Fuel Cell Life Jacket with Hydrogen Generation and Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional life jackets face challenges in maintaining buoyancy and body temperature in extended water emergencies, and they lack effective means for long-distance distress signal transmission and water supply.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell-based life jacket incorporating a hydrogen fuel supply unit, a fuel cell unit, a signal output unit, and a heat generating unit, which utilizes hydrogen generation compositions to generate electricity, heat, and water for signal transmission and survival needs, including a drinking water conversion unit for providing pure water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional life jackets are used, then basic buoyancy is provided, but they cannot maintain body temperature or transmit distress signals over long distances in extended emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The life jacket integrates multiple functions into a single system: the fuel cell unit simultaneously generates electricity for distress signals, produces heat for body temperature maintenance, and creates pure water for hydration. This multi-functional approach extends survival duration by addressing multiple needs (energy, heat, water, communication) within one integrated device.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel cell system operates autonomously using hydrogen storage composition and water from the surrounding environment. The system self-generates electricity, heat, and pure water without requiring external power sources or manual intervention, enabling extended independent survival operation.
2Quantity of substance
If hydrogen storage composition is used to generate hydrogen, then large amounts of hydrogen fuel can be stored, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hydrogen generation function into a separate hydrogen storage composition unit that reacts with water to produce hydrogen. This extracted hydrogen is then supplied to the fuel cell unit, separating the storage/generation function from the power generation function and simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling large hydrogen storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrogen storage composition is pre-loaded into the life jacket before use, performing the hydrogen generation preparation in advance. When water is introduced from the surrounding environment, the pre-positioned hydrogen storage composition immediately begins generating hydrogen, eliminating the need for complex real-time hydrogen production systems.
3Productivity
If fuel cell unit operates continuously, then electricity is generated for signals and heat, but water management becomes critical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the water by-product from the fuel cell reaction into a beneficial resource. The water generated during electricity and heat production is collected and purified through the drinking water conversion unit, transforming a potential management burden into a valuable survival resource for hydration.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the water produced during fuel cell operation, the system recovers and purifies it through filtration. The recovered pure water is stored and made available for drinking, turning waste water into a useful resource that supports extended survival operations.
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 life jacket effectively maintains body temperature, supplies essential water, and transmits distress signals over long distances, enhancing survivor location and reducing mortality rates in emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
a fuel cell unit for supplying electricity
Implementation Method 2
The hydrogen generation composition above can generate hydrogen by reacting with water introduced from outside
Implementation Method 3
a heat generating unit for recovering and transferring the heat generated in the fuel cell unit
Implementation Method 4
The heat generating unit can include a waste heat exchanger for recovering the heat of the fuel cell unit
Implementation Method 5
a filter installed in the pure water supply tube in order to filter water to provide drinking water
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a life jacket based on a fuel cell that can store hydrogen fuel in it. Particularly, the present invention provides a fuel cell based life jacket that can utilize electricity, heat and water generated during the operation of a fuel cell as a power source of a life extension tool and a personal location beacon. The fuel cell based life jacket of the present invention comprises a fuel cell unit for supplying electricity, a hydrogen fuel supply unit for storing and supplying the hydrogen fuel required for the fuel cell unit to generate electricity, a signal output unit for transmitting a signal using the electricity generated by the fuel cell unit, and a heat generating unit for recovering and transferring the heat generated in the fuel cell unit, wherein the hydrogen fuel supply unit generates hydrogen by using a hydrogen generation composition.