Hydrogen Fuel Supply Using Liquid Tank Vaporization for Pressure Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine systems face inefficiencies and increased costs due to the need for hydraulic pumps and hydrogen compressors to maintain hydrogen fuel pressure, leading to weight and packaging issues, and lack an effective method to sustain optimal engine operation when tank pressure drops below a threshold.
Innovation Solution
A system that integrates a liquid hydrogen tank with a controllable heater to vaporize liquid hydrogen, supplementing gas-phase tanks, maintaining pressure through phase transition, eliminating the need for mechanical compression devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydraulic pumps and hydrogen compressors are used to boost hydrogen fuel pressure, then the engine can maintain optimal operation when tank pressure drops, but the vehicle weight increases and packaging requirements become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of hydrogen from liquid to gas state to maintain pressure in the fuel delivery line. When the gas-phase tank pressure drops below the threshold, the system activates a heater to vaporize liquid hydrogen from the liquid tank, generating additional high-pressure gas-phase hydrogen to supplement the fuel supply and maintain optimal engine operation without requiring mechanical compressors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical compression system (hydraulic pumps and hydrogen compressors) with a thermal field-based system. Instead of using mechanical force to compress hydrogen gas, the system uses a heater to vaporize liquid hydrogen, substituting mechanical energy with thermal energy to achieve the same pressure maintenance function
2Reliability
If hydraulic pumps and hydrogen compressors are used to maintain hydrogen fuel pressure, then the engine can continue operating optimally, but production and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the natural phase transition process of hydrogen (liquid to gas) driven by thermal heating to maintain pressure, eliminating the need for complex mechanical compression systems. This reduces both the initial production cost of the system and ongoing maintenance requirements while ensuring continuous optimal engine operation
Solution Approach 2:
By replacing mechanical compression devices with a thermal vaporization system, the patent reduces the number of moving parts and mechanical components that require maintenance. The simpler system with fewer mechanical elements lowers both production costs and operational maintenance expenses
3Productivity
If gas-phase hydrogen tanks are used to supply hydrogen fuel, then the engine can operate efficiently, but significant amounts of hydrogen fuel remain unutilized when tank pressure drops below the threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the hydrogen storage system into two separate tanks: a gas-phase tank for primary hydrogen storage and a liquid tank for supplemental hydrogen storage. This segmentation allows the system to utilize hydrogen from both phases, ensuring complete fuel utilization by switching to liquid hydrogen vaporization when gas-phase pressure drops below the operational threshold
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes phase transition to maximize hydrogen utilization. When the gas-phase tank pressure drops below the threshold, the heater vaporizes liquid hydrogen from the liquid tank, converting it to gas-phase hydrogen to continue fuel supply. This eliminates waste by ensuring all hydrogen in both tanks is utilized before depletion
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
This approach ensures efficient engine operation by optimizing hydrogen tank pressure, reducing vehicle weight and costs, and enhancing safety and comfort by eliminating mechanical noise, while extending vehicle range and adhering to NVH regulations.
Implementation Method 1
A controllable heater is arranged in association with the at least one liquid tank so as to heat and vaporize the liquid hydrogen when activating the heater
Implementation Method 2
A controllable heater is arranged in association with the at least one liquid tank so as to heat and vaporize the liquid hydrogen
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel supply system for supplying high-pressure gaseous hydrogen fuel to an internal combustion engine, the system comprising: a hydrogen fuel tank arrangement and a fuel delivery line arranged to deliver gaseous hydrogen from the hydrogen fuel tank arrangement to the internal combustion engine, wherein the hydrogen fuel tank arrangement comprises at least one gas-phase tank configured to contain high-pressure gas-phase hydrogen and at least one liquid tank configured to contain liquid hydrogen, wherein a controllable heater is arranged in association with the at least one liquid tank so as to heat and vaporize the liquid hydrogen when activating the heater, wherein the system is configured to direct the heated and vaporized hydrogen into the fuel delivery line as a complement or alternative to hydrogen gas directed into the fuel delivery line from the gas-phase tank.