Fuel Cell Filter Device with Water Pooling Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cell systems face issues with water condensation and freezing in filters, leading to blockages and extended startup times, requiring complex control and heaters for defrosting.
Innovation Solution
A filter device with a water pooling portion under the filter to collect and discharge adhered water, eliminating the need for heaters and complex control systems, and ensuring prompt startup by preventing freezing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional filter is installed in the purge valve discharge path, then foreign matter can be removed from the fluid, but water condenses and adheres to the mesh portion causing blockage when the system stops and temperature drops
Solution Approach 1:
The filter structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: an upper filter portion with mesh for foreign matter removal, and a lower water collection portion that separates water from the fluid path. This segmentation prevents water from reaching the mesh portion while maintaining filtration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A water collection portion acts as an intermediary between the fluid flow and the filter mesh. This intermediary structure collects adhered water before it can reach the mesh portion, preventing blockage while allowing the filter to maintain its foreign matter removal function.
2Reliability
If a heater is disposed and complex control is implemented to warm the filter on startup, then blockage by freezing can be prevented, but the device becomes enlarged and startup time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The filter structure serves itself by incorporating a water collection portion that automatically collects and drains water during operation. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external heaters and complex control systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining freezing prevention capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The water collection portion is pre-configured to collect water during normal operation before freezing can occur. This preliminary water removal action prevents the need for heating systems, as water is already collected and drained when the system is operational.
3Reliability
If the rotation number of the hydrogen pump is raised at system suspension to blow off moisture, then passage blockage can be avoided, but complicate control is necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The filter structure passively collects and drains water through its designed water collection portion and discharge path, without requiring active control of pump rotation or other system components. This self-service water removal eliminates the need for complex control algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The water collection portion extracts water from the fluid stream and directs it to a discharge path separate from the main hydrogen circulation. This extraction of water before it can cause blockage simplifies control requirements.
4Reliability
If time is allocated for heater warming on startup, then blockage by freezing can be prevented, but the starting time of the fuel cell system is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The water collection portion continuously collects and drains water during operation, maintaining the filter in a dry state ready for immediate operation. This eliminates the need for pre-heating time on startup, as water is already removed through the self-service drainage mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The water collection and discharge mechanism operates continuously during system operation, constantly removing water to prevent accumulation. This continuous action ensures the filter remains ready for immediate operation without requiring additional startup warming time.
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 filter device effectively prevents freezing and ensures quick startup of the fuel cell system without the need for heaters or complex control, maintaining system integrity and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
when hygroscopic moisture such as steam is contained in the fluid, the hygroscopic moisture might condense in the passage and water collect. In particular, in the filter of the purge valve 234 of the discharge path 232, water adheres easily to the mesh portion.
Data Source
AI summary
[Problem]The object of the invention is to provide the filter device disposed in the moist fluid passage of the fuel cell system in that, water is not adhered and never remains in the filter and when leaving it under the low temperature after the system stops, blockage by freezing the filter can surely be prevented, and the complex control and the heat source such as heaters for the decompression as conventional is unnecessary, and the filter device is cheap and compact.[Resolution Approach]A filter device 50 disposed on a moist fluid passage of a system including moisture in the fluid, the filter device comprising:a fluid introducing path 58 in which fluid that flows on the moist fluid passage is introduced into a filter room 60 from below filter room 60, a filter member 66 in which the fluid introduced from the fluid introducing path 58 into a filter room 60 is permeated and the foreign matter in the fluid is removed,a filter 62 placed in the filter room 60, a water pooling portion 72 disposed under the filter 62, anda fluid discharge path 70 in which the fluid that passed the filter 62 is discharged.