Multilayer Hydrogen Pipeline With Thin BVOH Barrier Layer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle pipelines for hydrogen transportation face challenges in achieving a high barrier effect against hydrogen permeation while minimizing material usage and weight, as they tend to be thick-walled and costly.

Innovation Solution

A multi-layer pipeline design featuring a barrier layer made of butenediol-vinyl alcohol copolymer (BVOH) or polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) with a plastic outer layer and optional inner layer, along with adhesion promoter layers, to enhance hydrogen barrier efficiency and mechanical resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If relatively thick-walled pipes made of polyamides with high crystallinity are used to increase mechanical resistance and resistance to permeation, then the barrier effect against hydrogen permeation is improved, but the amount of material required and the corresponding weight of the pipelines increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebarrier effect against hydrogen permeationVSAvoidweight of pipelines
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pipeline wall is divided into multiple functional layers: an inner layer for mechanical strength, a barrier layer (5-20 μm thick) made of BVOH/PVOH for hydrogen permeation resistance, and an outer layer for environmental protection. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally without requiring excessive wall thickness throughout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite material structure combining different polymers (polyamides with high crystallinity, BVOH, PVOH, polyolefins) in a multilayer configuration. The barrier layer specifically uses BVOH or PVOH which exhibit exceptional hydrogen barrier properties, while other layers provide mechanical strength and environmental resistance, achieving overall performance without increasing total weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If relatively thick-walled pipes are used to increase mechanical resistance and resistance to permeation, then the resistance to permeation is improved, but the amount of material required increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to permeationVSAvoidamount of material required
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The pipeline wall is divided into multiple functional layers: an inner layer for mechanical strength, a barrier layer (5-20 μm thick) made of BVOH/PVOH for hydrogen permeation resistance, and an outer layer for environmental protection. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally without requiring excessive wall thickness throughout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite material structure combining different polymers (polyamides with high crystallinity, BVOH, PVOH, polyolefins) in a multilayer configuration. The barrier layer specifically uses BVOH or PVOH which exhibit exceptional hydrogen barrier properties, while other layers provide mechanical strength and environmental resistance, achieving overall performance without increasing total weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If a multilayer design with barrier layer is used to achieve high barrier effect against hydrogen, then the permeation of hydrogen through pipeline walls is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebarrier effect against hydrogenVSAvoidpipeline structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pipeline wall is divided into multiple functional layers: an inner layer for mechanical strength, a barrier layer (5-20 μm thick) made of BVOH/PVOH for hydrogen permeation resistance, and an outer layer for environmental protection. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally without requiring excessive wall thickness throughout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multilayer structure is designed with concentric layers nested within each other, where the barrier layer is positioned between the inner and outer layers. This nested configuration maximizes the barrier effect while maintaining a compact overall structure that does not significantly increase the pipeline outer diameter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 design achieves a high barrier effect against hydrogen with reduced wall thickness and material usage, offering excellent mechanical resistance, high pressure resistance, and temperature stability at a lower cost.

Implementation Method 1

hydrogen is characterized by the disadvantage that it has a relatively high tendency to permeate into the pipe walls of such a pipeline. Efforts are being made to design motor vehicle pipelines in such a way that they have a high barrier effect with regard to the permeation of hydrogen.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation resistance: Permeation

Data Source

PatentEP4079502A1Multilayer pipeline
Publication Date: 2022.10.26 TI AUTOMOTIVE FULDABRUCK
  • EP4079502A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4079502A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4079502A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Multilayer automotive piping, wherein at least one barrier layer is provided made of at least one material from the group consisting of "butenediol-vinyl alcohol copolymer (BVOH) and/or polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polymer blend with BVOH, polymer blend with PVOH". At least one outer layer made of plastic is arranged on the outside of the barrier layer.