Fuel Cell Pressure Sensor Heating for Solid-Solved Gas Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fuel cell systems, the high pressure in the supply passage between valves can lead to components of the fuel gas being solid-solved in pressure sensors, reducing their detection accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell system that includes a heating unit to heat the pressure sensor when the detection value is below a predetermined threshold, promoting the release of solid-solved components and recovering detection accuracy, along with a controller to manage the heating and valve operations to maintain a low-pressure environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pressure sensor is exposed to high-pressure fuel gas in the supply passage, then the pressure detection function is maintained, but components of the fuel gas are solid-solved in the pressure sensor reducing detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor is extracted from the high-pressure fuel gas environment by providing a communication passage that connects the detection target region to the atmosphere or a low-pressure region. This allows the pressure sensor to detect pressure indirectly through a pressure equalization hole, keeping it away from direct exposure to high-pressure fuel gas while maintaining detection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
A communication passage acts as an intermediary between the high-pressure detection target region and the pressure sensor. This passage allows pressure transmission while isolating the sensor from direct contact with fuel gas, preventing solid-solution of gas components into the sensor material.
2Measurement precision
If the pressure sensor is isolated from high-pressure fuel gas to prevent solid-solution, then detection accuracy is maintained, but the ability to detect high-pressure fuel gas directly is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor is extracted from the high-pressure fuel gas environment by providing a communication passage that connects the detection target region to the atmosphere or a low-pressure region. This allows the pressure sensor to detect pressure indirectly through a pressure equalization hole, keeping it away from direct exposure to high-pressure fuel gas while maintaining detection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
A communication passage acts as an intermediary between the high-pressure detection target region and the pressure sensor. This passage allows pressure transmission while isolating the sensor from direct contact with fuel gas, preventing solid-solution of gas components into the sensor material.
3Measurement precision
If a heating unit is added to release solid-solved components from the pressure sensor, then detection accuracy can be recovered, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor incorporates an integrated heating unit that enables it to autonomously release solid-solved fuel gas components by heating itself when detection accuracy deteriorates. This self-service capability allows the sensor to restore its own performance without requiring external intervention or complex additional systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating unit changes the temperature parameter of the pressure sensor to release solid-solved fuel gas components. By controlling the temperature parameter, the system can switch between normal detection mode and cleaning mode, restoring detection accuracy when components accumulate in the sensor.
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 effectively recovers the detection accuracy of the pressure sensor by releasing solid-solved fuel gas components, ensuring precise pressure measurement without affecting fuel cell operation.
Implementation Method 1
a heating unit configured to heat the pressure sensor
Implementation Method 2
Heating the pressure sensor in a low-pressure environment where the detection value of the pressure sensor is not larger than the predetermined threshold value can promote the release of components of the fuel gas solid-solved in the pressure sensor from the pressure sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a fuel cell system including: a fuel cell; a tank that stores a fuel gas; a supply passage through which the fuel gas is supplied from the tank to the fuel cell; a first valve and a second valve that open and close the supply passage and are provided in order of the first valve, the second valve in a direction from an upstream side toward a downstream side; a pressure sensor that detects a pressure in a detection target region that is a region of the supply passage between the first valve and the second valve; a heating unit that heats the pressure sensor; and a controller that makes the heating unit heat the pressure sensor in a state in which a detection value of the pressure sensor is not larger than a predetermined threshold value.