TW201835704A - Apparatus for connecting a plurality of containers to a single outlet - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for connecting a number of containers to a single outlet comprising a plurality of connectors, one for each container, for connecting that container to a feed pipe, and a multi-connector for connecting all the feed pipe to a single manifold, wherein each feed pipe is associated with its own means for determining the pressure in the container to which it is connected and a pressure adjusting means for controlling the pressure in the manifold.

Description

   Device for connecting several containers to a single outlet   

The present invention relates to a device for connecting several containers to a single outlet, and more particularly to a device for connecting several pressurized containers to a single outlet. For the purposes of the present invention, the term "container" includes a reactor for generating a gas for use in a chemical reaction.

Gas or liquefied gas is required for a variety of operations in many fields for applications such as chemical reactions, welding, especially in recent fuel cells.

Many of these operations require gas, and when the required gas is not manufactured in the factory, high pressures need to be applied, which is currently the case. The main problem with using off-site manufacturing gases is that when the pressure required to compress the gas to a certain level is higher, the container used to hold the compressed gas must also be stronger. Therefore, for a light weight gas such as hydrogen, the ratio of the weight of the gas cylinder to the gas contained therein is such that the amount of gas in a standard gas cylinder does not exceed 5% of the total weight of the filled gas cylinder . This means that in operations that require a single standard gas cylinder for a long period of time, such as supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell as a fuel, the downtime will be too long when the gas cylinder needs to be switched.

Surprisingly, so far no one seems to have come up with a solution to this problem, and most systems rely on containers arranged in parallel. This means that the fluid supply system has become larger, and flammable fluids also increase the risk of explosion when replacing the gas cylinder.

The present invention provides a solution to the foregoing problem by providing a configuration in which several containers can be connected to a single outlet through which gas can be discharged from each container individually or simultaneously.

According to the present invention, a device for connecting a plurality of containers to a single outlet is provided. The device includes a plurality of connectors, and each container corresponds to one of the plurality of connectors for connecting the container to a feeding tube. And a duplex connector for connecting all feed pipes to a single manifold, each of which is connected with its own means for measuring the pressure in the container to which it is connected and for controlling the The pressure in the tube is combined by means of a pressure regulator.

When the container is a simple fluid container, the device preferably has means for ensuring that the pressure in each feed tube is approximately the same.

The means for measuring the pressure is preferably an electronic pressure gauge, and the pressure regulator means is preferably an electronic valve combined with a central control unit, and the central control unit is preferably an electronic valve for controlling the electronic valve. Microcontroller for operation and other electronic characteristics.

The device also preferably has means for detecting and isolating any empty or excess containers so that the containers can be replaced without having to shut down the entire system.

The device is particularly useful when the vessel is a reactor for generating hydrogen for fuel cell applications, as it provides many options not yet available to system designers. The device will allow, for example, higher fuel storage capacity without increasing the burden of increasing stored weight, and will reduce or eliminate the risk of any explosions commonly found in pressurized hydrogen systems.

In this example, the container is a plurality of single hydrogen generators having valve means for controlling the pressure and gas flow from each hydrogen generator through the manifold to the fuel cell, and the valve means is preferably For the regulator. The hydrogen generator is connected to a manifold connected to a fuel cell. A central control unit is used to determine when multiple gas valves in the hydrogen generator cluster should be opened and closed, and preferably also used to indicate the gas regulators at operating pressure and the flow rate of hydrogen into each fuel cell Any necessary changes in the fuel cell operation and other necessary parameters to ensure efficiency peaks.

Preferably, the central control unit can also be used to detect whether any hydrogen generator is operating irregularly, especially and dangerously, and shut down the detected hydrogen generator without affecting the remaining hydrogen generators. Hydrogen is generated so that the supply of fuel to the fuel cell is not interrupted.

The water supply to the hydrogen generator can be arranged in various ways, for example, it can be in the form of a single large container connected to the hydrogen generator with multiple pipes, or it can be composed of multiple smaller containers, each container corresponding to a hydrogen generator. For a static fuel cell, it can even be piped directly from a water main.

Among other advantageous functions, the hydrogen generator of the present invention can store the generated hydrogen at a pressure lower than the current normal use to directly supply hydrogen to a fuel cell, for example, to generate electricity to power an electric vehicle drive system. This type of electric vehicle can also be configured as a range extender power system.

