Hydrogen Tank Filling Module With Shared Pressure Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The configuration of gas supply modules with multiple hydrogen tanks becomes complicated due to the need for a pressure sensor in each tank, increasing complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A gas supply module with a solenoid valve in each tank, an intermediate flow path, a merging portion, and a single pressure measuring device downstream, controlled by a unit that records tank pressures by switching solenoid valves to reduce the number of pressure measuring devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a pressure sensor is provided in each hydrogen tank, then the pressure of each tank can be monitored independently, but the configuration of the device becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple intermediate flow paths from different tanks are merged into a single common flow path at the merging portion, allowing a single pressure sensor to monitor the combined flow. This reduces the number of pressure sensors from multiple (one per tank) to just one, while still enabling pressure monitoring functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The single pressure sensor positioned at the merging portion serves multiple tanks simultaneously by monitoring the combined intermediate flow from all tanks. This multi-functional approach allows one sensor to perform what would otherwise require multiple dedicated sensors, reducing system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If a pressure sensor is provided in each hydrogen tank, then individual tank pressure can be measured, but the number of pressure measuring devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple intermediate flow paths into a single common flow path, enabling a single pressure sensor to monitor the combined flow from multiple tanks. This reduces the quantity of pressure measuring devices from multiple individual sensors to just one shared sensor.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple solenoid valves are used to control gas release from each tank, then gas supply control is flexible, but the device configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple intermediate flow paths with individual solenoid valves are merged into a single common flow path. This maintains the flexibility of individual valve control while reducing the complexity of the overall flow path configuration by consolidating multiple paths into one.
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
Simplifies the device configuration and reduces installation costs while maintaining efficient gas supply and pressure monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure measuring device provided on the merging portion or on the downstream side of the merging portion
Data Source
AI summary
A gas supply module includes: a plurality of tanks; a solenoid valve; an intermediate flow path; a merging portion; a gas discharge flow path; a pressure measuring device; and a control unit. The control section controls the solenoid valve of any one of the solenoid valves to the open state at the start of the gas discharge, controls the solenoid valve to the closed state at the end of the gas discharge, and records the pressure measured by the pressure measuring device as the pressure of the tank provided with the solenoid valve controlled to the closed state.