On-Board Hydrogen Supply Layout for Collision Damage Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydrogen supply units in vehicles running on liquid hydrogen are vulnerable to damage during collisions, which can lead to safety issues and system failure.

Innovation Solution

The on-vehicle hydrogen supply apparatus includes a hydrogen supply unit housed within a protective cover, featuring a partition plate that separates the liquid hydrogen tank from the vaporizer and pressure chamber, and a stay that supports the pressure reducing valve to prevent oscillation during collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the hydrogen supply unit components are arranged in close proximity to maximize space utilization, then the device complexity is reduced, but the vulnerability to collision damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidcollision damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The interior space of the cover is divided into a first space housing the liquid hydrogen tank and a second space housing the vaporizer and pressure chamber, separated by a partition plate. This segmentation isolates critical components, preventing collision damage to one component from affecting others, thereby reducing vulnerability while maintaining compact arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the liquid hydrogen tank and pressure chamber are positioned close together to reduce overall apparatus size, then the volume is reduced, but the risk of damage during collision increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapparatus volumeVSAvoidcollision resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A partition plate is introduced as an intermediary structure between the liquid hydrogen tank and the pressure chamber. This partition plate acts as a protective barrier that prevents direct contact between these two critical components during collision, thereby maintaining compact volume while ensuring reliability through isolation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If the pressure reducing valve is left unsupported to simplify the cover structure, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the valve becomes vulnerable to oscillation and damage during collision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidvalve protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

A stay is provided in advance within the cover structure to support the pressure reducing valve before collision occurs. This preliminary support structure prevents the valve from oscillating or becoming damaged during collision, ensuring component strength without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 effectively reduces the risk of damage to the hydrogen supply unit during vehicle collisions by isolating critical components and using high-strength materials for the cover and partition plate.

Implementation Method 1

a vaporizer that vaporizes liquid hydrogen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP4303427B1Vehicle with on-board hydrogen supply apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4303427B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4303427B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4303427B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An on-vehicle hydrogen supply apparatus (100) includes a hydrogen supply unit (60) that includes a liquid hydrogen tank (61), a vaporizer (62) that vaporizes liquid hydrogen, and a pressure chamber (63) that is filled with vaporized hydrogen gas and supplies the filled hydrogen gas to a hydrogen engine for driving a vehicle, and supplies the hydrogen gas vaporized from the liquid hydrogen to the hydrogen engine. The apparatus (100) also has a cover (10) that houses the hydrogen supply unit (60).