Fuel Cell Exhaust Nitrogen Filtration After Dehumidification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The exhaust gas from fuel cells contains a high water vapor content and oxygen concentration, making it difficult to generate high-purity nitrogen gas reliably and stably for industrial and household applications.
Innovation Solution
A nitrogen gas generation apparatus and system utilizing a fuel cell, a dehumidification mechanism with a water seal pump, and a filtering mechanism with fibers having different permeation rates for nitrogen and oxygen to reduce moisture and oxygen concentration, converting the exhaust gas into high-purity nitrogen gas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If exhaust gas from fuel cell is used directly, then nitrogen gas can be generated, but water vapor content is high making high-purity nitrogen gas generation unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary dehumidification treatment to the exhaust gas before it enters the nitrogen filter. A dehumidifier is installed upstream to remove water vapor from the exhaust gas, ensuring that the gas entering the filtration system has reduced moisture content. This preliminary action prevents water vapor from interfering with the nitrogen generation process and ensures reliable operation of subsequent components.
2Manufacturing precision
If exhaust gas is used to generate nitrogen gas, then oxygen concentration reduction is achieved, but high-purity nitrogen gas cannot be obtained due to high initial oxygen concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gas processing into distinct functional stages: first, dehumidification to remove water vapor; second, filtration through nitrogen-selective membranes to separate nitrogen from oxygen and other gases. This segmentation allows each stage to optimize for its specific function, achieving high-purity nitrogen gas production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs porous membrane materials with selective permeability properties in the nitrogen filter. These membranes allow nitrogen molecules to pass through while blocking oxygen and other larger molecules, achieving physical separation based on molecular size and diffusion properties. This enables high-purity nitrogen gas generation from the exhaust gas stream.
3Manufacturing precision
If dehumidification and filtration mechanisms are added, then high-purity nitrogen gas can be generated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a unified system architecture where the fuel cell exhaust gas processing system serves both nitrogen generation and potentially other purposes. The dehumidifier and nitrogen filter are configured to handle the exhaust gas stream efficiently, with components that can serve multiple operational modes and applications, reducing overall system complexity.
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 system efficiently generates high-purity nitrogen gas with low oxygen concentration, achieving reliable and stable production suitable for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
a nitrogen filter that includes fibers having different degrees of permeation for nitrogen and oxygen
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an apparatus/system for generating a nitrogen-enriched gas reliably and stably using a fuel cell. The nitrogen gas generation apparatus/system comprises: a fuel cell configured to operate by taking in air or a gas containing nitrogen and oxygen, and a fuel gas; and a catalyst combustion mechanism configured to cause an exhaust gas that is extracted from the fuel cell and has a lower oxygen concentration than air to react with the fuel gas on a combustion catalyst, and convert the exhaust gas having a lower oxygen concentration than air into a nitrogen-enriched gas having an increased nitrogen concentration.