Hydrogen Tank Valve Three-Way Isolation for Moisture Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Moisture mixed with hydrogen during filling can enter the control valve of a valve apparatus, potentially causing the opening and closing mechanism to freeze and malfunction due to temperature drops.
Innovation Solution
A tank valve apparatus with a three-way valve that isolates the filling passage from the supply passage during hydrogen filling, using the pressure of incoming hydrogen to actuate the valve body and prevent moisture from reaching the control valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the control valve and filling path valves are collectively provided in one valve apparatus, then attachability and cost are improved, but moisture can enter the control valve during hydrogen filling causing the opening and closing mechanism to freeze
Solution Approach 1:
The valve apparatus is segmented into distinct functional passages: a filling passage for hydrogen filling and a supply passage for hydrogen supply to the fuel cell. The three-way valve creates separate flow paths that prevent moisture from the filling passage from reaching the control valve in the supply passage, while maintaining a unified valve apparatus structure for cost and attachability benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The three-way valve acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the filling passage and the supply passage. It controls the communication between these passages based on the operational state (filling vs. supply), allowing moisture-free hydrogen to reach the control valve during supply operation while isolating the control valve from moisture-containing hydrogen during filling operation.
2Reliability
If moisture enters the control valve during hydrogen filling, then the opening and closing mechanism may freeze due to temperature decrease, but providing separate valve apparatus would increase complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The internal flow paths are segmented into filling passage and supply passage using the three-way valve, creating functional separation without physical separation of the entire valve apparatus. This maintains structural simplicity while preventing moisture from reaching the control valve during filling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The three-way valve provides multi-functionality by serving both as a filling valve and a supply valve, and by controlling the communication between filling and supply passages. This single component performs multiple functions that would otherwise require separate valve apparatus, reducing overall system complexity while ensuring reliable control valve operation.
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
Prevents moisture from entering the control valve, thereby avoiding the freezing issue and ensuring reliable operation of the opening and closing mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
When the tank is filled with hydrogen, a valve body of the three-way valve is actuated by the pressing force of hydrogen introduced from the filling passage
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a tank valve apparatus that prevents moisture mixed with hydrogen from flowing into a control valve provided to the valve apparatus when a tank is filled with the hydrogen via the valve apparatus. A valve apparatus included in a tank for storing hydrogen includes a control valve that controls supply of hydrogen stored in a tank body of the tank to the outside, a supply passage provided with the control valve, a tank passage communicating with the tank body, a three-way valve to which the tank passage and the supply passage are connected, and a filling passage that introduces hydrogen into the three-way valve. When the tank is filled with hydrogen, a valve body of the three-way valve is actuated by the pressing force of hydrogen introduced from the filling passage, the filling passage and the tank passage communicate with each other and the filling passage and the supply passage are closed from each other.