Nested Liquid Hydrogen Oxygen Fuel Cell Tank Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell systems face challenges in optimizing the storage of hydrogen and oxygen or air due to the large space required, especially in limited spaces such as those found in mobile systems like autonomous underwater vehicles, where active cooling is not feasible and insulation adds to the space burden.
Innovation Solution
A spatially optimized reaction gas container design where hydrogen and oxygen are stored in liquid form, with nitrogen used for insulation, and the gases are arranged in a nested 'onion-like' structure to minimize volume, utilizing the different boiling points and densities to maintain the liquid state and reduce evaporation, and nitrogen acts as a sealing gas to prevent leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If hydrogen and oxygen are stored in gaseous form, then the storage container is simpler to design, but the volume required for storage becomes excessively large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the stored gases from gaseous to liquid form. By storing hydrogen and oxygen in liquid form, the storage volume is dramatically reduced compared to gaseous storage, while still maintaining a manageable container design through proper thermal management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition by maintaining hydrogen and oxygen in liquid form through controlled temperatures below their respective boiling points. This phase change from gas to liquid enables compact storage while the system manages the thermal conditions to sustain this phase state during operation.
2Volume of moving object
If hydrogen and oxygen are stored in liquid form, then the storage volume is significantly reduced, but the requirement for active cooling and insulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested container structure where the hydrogen storage container is placed inside the oxygen storage container. The annular space between the nested containers serves as an insulation layer, eliminating the need for separate active cooling systems. This nested arrangement provides passive thermal management while maximizing space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the stored oxygen itself as the insulating medium in the annular space between containers. The liquid oxygen in the outer container serves as both the stored reactant and the thermal insulation for the inner hydrogen container, creating a self-sufficient thermal management system without requiring external energy input.
3Loss of substance
If insulation is added to maintain liquid state, then the evaporation rate decreases, but the overall space available for reaction gases is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The nested container arrangement allows the insulation structure to be formed by the annular space between containers rather than requiring separate insulation materials. This design provides effective thermal insulation to reduce evaporation while maximizing the internal volume available for storing liquid hydrogen and oxygen.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer oxygen container serves dual functions: it stores the oxygen reactant and simultaneously provides thermal insulation for the inner hydrogen container. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated insulation space, as the structural component itself performs both storage and thermal management roles.
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
This design significantly reduces the space needed for storing reaction gases while maintaining them in a usable state for extended periods, ensuring efficient fuel cell operation without the need for active cooling and minimizing heat input, thus optimizing space utilization and extending the operational time of fuel cell systems.
Implementation Method 1
storing gases in liquid form allows for enormous volume savings compared to storing the same gases in gaseous form. However, the liquefaction of hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, and the maintenance of these gases in the liquid state, requires very low temperatures
Implementation Method 2
Due to the vastly different densities of gases and liquids, storing gases in liquid form allows for enormous volume savings
Implementation Method 3
nitrogen used for insulation, and the gases are arranged in a nested 'onion-like' structure to minimize volume, utilizing the different boiling points and densities to maintain the liquid state and reduce evaporation
Implementation Method 4
the gases are arranged in a nested 'onion-like' structure to minimize volume
Implementation Method 5
nitrogen acts as a sealing gas to prevent leaks
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a reaction gas container (1) of a fuel cell system having a hydrogen tank (10) for receiving liquid hydrogen, an oxygen tank (30) for receiving liquid oxygen, and, optionally, a nitrogen tank (20, 29) for receiving liquid or gaseous nitrogen, wherein the hydrogen tank (10) is located within the oxygen tank (30), and wherein the oxygen tank (30) is enclosed by insulation (40). The reaction gas container (1) preferably has a nitrogen tank (20), wherein the hydrogen tank (10) is located within the nitrogen tank (20). The invention also relates to a fuel cell system and a vehicle with a fuel cell drive, wherein the fuel cell system (2) and the vehicle comprise the reaction gas container (1) according to the invention.