Hydrogen Tank Wall Adsorbents for Cryogenic Leak Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrogen storage solutions for aircraft are not efficient in capturing and managing gaseous hydrogen leaks, which pose safety hazards and are not suitable for aircraft due to weight constraints.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen tank equipped with absorbent fillers that capture and store gaseous hydrogen, utilizing materials like porous carbonated elements and metal-organic frameworks, integrated into the tank's structure to minimize weight and prevent leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional dynamic purging systems with double tank jackets are used, then gaseous hydrogen leaks can be managed, but the system weight becomes excessive and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous absorbent fillers (such as activated carbon, zeolites, or metal-organic frameworks) integrated into the tank wall structure to capture gaseous hydrogen leaks. These porous materials provide high surface area for hydrogen absorption while maintaining minimal weight, eliminating the need for heavy dynamic purging systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The tank wall is constructed as a composite structure combining structural materials with absorbent fillers. This composite approach integrates the hydrogen capture function directly into the tank wall, replacing traditional separate purging systems and reducing overall system weight while maintaining leak management capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If absorbent fillers are integrated into the tank wall, then gaseous hydrogen capture capability is improved, but the tank wall structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the structural function and hydrogen capture function into a single integrated tank wall structure. The absorbent fillers are incorporated directly into the wall material during manufacturing, eliminating the need for separate capture devices and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tank wall serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural containment, thermal insulation, and gaseous hydrogen capture. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate systems, simplifying the overall tank design while improving hydrogen leak management.
3Weight of moving object
If composite materials are used for the tank wall, then weight is reduced, but resistance to thermomechanical loading and hydrogen evaporation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses advanced composite materials combining structural fibers (carbon, glass, or aramid) with polymer matrices to create a tank wall that is both lightweight and resistant to thermomechanical loading. The composite structure provides mechanical strength while maintaining low weight compared to traditional metal construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorbent fillers are selected and configured to provide hydrogen capture capability without significantly compromising the structural integrity of the composite tank wall. The porous materials are integrated in a manner that maintains the wall's resistance to thermomechanical stresses and hydrogen evaporation while providing effective hydrogen capture.
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 absorbent fillers effectively capture and manage gaseous hydrogen leaks, reducing weight and ensuring safety by preventing hydrogen release into the environment, with the option to recover and reuse the captured hydrogen.
Implementation Method 1
absorbent fillers capable of capturing gaseous hydrogen
Implementation Method 2
The gaseous hydrogen capture system also has other advantages specified hereinbelow, including the possibility of controlling the flow rate of the leaks and/or of restoring the captured gaseous hydrogen
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrogen tank, preferably a tank for storing liquid hydrogen at low pressure in cryogenic condition, includes at least one gaseous hydrogen capture system. The system is provided with absorbent fillers configured to capture the gaseous hydrogen, the absorbent fillers being linked to at least a part of a wall of the tank, and/or to a skin arranged on an outer face of the tank, and/or to an outer jacket intended to implement an auxiliary function. The system has a reduced weight and is able to retain and store gaseous hydrogen which could escape from the tank so as to prevent it from being given off into the environment of the tank. The captured gaseous hydrogen is able to be restored later by the system.