Phase Separator for Liquid Hydrogen Pump Cavitation Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid hydrogen pumps in hydrogen vehicles face issues with cavitation due to hydrogen vapor bubbles, leading to damage and reduced efficiency, as conventional suction adapters fail to adequately remove vapor, resulting in frequent repairs and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
Integrate a phase separator with a vacuum-jacketed sintered metal filtration structure into the flowlines to separate hydrogen vapor from liquid hydrogen before it enters the pump, utilizing buoyancy-driven flow to return vapor to the tank, maintaining positive suction head and reducing cavitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional suction adapter is used, then the pump structure remains simple, but hydrogen vapor bubbles are not adequately removed leading to cavitation damage
Solution Approach 1:
The suction adapter is segmented into multiple functional zones: an upper vapor removal chamber with vapor outlets, a middle filtration section with sintered metal filter, and a lower liquid hydrogen inlet zone. This segmentation allows different physical processes (buoyancy-driven vapor rise, filtration, and liquid flow) to occur in separate regions, effectively removing vapor bubbles while maintaining structural organization
Solution Approach 2:
A sintered metal filter is introduced as an intermediary component between the liquid hydrogen supply and the pump inlet. This filter serves as a mediator that allows liquid hydrogen to pass through while blocking vapor bubbles, utilizing its porous structure to provide both filtration and vapor-liquid separation functions
2Ease of repair
If vapor removal is inadequate, then the pump structure remains simple, but cavitation occurs causing damage and frequent repairs
Solution Approach 1:
The suction adapter utilizes buoyancy-driven flow where vapor bubbles naturally rise to the upper chamber and exit through vapor outlets without requiring external power or complex control mechanisms. The system serves itself by leveraging the inherent physical property that vapor is less dense than liquid hydrogen, automatically separating and removing vapor phases
Solution Approach 2:
A sintered metal filter with controlled porosity is employed to provide vapor-liquid separation. The porous structure allows liquid hydrogen to pass through while trapping vapor bubbles, utilizing the size difference and phase properties to achieve effective separation without moving parts or external energy input
3Duration of action of stationary object
If phase separator is integrated, then cavitation damage is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The phase separator functionality is merged with the suction adapter by integrating the vapor removal chamber and sintered metal filter directly into the suction adapter structure. This combination eliminates the need for separate vapor removal devices and simplifies the overall flowline configuration while maintaining effective vapor-liquid separation
Solution Approach 2:
The suction adapter is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as a vapor removal chamber, a filtration device, and a liquid hydrogen distribution manifold. The sintered metal filter provides both mechanical filtration and vapor-liquid separation, making the component universal and reducing the total number of parts required
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 phase separator effectively reduces cavitation damage, extends pump lifespan, and increases the available hydrogen fuel by maintaining vapor pressure, thereby enhancing the efficiency and reliability of liquid hydrogen pumps.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing buoyancy-driven flow to return vapor to the tank
Implementation Method 2
Existing liquid hydrogen pumps in hydrogen vehicles face issues with cavitation due to hydrogen vapor bubbles
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed herein that include a cryogenic pump system comprising: a cryogenic liquid tank; a cryogenic pump including a suction adapter, the suction adapter connected to the cryogenic liquid tank via a liquid supply line and a gaseous return line; and a phase separator connected downstream of the cryogenic liquid tank and upstream of the cryogenic pump, the phase separator including a filtration structure integrated into the liquid supply line to separate vapor from cryogenic liquid, the phase separator connected to the gaseous return line to direct the vapor to the cryogenic liquid tank.