LH2 Offloading Control Conduit With Hydrogen Leak Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Accidental spillage and inefficient cooling during the refilling of liquid hydrogen storage tanks pose safety and cost issues in hydrogen fueling stations.

Innovation Solution

A system that automatically purges and pre-cools the hydrogen fuel line before refilling, using a controller to manage valves and temperature sensors to prevent moisture buildup and ensure efficient transfer of hydrogen, including purging with warm hydrogen and pre-cooling with cold hydrogen, and expelling residual fuel when the tank is full.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If liquid hydrogen is transferred directly to refill storage tanks, then the refilling process is simple and fast, but moisture condensation and thermal stress occur in the fuel lines causing safety issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefilling speedVSAvoidsafety of fuel line

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions before the main refilling operation: first purging the fuel line with warm hydrogen to remove moisture, then pre-cooling with cold hydrogen to reduce thermal stress. These preparatory steps ensure the fuel line is ready to receive liquid hydrogen safely, preventing condensation and thermal shock during the actual transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The refilling process is divided into distinct sequential stages: purge phase (removing moisture with warm hydrogen), pre-cool phase (reducing thermal stress with cold hydrogen), and refill phase (transferring liquid hydrogen). This segmentation allows each stage to address specific concerns independently, ensuring safety while maintaining efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the fuel line is purged and pre-cooled before refilling, then safety and efficiency are improved, but the refilling process time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety of fuel lineVSAvoidrefilling cycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The purge and pre-cool phases use hydrogen flow that is continuous and uninterrupted, preparing the fuel line while the system remains in a controlled state. The automated sequencing ensures no idle time between operations, and the processes overlap with system preparation activities, minimizing overall cycle time while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own hydrogen inventory to perform the purging and pre-cooling operations, rather than requiring external resources or manual intervention. The automated control system manages the entire sequence independently, eliminating delays associated with human operation and ensuring consistent, efficient execution of safety protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If manual monitoring and control of the refilling process is used, then system complexity is reduced, but accidental spillage and leakage occur due to human error

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidprevention of spillage and leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The automated control system continuously monitors parameters such as temperature, pressure, and flow rate during purging, pre-cooling, and refilling operations. Sensors provide real-time feedback to the control system, which automatically adjusts valve positions and flow rates to maintain safe operating conditions, preventing spillage and leakage through continuous monitoring and dynamic adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical control with automated electronic control. Microprocessors and control algorithms manage the sequencing of operations, valve actuation, and parameter monitoring, eliminating human error while maintaining system simplicity through integrated control modules that manage multiple functions through software rather than complex mechanical linkages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 enhances safety and efficiency by preventing condensation and thermal stress, reducing the risk of leakage and improving the reliability of the refilling process.

Implementation Method 1

open a warm hydrogen source valve to allow warm hydrogen fuel to flow from a warm hydrogen source to the hydrogen fuel line

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

open the station vent control valve to allow cold hydrogen fuel to flow from the hydrogen fuel line to the station vent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal cooling: Cooling

Implementation Method 3

receive a temperature measurement from temperature sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Data Source

PatentUS11913581B2Control conduit for LH2 offloading

Publication Date: 2024.02.27 FIRSTELEMENT FUEL INC

AI summary

A control conduit for liquid hydrogen offloading is configured to couple a controller of a liquid hydrogen offload system to a liquid hydrogen tanker. The control conduit includes a control line and a gas detector. The control line is configured to transmit a control signal from the controller to the liquid hydrogen tanker. The gas detector is configured to detect hydrogen gas and provide a gas detector signal to the controller. The gas detector is secured to the control line at a predetermined distance from a tanker connection end of the control line.