external energy input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If gaseous hydrogen is released from the hydrogen tank to prevent excessive pressure increase, then pressure control is improved, but explosion risk increases due to release of highly concentrated hydrogen to the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful high-concentration hydrogen gas that needs to be released into a beneficial resource by directing it through a catalytic converter where it is converted to water. The harmful factor (excess hydrogen pressure) becomes the input material for a useful process (catalytic conversion), eliminating explosion risk while maintaining pressure control.
Solution Approach 2:
The catalytic converter acts as an intermediary component between the hydrogen tank and the environment. Instead of directly releasing hydrogen to the atmosphere, the gas passes through this intermediate device where catalytic materials facilitate the conversion of hydrogen to water, thereby mediating the harmful release process.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If catalytic conversion process is used to convert gaseous hydrogen to water, then explosion risk is reduced, but energy input is required to maintain reaction temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves self-service by utilizing the exothermic nature of the catalytic conversion process itself to provide the necessary heat for maintaining reaction temperature. The conversion of hydrogen to water releases heat that sustains the catalytic activity without requiring external energy input, making the system self-sufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the parameter change in temperature through the exothermic reaction. As hydrogen converts to water on the catalyst, the temperature increases naturally, and this temperature parameter change is harnessed to maintain the reaction conditions without external heating, transforming the thermal output into a self-sustaining mechanism.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If sorption process is used to temporarily store gaseous hydrogen, then immediate release is avoided, but sorption capacity must be sufficiently large to handle pressure release volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sorption process with the catalytic conversion process into an integrated system. The sorption material temporarily captures hydrogen, and the catalytic converter simultaneously converts it to water. This combination allows the sorption capacity to be reduced since the catalytic conversion provides a continuous outlet, eliminating the need for oversized sorption material while maintaining hydrogen concentration control.
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 solution effectively reduces the concentration of hydrogen released into the environment, mitigating explosion risks and allowing for safe management of pressure in hydrogen tanks by converting gaseous hydrogen into water, even at low temperatures, through a self-sustaining catalytic process.
Implementation Method 1
the hydrogen is temporarily sorbed
Implementation Method 2
the hydrogen is temporarily sorbed. The sorbed hydrogen or at least a substantial portion thereof may subsequently be oxidized in a catalytic process and for example reacted with atmospheric oxygen to form water
Implementation Method 3
The hydrogen storage assembly according to the disclosure can utilize the energy liberated in the form of heat in the sorption process to increase the temperature of the hydrogen sorption/catalyst unit to a temperature in the range of or above the reaction temperature of the catalytic process
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrogen storage assembly, in particular for a fuel cell system in a vehicle, includes at least one hydrogen tank for storage of liquid hydrogen and at least one hydrogen sorption/catalyst unit for sorption and catalytic conversion of gaseous hydrogen released from the at least one hydrogen tank. Also, a fuel cell system includes the hydrogen storage assembly.