Deionizer Cartridge Layout for Fluid Residence Time Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing deionizers for fuel cell systems face challenges in maintaining low fluid conductivity levels due to complex maintenance operations, significant pressure loss, and inadequate control over fluid residence time, especially when scaling or changing fluid circuit dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A deionizer design featuring a cartridge with a central well having only second orifices at the upper section and no orifices at the lower section, ensuring the fluid passes through the ion exchange resin over its entire height, and a method for easy filling through lateral openings, allowing for efficient conductivity regulation and simplified maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the deionizer uses a conventional tubular design with ion exchange resin, then it can regulate fluid conductivity, but it causes significant pressure drop and complex maintenance operations
Solution Approach 1:
The deionizer is divided into a permanent base and a removable cartridge containing the ion exchange resin. The cartridge can be easily detached and replaced during maintenance operations, simplifying the maintenance process while maintaining the conductivity regulation function through the ion exchange resin in the cartridge.
2Ease of operation
If the deionizer uses a conventional design with orifices throughout the central well, then fluid distribution is achieved, but residence time control is inadequate especially when scaling
Solution Approach 1:
The central well is designed with spatially differentiated orifice distribution: the upper section contains multiple second orifices for fluid distribution into the internal cavity, while the lower section remains devoid of orifices. This local differentiation ensures proper fluid distribution while maintaining adequate residence time control, and the design remains effective across different scales and fluid circuit dimensions.
3Productivity
If the deionizer allows fluid bypass paths, then flow rate is increased, but residence time in the resin bed is reduced compromising conductivity regulation
Solution Approach 1:
The design extracts and eliminates bypass paths that would allow fluid to circumvent the ion exchange resin. The lower section of the central well is specifically designed without orifices to prevent bypass flow, ensuring that all fluid must pass through the resin bed in the internal cavity, thereby maintaining adequate residence time for effective conductivity regulation.
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 design ensures sufficient fluid residence time for effective conductivity regulation, simplifies maintenance, and adapts easily to varying fluid circuit dimensions, reducing pressure loss and operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The deionizer ensures that the fluid conductivity level in the temperature control circuit is kept low. In this regard, the deionizer therefore includes a granular bed based on an ion exchange resin.
Implementation Method 2
the first screen being configured to retain the resin and prevent it from leaving the internal cavity
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
The invention relates to a deionizer (1) for a fluid circuit (50), the deionizer comprising a fluid connection base (2) and a cartridge (8) having a body (10) and a cover (20) for attachment to the body, the cover (20) having a platform (21) connected to a central well (25), the platform extending transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis (X) and closing an internal cavity (16) of the body, the central well extending inside the body (10) and having two adjacent sections. An upper section (25a) has second orifices (27a, 27b, 27c) covered by or comprising a second sieve, the second orifices being configured to allow the fluid (F) to pass from the central well into the internal cavity, and the second sieve being configured to retain a resin (A) and prevent it from escaping the internal cavity (16). A lower section (25b) is devoid of openings.