On-Demand Hydrogen Refueling Without Large Storage Tanks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrogen refueling stations face challenges with high construction and operating costs due to the need for large hydrogen storage tanks and long-distance hydrogen transportation, as well as safety risks associated with hydrogen handling.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen refueling system that includes a decomposition device to produce hydrogen and oxygen from water in real-time, a transfer device to deliver hydrogen to vehicles and discharge oxygen into the environment, a storage device on the vehicle for hydrogen, and a recombination device that uses hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, eliminating the need for large storage tanks and long-distance transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If large hydrogen storage tanks are constructed at refueling stations, then hydrogen storage capacity is improved, but construction cost and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary hydrogen production by electrolyzing water before refueling, storing hydrogen in small onboard tanks rather than large station storage tanks. This preliminary action at the vehicle level replaces the need for large stationary storage infrastructure, reducing construction costs while maintaining adequate hydrogen supply capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary substance to replace direct hydrogen storage. Instead of storing large quantities of hydrogen at the refueling station, the system stores water (which is safe and inexpensive) and converts it to hydrogen on-demand through electrolysis, eliminating the need for large hydrogen storage tanks and associated safety risks.
2Productivity
If long-distance hydrogen transportation is implemented, then hydrogen supply to refueling stations is improved, but transportation cost and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service hydrogen production at the vehicle level through onboard electrolysis. Each vehicle produces its own hydrogen from water stored in the vehicle, eliminating the need for centralized hydrogen production and long-distance transportation infrastructure. This self-service approach reduces operating costs while maintaining continuous hydrogen supply capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the hydrogen production function from centralized refueling stations and relocates it to individual vehicles. By taking out the electrolysis capability from the station infrastructure and placing it onboard vehicles, the system eliminates the need for hydrogen transportation while ensuring continuous supply capability.
3Productivity
If real-time hydrogen production is implemented, then refueling efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen production system serves multiple functions: it produces hydrogen for fuel cells, generates oxygen for combustion engines, and can provide purified water. This multi-functionality justifies the added device complexity by delivering refueling efficiency improvements while providing additional benefits that simplify overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the hydrogen production, oxygen generation, and water purification functions into a single integrated electrolysis system. This combining of functions achieves real-time hydrogen production for immediate refueling while reducing the number of separate systems needed, thereby managing device complexity through functional integration.
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 system reduces construction and operating costs by enabling real-time hydrogen production and refueling, improves safety by minimizing hydrogen storage and transportation risks, and utilizes existing electrical grids for energy, facilitating the construction and promotion of hydrogen refueling stations.
Implementation Method 1
the decomposition device is configured to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen
Implementation Method 2
the hydrogen and oxygen reacting in the recombination device to produce an electric current
Data Source
AI summary
Hydrogen refueling station, hydrogen-powered vehicle, and hydrogen refueling system are provided. The hydrogen refueling system comprises a decomposition device, a transfer device, a storage device, and a recombination device; wherein the decomposition device is configured to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen; the transfer device is configured to deliver the hydrogen into the storage device and to discharge the oxygen into an environment; the storage device is configured to store the hydrogen delivered from the transfer device; the recombination device is configured to receive the hydrogen from the storage device and the oxygen from the environment, the hydrogen and oxygen reacting in the recombination device to produce an electric current. The hydrogen refueling system adopts real-time hydrogen production and refueling, thereby eliminating the need to construct large hydrogen storage tanks, and the need for the long-distance transportation of the hydrogen.