Fuel Cell Hydrogen Path Layout for Compact Uniform Recirculation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fuel cell systems face challenges in downsizing while ensuring effective agitation and uniform hydrogen distribution due to restrictions on mounting configurations, which hinder the efficient recirculation and merging of fuel gas and off gas from opposite directions.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell system design that recirculates unused fuel off gas, featuring a fuel supply path merging with a fuel circulation path at an offset center, with a hydrogen pump upstream and an injector upstream, allowing for parallel extension and a bent portion to ensure uniform hydrogen distribution and agitation, thereby reducing system size and improving fuel supply uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the fuel supply path and fuel circulation path are merged from opposite directions, then effective agitation and uniform hydrogen distribution are achieved, but the system size increases and mounting becomes restricted
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of merging the fuel supply path and fuel circulation path from opposite directions as in conventional designs, this patent merges them from the same direction. The fuel supply path merges with the fuel circulation path at a position where their centers are offset, both extending in the same directional orientation, thereby achieving effective agitation and uniform hydrogen distribution while reducing system size and mounting restrictions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric merging where the fuel supply path and fuel circulation path are positioned with offset centers rather than symmetric alignment. This asymmetric configuration creates effective agitation at the merging portion while allowing for a more compact overall system layout compared to symmetric opposite-direction merging
2Volume of stationary object
If the fuel supply path merges with the fuel circulation path at offset centers, then system size is reduced, but effective agitation may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional merging approach by merging paths from the same direction with offset centers rather than from opposite directions. This inversion creates a merging portion where fuel gas and off gas effectively agitate and mix, achieving both compact size and effective fuel mixing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a specific local condition at the merging portion where the offset center configuration generates effective agitation. This local quality enhancement ensures that despite the compact overall design, the critical fuel mixing function is effectively performed at the merging location
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 design enables downsizing of the fuel cell system while ensuring uniform hydrogen supply to each fuel cell, reducing the risk of hydrogen shortage and improving power generation performance by effectively mixing and distributing hydrogen throughout the system.
Implementation Method 1
In the fuel circulation path, a hydrogen pump is disposed upstream of the merging portion
Implementation Method 2
in the fuel supply path, an injector is disposed upstream of the merging portion
Implementation Method 3
The fuel circulation path includes a bent portion downstream of a merging portion with the fuel supply path
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell system that recirculates fuel off gas that has not been used for power generation of a fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel container, a fuel supply path, and a fuel circulation path. The fuel circulation path is connected to a fuel outlet of the fuel cell stack and extends parallel to an end plate of the fuel cell stack. The fuel supply path is connected to the fuel container, extends parallel to the end plate, and merges with the fuel circulation path at a position where a center of the fuel supply path is offset from a center of the fuel circulation path. The fuel circulation path includes a bent portion downstream of a merging portion with the fuel supply path, and is connected to a fuel inlet of the fuel cell stack downstream of the bent portion.