Hydrogen Tank Shut-Off Valve With Solenoid Pilot and Throttle Channel
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tank devices for hydrogen storage, particularly in vehicles with fuel cell or hydrogen burner drives, face challenges due to the high safety requirements and system pressures, leading to complex and heavy shut-off valves that can deform under accident conditions, increasing the risk of gas escape.
Innovation Solution
A compact and cost-effective safety valve design utilizing a solenoid coil, pilot valve element, and permanent magnet to achieve a two-stage opening process with low magnetic force requirements, along with a throttle channel and spring-assisted main valve element, reducing axial pressure forces and enhancing structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional shut-off valves are used to meet high safety requirements and withstand system pressures of 800 bar or more, then safety and pressure resistance are improved, but the valve structure becomes complex and requires large installation space, increasing overall weight
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into two functional stages: a pilot valve for controlling pressure balance and a main valve for primary shut-off. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall complexity while maintaining safety requirements for 800 bar pressure resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
A pilot valve element acts as an intermediary mechanism that controls pressure distribution before the main valve closes. This intermediary stage balances pressures on both sides of the main valve element, enabling simpler main valve design with lower opening forces while still meeting safety requirements.
2Reliability
If conventional shut-off valves are designed to meet high safety requirements, then safety is improved, but installation space and overall weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the valve into pilot and main functions, each component can be minimized in size. The pilot valve element is small and lightweight, while the main valve benefits from pressure balancing that allows reduced material usage, collectively reducing overall valve weight while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot valve uses a solenoid actuator instead of a large mechanical spring or hydraulic system to control the main valve. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity and weight while maintaining the safety function of controlled shut-off at 800 bar pressures.
3Reliability
If large opening forces are required for shut-off valves, then safety sealing is improved, but more powerful actuators are needed, increasing energy consumption and system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The pilot valve performs a preliminary action by equalizing pressures on both sides of the main valve element before the main valve closes. This pressure balancing reduces the force required by the solenoid actuator, lowering energy consumption while ensuring reliable sealing at high pressures.
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot valve element serves as an intermediary that mediates the pressure forces acting on the main valve. By controlling this intermediate stage, the system achieves reliable main valve sealing with minimal actuator energy input, as the pressure balance is established before final shut-off.
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 solution results in a lightweight, energy-efficient, and reliable valve system that minimizes deformation and wear, ensuring safe hydrogen storage and efficient operation under high pressures, with reduced risk of gas leakage during accidents.
Implementation Method 1
a permanent magnet field 52 generated by the solenoid coil 32 when the solenoid coil is energized
Implementation Method 2
The permanent magnet 17 is furthermore disposed in a positive pole region of a permanent magnet field generated by the solenoid coil 32 when the solenoid coil is energized
Implementation Method 3
A permanent magnet 17 moreover is disposed at one end 42 of the pilot valve element 24
Implementation Method 4
a throttle channel is configured, which throttle channel has a conical widening counter to the direction of the second sealing seat by means of which a throttle effect is created
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a tank device (1) for storing a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, comprising a valve device (100) and a tank container (200), wherein the valve device (100) comprises a valve housing (102), in which valve housing (102) a pilot valve element (24) that can be moved along a longitudinal axis (101) of the tank container (100) is disposed. The pilot valve element (24) cooperates with a first sealing seat (18) to open and close a passage opening (20) and thus forms a pilot valve (240), wherein the valve device (2) comprises a solenoid coil (32) by means of which solenoid coil (32) the pilot valve element (24) can be moved along the longitudinal axis (101) of the tank device (1). A main valve element (12) is furthermore disposed in the valve housing (102), which main valve element (12) cooperates with a second sealing seat (6) to open and close a passage opening (8) and thus forms a main valve (120), wherein the second sealing seat (6) is configured as a conical shoulder (36) on the valve housing (102). In addition, a permanent magnet (17) is disposed at one end (42) of the pilot valve element (24), which permanent magnet (17) is disposed in the valve device (100) such that a positive pole element (170) of the permanent magnet (17) is disposed in the direction of a housing cover (28) of the valve device (100) and a negative pole element (171) of the permanent magnet (17) is disposed in the direction of the tank container (200), wherein the permanent magnet (17) is disposed in a positive pole region (51) of a permanent magnetic field (52) generated by the solenoid coil (32) when the solenoid coil (32) is energized.