Hydrogen Vaporizer Output Control for Heating Medium Freezing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of a liquid heating medium in hydrogen vaporizers for hydrogen engine vehicles can lead to freezing issues, which may damage the hydrogen pipes due to the flow of extremely low-temperature hydrogen gas, and existing solutions do not effectively suppress this freezing.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen supply device with a heater, vaporizer, circulation flow path, and control unit that monitors and limits the output based on pressure and temperature inputs from the heating medium and hydrogen gas, preventing freezing by adjusting the power unit's output when predetermined thresholds are exceeded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a liquid heating medium is used in the vaporizer, then the vaporizer size can be reduced compared to using a gas heating medium, but the heating medium may freeze due to heat exchange with liquid hydrogen
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors the temperature of the heating medium and the differential pressure across the vaporizer, and adjusts the heater output accordingly. When the heating medium temperature approaches freezing or differential pressure indicates reduced flow, the control unit increases heater power to maintain safe operating conditions and prevent freezing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the heating power parameter based on real-time temperature and pressure conditions. The heater power is increased when the heating medium temperature decreases or when differential pressure indicates reduced flow rate, thereby maintaining the heating medium above freezing temperature while minimizing vaporizer size.
2Reliability
If the heater power is increased to prevent freezing of the heating medium, then freezing can be suppressed, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit uses feedback from temperature and differential pressure sensors to dynamically adjust heater power. Instead of operating at constant high power, the heater is controlled to provide just enough heating to prevent freezing, reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater power is made dynamic rather than static, adjusting in real-time based on actual operating conditions. When the heating medium temperature is adequate and flow is sufficient, heater power is reduced or turned off, consuming minimal energy. When temperature drops or flow reduces, power is increased only as needed to prevent freezing.
3Productivity
If the flow rate of liquid hydrogen through the vaporizer is increased to improve hydrogen supply, then productivity improves, but the heating medium temperature decreases increasing freezing risk
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit monitors differential pressure across the vaporizer, which indicates the flow rate of liquid hydrogen. When differential pressure shows high flow rate causing heating medium temperature to drop, the control unit increases heater power to compensate and maintain heating medium temperature above freezing, allowing sustained high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the heater power parameter in response to changes in hydrogen flow rate. When liquid hydrogen flow increases (indicated by differential pressure), heater power is increased proportionally to maintain adequate heating medium temperature, enabling high productivity without freezing risk.
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
Effectively suppresses the freezing of the heating medium, preventing damage to the hydrogen pipes and ensuring safe operation by limiting the hydrogen gas output when freezing is detected, thereby maintaining the integrity of the hydrogen supply system.
Implementation Method 1
a heater that heats a liquid heating medium
Implementation Method 2
a vaporizer that vaporizes liquid hydrogen into a hydrogen gas using the heated heating medium
Implementation Method 3
vaporizes liquid hydrogen into a hydrogen gas
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrogen supply device including a heater, a vaporizer, a circulation flow path for circulating a heat medium between the heater and the vaporizer, a pressure of a heat medium of the vaporizer, a temperature of a heat medium of the vaporizer, and a control unit to which a temperature of hydrogen gas flowing out of the vaporizer is input, wherein the control unit limits an output of the hydrogen engine based on the pressure, the temperature, and the temperature of the hydrogen gas.