Engine Combustor Catalyst Heating Control via Dynamic Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional engine systems face challenges in achieving an appropriate catalyst temperature in reformers due to delayed control responses from temperature sensors and insufficient combustion time settings based on environmental conditions, leading to inadequate hydrogen generation.
Innovation Solution
An engine system that includes a combustor with an ignition unit, flow rate control valves, and sensors to detect outside air temperature, catalyst temperature, and operating environment, allowing for dynamic determination of combustion time to optimize catalyst heating regardless of operating conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If feedback control using temperature sensor detection value is used to heat the catalyst, then the catalyst temperature can be monitored, but the control response is delayed causing excessive temperature increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by determining the combustion time in advance based on detected parameters (outside air temperature, catalyst temperature, operating environment) before actually executing the combustion process. This pre-calculated combustion time is then used to control the combustion duration, ensuring the catalyst reaches the appropriate temperature without excessive heating, thereby resolving the delay between temperature detection and control action.
2Ease of operation
If combustion time is set based on outside air temperature only, then the control is simple, but the catalyst temperature may be insufficient or excessive depending on operating environment
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making the combustion time adjustable and adaptive based on multiple detected parameters including outside air temperature, catalyst temperature, and operating environment of the combustor. The combustion time determination unit dynamically calculates the appropriate combustion time by considering these varying conditions, allowing the system to adapt to different operating environments while maintaining simple operation through automated determination.
3Temperature
If the combustor operates in cold conditions, then the catalyst heating efficiency decreases, but fixed combustion time settings cannot compensate for environmental variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes parameters by detecting outside air temperature, catalyst temperature, and combustor operating environment, then using these parameter changes to dynamically determine the combustion time. When outside air temperature is low, the system adjusts the combustion time parameter to compensate for reduced heating efficiency, ensuring the catalyst still reaches the appropriate temperature regardless of environmental conditions.
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 approach ensures the catalyst is heated to an appropriate temperature, preventing both excessive and insufficient heating, thereby ensuring efficient hydrogen generation and system performance across varying environments.
Implementation Method 1
a combustor (35) including an ignition unit (40) and configured to generate combustion gas that heats the catalyst, the ignition unit being configured to ignite fuel gas
Implementation Method 2
a reformer (23) including a catalyst (33) that decomposes fuel gas into hydrogen and configured to reform fuel gas to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen
Data Source
AI summary
An engine system includes: a combustor including an ignition unit configured to ignite the fuel gas and configured to generate combustion gas that heats a catalyst; an outside air temperature detection unit configured to detect an outside air temperature; a catalyst temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the catalyst; an operating environment detection unit configured to detect an operating environment of the combustor; a combustion time determination unit configured to determine combustion time of the combustor; and a start control unit configured to, at a time of starting the engine, perform ON control on a starter and the ignition unit and control a third fuel supply valve, a first flow rate control valve, and a second flow rate control valve to open, and thereafter when the combustion time elapses, perform OFF control on the ignition unit and control the third fuel supply valve to close.