Mobile Hydrogen Refueling Station with Fuel Cell Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile hydrogen service stations are typically stationary, dependent on external power, and not emission-free, limiting their mobility and environmental impact during the demonstration phase of hydrogen as a vehicle fuel.
Innovation Solution
A mobile, self-sufficient hydrogen service station equipped with a reservoir, liquid and gaseous medium dispensing units, a compressor, evaporator, heating system, intermediate reservoir, fuel cell, and control unit, allowing for simultaneous refueling of vehicles with gaseous and liquid hydrogen, and capable of being transported to remote locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mobile hydrogen service station is designed to be transportable to remote locations, then mobility and flexibility are improved, but device complexity and self-sufficiency requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The service station is divided into modular functional units including a reservoir module for liquid hydrogen storage, a vaporization module with evaporator and compressor, a dispensing module with dispensing units, and a power module with fuel cell. This segmentation allows each module to be independently designed, manufactured, and transported, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining full functionality at remote locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The service station incorporates a fuel cell that generates electrical power from hydrogen, enabling the system to be self-powered without external power supply. The control unit automatically manages the vaporization process, compressor operation, and dispensing units, allowing the system to operate autonomously at remote locations without requiring external infrastructure.
2Quantity of substance
If the service station uses liquid hydrogen storage, then energy density and storage efficiency are improved, but safety risks and handling complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the phase transition of hydrogen between liquid and gaseous states. Liquid hydrogen is stored in the reservoir for high-density storage, then vaporized through the evaporator and compressed through the compressor to generate gaseous hydrogen for dispensing. This phase transition mechanism enables efficient storage while allowing safe handling and dispensing of the gas.
Solution Approach 2:
The vaporization module acts as an intermediary between the liquid hydrogen reservoir and the gaseous hydrogen dispensing units. This intermediate system includes an evaporator that converts liquid to vapor, a compressor that pressurizes the gas, and a heat exchanger that manages thermal energy, thereby safely bridging the gap between high-density liquid storage and safe gas dispensing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the service station provides both gaseous and liquid hydrogen dispensing, then versatility and customer options are improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The service station is designed with multi-functional dispensing units that can provide both gaseous and liquid hydrogen refueling. The system includes a liquid hydrogen dispensing unit connected to the reservoir and a gaseous hydrogen dispensing unit connected to the vaporization module, allowing the same infrastructure to serve multiple refueling needs simultaneously, thereby increasing versatility without requiring separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives feedback from sensors monitoring the state of hydrogen in the reservoir, the vaporization process, and the dispensing units. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically adjusts the operation of the compressor, evaporator, and dispensing units to maintain optimal conditions, simplifying operational complexity while providing both refueling options.
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
Enables quick, emission-free, and flexible refueling of hydrogen vehicles at various locations, overcoming the limitations of traditional mobile service stations by providing a portable and efficient hydrogen refueling solution.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator mounted upstream of the compressor
Implementation Method 2
a compressor, an evaporator mounted upstream thereof
Implementation Method 3
a heating system mounted downstream of the compressor
Implementation Method 4
a fuel cell which is supplied by the gaseous medium coming from the reservoir and/or the intermediate reservoir and supplies power to the compressor
Data Source
AI summary
A service station, in particular a hydrogen service station for filling a motor vehicle with a gaseous and/or a liquid medium, in particular with gaseous or liquid hydrogen, is disclosed. The station includes a) a reservoir for storing a liquid medium, b) a liquid medium dispensing unit which is supplied with the liquid medium from the reservoir, c) a compressor, an evaporator, a heating system, and an intermediate reservoir for intermediate storage of a compressed gaseous medium, d) a gaseous medium dispensing unit mounted downstream of the intermediate reservoir, e) a fuel cell which is supplied by the gaseous medium coming from the reservoir and/or the intermediate reservoir and supplies power to the compressor, and f) a control unit which is powered by the fuel cell and used for controlling the compressor, the gaseous medium dispensing unit and/or the liquid medium dispensing unit.