Working principle of hydrogen compressor

Common hydrogen compressor operating principles

As the key core equipment of hydrogen refueling stations, the market demand for hydrogen compressors has gradually increased with the boom in station construction. It has attracted the attention of upstream and downstream of the industrial chain. In the design and construction process of hydrogen refueling stations, formulating a process plan that meets the needs and selecting appropriate process equipment can play a vital role in accelerating the construction progress of hydrogen refueling stations and reasonably controlling construction costs.

At present, the main process flow adopted by domestic hydrogen refueling stations is based on the storage and transportation of high-pressure gaseous hydrogen, mainly using long-tube trailers outside the station to supply hydrogen. In the process flow of high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage and hydrogen refueling stations with long-tube trailers outside the station to supply hydrogen, the long-tube trailer transports 20MPa compressed hydrogen from the hydrogen production unit to the fixed station, and the hydrogen is unloaded to the high-pressure hydrogen storage tank in the station through the compressor in the hydrogen refueling station. When the vehicle is refueled, the hydrogen output from the long-tube trailer or the hydrogen storage tank is filled into the on-board hydrogen storage bottle of the fuel cell car through the hydrogen refueling machine.

At present, the pressure levels of on-board hydrogen storage bottles that are widely used internationally are mainly 35MPa and 70MPa. The high design pressure level of the hydrogen refueling station also needs to match the pressure level of the on-board hydrogen storage of the refueling vehicle. In addition to using long-tube trailers as 20MPa mobile hydrogen storage facilities, the high fixed hydrogen storage pressure in the hydrogen refueling station for 35MPa hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is generally 45MPa, and the high fixed hydrogen storage pressure in the hydrogen refueling station for 70MPa hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is generally 90MPa.

The working principle, composition, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of the traditional diaphragm compressor, liquid-driven piston compressor, ion compressor and new liquid-driven diaphragm compressor among the common hydrogen compressors.

Traditional diaphragm compressor

Working principle

The hydrogen compressor is a reciprocating compressor that compresses and transports gas by reciprocating motion of the diaphragm in the cylinder. The diaphragm is clamped along the periphery by the gas side diaphragm head and the oil side diaphragm head. The diaphragm is driven mechanically or hydraulically to reciprocate in the cylinder, thereby achieving compression and transportation of the gas.

In order to better understand the working principle of hydrogen compressor, the following figure shows the typical compressor layout, including motor, crankcase, hydraulic system, and membrane head.

composition

It consists of a motor, a pulley, a crankcase, a crank-connecting rod mechanism, a piston, an oil-side diaphragm head, a diaphragm, and a gas-side diaphragm head;

feature

The diaphragm is used to completely block the oil and gas, which can ensure the purity of the gas, has good sealing performance and a large single-stage compression ratio;

Advantages

No pollution, ensuring the cleanliness of the hydrogen compression process;

Good sealing, suitable for compression of flammable and explosive dangerous gases;

Large compression ratio, easy to achieve low intake and high exhaust; isothermal compression combined with integrated cooling, low exhaust temperature;