System for transforming a product
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Solution Overview
Problem
The recovery of hydrogen from the boil-off phenomenon in liquid hydrogen storage is inefficient due to high energy consumption in existing evaporation gas recovery systems, leading to significant losses of this valuable resource.
Innovation Solution
A transformation system that utilizes the cold energy contained in liquefied hydrogen to compress the boil-off gas through a multi-stage thermal compressor process, incorporating a main circuit and recovery circuit with thermal compressors, heat sources, and transfer means to optimize energy use and achieve high-pressure recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If existing evaporation gas recovery systems with heat exchangers are used, then hydrogen recovery is achieved, but energy consumption is too high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of hydrogen (liquid-gas-liquid) in the thermal compressor to achieve compression. The hydrogen undergoes cyclic phase changes between liquid and gas states, leveraging the energy absorbed during evaporation and released during condensation to compress the boil-off gas without requiring external energy input, thus resolving the contradiction between energy consumption and hydrogen recovery effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the cold energy from the liquid hydrogen storage tank itself to drive the compression process. The boil-off gas compression is achieved using the temperature difference between the cold liquid hydrogen and the ambient environment, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for external energy input, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective hydrogen recovery.
2Volume of moving object
If liquid hydrogen is stored at low temperature to maintain liquid state, then space is saved, but boil-off phenomenon occurs causing hydrogen loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful boil-off phenomenon into a beneficial resource. Instead of treating the evaporated hydrogen as waste to be discarded, the system captures the boil-off gas and uses it as the working fluid for the thermal compressor. The evaporation that causes loss is transformed into the driving force for compression, turning the harmful effect into a useful function that simultaneously recovers hydrogen and maintains storage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a recovery mechanism for hydrogen that would otherwise be lost through boil-off. The thermal compressor captures the evaporated hydrogen gas and compresses it back to a recoverable state, enabling its reuse or storage. This prevents hydrogen loss while maintaining the space-efficient liquid storage configuration.
3Loss of energy
If thermal compressor uses cold source from main circuit, then compression is achieved with low energy consumption, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hydrogen storage function with the gas compression function into a single integrated system. The liquid hydrogen storage tank serves dual purposes: storing liquid hydrogen and providing the cold source for the thermal compressor. The boil-off gas from the storage tank is directly fed into the thermal compressor, eliminating the need for separate compression equipment and reducing overall system complexity despite the advanced compression mechanism.
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 system efficiently compresses boil-off hydrogen to recoverable pressures with low energy consumption, reducing losses and enhancing the economic viability of hydrogen recovery.
Implementation Method 1
compressing a gas at least in part by raising the temperature of the gas or of an intermediate agent such as a metal hydride
Implementation Method 2
raising the temperature of the gas or of an intermediate agent such as a metal hydride
Implementation Method 3
the cold source of at least one of said thermal compressors being configured to receive cold energy from said main circuit
Implementation Method 4
at least one evaporator and transfer means for transferring a main product in the liquid state from the liquid product reservoir to one of said at least one evaporator
Implementation Method 5
making use of the cold energy emitted by the main product as it evaporates
Data Source
AI summary
A system for processing a product the product being in a gaseous state when at a pressure of 1 bar and a temperature of 283K, said system comprising:at least one liquid product reservoir,a main circuit for extracting a main product in the liquid state from the liquid product reservoir, anda recovery circuit comprising at least one thermal compressor configured to compress a gas at least in part by raising the temperature of said gas or of an intermediate agent such as a metal hydride, by means of a cold source and a hot source, and transfer means for transferring a recovery product resulting from evaporation within the liquid product reservoir to one of said at least one thermal compressor, the cold source of at least one of said thermal compressors being configured to receive cold energy from said main circuit.