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WO-2026095753-A1 - APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING SAFETY VALVES FOR LIQUID HYDROGEN

WO2026095753A1WO 2026095753 A1WO2026095753 A1WO 2026095753A1WO-2026095753-A1

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for evaluating a safety valve for liquid hydrogen, the apparatus including: a hydrogen liquefaction unit configured to liquefy hydrogen gas and store the liquid hydrogen in a liquid hydrogen storage chamber; and a hydrogen vaporization unit configured to vaporize the liquid hydrogen stored in the liquid hydrogen storage chamber. By delivering high-pressure cryogenic vaporized hydrogen, which is generated by accumulation of vaporized hydrogen filling an internal space of the liquid hydrogen storage chamber, to a liquid hydrogen safety valve for a test, performance of the safety valve for liquid hydrogen can be evaluated under actual operating environmental conditions. Accordingly, reliability of performance evaluation data for the safety valve for liquid hydrogen can be ensured.

Inventors

  • KO, ROCK KIL
  • NO, HYUN WOO
  • SEO, YOUNG MIN
  • HA, DONG WOO
  • KOO, TAE HYUNG

Assignees

  • 한국전기연구원

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20250422
Priority Date
20241031

Claims (18)

  1. A hydrogen liquefaction unit (100) that generates liquid hydrogen and stores the liquid hydrogen in a liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110); A hydrogen vaporization unit (200) that induces the vaporization of liquid hydrogen stored in the above liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110); A vaporized hydrogen connection line (300) connected to the above liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110) and for discharging and transporting high-pressure cryogenic vaporized hydrogen generated by the vaporization of the liquid hydrogen from the above liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110); The configuration comprises an evaluation sensor unit (400) consisting of one or more measurement sensors that measure the status information of a test liquid hydrogen safety valve (10) connected to the above-mentioned vaporized hydrogen connection line (300). A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen characterized by performing an evaluation of the above test liquid hydrogen safety valve (10) through which high-pressure cryogenic vaporized hydrogen passes.
  2. In Article 1, The above hydrogen vaporization unit (200) is, A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen characterized by inducing vaporization of liquid hydrogen stored in the liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110) during the process in which the liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110) is heated by the heat of room temperature hydrogen gas supplied to a heat exchanger (210) for vaporization inducing that surrounds the outer surface of the liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110).
  3. In Article 1, The above hydrogen vaporization unit (200) is, A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen characterized by inducing vaporization of liquid hydrogen by heat directly transferred from room temperature hydrogen gas supplied to the internal space (111) of the liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110).
  4. In Article 1, The above hydrogen vaporization unit (200) is, A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen characterized by 1) inducing vaporization of liquid hydrogen stored in the liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110) by the heat of room temperature hydrogen gas supplied to a heat exchanger (210) for vaporization inducing that surrounds the outer surface of the liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110), while 2) inducing vaporization of liquid hydrogen by heat directly transferred from the room temperature hydrogen gas supplied to the internal space (111) of the liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110).
  5. In any one of paragraphs 2 through 4, The above hydrogen vaporization unit (200) is, It includes a flow controller (230) that precisely controls the supply flow rate of room temperature hydrogen gas, and A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen characterized in that the pressure rise rate of cryogenic vaporized hydrogen filling the internal space (111) of the liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110) is controlled by the flow controller (230).
  6. In Paragraph 5, The above hydrogen vaporization unit (200) is, A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen, characterized by including a control module (240) that controls the vaporization of liquid hydrogen stored in the liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110) in multiple stages when necessary, and a multi-stage control algorithm (241) for the hydrogen vaporization stage.
  7. In Paragraph 6, A sensor unit (112) for a storage chamber is installed in the above-mentioned liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110) and comprises a plurality of measurement sensors that detect chamber state information including chamber pressure and chamber temperature, wherein the measurement sensors are structured to be suitable for a cryogenic environment. The control module (240) of the above hydrogen vaporization unit (200) is, A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen, characterized by precisely controlling the supply flow rate of the flow controller (230) according to the chamber pressure and chamber temperature transmitted in real time from the sensor unit (112) for the storage chamber, and thereby controlling the pressure and temperature of the high-pressure cryogenic vaporized hydrogen discharged to the vaporized hydrogen connection line (300) in real time.
