Parallel Transfer Lines for Simultaneous Hydrogen Tank Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filling station technologies cannot simultaneously and optimally fill multiple vehicles with hydrogen tanks at different pressures or flow rates, limiting logistics efficiency, especially in scenarios requiring cascading transfers from distinct sources.
Innovation Solution
The device connects multiple outlet valves in parallel to distribution terminations via parallel transfer lines, with control valves and isolation valves to manage fluid flow, allowing simultaneous supply from sources with varying pressures or flow rates, and includes a removable source support for efficient logistics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single collector is used to connect sources to distribution terminations, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to simultaneously supply multiple distribution terminations with different pressure requirements is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The single collector is segmented into multiple parallel transfer lines, each capable of independent pressure control. This allows the system to maintain lower complexity by using a unified collector structure while achieving multi-pressure supply capability through the segmented parallel architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-dimensional sequential supply approach to a multi-dimensional parallel supply architecture. Multiple transfer lines operate simultaneously in parallel, enabling different distribution terminations to receive gas at different pressures at the same time, thus adding a temporal dimension to the supply operation.
2Quantity of substance
If successive balancing of pressure is performed first with low-pressure sources then with increasing pressure, then the logistics optimization is achieved, but the filling time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The parallel transfer line architecture enables continuous useful action by allowing multiple pressure-level transfers to occur simultaneously rather than sequentially. While low-pressure balancing occurs on one transfer line, high-pressure transfers can occur concurrently on other lines, eliminating idle time and maintaining continuous productive operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically allocates different sources to different distribution terminations based on real-time pressure requirements. The control system can switch between sequential and parallel operation modes, dynamically adjusting the filling strategy to optimize both time efficiency and logistics based on the specific operational context.
3Productivity
If multiple high-pressure sources are used to simultaneously fill multiple vehicles, then the filling speed is increased, but the logistics cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each transfer line is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple pressure levels and source configurations. The same physical infrastructure (transfer lines, control valves) serves multiple purposes: low-pressure balancing, high-pressure filling, and intermediate-pressure transfers, eliminating the need for dedicated equipment for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary that coordinates gas flow from a single high-pressure source through multiple transfer lines to multiple distribution terminations. By intelligently managing pressure regulation and flow distribution, the control system enables simultaneous multi-vehicle filling without requiring multiple physical high-pressure sources, thus reducing logistics complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Device for filling pressurized gas tanks, in particular vehicle hydrogen tanks, comprising a fluid transfer circuit including an upstream end having a plurality of pressurized fluid sources (2 to 10) and a downstream end including at least two distribution terminations (11, 12, 13) each intended to be connected to separate tanks to be filled, each source (2 to 10) including a fluid outlet connected to an outlet valve (22 to 30), at least several of the outlet valves (22 to 30) being connected in parallel to each of the at least two distribution terminations (11 to 13) via at least two parallel transfer lines (35 to 37).