Hydrogen Tank Support Frame Layout for Side-Crash Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in FCEVs is the potential damage to hydrogen storage tanks during side collisions due to reduced side crash space and insufficient crashworthiness, especially in vehicles with high overall height and floor steps, which compromise the tank's capacity and safety.
Innovation Solution
An automotive hydrogen storage tank support system that connects a support frame directly to the vehicle's side sills, enhancing stiffness and strength by dividing the side sills into high-strength and low-strength sections to absorb impact energy and protect the tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the hydrogen storage tank length is increased to secure sufficient capacity, then the storage capacity is improved, but the side crash space is narrowed which increases the possibility of damage during side collision
Solution Approach 1:
The side sill is divided into a first side sill and a second side sill that are spaced apart from each other in the width direction, creating a segmented structure that provides both support and crash space management
Solution Approach 2:
A support frame is introduced as an intermediary structure between the hydrogen storage tank and the side sills, providing direct support to the tank while connecting to the segmented side sill structure to manage crash forces
2Strength
If the side sill is made strong to prevent deformation, then the crashworthiness is improved, but the impact energy cannot be absorbed which may cause damage to the hydrogen storage tank
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the side sill structure are designed with different properties: the first and second side sills are positioned to absorb impact energy through controlled deformation, while the support frame provides strong local support directly to the hydrogen storage tank
Solution Approach 2:
The side sills are designed to rotate toward the floor during impact, converting the harmful impact energy into beneficial rotational motion that absorbs energy away from the hydrogen storage tank
3Strength
If the support frame is directly connected to side sills, then the stiffness and strength are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports the hydrogen storage tank, connects to the segmented side sills for enhanced stiffness, and provides a structure that can work with the side sill rotation mechanism during crashes
Solution Approach 2:
The support frame is integrated with the existing side sill structure, merging the support function with the crashworthiness function in a unified system rather than adding separate independent components
Data Source
AI summary
An automotive hydrogen storage tank support system for a vehicle includes: a floor; a pair of side sills mounted on lateral edges of the floor, respectively; and a support frame mounted on the floor and supporting a hydrogen storage tank The support frame includes a pair of longitudinal members, and a plurality of transverse members connecting the pair of longitudinal members to each other, at least one transverse member among the plurality of transverse members has a pair of extension portions respectively extending from opposite ends thereof toward the pair of side sills, and each extension portion is joined to a corresponding side sill of the pair of side sills.