Fluid Compressor Water Management via Pump Chamber Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid compressors in fuel cell systems face challenges with water entry and ice formation due to condensation, leading to malfunction and difficulty in restarting, especially in low-temperature environments.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a pump chamber with an upper port and passage located below the port, allowing easy discharge of accumulated water and preventing excessive water entry, along with a rotor configuration that facilitates water flow and minimizes ice formation, and a control unit for controlled rotor operation after shutdown to manage water retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water discharge structure is added to pump chamber, then water removal capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump chamber is divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by a partition wall. The lower chamber serves as a water collection space with a water discharge structure, separating water removal function from the main compression chamber. This segmentation allows effective water removal without adding complex external drainage systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The water discharge structure utilizes the pressure difference between the upper and lower chambers during rotor operation. Water is automatically discharged through the water discharge port when pressure in the lower chamber exceeds atmospheric pressure, eliminating the need for external power or control mechanisms.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If rotor configuration is optimized for water flow, then ice formation is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor surfaces are designed with curved profiles rather than flat surfaces. The rotationally symmetric curved surfaces guide water flow smoothly during rotor rotation, preventing water accumulation in recesses where ice could form. The curved geometry naturally directs water toward the water discharge port.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to prevent water entry into the pump chamber, the design inverts the approach by providing a dedicated water discharge path. Water that enters the chamber is actively removed through the lower chamber discharge structure, transforming the problem from prevention to active management.
3Reliability
If controlled rotor operation is implemented after shutdown, then water retention is managed, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit operates the rotor in periodic cycles after fuel cell shutdown. The rotor rotates for a predetermined period to discharge water, then stops. This periodic operation manages water retention without continuous energy consumption, balancing reliability with energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit initiates rotor operation before the fuel cell completely shuts down. This preliminary action allows water to be discharged during the transition period when the system is still partially operational, preventing water accumulation before the system fully stops and avoiding the need for high-energy clearing operations later.
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 prevents excessive water entry and ice formation, ensuring smooth operation and easy restart of the fluid compressor, reducing the risk of malfunctions and energy wastage.
Implementation Method 1
a rotor configured to rotate about a rotation axis, and configured to compress a fluid introduced into the pump chamber through one of the upper port and the lower port and discharge the compressed fluid through the other of the upper port and the lower port
Implementation Method 2
at least a portion of the upper passage is located below the upper port, even if condensate water has accumulated on the wall surface of the upper passage, the water can easily flow downward
Data Source
AI summary
An air compressor as a fluid compressor includes: a suction port and a delivery port provided at upper and lower portions, respectively, of a pump chamber; a suction passage in communication with the inside of the pump chamber via the suction port; a delivery passage in communication with the inside of the pump chamber via the delivery port; and a driving rotor and a driven rotor provided in the pump chamber. At least a part of the suction passage is located below the suction port.