Hydrogen Tank Shutoff Valve with Coaxial Control to Reduce Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shut-off valves for hydrogen tanks suffer from increased wear due to constant opening and closing, particularly in the seat area, and require significant installation space, making integration into compressed gas containers challenging.
Innovation Solution
A shut-off valve design featuring a main valve with a reciprocating piston and a control valve, arranged coaxially with a magnetic separation, utilizing a solenoid coil to generate a holding force that overrides the automatic closing function, allowing for a compact and defined open position, and incorporating a spring for secure closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the control valve's discharge flow is fed to the valve outlet of the main valve to achieve large volume flows, then the volume flow capability is improved, but the shut-off valve closes due to pressure equalization causing constant opening and closing which increases wear
Solution Approach 1:
A non-magnetic body is introduced as an intermediary element between the control valve and main valve. This body redirects the discharge flow from the control valve through a separate pathway that does not lead directly to the main valve outlet, preventing pressure equalization while still enabling large volume flows through the main valve when open.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow paths are segmented into separate channels: one for control pressure regulation and another for main gas flow. The control valve manages pressure independently while the main valve handles volume flow, preventing the coupling that causes premature closing and wear.
2Force
If the solenoid coil is made large to generate sufficient holding force, then the holding force is improved, but the installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve piston stroke is designed to preliminarily minimize the air gap between the solenoid coil and valve piston before the holding force is fully required. This preliminary action reduces the distance over which the magnetic field must act, allowing a smaller solenoid coil to generate the necessary holding force.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static large-gap design to a dynamic configuration where the valve piston movement actively reduces the air gap. This dynamic adjustment optimizes magnetic coupling efficiency, reducing the size requirements for the solenoid coil while maintaining sufficient holding force.
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 design minimizes wear and reduces installation space, ensuring reliable operation and integration into hydrogen tank systems while enabling large volume flows and meeting safety requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a solenoid coil (13) integrated into the valve housing (14), which generates a holding force (Fs) acting on the valve piston (6)
Implementation Method 2
the spring force (Fs') of a spring (15) acts on the valve piston (6) in the closing direction
Implementation Method 3
The opening function is usually achieved indirectly via an electromagnetically actuated control valve
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a shutoff valve (1) for hydrogen tank systems comprising at least one compressed gas container (2), the shutoff valve comprising a main valve (3) and a control valve (4) for controlling the main valve (3), wherein the main valve (3) has a valve piston (6) which interacts with a valve seat (5), can be moved back and forth, and delimits, at its end (7) remote from the valve seat (5), a control chamber (8) which is connected to a storage volume (10) of the compressed gas container (2) via a flow restrictor (9) and can be connected to a gas outlet (12) via an outflow restrictor (11), depending on the switching position of the control valve (4), and wherein the main valve (3) has a solenoid coil (13) by means of which an opening force and/or holding force acting on the valve piston (6) can be generated. Furthermore, the invention relates to a compressed gas container having a shutoff valve (1) according to the invention, and to a hydrogen tank system comprising at least one compressed gas container (2) and a shutoff valve (1) according to the invention.