Fuel Cell Start-Up Control via Adsorption State Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell systems face challenges in starting up promptly and stably due to temperature-dependent adsorption variations of desulfurizing agents, which affect the flow rate of fuel supplied to the fuel cell, leading to inconsistent start-up times and potential fuel leakage issues.
Innovation Solution
A control unit determines the adsorption state of fuel at the desulfurization portion before starting the fuel cell system, ensuring a predetermined adsorption capacity is met, and issues warnings for potential fuel leakage by monitoring flow rates and pressure differences, thereby stabilizing the start-up process regardless of temperature or fuel type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the desulfurizing agent is used to adsorb sulfur in the source gas, then the sulfur removal efficiency is improved, but the fuel flow rate becomes unstable due to temperature-dependent adsorption variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pre-heating section that heats the source gas before it enters the desulfurizing agent. By preliminarily heating the gas, the temperature-dependent adsorption variations are reduced, ensuring stable fuel flow rate while maintaining effective sulfur removal. This preliminary action prevents the instability issue before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the source gas by introducing a heating section. By controlling the temperature of the source gas before it contacts the desulfurizing agent, the adsorption characteristics become more stable and predictable, resolving the contradiction between sulfur removal efficiency and fuel flow rate stability.
2Measurement precision
If the flow meter is disposed at the downstream side of the desulfurizers to measure the flow rate, then the flow rate measurement accuracy is improved, but the start-up time is extended due to fuel adsorption delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent heats the source gas preliminarily before it enters the desulfurizing agent. This pre-heating action reduces the adsorption capacity of the desulfurizing agent for fuel, allowing fuel to pass through more quickly and reach the flow meter sooner, thereby reducing start-up time while maintaining measurement accuracy.
3Reliability
If the desulfurizing agent adsorbs fuel along with sulfur, then the sulfur removal is effective, but the fuel supply to the fuel cell is insufficient during start-up operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the source gas by introducing a heating section. By increasing the temperature of the source gas before it contacts the desulfurizing agent, the adsorption capacity of the agent for fuel is reduced, ensuring sufficient fuel supply to the fuel cell during start-up while maintaining effective sulfur removal.
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 allows for prompt and stable start-up of the fuel cell system by ensuring the necessary fuel flow rate is maintained, reducing start-up time variability and detecting potential fuel leakage issues before operation, ensuring reliable combustion.
Implementation Method 1
an adsorption device (42b) disposed between a supply source (Gs) and the fuel electrode and including an adsorption portion (42b1) which is configured to adsorb the odorant and the fuel
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell (34a) including a fuel electrode supplied with a fuel to which an odorant is added and an oxidant electrode supplied with an oxidant gas, an adsorption device (42b) disposed between a supply source (Gs) and the fuel electrode and including an adsorption portion (42b1) which is configured to adsorb the odorant and the fuel, and a control unit (50) controlling at least the fuel cell (34a) and supplying the fuel before a start-up operation of the fuel cell system is started and including an adsorption state determination portion (S108, S208, S308, S408, S508) determining whether or not an adsorption state of the fuel at the adsorption portion (42b1) is in a predetermined state and a start-up operation start portion (S110) starting the start-up operation in a case where the adsorption state determination portion (S108, S208, S308, S408, S508) determines the predetermined state.