Vertical Gas Supply System Layout for Compact Hydrogen Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrogen stations and gas supply systems are bulky due to the large size of compressors, gas coolers, and separate accumulator units, leading to increased installation area requirements.
Innovation Solution
A compact gas supply system design where the compressor unit, accumulator unit, and pre-cooling system are housed in a rectangular parallelepiped structure, with the compressor unit vertically arranged and the pre-cooling system positioned above the accumulator unit, utilizing microchannel heat exchangers and a brine circuit to reduce overall size and installation area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a horizontally extending cylinder is used for the compressor, then the compressor can be installed, but the area occupied by the hydrogen compressor becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a horizontal cylinder arrangement to a vertical arrangement, changing the spatial dimension from horizontal extension to vertical extension. This dimensional change allows the compressor to occupy less floor area while maintaining the same functional capacity, directly resolving the contradiction between installation feasibility and area occupation.
2Temperature
If a gas cooler with relatively large size is used, then cooling function is provided, but the hydrogen compressing apparatus is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the gas cooler into the accumulator unit by placing the cooler inside or within the structural framework of the accumulator. This nesting arrangement allows the cooler to perform its cooling function while occupying space that would otherwise be unused or redundant, thereby reducing the overall volume of the compressing apparatus without compromising cooling capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the hydrogen compressing apparatus and the accumulator unit are provided as separate bodies, then each unit can be independently designed, but the entire hydrogen station is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hydrogen compressing apparatus and the accumulator unit into a single integrated structure. The compressor, gas cooler, and accumulator are combined such that they share common structural elements and spatial arrangement, forming one compact unit. This merging reduces the overall area of the hydrogen station while maintaining the functional independence and design flexibility of each component through modular integration.
4Ease of operation
If the compressor, the first accumulator, the heat exchanger and the dispenser are arranged on the first support base, then the system can be supported, but the installation area of the first support base is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional horizontal arrangement of components on a support base to a three-dimensional vertical arrangement. The compressor, accumulator, and other components are stacked vertically or arranged in multiple levels, utilizing the vertical dimension for support and spatial organization. This reduces the horizontal footprint of the support base while maintaining adequate support and accessibility for all components.
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 compact design reduces the installation area of the gas supply system and hydrogen station, allowing for efficient hydrogen gas filling while minimizing costs and maintaining cooling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a gas cooler configured to cool gas flowing from a compressor unit into an accumulator unit
Implementation Method 2
a pre-cooling system configured to cool the gas flowing into the filling equipment from the accumulator unit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A gas supply system (2) includes a compressor unit (21), an accumulator unit (23), a pre-cooling system (24) and a housing (4). In the gas supply system (2), the compressor unit (21) is vertically arranged and the pre-cooling system (24) is arranged above the accumulator unit (23) in the housing (4). The compressor unit (21) and the accumulator unit (23) are covered by one rectangular parallelepiped housing (4).