Hydrogen Tank Venting with Sorption-Catalyst Water Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hydrogen storage arrangements for fuel cell systems in vehicles, the release of excessively concentrated gaseous hydrogen into the environment can occur due to pressure increases from heat input, posing a risk of explosion and requiring controlled drainage.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen storage arrangement incorporating a hydrogen sorption/catalyst unit that temporarily sorbs and then catalytically converts gaseous hydrogen into water, utilizing the energy from the sorption process to initiate and maintain the catalytic conversion without external energy, with a substrate having flow channels and materials like zeolite or metal hydrates for hydrogen storage and palladium/platinum for catalysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If gaseous hydrogen is released from the hydrogen tank to avoid excessive pressure increase, then pressure control is improved, but highly concentrated hydrogen is released into the environment creating explosion risk
Solution Approach 1:
A sorption/catalyst unit is introduced as an intermediary component between the hydrogen tank and the environment. This unit temporarily stores released hydrogen through sorption material and then catalytically converts it to water, preventing direct release of concentrated hydrogen while maintaining pressure control.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful gaseous hydrogen that needs to be released for pressure control is converted into beneficial water through catalytic conversion. The exothermic sorption process and subsequent catalytic reaction transform the dangerous hydrogen gas into harmless water, eliminating the explosion risk while maintaining pressure management.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If catalytic conversion is used to convert gaseous hydrogen to water, then explosion risk is reduced, but external energy supply is required to initiate the catalytic process
Solution Approach 1:
The sorption material undergoes a phase transition or adsorption process that is highly exothermic, releasing sufficient heat to raise the temperature of the catalyst to its activation temperature. This self-heating effect eliminates the need for external energy input to initiate catalytic conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to be self-sufficient by using the heat released during the sorption process to automatically initiate and sustain the catalytic conversion. No external energy source is needed - the system uses its own operational heat to maintain the catalytic reaction.
3Productivity
If a substrate with flow channels is used to provide surface for sorption and catalysis, then conversion efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A substrate with flow channels and porous structure is employed to maximize the surface area available for sorption and catalytic conversion. The porous architecture and interconnected channels allow efficient hydrogen distribution throughout the material while maintaining a compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides structural support, creates flow channels for hydrogen distribution, offers surface area for sorption material deposition, and facilitates catalytic conversion. This merging of functions improves efficiency without proportionally increasing complexity.
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 solution effectively prevents the release of highly concentrated hydrogen into the environment, reducing the risk of explosion and allowing for efficient hydrogen conversion even at low temperatures, while regenerating the sorption/catalyst unit for repeated use.
Implementation Method 1
a sorption process is used in which, when gaseous hydrogen is released from the at least one hydrogen tank that is not converted in a fuel cell to generate electrical energy, the hydrogen is temporarily sorbed
Implementation Method 2
the hydrogen, or at least a substantial portion of the sorbed hydrogen, can subsequently oxidized in a catalytic process and converted, for example, with atmospheric oxygen to form water
Implementation Method 3
the hydrogen, or at least a substantial portion of the sorbed hydrogen, can subsequently oxidized in a catalytic process
Implementation Method 4
The hydrogen storage arrangement according to the invention can utilize the energy released in the form of heat during the sorption process to raise the temperature of the hydrogen sorption/catalyst unit to a temperature in the range of or above the reaction temperature of the catalytic process
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
A hydrogen storage arrangement, in particular for a fuel cell system in a vehicle, comprises at least one hydrogen tank (18) for storing liquid hydrogen and at least one hydrogen sorption/catalyst unit (22) for sorption and catalytic conversion of gaseous hydrogen (H) released from the at least one hydrogen tank (18).