  8. In Article 7, The above hydrogen vaporization unit (200) is, A heater (280) that heats room temperature hydrogen gas to generate high temperature hydrogen gas at a temperature higher than room temperature; and a temperature sensor (270) that detects the temperature of the high temperature hydrogen gas generated by the heater (280). The control module (240) of the above hydrogen vaporization unit (200) is, A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen characterized by precisely controlling the supply flow rate of the flow controller (230) and the heating control of the heater (280) according to the chamber pressure and chamber temperature transmitted in real time from the sensor unit (112) for the storage chamber and the high temperature hydrogen gas temperature transmitted in real time from the temperature sensor (270), thereby controlling the pressure and temperature of the high-pressure cryogenic vaporized hydrogen discharged to the vaporized hydrogen connection line (300) in real time.
  9. In any one of paragraphs 2 through 4, The above hydrogen vaporization unit (200) is, A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen, characterized by including a hydrogen gas storage tank (250) in which a set amount of room temperature hydrogen gas is stored, thereby enabling stable supply of room temperature hydrogen gas and control of the supply amount.
  10. In any one of paragraphs 2 through 4, The above hydrogen vaporization unit (200) is, A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen, characterized by including a heater (280) for heating room temperature hydrogen gas, wherein high-temperature hydrogen gas at a temperature higher than room temperature 1) heats the liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110) or 2) is supplied to the internal space (111) of the liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110) to maximize the vaporization of liquid hydrogen.
  11. In Article 10, The above hydrogen vaporization unit (200) is, It includes a temperature control module (260) for controlling the temperature of high-temperature hydrogen gas that has passed through the heater (280); A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen, characterized in that high-temperature hydrogen gas, which can be temperature-controlled while passing through the temperature control module (260), 1) heats the liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110), or 2) is supplied to the internal space (111) of the liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110) to maximize the vaporization of the liquid hydrogen.
  12. In any one of paragraphs 2 through 4, The above hydrogen liquefaction unit (100) is, A pre-cooling device (130) that generates pre-cooled hydrogen gas by pre-cooling room temperature hydrogen gas to a temperature of 80K or lower; a main cooling device (140) that generates liquid hydrogen by cooling the pre-cooled hydrogen gas to a temperature of 20K or lower through a cryogenic heat exchanger (142) connected to a cryogenic cooler (141); and a gas line opening/closing valve (150) installed in a gas line (120) connecting the pre-cooling device (130) and the main cooling device (140) to open and close the gas line (120) and having a structure designed to be suitable for a cryogenic environment. The above hydrogen vaporization unit (200) is, A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen, characterized in that the gas line (120) is closed by the gas line shut-off valve (150) and the supply of pre-cooled hydrogen gas to the liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110) is cut off, and then room temperature hydrogen gas is supplied to the liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110).
  13. In Article 1, A sensor unit (112) for a storage chamber, which is installed in the above-mentioned liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110) and comprises a plurality of measurement sensors that detect chamber state information including chamber pressure and chamber temperature, wherein the measurement sensors are structured to be suitable for a cryogenic environment; A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen, characterized by including: an emergency safety device (500) that, when the chamber pressure or chamber temperature monitored in real time by the sensor unit (112) for the storage chamber shows abnormal behavior, 1) discharges the high-pressure cryogenic vaporized hydrogen filling the liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110), or 2) stops the operation of the hydrogen vaporization unit (200) that vaporizes the liquid hydrogen.
  14. In Article 1, The above emergency safety device (500) is, A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen, characterized by including: a discharge line (510) connected to a liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110) and disposed separately from the vaporized hydrogen connection line (300).
  15. In Article 1, A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen, characterized in that the above-mentioned vaporized hydrogen connection line (300) is formed with a bayonet-type vacuum double-pipe structure to minimize heat intrusion through the above-mentioned vaporized hydrogen connection line (300).
  16. In Article 1, The above liquid hydrogen storage chamber (110) is, A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen, characterized by being a high-pressure storage tank made of a material that is resistant to hydrogen embrittlement and capable of withstanding the pressure target value range of the cryogenic vaporized hydrogen according to the test requirements of the above test liquid hydrogen safety valve (10).
  17. In Article 1, A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen, characterized by including a movable frame (700) equipped with wheels (710), wherein the above-mentioned hydrogen liquefaction unit (100), hydrogen vaporization unit (200), vaporized hydrogen connection line (300), and evaluation sensor unit (400) are fixedly installed.
  18. In Paragraph 18, A safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen, characterized by including an integrated distribution board (800) that is fixedly installed on the above-mentioned movable frame (700), connected to an external power supply, and supplies power to the above-mentioned hydrogen liquefaction unit (100), hydrogen vaporization unit (200), and evaluation sensor unit (400).

