Hydrogen Non-Return Valve Damping for Filling-Induced Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-return valves in fuel cell systems experience undesirable vibratory phenomena due to fluctuations in hydrogen flow during filling operations, particularly at the initial and final stages, which are not effectively addressed by current designs.
Innovation Solution
A non-return valve equipped with a damper ring and a helical spring mechanism that dampens the abrupt pressure changes by altering the engagement between the shutter and damper ring, preventing or limiting vibratory phenomena.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a non-return valve is used to prevent hydrogen escape during filling, then safety is improved, but vibratory phenomena occur due to flow fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a damping device with a damper ring and spring mechanism that is pre-configured to cushion the effects of pressure fluctuations before they can cause harmful vibrations. The spring is pre-compressed to provide immediate damping action when flow fluctuations occur, preventing vibratory phenomena while maintaining the non-return valve's safety function.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping device acts as an intermediary element between the hydrogen flow and the non-return valve components. The damper ring and spring mechanism mediate the transmission of pressure fluctuations, filtering out harmful vibrations while allowing the valve to respond to legitimate flow changes for safety control.
2Speed
If the shutter is designed to respond quickly to flow changes, then responsiveness is improved, but vibratory phenomena increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic damping system where the spring and damper ring work together to provide velocity-dependent resistance. The spring constant and damper characteristics are designed to allow rapid shutter response to legitimate flow changes while automatically damping excessive vibrations that occur during filling operations, thus balancing responsiveness with vibration control.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If damping elements are added to reduce vibrations, then vibratory phenomena are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible damper ring made of elastomeric material that provides damping functionality through its inherent material properties. This flexible element works in conjunction with a simple spring mechanism to reduce vibrations without requiring complex active control systems or multiple heavy components, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity while effectively addressing vibratory phenomena.
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 reduces or eliminates vibratory issues in the valve by stabilizing the shutter movement, ensuring smooth operation during hydrogen flow fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (160), threaded on the shutter stem (130) and radially tightening the damper ring (150)
Implementation Method 2
the stem (130) of the shutter (120) traverses the damper ring (150), made of an elastomeric material
Implementation Method 3
a polymeric, elastomeric or viscoelastic material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A non-return valve ( 100; 100 ' ) for managing a high- pressure hydrogen flow in a fuel cell automotive system comprises a damper ring (150; 150' ) which, in an opening position, tightens a stem (130; 130' ) of a shutter (120) with an opening damping action, and, in a closing position, either disengages the stem (130) or tightens the stem (130' ) with a closing damping action which is less than the opening damping action.