Fuel Cell Circulation Pump Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fuel cell systems, low temperatures during startup and operation can lead to condensed water formation in circulation pumps, causing noise vibration issues due to temperature differences between the pump and exhaust gas.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell system configuration that includes a judger and drive controller to manage the circulation pump's rotation speed based on temperature conditions, driving it at a prescribed speed when no power generation is requested and the temperature is low, and adjusting the driving time to prevent condensed water formation, thereby reducing noise vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the circulation pump operates at normal rotation speed during low temperature conditions, then the fuel circulation efficiency is improved, but condensed water forms in the circulation pump causing noise vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary warming-up operation of the circulation pump before normal operation. During this preliminary phase, the pump operates at a rotation speed higher than the standard rotation speed to generate heat and prevent condensed water formation in advance, eliminating the harmful effect before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the rotation speed parameter of the circulation pump based on temperature conditions. When the temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold, the pump operates at a higher rotation speed to generate sufficient heat and prevent condensation, thereby resolving the contradiction between circulation efficiency and condensed water prevention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the circulation pump is warmed up by operating at high rotation speed, then condensed water formation is prevented, but the operation time required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit applies partial warming-up operation by setting the rotation speed to a level higher than standard but not excessively high. This partial action is sufficient to prevent condensed water formation without requiring excessive warm-up time, thereby balancing the prevention of harmful effects with minimal time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors the operating conditions and temperature of the circulation pump, and adjusts the rotation speed accordingly. When the temperature rises above the predetermined threshold, the control unit reduces the rotation speed to the standard level, thereby minimizing the warm-up time while still preventing condensed water formation through real-time feedback control.
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 configuration effectively suppresses noise vibration and condensed water formation by ensuring the circulation pump operates efficiently and quietly, even at low temperatures, by adjusting its rotation speed and driving time based on temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature difference between the circulation pump and the exhaust gas
Implementation Method 2
a condensed water is likely to occur in the circulation pump
Implementation Method 3
generates an electric power by an electrochemical reaction of an anode gas supplied to the anode and a cathode gas supplied to the cathode
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that includes a membrane electrode assembly clipping an electrolyte membrane with an anode and a cathode; a fuel gas supplier that supplies an anode gas to the anode via an anode gas supply passage in accordance with a power generation request for the fuel cell; a circulation pump that circulates an exhaust gas discharged from the anode to the anode gas supply passage; a judger that judges whether any one of a temperature of the circulation pump and a temperature associated with the temperature of the circulation pump is equal to or less than a prescribed temperature; and a drive controller that drives the circulation pump at a prescribed rotation number when the judger judges that any one of the temperatures is equal to or less than the prescribed temperature, and there is no power generation request for the fuel cell.