Pressurized Fluid Filling Station with Segmented Pressure Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filling stations for pressurized fluids, such as hydrogen or natural gas, face challenges in achieving high pressure levels required for rapid refueling of different vehicle types without causing interruptions due to insufficient storage container pressure.
Innovation Solution
The filling station incorporates a storage container partitioned into separate sections, each connected to a high-pressure pump and a dispenser with both high-pressure and low-pressure paths. A controller manages the switching valves to maintain pressure levels by transferring fluid between sections and refilling the high-pressure reservoir as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-volume storage containers are used to maintain high pressure levels for rapid refueling, then refueling speed is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container is divided into multiple pressure zones (first pressure zone and second pressure zone) with different pressure levels. This segmentation allows the system to serve different vehicle types (passenger cars requiring high pressure and trucks/buses requiring lower pressure) from a single storage container, eliminating the need for multiple separate high-volume storage containers while maintaining rapid refueling capability for both vehicle types.
2Productivity
If high-volume storage containers are installed at existing filling stations, then refueling capacity is improved, but ease of manufacture and retrofitting deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The single storage container is designed to perform multiple functions by maintaining different pressure zones simultaneously. It can supply high-pressure fluid to passenger car dispensers and lower-pressure fluid to truck/bus dispensers through the pressure-exchanging device. This multi-functionality allows existing filling stations to serve multiple vehicle types without installing multiple separate high-volume storage containers, significantly easing retrofitting requirements.
3Reliability
If regular tanker refilling is performed to maintain storage container pressure, then continuous operation is preserved, but loss of time and operational interruptions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure-exchanging device enables continuous operation by automatically transferring pressure between different zones within the storage container. When one zone's pressure drops during dispensing, the system automatically exchanges pressure with another zone without requiring external tanker refilling. This internal pressure balancing maintains continuous dispensing operation for both high-pressure and low-pressure paths, eliminating operational interruptions and time loss associated with regular tanker refilling.
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 configuration allows for efficient refueling at two different pressure levels with minimal interruptions, reducing the need for large storage containers and enabling easier retrofitting of existing filling stations.
Implementation Method 1
a high-pressure pump (compressor) (3) which is connected to the storage container (2) and to a high-pressure reservoir (4)
Data Source
AI summary
A filling station for pressurized fluids has a storage container and a dispenser supplied thereby, comprising a high-pressure path and a low-pressure path. The storage container is partitioned into separate sections, which are each connected to the input of a high-pressure pump via a first switching valve and to the output of said high-pressure pump via a second switching valve. The first or second switching valves are connected on their pump sides to the low-pressure path of the dispenser via a third switching valve. The output of the high-pressure pump supplies a high-pressure reservoir via a fourth switching valve, which high-pressure reservoir is connected to the high-pressure path of the dispenser via a fifth switching valve.