Fluid Ejector Mixing for High-Temperature Fuel Cell Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-temperature fuel cell systems, such as solid oxide fuel cells, require efficient fluid management to maintain optimal operating conditions, while existing systems with recycle blowers consume power and face reliability issues due to high temperatures.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a fluid ejector that mixes and pressurizes fluid streams using Bernoulli's principle, eliminating the need for recycle blowers and improving system efficiency and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If recycle blowers are used to maintain fluid pressure in high-temperature fuel cell systems, then desired pressure control is achieved, but power consumption increases and system reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the recycle blower component from the fuel cell system entirely. Instead of using mechanical blowers to maintain pressure and circulate fluids, the system utilizes the natural pressure differentials and flow characteristics inherent in the fuel cell operation itself, thereby eliminating the reliability issues and power consumption associated with blower components.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel cell system is designed to self-regulate fluid pressure and flow without external mechanical assistance. The electrochemical reactions and thermal gradients naturally generate the pressure differentials needed for fluid circulation, allowing the system to maintain optimal operating conditions without consuming additional power for pressure control.
2Device complexity
If recycle blowers are used to maintain fluid pressure, then pressure control is achieved, but device complexity and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the recycle blower subsystem, thereby reducing device complexity. By removing this mechanical component, the system has fewer parts that can fail, require maintenance, or consume power, directly improving reliability while simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Power
If high-temperature operation is maintained for fuel cell efficiency, then energy conversion efficiency improves, but component reliability decreases due to thermal stress
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the high-temperature operation to generate natural convection currents and pressure differentials that facilitate fluid circulation without mechanical assistance. The thermal energy that would otherwise be a source of stress and reliability issues is converted into a useful function for fluid management, allowing efficient operation while reducing mechanical component requirements.
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 fluid ejector enhances power efficiency and reduces manufacturing and maintenance costs by maintaining desired pressures without the need for complex and power-consuming blowers.
Implementation Method 1
mixes and pressurizes fluid streams using Bernoulli's principle
Implementation Method 2
a diffusion chamber fluidly connected to the mixing chamber and comprising an outlet that is fluidly connected to the stack
Data Source
AI summary
An electrochemical cell system includes a stack of electrochemical cells, and a fluid ejector configured to mix a first fluid stream and a second fluid stream to form a mixed fluid stream that is provided to the stack. The fluid ejector includes a suction chamber having a secondary inlet configured to receive the second fluid stream, an inlet nozzle configured to inject the first fluid stream into the suction chamber, a mixing chamber fluidly connected to the suction chamber and configured to mix the first fluid stream and the second fluid stream to form the mixed fluid stream, and a diffusion chamber fluidly connected to the mixing chamber and having an outlet that is fluidly connected to the stack.