Hydrogen Tank Safety Means for Explosion Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogen tanks in fuel cell vehicles are prone to explosion in accidents due to the flammability and volatility of hydrogen, leading to potential fires and injuries, especially in confined spaces, necessitating a safe and cost-effective solution for hydrogen storage.
Innovation Solution
A tank design incorporating safety means with a neutralizing substance like copper oxide that reacts with hydrogen to produce a non-combustible compound, activated by sensors and an electronic control unit to disperse the substance and manage pressure during accidents, preventing explosions and fires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrogen is stored in pressurized tanks for fuel cell vehicles, then the vehicle can operate with alternative energy, but the tank becomes extremely dangerous in accident conditions due to hydrogen's flammability and volatility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of hydrogen's high reactivity and flammability into a beneficial safety mechanism. By introducing a reactive substance (such as metal powder or chemical compound) that reacts with hydrogen at lower activation energy than combustion requires, the system transforms the explosion hazard into a controlled chemical reaction that consumes hydrogen safely, preventing catastrophic failure while maintaining the utility of pressurized hydrogen storage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary protective measures by pre-installing reactive substances and detection systems within the tank structure before accidents occur. Sensors continuously monitor hydrogen conditions and trigger the reactive substance deployment in advance of potential combustion, creating a preemptive defense against explosion risks while allowing normal pressurized operation to continue
2Reliability
If pressure relief valves are used to prevent tank explosion, then the tank safety is improved, but a persistent flame is generated that can seriously injure vehicle users or rescuers
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simply releasing hydrogen through pressure relief valves (which creates dangerous flames), the patent introduces a reactive substance that chemically consumes the released hydrogen. This converts the harmful flammable gas into a controlled chemical reaction producing harmless products, transforming the flame hazard into a safe neutralization process while maintaining pressure relief functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The reactive substance acts as an intermediary between the pressurized hydrogen and the external environment. Rather than allowing direct combustion of released hydrogen, this intermediate chemical layer reacts with hydrogen first, consuming it before it can ignite, thereby mediating the harmful energy release into a controlled exothermic reaction that prevents persistent flaming
3Quantity of substance
If the tank contains sufficient quantity of hydrogen for vehicle use, then the vehicle's energy supply is adequate, but the potential explosion capacity increases to 6 MJ
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary protective measures by pre-positioning reactive substances throughout the tank structure that are ready to immediately consume hydrogen upon detection of accident conditions. This preliminary preparation allows the tank to maintain full hydrogen capacity for vehicle operation while having the capability to rapidly neutralize up to 6 MJ of explosion energy through pre-deployed chemical reactions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the very property that makes hydrogen dangerous (its high reactivity and energy density) into a safety mechanism. By introducing substances that react with hydrogen at controlled rates, the system converts the potential 6 MJ explosion capacity into a series of controlled exothermic reactions that consume hydrogen safely, maintaining full storage capacity while eliminating the explosion hazard
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 neutralizes hydrogen, preventing explosions and minimizing fire intensity, ensuring safer hydrogen storage for fuel cell vehicles while being adaptable to various tank sizes and configurations.
Implementation Method 1
safety means 10 configured to disperse a substance capable of chemically reacting with hydrogen to produce a neutral compound with regards to the combustion
Implementation Method 2
activated by sensors and an electronic control unit to disperse the substance
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
AI summary
A tank (1) for containing pressurized hydrogen for a fuel cell vehicle (1), comprising at least one fuel tank (2) comprising a wall (2a) configured to delimit an internal volume (2b) for containing said pressurized hydrogen, said tank (1) comprising safety means (10) configured to chemically neutralize said pressurized hydrogen according to a pre-established condition.