Self-Sealing Pressure Vessel Segmentation for Leak Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional compressed gas storage systems face challenges in minimizing gas loss and maintaining operational integrity when a leak or rupture occurs, particularly in high-pressure storage systems like those for hydrogen or natural gas, as they often require complex and unreliable mechanisms to isolate the affected area.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a self-sealing pressure vessel system with multiple vessel portions in fluid communication, where valves automatically impede fluid flow between affected and unaffected portions upon detection of a leak or rupture, using flow impeders and resilient members to block openings and prevent fluid loss, allowing the system to continue operating safely until repair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional mechanisms are used to isolate affected areas in compressed gas storage systems, then gas loss can be minimized, but the system complexity and reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system automatically detects pressure differentials caused by leaks or ruptures and self-actuates to close, isolating the affected vessel portion without requiring external control systems, sensors, or power sources. The resilient member provides the actuating force based solely on the pressure differential, making the system self-service and eliminating complex control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The affected vessel portion is effectively extracted or isolated from the rest of the system through automatic valve closure. When a leak or rupture is detected via pressure differential, the valve closes to separate the compromised section, allowing the remaining system to continue operating independently.
2Loss of substance
If conventional mechanisms are used to isolate affected areas, then gas loss can be minimized, but the reliability of the isolation system worsens
Solution Approach 1:
By eliminating external control systems, sensors, and power sources that could fail, the valve system achieves high reliability through self-service operation. The pressure differential itself provides the signal and actuating force, ensuring the valve responds automatically and reliably to any leak or rupture condition without dependency on other system components.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member is pre-positioned to provide immediate counterbalancing force against the pressure differential. This beforehand preparation ensures that when a leak occurs, the valve has the mechanical advantage and force储备 to close rapidly and reliably, cushioning against the potential failure mode of slow or incomplete closure.
3Quantity of substance
If high-pressure storage is used to achieve acceptable storage density, then storage efficiency improves, but the risk of leaks and ruptures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure vessel is divided into multiple separate portions (first, second, third vessel portions) that can be independently isolated from one another. This segmentation means that if a leak or rupture occurs in one portion, the valve system can close to contain the problem to that specific segment, preventing it from affecting the entire storage system and thereby reducing the overall harmful impact while maintaining high storage density.
4Loss of substance
If automatic valve closure is implemented to isolate leaks, then gas loss is minimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system achieves automatic closure without adding complexity by using the existing pressure differential within the system as both the detection signal and the actuating force. The resilient member serves as a simple mechanical element that converts this pressure differential into valve closure motion, avoiding the need for complex sensors, actuators, control logic, or power distribution systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection and actuation functions are merged into a single passive mechanical system. The pressure differential that indicates a leak problem is the same force that directly drives the valve closure, eliminating the need for separate detection sensors and actuation mechanisms, thereby minimizing device complexity while achieving automatic gas loss prevention.
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 solution effectively minimizes gas loss and maintains system integrity by automatically isolating the affected area, reducing the risk of gas leakage and enabling continued use until repairs can be made, while also preventing extreme temperature fluctuations during filling or discharge.
Implementation Method 1
The valve includes a resilient member and a flow impeder. The flow impeder is configured to block the first opening or the second opening and the resilient member is configured to push the flow impeder against the opening
Data Source
AI summary
A compressed gas storage system that includes a pressure vessel. The pressure vessel includes a first vessel portion and a second vessel portion in fluid communication with the first vessel portion. The pressure vessel includes a third vessel portion in fluid communication with the second vessel portion. The compressed gas storage system includes a first valve positioned between the first vessel portion and the second vessel portion and a second valve positioned between the second vessel portion and the third vessel portion. The first valve allows and impedes fluid flow between the first and the second vessel portions. The second valve allows and impedes fluid flow between the second and the third vessel portions.