Air-Recirculating Fuel Cell Cooling for Cold-Weather Stack Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air-cooling type fuel cells face challenges in maintaining optimal operating temperatures, particularly in cold weather conditions, leading to overcooling and potential damage due to freezing, which affects performance and durability.
Innovation Solution
The fuel cell design incorporates an air recirculation system that circulates cooled air back into the inlet, adjusts the degree of air circulation using extendable/retractable members, and insulates opposite ends of the stack to maintain uniform temperature, utilizing temperature sensors and control modules for precise temperature management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If outside air is circulated to cool the fuel cell, then cooling performance is improved, but the fuel cell is overcooled at low outside air temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the cooling air by recirculating exhaust air that has been warmed by the fuel cell stack. This mixed air stream maintains a temperature above freezing while still providing effective cooling, resolving the contradiction between cooling performance and overcooling risk
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary component that transfers heat from the exhaust air to the incoming cooling air. This mediator enables temperature adjustment without direct contact between hot and cold streams, effectively preventing overcooling while maintaining cooling efficiency
2Device complexity
If air is supplied for reaction and cooling together, then the configuration is simplified, but temperature control precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air flow into separate reaction air and cooling air streams that can be independently controlled. This allows precise temperature management for the cooling function while maintaining simplified overall system architecture through shared components like the recirculation fan
3Temperature
If cooling air temperature is reduced to improve cooling efficiency, then cooling performance increases, but water condensate flooding occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful cold exhaust air into a beneficial pre-cooled mixing air by warming it with the fuel cell stack heat. This approach maintains cooling efficiency while preventing the harmful effect of excessive cooling that causes condensate flooding
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 design effectively prevents overcooling and maintains the stack at appropriate temperatures, ensuring consistent performance across varying outdoor conditions by adjusting air circulation and temperature distribution within the fuel cell.
Implementation Method 1
outside air is circulated by a blowing fan 100 to be supplied to the fuel cell
Implementation Method 2
air passing through a stack is circulated back toward an inlet of a housing to be used as cooling air for the stack
Implementation Method 3
air is circulated along opposite sides of the housing to insulate opposite ends of the stack, thereby maintaining the entire stack at a uniform temperature
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed is an air-cooling type fuel cell. More particularly, proposed is an air-cooling type fuel cell capable of air recirculation, in which air passing through a stack is circulated back toward an inlet of a housing to be used as cooling air for the stack, thereby preventing overcooling of the stack even at a low outside air temperature and maintaining the stack at an appropriate temperature; air is circulated along opposite sides of the housing to insulate opposite ends of the stack, thereby maintaining the entire stack at a uniform temperature; and the degree of circulation of air passing through the stack is adjusted, thereby accurately adjusting the temperature of air supplied to the stack.