Fuel Cell Raw Gas Pipe Trap for Catalyst Powder Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fuel cell power generation systems, vibrations from the booster pump cause catalyst powder to shake and enter the raw material pipe, leading to operation failures in auxiliary devices like the shutoff valve and flow sensor due to catalyst powder or airborne dust contamination.
Innovation Solution
A trap portion is integrated into the raw material pipe between its ends to prevent catalyst powder and airborne dust from reaching auxiliary devices, enhancing operation reliability by accumulating these particles at the pipe's lowermost portion or increasing the trap portion's inner diameter for effective buffering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the booster pump is used to increase raw gas pressure, then the raw gas can be supplied to the reformer, but vibrations from the booster pump cause catalyst powder to shake and enter the raw material pipe
Solution Approach 1:
A trap portion is introduced as an intermediary component between the desulfurizer and the shutoff valve/flow sensor. This trap portion captures catalyst powder that enters the raw material pipe, preventing it from reaching and contaminating the shutoff valve and flow sensor, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining gas pressure and preventing contamination
2Reliability
If the desulfurizer is periodically replaced through the access panel, then the sulfur elimination capability is restored, but catalyst powder or airborne dust may enter the raw material pipe during replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The trap portion is pre-installed in the raw material pipe before desulfurizer replacement operations. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the desulfurizer is removed or replaced, any catalyst powder or airborne dust that enters the raw material pipe is immediately captured by the trap portion, preventing contamination of downstream components
3Measurement precision
If the flow sensor is positioned to measure raw gas flow rate, then the flow rate can be monitored, but the flow sensor becomes vulnerable to catalyst powder contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The trap portion serves as a protective intermediary between the raw material pipe and the flow sensor. It captures catalyst powder before the powder can reach the flow sensor, thereby protecting the flow sensor from contamination while allowing it to continue measuring raw gas flow rate accurately
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 trap portion effectively prevents operation failures in auxiliary devices by containing catalyst powder and airborne dust, ensuring stable device operation and ease of maintenance, while also reducing the impact of pressure fluctuations on flow sensors.
Implementation Method 1
A trap portion (16) configured to prevent arrival of the catalyst powder of the desulfurizer (3) or dust entered from one end of the raw material pipe (11) at the auxiliary device (17) is placed at a portion of the raw material pipe (11) between one end and the other end
Implementation Method 2
The desulfurizer 3 eliminates sulfur contained in the raw material by use of an adsorbing phenomenon of a catalyst
Data Source
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AI summary
An object is to provide a fuel cell power generation system capable of preventing powder of catalyst or dust, which falls during replacement of a desulfurizer, from arriving at a flow sensor. The system includes a desulfurizer 3 configured to eliminate a sulfur component from a raw gas serving as a raw material of a fuel gas containing hydrogen for power generation of a fuel cell as a main component; a flow sensor 17 disposed upstream from the desulfurizer 3 and configured to measure a flow rate of raw gas passing through the desulfurizer 3; and a raw material pipe 11 having one end connected to a lower end of the desulfurizer 3 and another end connected to the flow sensor 17. The raw gas flows through an inside of the desulfurizer 3 in an upward direction, and the desulfurizer 3 is detachably connected to the raw material pipe 11. The desulfurizer 3 and the flow sensor 17 are disposed close to each other so as to be arranged side by side substantially along a vertical direction. A trap portion 16 configured to prevent the catalyst powder of the desulfurizer 3 or dust, which enters from one end of the raw material pipe 11, from arriving at the flow sensor 17 is provided at a portion of the raw material pipe 11 between the one end thereof and another end thereof. An upstream side of the trap portion 16 is situated above the trap portion 16.