Fuel Cell Byproduct Discharge Vessel for High-Pressure Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cells face challenges in efficiently discharging chemical reaction products and byproducts into high-pressure environments, such as subsea or downhole settings, due to pressure differences and the energy-intensive process of pumping out compressible fluids.
Innovation Solution
A fluid discharge system utilizing a vessel with an adjustable wall that moves between positions to increase or decrease the volume within the vessel, allowing for the drawing and expulsion of byproducts at pressures greater than the reactant pressure, facilitated by a hydraulic pump and check valves, ensuring efficient fluid communication and pressure management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a pump is used to discharge byproducts from a fuel cell into a high-pressure environment, then the discharge pressure can be increased, but the energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a hydraulic pump to move a non-compressible fluid (hydraulic fluid) into a compressible fluid (byproduct mixture), leveraging fluid pressure differentials to achieve discharge into high-pressure environments without requiring excessive energy input. The hydraulic system converts mechanical energy efficiently into pressure differential for byproduct discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and pressure parameters of fluids involved in the discharge process. By maintaining non-compressible fluids within the vessel and using them to create pressure differentials, the system optimizes energy efficiency while achieving the required discharge pressure for compressible byproducts into high-pressure environments.
2Productivity
If the vessel volume is increased to accommodate more byproducts, then the discharge capacity is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel is divided into two distinct compartments: a first volume for holding non-compressible hydraulic fluid and a second volume for accommodating compressible byproducts. This segmentation allows independent management of each fluid type, optimizing discharge capacity while maintaining manageable system complexity through functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
A movable partition wall acts as an intermediary between the first and second volumes. This partition can move to adjust the relative sizes of the volumes, enabling flexible discharge capacity while maintaining a relatively simple vessel structure. The partition mediates the interaction between hydraulic fluid and byproducts during the discharge process.
3Loss of energy
If compressible fluids are discharged directly into high-pressure environments, then the discharge process becomes energy-intensive, but maintaining non-compressible fluids in the vessel adds operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs hydraulic principles by using non-compressible hydraulic fluid in the first volume to generate pressure differentials that drive the discharge of compressible byproducts. This hydraulic mechanism improves energy efficiency by avoiding direct compression of compressible fluids, though it requires coordinated valve operations and fluid management.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge process operates in periodic cycles: the movable partition wall moves to adjust volumes, check valves open and close in sequence, and hydraulic fluid is pumped in and out rhythmically. This periodic operation manages the complexity of maintaining non-compressible fluids by establishing a repeatable operational pattern that optimizes energy efficiency.
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
Enables efficient discharge of byproducts into high-pressure environments by creating a pressure differential, reducing energy requirements and improving system efficiency by maintaining non-compressible fluids within the vessel while expelling compressible fluids, thus overcoming the challenges of high-pressure discharge.
Implementation Method 1
Moving the adjustable wall from the first position to the second position within the vessel decreases the size of the first volume and expels fluid through the discharge port from the first volume at a pressure greater than a pressure in the fluid source
Implementation Method 2
The hydraulic pump is configured to introduce a non-compressible fluid into the second volume to move the adjustable wall from the first position to the second position
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell fluid discharge system, a fuel cell system, and a method for discharging byproducts produced during fuel cell operation are provided. The fluid discharge system comprises an inlet port, a discharge port, and a vessel. The vessel comprises a vessel port and an adjustable wall. The adjustable wall forms a fluid tight seal between a first volume within the vessel partially bounded by a first side of the adjustable wall, and a second volume of the vessel partially bounded by a second side of the adjustable wall. Moving the adjustable wall from a second position to a first position draws fluid through the inlet port into the first volume. Moving the adjustable wall from the first position to the second position expels fluid through the discharge port from the first volume at a pressure greater than a reactant pressure of the fuel cell.