Hydrogen Tank Supply Prioritization for Safer Vehicle Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The maintenance and replacement of hydrogen tanks in hydrogen-operated vehicles are cumbersome and inefficient, leading to time-consuming procedures, hydrogen wastage, and safety concerns due to the need for venting highly flammable hydrogen.
Innovation Solution
A computer system with processing circuitry controls hydrogen supply by prioritizing it from a specific tank undergoing maintenance, preventing further supply when pressure falls below a threshold, and managing venting and refueling to reduce downtime and hydrogen waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrogen is vented from the tank before maintenance, then safety is improved, but hydrogen wastage increases and maintenance time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically transferring hydrogen from the maintenance tank to other operational tanks before maintenance begins. This eliminates the need for venting hydrogen at the maintenance facility, thereby preventing hydrogen wastage while still ensuring safety through controlled transfer operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts hydrogen from the maintenance tank and transfers it to other operational tanks using a transfer pump and valve system. This extraction process allows the maintenance tank to be emptied and prepared for maintenance without venting to the atmosphere, thus preventing hydrogen wastage while maintaining safety through controlled extraction.
2Reliability
If hydrogen is vented from the tank before maintenance, then safety is improved, but maintenance time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically transferring hydrogen from the maintenance tank to other operational tanks before the vehicle arrives at the maintenance facility. This pre-transfer operation eliminates the time-consuming venting process at the maintenance facility, thereby reducing maintenance time while ensuring safety through controlled transfer operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically managing the hydrogen transfer process using onboard sensors, control units, and transfer pumps. The system monitors tank pressure and hydrogen levels, automatically initiating and completing the transfer operation without external intervention, thus reducing maintenance time while maintaining safety.
3Duration of action of moving object
If multiple hydrogen tanks are used, then continuous supply to hydrogen consumer is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the hydrogen storage function into multiple separate tanks, each independently manageable. This segmentation allows one tank to be maintained while others continue supplying hydrogen, ensuring continuous supply. The segmentation is managed through individual valves and pressure sensors for each tank, controlling complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrogen tank system performs multiple functions: primary hydrogen storage, automatic hydrogen transfer between tanks, and maintenance isolation. The control system universally manages all tanks using the same sensors, valves, and transfer pump, allowing any tank to serve as the active supply tank while others are maintained, thus ensuring continuous supply without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer system (17) comprising processing circuitry (18) configured to: receive a maintenance instruction (190) for a first hydrogen tank (105a) of a vehicle (1), the first hydrogen tank (105a) being one of a plurality of hydrogen tanks (105) configured to supply hydrogen to a hydrogen consumer (10) of the vehicle (1); in response to the received maintenance instruction (190), control the supply of hydrogen from the plurality of hydrogen tanks (105) to the hydrogen consumer (10) by prioritizing supply of hydrogen from the first hydrogen tank (105a); and determine the gas pressure of the first hydrogen tank (105a), and in response to the determined gas pressure being below a predetermined supply pressure threshold, control a hydrogen supply valve (181) for the first hydrogen tank (105a) to close to prevent further supply of hydrogen from the first hydrogen tank (105a) to the hydrogen consumer (10).