Agitation Mixer Guide Rib Liquid Water Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional fuel cell systems, liquid water from recirculated fuel off-gas can concentrate at the fuel cell inlet, leading to deteriorated power generation performance due to its inability to separate gas and liquid effectively.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell system with an agitation mixer featuring a guide rib that applies a swirling force to the mixed gas, guiding liquid water away from the power generation portion and preventing its concentration at the fuel cell inlet, utilizing a spiral-shaped mixer body and guide rib configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a gas-liquid separator is used to separate liquid water from fuel off-gas, then liquid water removal is improved, but liquid water cannot be completely separated and may still enter the fuel cell stack
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a circulation passage as an intermediary pathway that redirects fuel off-gas containing liquid water away from direct entry into the fuel cell stack. The passage allows the mixed gas to circulate and undergo phase separation in a controlled environment before re-entry, preventing liquid water from directly contaminating the power generation portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to the gas flow path by creating a circulation passage that routes fuel off-gas through a different spatial pathway. This dimensional change allows liquid water to settle and separate from the gas phase in a larger volume space before the gas re-enters the fuel cell stack, improving separation effectiveness.
2Productivity
If fuel off-gas is recirculated back into the fuel gas supply passage, then fuel gas utilization is improved, but liquid water in the recirculated gas concentrates at the fuel cell inlet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fuel gas supply system into distinct pathways: a primary supply passage for fresh fuel gas and a circulation passage for recirculated fuel off-gas. This segmentation allows liquid water to be managed separately in the circulation passage through phase separation, while the primary supply passage maintains clean fuel gas delivery to prevent liquid water concentration at the fuel cell inlet.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary phase separation in the circulation passage before recirculated fuel off-gas re-enters the fuel gas supply system. By performing this separation action in advance, liquid water is removed from the gas phase before the mixed gas enters the fuel cell stack, preventing harmful concentration at the inlet while maintaining fuel gas utilization benefits.
3Ease of operation
If liquid water enters the fuel cell stack with fuel gas flow, then the system operation is simplified, but power generation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation passage serves as an intermediary system that manages liquid water removal without complicating the core fuel cell operation. The passage provides a dedicated pathway for phase separation that operates automatically based on gravitational and flow dynamics, maintaining system simplicity while protecting power generation performance from liquid water damage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively reduces liquid water concentration at the fuel cell inlet by 67-83% compared to systems without the guide rib, enhancing power generation performance by ensuring liquid water is directed away from the power generation area.
Implementation Method 1
The agitation mixer is configured to apply a swirling force to the mixed gas
Implementation Method 2
a flow generated by an inflow of the fuel off-gas is a spiral flow with respect to the fuel gas supply passage
Implementation Method 3
The agitation mixer includes a guide rib configured to guide liquid water contained in the mixed gas to a side opposite to the power generation portion-side
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a mixed gas supply passage, and an agitation mixer. The fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells each including a power generation portion. The fuel cells are stacked. The mixed gas supply passage is configured to communicate with the fuel cell stack. The mixed gas supply passage is configured to supply a mixed gas to the fuel cell stack. The mixed gas is a mixture of a fuel gas and a fuel off-gas that has been discharged from the fuel cell stack. The agitation mixer is provided in the mixed gas supply passage. The agitation mixer is configured to apply a swirling force to the mixed gas. The agitation mixer includes a guide rib configured to guide liquid water contained in the mixed gas to a side opposite to the power generation portion-side.