Fuel Cell Water Transfer Pressure Control Using Oxygen Pressurization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fuel cell systems, the decrease in internal pressure of a low-pressure water tank due to water transfer can lead to water boiling, causing adverse events such as water vapor inflow into the fuel cell stack, which reduces power generation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell system with a water electrolysis device, gas-liquid separators, an oxygen tank, and a controller that supplies pressurized oxygen to the second gas-liquid separator when the water level falls below a threshold, maintaining high pressure and preventing water evaporation in the low-pressure tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If water is transferred from the low-pressure water tank to the high-pressure water tank, then the water level in the high-pressure tank is adjusted to rise, but the internal pressure of the low-pressure tank decreases causing water to boil
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third gas-liquid separator as an intermediary component between the low-pressure water tank and the high-pressure water tank. This intermediary allows water transfer while maintaining pressure balance through its own gas-liquid separation mechanism, preventing the pressure drop that would otherwise cause water boiling in the low-pressure tank.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pneumatic pressure control by supplying pressurized gas to the third gas-liquid separator. This pneumatic mechanism maintains the internal pressure of the low-pressure water tank during water transfer operations, preventing water from boiling while still enabling the transfer of water to the high-pressure tank.
2Quantity of substance
If the internal pressure of the low-pressure water tank decreases, then water can be transferred to the high-pressure tank, but water vapor inflows into the fuel cell stack reducing power generation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The third gas-liquid separator serves as a mediator that controls the water transfer process. It separates gas and liquid phases and regulates water flow to the high-pressure tank while preventing water vapor from entering the fuel cell stack, thus maintaining power generation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control mechanism where the controller monitors the water level in the high-pressure tank and the state of the low-pressure tank, and adjusts the water transfer process accordingly. This feedback ensures that water is transferred only when needed and prevents conditions that would lead to water vapor inflow into the fuel cell stack.
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 solution suppresses the decrease in internal pressure of the low-pressure tank, thereby preventing water evaporation and maintaining power generation efficiency by ensuring continuous water transfer with high-pressure gas supply.
Implementation Method 1
a water electrolysis device configured to electrolyze water
Implementation Method 2
a first gas-liquid separator configured to separate a fluid discharged from the water electrolysis device into a hydrogen gas and water
Implementation Method 3
the controller supplies to the second gas-liquid separator the pressurized oxygen gas having a pressure higher than an internal pressure of the first gas-liquid separator
Data Source
AI summary
The fuel cell system includes a water electrolysis device, a first gas-liquid separator, an oxygen tank, a fuel cell, a second gas-liquid separator, and a controller. When the level of water in the first gas-liquid separator becomes lower than a predetermined threshold value, the controller supplies oxygen gas having a pressure higher than the internal pressure of the first gas-liquid separator to the second gas-liquid separator and opens the first on-off valve.