Fuel Cell Combustion Firing Status Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell systems face challenges in reliably determining whether the combustion unit is fired up during startup operations, leading to potential erroneous determinations even when the unit is in a non-firing state.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dual-temperature sensor system, where a first temperature sensor is placed in the combustion unit and a second temperature sensor is located inside the evaporating or reforming unit, allows the firing up determination unit to accurately assess the combustion unit's status by comparing detection temperatures at different portions during startup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single temperature sensor is used to detect combustion unit temperature, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of firing status is insufficient leading to erroneous determinations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the temperature detection function into multiple segments by placing temperature sensors at different locations (combustion unit and reforming unit). This segmentation allows independent measurement of temperatures at different stages, enabling more accurate firing status determination through comparative analysis of temperature differences.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the temperature difference between the combustion unit and reforming unit as an intermediary parameter to determine firing status. Instead of directly measuring firing status with a single sensor, the system uses the temperature difference as a mediator indicator, where a significant temperature difference indicates successful firing.
2Reliability
If temperature-based firing determination is used, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of firing status determination deteriorates due to false positives in non-firing states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit continuously monitors temperature differences between the combustion unit and reforming unit. When the temperature difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system feedback-indicates successful firing. This feedback loop significantly improves reliability by confirming firing through sustained temperature differential rather than relying on single-point temperature measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the determination parameter from absolute temperature (single sensor reading) to temperature difference (relative parameter). By monitoring the differential temperature between combustion unit and reforming unit, the system achieves more reliable firing detection, as the temperature difference provides a clearer distinction between firing and non-firing states compared to absolute temperature alone.
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 enables reliable determination of the combustion unit's firing status, reducing false positives and ensuring proper startup operations by distinguishing between firing and non-firing states.
Implementation Method 1
a combustion unit (35) which burns combustible gas led out from a combustion electrode of the fuel cell (51) using oxidizer gas and heats the evaporating unit (32) and the reforming unit (33)
Implementation Method 2
heats the evaporating unit (32) and the reforming unit (33) between the evaporating unit (32), the reforming unit (33), and the fuel cell (51)
Implementation Method 3
an evaporating unit (32) which generates water vapor from reforming water
Implementation Method 4
generates water vapor from reforming water
Implementation Method 5
a reforming unit (33) which generates reforming gas from reforming raw material and the water vapor and supplies the reforming gas to the fuel cell (51)
Implementation Method 6
a fuel cell (51) which generates an electric power using reforming gas and oxidizer gas
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A fuel cell system (1) includes: a fuel cell (51); an evaporating unit (32) producing water vapor from reforming water; a reforming unit (33) producing reforming gas from a reforming raw material and the water vapor and supplying the reforming gas to the fuel cell; a combustion unit (35) burning combustible gas from a combustion electrode of the fuel cell and heating the evaporating unit and the reforming unit; a heating device (35c, 35d) igniting the combustible gas by heating the combustible gas and firing up the combustion unit; a first temperature sensor (37) in the combustion unit; a second temperature sensor (38) in the inside of at least one of the evaporating unit and the reforming unit ; and a control device (15) controlling the fuel cell. The claimed fuel cell system is able to determine reliably during start-up wether the combustion unit (35) has reached a state a combustion state where a flame is continuous.