Fuel Cell Desulfurizer and Purifier Thermal Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cell systems face inefficiencies and reliability issues due to temperature-dependent catalyst performance and heat dispersion, particularly in sulfur compound removal and carbon monoxide decomposition in combustion exhaust gas.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell system design incorporating a desulfurizer and purifier within a combustion exhaust gas container, heated by combustion exhaust gas, and an air heat exchanger for efficient heat exchange, with separate heat insulation spaces to maintain optimal catalyst temperatures and reduce heat dispersion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If desulfurization catalysts are heated to suitable temperatures to increase desulfurization performance, then sulfur compound removal efficiency is improved, but system complexity and heat management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the desulfurizer and purifier into a single integrated device housing, merging two separate functional units into one compact structure. This reduces the overall system footprint and simplifies heat management by consolidating the thermal zones, while maintaining the temperature-dependent performance of both catalysts through unified insulation and heating control.
Solution Approach 2:
The combustion exhaust gas serves multiple functions simultaneously: it heats the desulfurizer to activate the desulfurization catalyst, heats the purifier to activate the combustion catalyst, and provides the necessary thermal energy for both catalytic processes. This multi-functional use of the exhaust gas simplifies the heating system by eliminating the need for separate heat sources.
2Use of energy by moving object
If combustion exhaust gas is used to heat desulfurizer and purifier, then energy efficiency is improved, but carbon monoxide removal reliability must be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the temperature parameters of the combustion exhaust gas to ensure it reaches the purifier at a temperature sufficient to activate the combustion catalyst for carbon monoxide oxidation. By adjusting the exhaust gas flow rate and insulation characteristics, the system maintains the necessary temperature threshold for reliable CO removal while maximizing heat utilization efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If separate heat insulation spaces are provided for fuel cell unit and combustion exhaust gas处理设备, then temperature control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the insulation structures of the fuel cell unit, desulfurizer, and purifier into a unified thermal management system. By providing a common insulation environment for all three components, the system achieves precise temperature control for each component while reducing the overall insulation structure complexity compared to completely separate insulation systems.
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 enhances the efficiency and reliability of the fuel cell system by effectively utilizing thermal energy for catalyst heating, maintaining high electric-power generation efficiency, and ensuring reliable carbon monoxide removal, while reducing operational costs and system size.
Implementation Method 1
a combustion exhaust gas container that is connected to the combustion exhaust gas passage and accommodates the desulfurizer inside the combustion exhaust gas container
Implementation Method 2
a desulfurizer that removes a sulfur compound in a raw material
Implementation Method 3
a purifier that removes carbon monoxide included in the combustion exhaust gas
Implementation Method 4
a combustion catalyst that brings the carbon monoxide into oxidative decomposition
Implementation Method 5
an air heat exchanger that performs heat exchange of the combustion exhaust gas and the electric-power generation air supplied to the fuel cell unit
Implementation Method 6
the fuel cell unit being arranged in a first heat insulation space covered with a first heat insulator, the combustion exhaust gas container, the purifier, and the air heat exchanger being arranged in a second heat insulation space covered with a second heat insulator
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell system includes a desulfurizer that removes a sulfur compound in a raw material, a fuel cell unit that performs electric-power generation using fuel obtained by reforming a raw material from which the sulfur compound is removed and electric-power generation air supplied, a combustion exhaust gas passage through which combustion exhaust gas generated by combusting fuel not utilized for the electric-power generation in the fuel cell unit is emitted, a combustion exhaust gas container that is connected to the combustion exhaust gas passage and accommodates the desulfurizer inside the combustion exhaust gas container, a purifier that removes carbon monoxide included in the combustion exhaust gas, and an air heat exchanger that performs heat exchange of the combustion exhaust gas and the electric-power generation air supplied to the fuel cell unit.