Multi-Pressure Gas Storage Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas storage systems for consumers operating at multiple pressure levels suffer from significant 'dead mass' inefficiencies, where gas stored at higher pressures cannot be used at lower pressure levels, leading to reduced operational efficiency without requiring larger storage systems.
Innovation Solution
A storage device comprising separate low-pressure and high-pressure tanks connected via switchable valves, allowing the low-pressure tank to be emptied to a lower minimum pressure level than the high-pressure tank, thereby reducing dead mass and enhancing operational efficiency without increasing system size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common supply circuit is used for both low-pressure and high-pressure connections, then the system structure is simplified, but the dead mass increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage system into separate low-pressure storage tanks and high-pressure storage tanks with independent supply circuits. This segmentation allows each tank type to be optimized for its specific pressure level, enabling low-pressure tanks to be emptied to lower pressure levels without being constrained by high-pressure requirements, thereby reducing dead mass while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the storage system is designed to supply both pressure levels, then versatility is improved, but the amount of unusable gas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements separate storage tanks for different pressure levels, allowing each tank to be optimized for its specific function. Low-pressure tanks can be completely emptied to the lower pressure level required by the consumer, while high-pressure tanks maintain their higher pressure supply capability, thus achieving versatility without compromising the usability of stored gas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality characteristics to different parts of the storage system by using separate low-pressure and high-pressure storage tanks with different minimum pressure levels. This local optimization ensures that each storage component is designed and operated according to its specific pressure requirements, maximizing gas utilization efficiency for each function.
3Reliability
If the storage system empties to the higher pressure level, then high-pressure supply is maintained, but low-pressure gas utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the storage function by pressure level, with low-pressure storage tanks capable of being emptied to lower pressure levels for efficient low-pressure gas utilization, and high-pressure storage tanks maintaining higher pressure levels for reliable high-pressure supply. This segmentation eliminates the conflict between maintaining high-pressure stability and maximizing overall gas utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows low-pressure storage tanks to be emptied beyond the minimum pressure level required for high-pressure operation, extracting additional usable energy from the gas that would otherwise remain as dead mass. This partial action approach maximizes gas utilization by recovering energy at lower pressure levels without compromising high-pressure supply reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a storage device for storing gas and supplying a consumer with different gas pressure levels, comprising at least one low-pressure storage tank and at least one high-pressure storage tank. According to the disclosure, the low-pressure storage tank is connected to a low-pressure connection via a switchable first valve and the high-pressure storage tank is connected to a high-pressure connection via a switchable second valve, wherein it is possible to provide a connected consumer with a higher gas pressure level via the high-pressure connection than via the low-pressure connection. The low-pressure connection and the high-pressure connection are connected to each other via a switchable third valve. Furthermore, the tanks are connected to each other via a fourth valve. The valves are switchable in such a way that the low-pressure storage tank can be emptied to a lower minimum pressure level than the high-pressure storage tank.