Liquid Hydrogen Aircraft Power Generation from Fuel Warming
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogen fueled vehicles face inefficiencies in warming liquid hydrogen from storage temperature to operational temperature, leading to energy waste, as existing systems do not effectively utilize excess energy within the system.
Innovation Solution
A power system with a liquid hydrogen fuel source and vacuum insulation layers, utilizing a heat exchanger to warm a portion of the hydrogen fuel, which is then expanded through a thermal engine to generate additional power, with a turbine and electrical generator converting this thermal energy into electrical or mechanical power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If liquid hydrogen is warmed from storage temperature (20K) to operational temperature (300K), then the hydrogen becomes usable in fuel cells, but significant energy is wasted in the warming process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted during hydrogen warming into useful work by employing a thermal engine (Stirling engine) to capture and utilize the temperature differential between the warming hydrogen and the environment, transforming energy loss into additional power generation
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the hydrogen fuel from 20K to 300K in a controlled manner, utilizing the temperature gradient as a resource rather than a loss, and employs phase change (liquid to gas) as part of the energy extraction process
2Device complexity
If excess thermal energy is dissipated during hydrogen warming, then the system operates simply, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal engine serves multiple functions: it generates additional power during hydrogen warming, utilizes the temperature differential that would otherwise be wasted, and can potentially provide cooling during certain operational phases, making the system multi-functional without proportionally increasing complexity
3Power
If a thermal engine is added to capture thermal energy, then additional power is generated, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the thermal engine with the existing hydrogen storage and fuel cell system, integrating the Stirling engine into the thermal management architecture so that components serve dual purposes: the heat exchanger既是 warming device又是 thermal engine heat source, reducing overall system complexity despite added power generation capability
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 reduces overall power consumption and improves hydrogen-powered vehicle efficiency by utilizing thermal energy for additional onboard power generation and enhancing combustion efficiency through oxygen/nitrogen enrichment.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger is configured to heat the first portion of the liquid insulation material via thermal energy exchange with a relatively warm fluid
Implementation Method 2
a thermal engine is configured to expand the liquid insulation material into gaseous form via interaction between a heated first portion of the liquid insulation material and a second portion of the liquid insulation material
Implementation Method 3
The heated first portion of the liquid insulation material is directed through a turbine, where it expands and drives the turbine to generate mechanical power
Implementation Method 4
an electrical generator is operably connected to the turbine to generate electrical power via rotation of the turbine
Implementation Method 5
The fuel tank includes two or more vacuum insulation layers, and a liquid insulation material positioned between the two or more vacuum insulation layers
Data Source
AI summary
A power system includes a liquid hydrogen fuel source including a fuel tank containing a volume of hydrogen fuel. The fuel tank includes two or more vacuum insulation layers, and a liquid insulation material positioned between the two or more vacuum insulation layers. A first power generator located fluidly downstream of the hydrogen fuel source. The first power generator utilizes a flow of hydrogen fuel from the volume of hydrogen fuel to generate electrical or mechanical power.