Multi-Volume Hydrogen Tank Control for Embrittlement Risk
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogen tanks used in fuel cell vehicles face safety issues due to hydrogen embrittlement, where hydrogen penetrates metal tanks, causing cracks and potential failure, and existing temperature and pressure sensing methods are unreliable, particularly when temperatures exceed 80 degrees Celsius during adiabatic compression.
Innovation Solution
A fuel tank apparatus with multiple volumes and a controller that adjusts valve openings to equalize pressures and selectively use hydrogen from different volumes based on temperature and pressure readings, ensuring safe operation and efficient fuel use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-volume fuel tank is used with centralized pressure and temperature sensing, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of safety monitoring deteriorates when temperature exceeds 80 degrees Celsius during adiabatic compression
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel tank is divided into multiple volumes (first volume and second volume) with separate pressure and temperature sensing systems for each volume. This segmentation allows independent monitoring of each compartment, improving safety monitoring reliability while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular architecture.
2Quantity of substance
If hydrogen is stored in a metal tank using high-pressure compression method, then the storage capacity is increased, but the tank becomes susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement and crack propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The metal fuel tank is segmented into multiple volumes separated by partition walls. This segmentation limits the propagation of cracks and hydrogen embrittlement effects to isolated compartments, preventing catastrophic failure of the entire tank while maintaining high-pressure hydrogen storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls and separate volume design provide a protective barrier that cushions against the harmful effects of hydrogen embrittlement and crack propagation before they can compromise the entire tank structure, enabling safe high-pressure storage.
3Ease of operation
If the fuel tank operates without selective volume control, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety protection of residual hydrogen in fail-safe situations is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel tank system incorporates dynamically controllable valves that can selectively open or close specific volumes based on operational conditions and safety requirements. This dynamic control enables the system to maintain ease of operation during normal use while providing protective isolation of residual hydrogen in fail-safe situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller receives feedback from pressure and temperature sensors in each volume and automatically adjusts valve positions to selectively control fuel usage and protect residual hydrogen, balancing ease of operation with safety reliability.
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
The solution enhances safety by protecting residual hydrogen and improving reliability through precise control of hydrogen usage, reducing the risk of tank failure and enhancing industrial approval for fuel cells in vehicles with limited space.
Implementation Method 1
a partition wall, a first valve that is provided on the one side of the chamber and adjusts opening or closing of the first volume, a second valve that is provided on the other side of the chamber and adjusts opening or closing of the second volume
Implementation Method 2
a third valve that is provided in the partition wall and adjusts opening or closing for communication between the first volume and the second volume, when a difference between pressures of the first volume and the second volume is within a predetermined allowable range, the controller may control the opening or closing of the third valve to perform adjustment so that the pressures of the first volume and the second volume become equal to each other
Implementation Method 3
Charging of the hydrogen tank uses an adiabatic compression method, and when the temperature increases while the hydrogen is compressed and then exceeds 80 degrees Celsius
Implementation Method 4
the hydrogen tank made of a metal has hydrogen embrittlement, and thus the hydrogen penetrates into the metal, moves to tips of cracks, and propagates the cracks
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for controlling a fuel tank according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a fuel tank having a plurality of volumes, and a controller that controls a charging state of a fuel charged in the fuel tank and selectively controls use of the fuel charged in the plurality of volumes based on an amount of the fuel used and a state of the fuel tank.