Multi-Tank Gas Supply Valve Control for Safer Fuel Cell Refueling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compressed gas supply systems with multiple tanks connected to a fuel cell system face inefficiencies in filling and operating, particularly due to temperature variations and differing tank pressures, leading to potential safety risks and suboptimal refueling times.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing actively switchable valves and sensors to individually control the filling and discharge paths of each tank, managed by an electronic control unit, allowing for temperature regulation and pressure management, enabling intelligent distribution and balancing of gas between tanks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If multiple compressed gas tanks are connected to a fuel cell system without individual valve control, then the system structure is simpler, but the refueling time increases and temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the compressed gas supply system into multiple independently controllable tank units, each with its own filling valve and discharge valve. This segmentation allows parallel filling operations and selective activation of individual tanks based on temperature and pressure conditions, thereby reducing overall refueling time while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of valve installations based on real-time temperature and pressure sensor data. The electronic control unit actively adjusts which tanks are being filled or discharged based on current operating conditions, enabling adaptive refueling strategies that optimize time efficiency without requiring overly complex static system architecture.
2Reliability
If compressed gas tanks are filled without temperature monitoring and control, then the system is easier to operate, but safety risks increase due to temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates temperature sensors and pressure sensors in each valve installation that continuously monitor operating conditions and provide feedback to the electronic control unit. This feedback mechanism enables automatic safety control by activating or deactivating filling operations based on predefined temperature and pressure thresholds, thereby enhancing system safety without requiring complex manual monitoring and intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-regulation of filling operations based on sensor data and pre-programmed safety parameters. The electronic control unit automatically determines when to activate or deactivate individual tank filling based on temperature and pressure conditions, eliminating the need for complex manual operation while maintaining high safety standards through automated protective measures.
3Productivity
If all compressed gas tanks are filled simultaneously, then the refueling process is faster, but temperature control precision and pressure management deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables selective and parallel filling of individual tank units based on their specific temperature and pressure conditions. Rather than filling all tanks simultaneously or sequentially, the system can activate multiple filling operations in parallel while maintaining independent control over each tank's filling rate and timing, thereby achieving high productivity without compromising temperature control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different filling strategies to different tank units based on their local conditions (temperature, pressure, fill level). Each valve installation can be independently controlled to optimize filling parameters for that specific tank, allowing simultaneous filling operations to proceed at different rates or with different timing, thus maintaining temperature control precision while achieving high overall refueling speed.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method of operating and/or fueling a compressed gas supply system (34) having at least two compressed gas tanks (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) connected to an anode path (2) of a fuel cell system (1).To increase thermal safety during operation and/or fueling of the compressed gas supply system (34), the valve devices (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) assigned to the pressure tanks (15, 16, 17, 18, 19), which comprise a filling path with an actively switchable filling valve and a discharge path with an actively switchable discharge valve for each of the compressed gas tanks (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) are individually actuated via an electronic control unit, which is connected to a sensor device having at least one sensor, which senses a current temperature in the respective valve installation (21, 22, 23, 24, 25).