Liquid Hydrogen Tank Boil-Off Preheating With a Metal Hydride Heater
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing boil-off management systems for liquid hydrogen tanks require continuous monitoring and electric heating to maintain catalyst functionality at low temperatures, preventing complete vehicle shutdown during parking.
Innovation Solution
A passive metal hydride heater is integrated into the tank arrangement, using a reversible reaction with hydrogen to generate heat for the catalyst, eliminating the need for electric heating and allowing passive preheating of the boil-off management system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a catalytic combustion chamber with electric heater is used to process boil-off gas, then reliable combustion is achieved, but the system requires permanent monitoring and active preheating, preventing complete vehicle shutdown
Solution Approach 1:
The metal hydride heater automatically activates when hydrogen pressure reaches a threshold level, heating the catalyst without requiring external monitoring or control systems. The system serves itself by using the stored hydrogen pressure to drive the heating process, eliminating the need for permanent electronic monitoring during parking.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric heating system is replaced with a chemical heating system based on metal hydride decomposition. This substitution eliminates electrical components and electronic control, replacing them with a passive chemical process that activates automatically based on pressure conditions.
2Temperature
If electric heating is used to preheat the catalyst, then the boil-off management system functions at low temperatures, but continuous energy supply is required, preventing long parking times
Solution Approach 1:
The metal hydride is pre-charged with hydrogen during normal operation when the tank is pressurized. This preliminary action stores thermal energy in the metal hydride bonds, which is then released automatically when needed during parking to preheat the catalyst without requiring external energy supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter by utilizing the exothermic decomposition reaction of metal hydride. The chemical reaction inherently generates heat, changing the thermal state of the catalyst from cold to operational temperature without external energy input.
3Reliability
If the vehicle remains powered on during parking, then the boil-off management system can be actively preheated, but energy is wasted and long parking times are prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors and activates the metal hydride heater when hydrogen pressure indicates sufficient fuel for heating. This self-service mechanism ensures the catalyst is preheated only when conditions are favorable, eliminating the need for continuous power consumption during parking while maintaining system readiness.
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
Enables complete vehicle shutdown during parking by passively preheating the boil-off management system without external energy, utilizing the exothermic reaction of metal hydrides to maintain catalyst functionality.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing the exothermic reaction of metal hydrides to maintain catalyst functionality
Implementation Method 2
The device enables passive preheating of the BOMS (boil-off management system) and thus the required complete shutdown of the vehicle electronics when parked
Implementation Method 3
hydrogen catalytically reacts with oxygen to form water and can then be discharged
Implementation Method 4
a catalytic combustion chamber for burning the mixed gas mixed by the mixing device
Implementation Method 5
the first pressure relief valve is configured to open when a specified first pressure is exceeded
Data Source
AI summary
A tank arrangement includes a tank for liquid hydrogen, a boil-off management system having a catalyst, and a heater arranged on the hydrogen side behind a first pressure relief valve and thermally connected to the catalyst. The first pressure relief valve is configured to open when a specified first pressure is exceeded. The heater is designed as a passive metal hydride heater containing a metal hydride. A second pressure relief valve is arranged between the first pressure relief valve and the catalyst. The second pressure relief valve is configured to open when a specified second pressure, which is higher than the first pressure, is exceeded.