Hydrogen Refueling Interface with Onboard Power Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refueling large construction machines with hydrogen is challenging due to high energy requirements and lack of energy supply at remote locations, limiting the effectiveness of current mobile hydrogen refueling solutions, which result in low delivery quantities and limited range.
Innovation Solution
An interface device that provides drive power for hydrogen transfer from a mobile filling station to construction machines, using various power sources like hydraulic, electrical, or mechanical power, and can be integrated with the machine or a separate vehicle, enabling efficient energy supply and data communication to facilitate rapid refueling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If hydrogen is transferred from a mobile filling station to construction machine tanks using pressure equalization only, then the refueling process requires low local energy, but the discharge volume and fill level remain low, compromising the vehicle's range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines pressure equalization transfer with active pumping in a hybrid refueling system. The pump actively transfers hydrogen from the mobile filling station to the construction machine tank, enabling high fill levels without being constrained by pressure equalization limits, while the system integrates both passive transfer capability and active pumping capability to balance energy requirements with refueling effectiveness.
2Quantity of substance
If a mobile hydrogen filling station is used at remote locations without energy supply network, then the construction machine can be refueled, but the high power and energy requirements cannot be met due to lack of external power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The construction machine's own power supply system (hydraulic, electrical, or pneumatic) is utilized to drive the hydrogen transfer pump at the mobile filling station. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external energy supply infrastructure at remote locations, as the machine's existing power systems are already available and can be directly applied to the refueling operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile filling station system is designed to accept multiple types of power inputs (hydraulic power from the machine's hydraulic system, electrical power from the machine's electrical system, or pneumatic power). This multi-functionality allows the refueling system to adapt to different power availability scenarios and operate effectively across various remote locations with different energy infrastructure conditions.
3Ease of operation
If the construction machine is equipped with an external refueling pump to draw diesel fuel, then the refueling process is simplified, but the same approach for hydrogen requires significantly higher power and energy requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile filling station serves as an intermediary system between the hydrogen supply and the construction machine. It houses the hydrogen storage, compression, and transfer equipment, and can be positioned close to the machine at remote locations. This intermediary approach delivers hydrogen directly to the machine with controlled power requirements, avoiding the need for the machine to have its own high-power refueling infrastructure while maintaining refueling simplicity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an interface device (20) which is connected or connectable to, or forms a component thereof, on the one hand to, a construction machine (10) to be refueled and on the other hand to, a preferably mobile hydrogen refueling station (30), wherein the interface device comprises a drive unit or a power sensor configured to provide the drive power for transferring hydrogen from the hydrogen refueling station to the construction machine to be refueled, and wherein the interface device is formed by the construction machine to be refueled and/or the preferably mobile hydrogen refueling station and/or a dispenser unit configured to supply the preferably mobile hydrogen refueling station and/or the construction machine with drive power.