Hydrogen Tank TPRD Flow Rate Detection for Fire Status
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, there is a lack of accurate information about the status of hydrogen tanks during a fire, which increases the risk of secondary accidents during fire suppression and life rescue activities due to the potential for hydrogen-induced fires or explosions.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that include a thermal pressure relief device (TPRD) within the hydrogen tank, a sensor to detect the flow rate of discharged hydrogen, and a controller to transmit warning signals and operate alarm devices based on predetermined flow rate ranges, ensuring safe fire suppression and life rescue by indicating the tank's status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a sensor and controller are added to detect and monitor hydrogen flow rate, then the ability to provide accurate information about tank status is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sensor as an intermediary device that indirectly measures tank status by detecting hydrogen flow rate through the TPRD valve, rather than directly monitoring pressure or temperature inside the tank. This intermediary approach provides accurate status information while keeping the monitoring system relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller receives feedback from the sensor regarding hydrogen flow rate and uses this information to determine tank status and provide warnings to external users. This feedback mechanism enables continuous monitoring and accurate status assessment without requiring complex direct measurement systems.
2Reliability
If warning signals and alarm devices are activated during fire, then the safety for fire suppression and rescue operations is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures warning signals and alarm devices to be automatically activated when the controller detects specific flow rate conditions indicating tank status changes during fire. This preliminary setup ensures immediate safety warnings without requiring complex real-time decision-making systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically monitors flow rate, determines tank status, and activates appropriate warnings without requiring external intervention or complex control algorithms. The TPRD valve itself provides the primary function of pressure relief, while the monitoring system simply detects its operation state.
3Measurement precision
If the flow rate detection system is used to determine TPRD expansion, then the measurement precision of tank status is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct mechanical or pressure-based measurement methods with flow rate detection through the TPRD valve. By measuring the flow characteristics of discharged hydrogen, the system achieves precise tank status determination while avoiding the technical challenges of direct high-pressure measurement inside the tank.
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 solution effectively determines whether the TPRD is expanded and notifies external users of the hydrogen tank's pressure status, preventing secondary accidents by providing visual and auditory warnings and ensuring safe operations during vehicle fires.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal pressure relief device (TPRD) disposed within a valve of the hydrogen storing tank
Implementation Method 2
a sensor configured to detect a flow rate of hydrogen discharged from the hydrogen storing tank
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method of indicating safety of a hydrogen tank when a vehicle fire occurs are provided. The apparatus includes a hydrogen storing tank and a thermal pressure relief device (TPRD) mounted within a valve of the hydrogen storing tank. In addition, a controller is configured to detect a flow rate of hydrogen discharged from the hydrogen storing tank, using a sensor to determine whether the detected flow rate of discharged hydrogen is within a predetermined reference flow rate range. The controller is also configured to transmit a warning signal when the detected flow rate of discharged hydrogen is included within the predetermined reference flow rate range.