Description:Complete Specification

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to a hydrogen powered vehicle, and more specifically to an excess flow control valve that is positioned in a path of hydrogen gas and regulates a flow of hydrogen gas to a plurality of storage tanks containing hydrogen of the hydrogen powered vehicle.

Background of the invention
[0002] CN 217714561 U describes a single-metering 35Mpa and 70Mpa double-gun hydrogen filling machine, and aims to solve the technical problems that the 35Mpa and 70Mpa double-gun hydrogen filling machine is complicated in pipeline process, high in equipment production cost and operation and maintenance cost, single in application scene, high in filling rate adjustment difficulty and low in hydrogen filling efficiency due to complicated operation flow. The device comprises a gas supply pipeline, a hydrogenation gun, a communication module and a control unit. The gas supply pipeline is arranged between a hydrogen storage tank of the hydrogen refueling station and the hydrogen refueling gun in a communicating manner, and a temperature transmitter, a pressure transmitter and a flow regulating valve are arranged in the gas supply pipeline. The control unit comprises a PLC so as to adjust the valve opening degree of the flow adjusting valve. According to the utility model, the hydrogen filling rate can be regulated and controlled in real time. Manual regulation is not needed, the process of a hydrogenation step is simplified, the operation difficulty is reduced, and the hydrogen filling efficiency is improved.

Brief description of the accompanying drawing
[0003] Figure 1 illustrates a drawing depicting an excess flow control valve that is positioned in a path of hydrogen gas and regulates a flow of hydrogen gas to a plurality of storage tanks containing hydrogen of the hydrogen powered vehicle.
Detailed description of the embodiments
[0004] Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus 100 for regulating a flow of hydrogen gas to a plurality of hydrogen tanks 110, 120, and 130. The apparatus 100 comprises a first hydrogen tank 110 containing hydrogen fuel, and at least one second hydrogen tank 120 containing hydrogen fuel. An excess flow control valve 140 is in flow communication with the first hydrogen tank 110 containing hydrogen fuel and with at least one second hydrogen tank 120 containing hydrogen fuel. The excess flow control valve 140 is adapted to regulate a flow rate of hydrogen gas to the first hydrogen tank 110 and to the at least one second hydrogen tank 120. The excess flow control valve 140 is adapted to automatically close when the flow rate of hydrogen gas to the first hydrogen tank 110 and to the at least one second hydrogen tank 120 is greater than a threshold limit that is pre-determined by a user.

[0005] Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus 100 for regulating a flow of hydrogen gas to a plurality of hydrogen tanks 110, 120, 130 of a hydrogen powered vehicle. The apparatus 100 comprises a first hydrogen tank 110 containing hydrogen fuel. In the exemplary embodiment, the second hydrogen tank 120 contains hydrogen fuel and the third hydrogen tank 130 contains hydrogen fuel. In the exemplary embodiment, an excess flow control valve 140 is in flow communication with the first hydrogen tank 110 that contains hydrogen fuel, with the second hydrogen tank 120 that contains hydrogen fuel, and with the third hydrogen tank 130 that contains hydrogen fuel. The excess flow control valve 140 is adapted to regulate a flow rate of hydrogen gas from a hydrogen gas filling receptacle to the first hydrogen tank 110, to the second hydrogen tank 120, and to the third hydrogen tank 130 respectively. The excess flow control valve 140 is adapted to automatically close when a flow rate of hydrogen gas to the first hydrogen tank 110, to the second hydrogen tank 120, and to the third hydrogen tank 130 from the hydrogen gas filling receptacle 150 is greater than a threshold limit that is pre-determined by a user. If the flow rate of hydrogen gas to the first hydrogen tank 110, to the second hydrogen tank 120, and to the third hydrogen tank from the hydrogen gas filling receptacle 150 is lesser than the threshold limit that is pre-determined by the user, the excess flow control valve 140 continues to remain open. Therein, the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen gas filling receptacle 150 flows to the first hydrogen tank 110, to the second hydrogen tank 120, and to the third hydrogen tank 130 via the excess flow control valve 140 until the first hydrogen tank 110, the second hydrogen tank 120, and the third hydrogen tank 130 are completely filled.

[0006] When the flow rate of hydrogen gas to the first hydrogen tank 110, to the second hydrogen tank 120, and to the third hydrogen tank 130 is greater than a threshold limit, then the excess flow control valve 140 is adapted to shut off, thereby preventing the flow of hydrogen gas from the filling receptacle 150 to the first hydrogen tank 110, to the second hydrogen tank 120, and to the third hydrogen tank 130 respectively. The threshold limit at which the excess flow control valve 140 is adapted to close when the flow rate of hydrogen gas from the filling receptacle 150 to the first hydrogen tank 110, to the second hydrogen tank 120, and to the third hydrogen tank 130 is high is pre-determined by a user. More specifically, the excess flow control valve 140 may be a spring controlled excess flow control valve, wherein the spring constant of the excess flow control valve may be pre-determined by the user and set accordingly.

[0007] It must be understood that the embodiments explained above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Many modifications in the embodiments with regard to dimensions of various components are envisaged and form a part of this invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.
, Claims:CLAIMS

We Claim

1. An apparatus (100) for regulating a flow of hydrogen gas to a plurality of hydrogen tanks (110, 120, 130), the apparatus (100) comprising:
a first hydrogen tank (110) containing hydrogen fuel;
at least one second hydrogen tank (120) containing hydrogen fuel; and
an excess flow control valve (140) in flow communication with said first hydrogen tank (110) containing hydrogen fuel and with at least one second hydrogen tank (120) containing hydrogen fuel, said excess flow control valve (140) adapted to regulate a flow rate of hydrogen gas to said first hydrogen tank (110) and to said at least one second hydrogen tank (120).

2. The apparatus (100) for regulating the flow of hydrogen gas to the plurality of hydrogen tanks (110, 120, 130) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said excess flow control valve (140) is adapted to automatically close when the flow rate of hydrogen gas to said first hydrogen tank (110) and to said at least one second hydrogen tank (120) is greater than a threshold limit that is pre-determined by a user.