In-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank and a method for manufacturing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12449094-B2
Application number	US-202318344854-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2023
Priority date	Jul 4, 2022
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

An in-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank includes: an inner tank that stores liquid hydrogen; an outer tank that accommodates the inner tank; and a heat-insulation material that is arranged in a heat-insulation clearance as a clearance between the inner tank and the outer tank and holds the inner tank to be separated from an inner surface of the outer tank. The heat-insulation clearance has: a vacuum area that is not filled with the heat-insulation material; and an area that is filled with the heat-insulation material and thus allows the inner tank to be surface-supported by the heat-insulation material.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An in-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank, comprising:
an inner tank configured to store liquid hydrogen;
an outer tank that accommodates the inner tank;
a heat-insulation material that is disposed in a heat-insulation clearance as a clearance between the inner tank and the outer tank and holds the inner tank to be separated from an inner surface of the outer tank; and
a spacer that is partially arranged in the heat-insulation clearance, the spacer being configured to maintain a constant thickness of the heat-insulation clearance, wherein
the heat-insulation clearance has:
a vacuum area that is not filled with the heat-insulation material; and
an area that is filled with the heat-insulation material and thus allows the inner tank to be surface-supported by the heat-insulation material,

the heat-insulation material is accommodated in a sealed bag, and
both inside of the sealed bag and the heat-insulation clearance are vacuum-suctioned.

2. The in-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank according to claim 1 , wherein
the heat-insulation material includes superinsulation defined by a stack of
one or more heat shield layers, each of which is made of a metal sheet, and
one or more spacer layers, each of which is made of a fiber material, and

the heat-insulation clearance is vacuum-suctioned in a state where the heat-insulation material is arranged therein.

3. The in-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank according to claim 1 , wherein
the outer tank has a rupture disc that is configured to be ruptured in response to an internal pressure of the outer tank becoming equal to or higher than a specified allowable pressure, so as to expose the inside of the outer tank to atmospheric air.

4. The in-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank according to claim 1 , wherein
the inner tank is shaped to have a flat surface section.

5. The in-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a booster pump configured to pressurize liquid hydrogen stored in the inner tank and output pressurized liquid hydrogen to outside the booster pump,
wherein a bottom portion of the inner tank is formed with a collector section which is depressed downward and in which a lower end of the booster pump is inserted.

6. A method for manufacturing an in-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank, the method comprising:
accommodating a heat-insulation material, which includes a fiber material, in a sealed bag and then vacuum-suctioning inside of the sealed bag; and
arranging, in an outer tank, an inner tank configured to store liquid hydrogen, arranging the sealed bag in a heat-insulation clearance as a clearance between the inner tank and the outer tank, and thereafter vacuum-suctioning the heat-insulation clearance, wherein the method further comprises:
prior to the arranging of the sealed bag in the heat-insulation clearance, partially arranging a spacer in the heat-insulation clearance, the spacer being configured to maintain a constant thickness of the heat-insulation clearance.

7. The in-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank according to claim 1 , wherein the spacer has a bent section or a vulnerable section configured to induce buckling during a collision of a vehicle including the in-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank.

8. The in-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank according to claim 7 , wherein the spacer is bonded to at least one of the inner tank or the outer tank.

9. The in-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank according to claim 8 , wherein the spacer is made of resin or metal.

10. The in-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank according to claim 9 , wherein
the heat-insulation material includes superinsulation defined by a stack of
one or more heat shield layers, each of which is made of a metal sheet, and
one or more spacer layers, each of which is made of a fiber material, and

the heat-insulation clearance is vacuum-suctioned in a state where the heat-insulation material is arranged therein.

11. The in-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank according to claim 10 , wherein
the outer tank has a rupture disc that is configured to be ruptured in response to an internal pressure of the outer tank becoming equal to or higher than a specified allowable pressure, so as to expose the inside of the outer tank to atmospheric air.

12. The in-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank according to claim 11 , wherein
the inner tank is shaped to have a flat surface section.

13. The in-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a booster pump configured to pressurize liquid hydrogen stored in the inner tank and output pressurized liquid hydrogen to outside the booster pump,
wherein a bottom portion of the inner tank is formed with a collector section which is depressed downward and in which a lower end of the booster pump is inserted.

14. The in-vehicle liquid hydrogen tank according to claim 13 , wherein in the vacuum area, heat is transferred only by radiation.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ito Naoaki

Classifications

• F17C2270/0184

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• F17C2270/0168

  by vehicles · CPC title

• F17C2227/0178

  in the vessel · CPC title

• F17C2227/0135

  Pumps · CPC title

• F17C2221/012

  Hydrogen · CPC title