Description

Evaluation device for safety valves for liquefied hydrogen The present invention relates to a safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen, comprising a hydrogen liquefaction unit for liquefying hydrogen gas and storing it in a liquid hydrogen storage chamber, and a hydrogen vaporization unit for vaporizing the liquid hydrogen in the liquid hydrogen storage chamber; wherein the device delivers high-pressure cryogenic vaporized hydrogen, generated by the accumulation of vaporized hydrogen filling the internal space of the liquid hydrogen storage chamber, to a test liquid hydrogen safety valve, thereby enabling the safe and stable evaluation of the performance of the safety valve for liquid hydrogen under actual usage environmental conditions, and thereby ensuring the reliability of the performance evaluation data of the safety valve for liquid hydrogen. Recently, research on hydrogen liquefaction devices using cryogenic coolers has been actively conducted. The hydrogen liquefaction device is a device that primarily pre-cools ambient temperature hydrogen gas to a temperature of 80K or lower through a pre-cooler, and secondarily cools the pre-cooled hydrogen gas to a temperature of 20K or lower through a cryogenic heat exchanger connected to a cryogenic cooler that is maintained at a temperature lower than that of liquid hydrogen, thereby generating liquid hydrogen. The cryogenic liquid hydrogen generated by such a hydrogen liquefaction device can be stored in a storage tank. As some of the liquid hydrogen inside the storage tank vaporizes into cryogenic gas, filling the internal space of the storage tank, the pressure inside the storage tank rises. Since accidents such as frostbite, fire, and explosion may occur if the cryogenic gaseous hydrogen is exposed to the outside, the pressure inside the storage tank is maintained below a certain pressure through a safety valve to prevent deformation and damage to the storage tank. Meanwhile, safety valves for liquid hydrogen may be installed in storage tanks or in areas where pressure rise is a concern. It is necessary to check whether the valve operates properly under the external discharge pressure of the cryogenic vaporized hydrogen released through it. If the safety valve operates at a low pressure where the flow path should not open, it can be determined that the durability of the safety valve has not been ensured. Therefore, a device is required to evaluate whether cryogenic gas is discharged in accordance with the gas discharge pressure set in the safety valve for liquid hydrogen. However, conventional performance evaluation devices for liquid hydrogen safety valves rely on external liquid hydrogen supply or other refrigerants for evaluation; since they do not use liquid hydrogen directly, there were limitations in the reliability and accuracy of the evaluation results. In particular, as it is difficult to safely and accurately evaluate the performance of liquid hydrogen safety valves in cryogenic and high-pressure environments, there was a need to develop a device capable of conducting performance evaluations under actual operating conditions of high pressure and cryogenics. FIG. 1 is a basic block diagram of a safety valve evaluation device for liquefied hydrogen according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the basic principle of a safety valve evaluation device for liquefied hydrogen according to the present invention; FIGS. 3(a) to (c) are conceptual diagrams for showing the liquid hydrogen vaporization induction configuration of a safety valve evaluation device for liquid hydrogen according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram of a heat exchanger for inducing vaporization of a hydrogen vaporization unit according to the present invention; FIG. 5 is a drawing for showing a configuration in which a room temperature vaporized hydrogen connection line of a hydrogen vaporization unit according to the present invention is inserted into a liquid hydrogen storage chamber; FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the flow rate control configuration of a hydrogen vaporization unit according to the present invention; FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a room temperature hydrogen gas temperature control of a hydrogen vaporization unit according to the present invention; FIG. 8 is a block diagram for showing the gas line opening and closing configuration of a hydrogen liquefaction unit according to the present invention; FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the connection configuration of an emergency safety device of a safety valve evaluation device for liquefied hydrogen according to the present invention; FIG. 10 is a drawing for showing a movable frame and an integrated distribution panel of a safety valve evaluation device for liquefied hydrogen according to the present invention; FIG. 11 is a drawing for showing the connection relationships between the main components of a safety valve evalua