Fuel Cell Stack Gas Distribution for Stable Well-Site Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing well-site stimulation equipment powered by diesel engines has low energy conversion efficiency, high operational costs, and safety hazards due to frequent refueling, while grid power supply is inefficient for remote locations and cannot meet high-power demand.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell-based control method and device that selects and connects multiple fuel cells in parallel or series to form a stack, distributing gas and electric energy efficiently to meet power demands, using inverse efficiency ratios to stabilize output and adjust gas usage dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If diesel engines are used to power stimulation equipment, then the equipment can operate continuously, but the energy conversion efficiency is low (less than 35%) and operational costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from diesel engine power generation to fuel cell power generation, fundamentally changing the energy conversion parameter from mechanical-thermal conversion to electrochemical conversion. This parameter change achieves energy conversion efficiency exceeding 50%, directly resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and operational cost.
2Duration of action of moving object
If diesel engines are used for continuous operation, then the equipment can meet working condition demands, but frequent refueling creates safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical diesel engine system with an electrochemical fuel cell system. The fuel cell uses chemical energy directly from fuel (such as natural gas or hydrogen) to generate electricity through electrochemical reactions, eliminating the need for mechanical combustion and frequent refueling. This substitution maintains continuous operation capability while significantly improving safety by removing the refueling process entirely.
3Power
If multiple fuel cells are connected in parallel or series to form a stack, then power demand can be met, but gas distribution must be precisely controlled according to efficiency ratios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system that continuously monitors the output efficiency of each fuel cell in the stack. Based on real-time efficiency data, the system dynamically adjusts gas distribution ratios to each cell, ensuring optimal performance. This feedback mechanism manages the complexity of multi-cell gas distribution by using automated control algorithms that adapt to changing operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic gas distribution control where the gas flow ratio to each fuel cell is not fixed but adjusts in real-time based on each cell's efficiency performance. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize power output while managing the complexity of multi-cell coordination through adaptive control strategies.
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
Achieves high-efficiency, low-emission, and stable electric power supply for well-site stimulation equipment, reducing waste and ensuring consistent operation with real-time adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
Fuel cell is a chemical device that directly converts the chemical energy of fuel into electric energy, so it is also called electrochemical generator. Because fuel cell converts Gibbs free energy in chemical energy of fuel into electric energy through an electrochemical reaction
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a fuel cell-based control method, a control device and a well-site stimulation method are provided. The control device includes: selecting at least one from a plurality of first fuel cells to form a fuel cell stack, and distributing gas for the fuel cell stack. Each first fuel cell forming the fuel cell stack is a second fuel cell, and distributing gas for the fuel cell stack includes: distributing gas with a first gas usage amount to the fuel cell stack; and distributing the gas with the first gas usage amount according to a cell gas distribution ratio so as to provide gas with a corresponding second gas usage amount to each second fuel cell respectively.