2‧‧‧ water container

3‧‧‧control unit

4‧‧‧ pump

5‧‧‧ Reactor

6‧‧‧Air valve

7‧‧‧ fuel cell system

8‧‧‧ water heater

9‧‧‧ Central Control Unit

10‧‧‧ Gas Manifold

11‧‧‧Gas Regulator

12‧‧‧ shell

13‧‧‧ Water source

14‧‧‧ exit

15‧‧‧ valve

16‧‧‧ fuel tank

17‧‧‧ Structure

18‧‧‧ pump

19‧‧‧ heater

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a form of a hydrogen generator according to the prior art; Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of a cluster and a configuration of the hydrogen generator shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a diagram of Fig. 2 A block diagram of a variant of the hydrogen generator shown; Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of a modified hydrogen-generating compartment cluster fuel protection barrel for the hydrogen generator of Figure 2 or Figure 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional single hydrogen generator for supplying hydrogen to a hydrogen fuel cell system includes a water container 2 connected to a pump 4 through a pipeline. The pump 4 transports water from the water container 2 as a liquid reactant for converting a hydride fuel into hydrogen. In the reactor 5, the hydrogen generated by the reaction is stored in the reactor 5. The gas valve 6 controls the release of hydrogen into the fuel cell system 7. All programs are monitored and controlled by a control unit 3, which receives signals from each component of the system and sends signals to each component of the system.

As shown in FIG. 2, four hydrogen generators of the type shown in FIG. 1 are connected in parallel, except that a water heater 8 is located between the pump 4 and the reactor 5. Each component of the system is cross-connected to a central control unit 9 so that each component of the cluster can receive signals from the central control unit 9 and transmit signals to the central control unit 9. The gas valve 6 is fed into a single gas manifold 10, and the generated hydrogen system is supplied to the fuel cell 7 from the gas manifold 10.

The heater 5 located between the water container 2 and the reactor 5 vaporizes the water before it passes into the reactor 5 so that the hydrogen-generating reaction can be more easily performed.

FIG. 3 shows a variant of the configuration shown in FIG. 2, in which a gas regulator 11 is located between the reactor 5 and the gas valve 6 in each line. When demand arises, the gas regulator 11 allows different lines in the cluster to operate at different pressures and flow rates.

FIG. 4 shows a form of the casing 12 of a fuel protection barrel, which allows a water source 13 to be connected to several hydrogen generators which can be controlled individually but controlled by a single valve 15 to a Common exit 14.

A plurality of solid hydrogen fuel cartridges 16 are disposed within the casing 12. Each fuel cartridge 16 has a central flow guiding structure 17. Several pumps 18 enter the water from the source 13 and are heated by the heater 19 to generate steam and then flow through the structure 17. The vapor reacts violently with the fuel in the fuel cartridge 16 to produce a very large amount of hydrogen that can be released from the outlet 14 to the fuel cell.

A central control system (not shown) is used to control and interact with the fuel tank.

Each of the pumps 18 can be controlled individually or collectively according to a preset algorithm to supply the correct amount of hydrogen to the fuel cell.

Sodium borohydride is commonly used as a fuel substance and can be complementary to suitable catalytic materials. Other hydrogen generating compounds are well known, including other metal hydrides, metal borides, and other hydrogen-rich organic and inorganic compounds can be used.

As for the liquid reactant for generating hydrogen, various organic solvents and acidic solutions can be used in addition to water.

Claims (11)

    A device for connecting a plurality of containers to a single outlet, comprising a plurality of connectors, each container corresponding to one of the plurality of connectors for connecting the container to a feeding pipe, and a multiple connector For connecting all the feed pipes to a single manifold, where each feed pipe is connected with its own means for measuring the pressure in the vessel to which it is connected and for controlling the pressure in the manifold. Pressure regulator means combined.         The device according to claim 1, wherein the container is a fluid container, and the feeding tube has a means for ensuring that the pressure in each feeding tube is approximately the same.         The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for measuring the pressure is an electronic pressure gauge.         The device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure regulator means is an electronic valve combined with a central control unit.         The device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is a microcontroller for controlling the operation of the valve and other electronic characteristics.         The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further has a means for detecting and isolating any empty or redundant container, so that the container can be replaced without closing the entire system.         The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the container is a reactor for generating hydrogen for a fuel cell application.         The device according to claim 7, wherein the container is a cluster of a single hydrogen generator having regulator means for controlling the pressure and gas flow from each hydrogen generator.         The device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein each of the hydrogen generators is connected to a fuel cell through a single manifold and a valve.         The device according to claim 7, wherein the central control unit is adapted to determine when the gas valves in the hydrogen generator cluster are to be opened and closed, and instruct each gas regulator to operate under pressure and hydrogen flows into each Any necessary changes occur in the flow rate of the fuel cell and in other necessary parameters that ensure peak efficiency in the operation of the fuel cell.         The device according to claim 7, wherein the central control unit is used to detect whether any hydrogen generator is operating irregularly and dangerously, and to shut down the detected hydrogen generator without affecting the remaining hydrogen The generator produces hydrogen.