Anode Gas-Liquid Separator With Deswirl Pressure Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

The presence of water in the anode recirculation loop of fuel cells reduces efficiency and can cause membrane damage due to accumulated water droplets blocking fuel access to reaction sites, and existing separation methods either fail to effectively remove water or increase pressure drop, impacting fuel cell performance.

Innovation Solution

A water separation system utilizing a gas-liquid separator with a deswirl element that recovers pressure and employs inertial separation techniques to remove water from the gas stream, maintaining high pressure at the anode inlet and preventing water accumulation, which includes a separator housing with a tangential inlet passage and a deswirl element within the outlet conduit to facilitate efficient water removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If water separation is performed in the anode recirculation loop, then water accumulation is prevented and fuel cell efficiency is improved, but pressure drop increases which impacts performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel cell efficiencyVSAvoidpressure drop

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The gas-liquid separator extracts and removes water from the anode recirculation gas stream, separating the liquid phase from the gas phase. This extraction prevents water accumulation in the fuel cell while maintaining gas flow, resolving the contradiction between improving reliability through water removal and minimizing pressure drop.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Quantity of substance

If existing water separation methods are used, then some water removal is achieved, but water removal effectiveness is insufficient or pressure drop increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater removal effectivenessVSAvoidpressure drop

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The separator utilizes pneumatic principles where the gas stream's kinetic energy and pressure differential drive the water separation process. The gas-liquid separator design allows water droplets to be removed from the gas phase through hydraulic settling and phase separation, achieving effective water removal without requiring additional pressure input that would increase pressure drop.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Stress or pressure

If water is not removed from the recirculation loop, then pressure drop is minimized, but water accumulates and blocks fuel access to reaction sites causing membrane damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure dropVSAvoidmembrane damage from water accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The gas-liquid separator acts as an intermediary component in the anode recirculation loop, providing a dedicated water removal function without disrupting the overall gas flow. By placing the separator as an intermediate device in the recirculation path, water is removed effectively to prevent membrane damage while the separator's design minimizes its impact on system pressure drop.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The system effectively separates water from the gas mixture, reducing pressure drop and maintaining high pressure at the anode inlet, thereby enhancing fuel cell efficiency and preventing membrane damage from water accumulation.

Implementation Method 1

The inlet passage extends tangentially away from a surface of the body that defines the internal cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTangential flow:

Implementation Method 2

employes inertial separation techniques to remove water from the gas stream

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInertial separation:

Implementation Method 3

A water separation system utilizing a gas-liquid separator with a deswirl element that recovers pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeswirl:

Data Source

PatentUS20250006961A1Anode side water separation and management for fuel cell

Publication Date: 2025.01.02 ATMUS FILTRATION INC

AI summary

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and a gas-liquid separator. The fuel cell includes an anode, a membrane, and a cathode. The gas-liquid separator includes a separator housing defining an internal cavity. The separator housing includes an inlet, an outlet, an outlet conduit, and a drain. The inlet is fluidly coupled to the fuel cell downstream from the anode. The outlet is fluidly coupled to an anode inlet of the anode. The outlet conduit extends axially into the internal cavity from a first axial end of the separator housing. The drain is disposed at a second axial end of the separator housing. The separator housing further defines an inlet passage that fluidly couples the inlet to the internal cavity and extends tangentially away form an interior surface of the separator housing.