Fuel Cell Air Supply Layout With Separated Blowers for Cathode Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell systems face issues with overheating and damage to the cathode due to high-temperature, low-humidity air supplied by a single blower, leading to performance degradation and increased size and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The system separates the blower for cooling and reaction air supply, using a blower fan for cooling and a blower for reaction, with air from the reaction blower being sprayed externally to cool the air generating part and guide it around the cathode, preventing overheating and maintaining optimal humidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single blower supplies both cooling air and reaction air to the fuel cell, then the device complexity is reduced, but the blower overheats and the temperature of supplied air becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The single blower is divided into two separate blowers: one dedicated to supplying cooling air and another for supplying reaction air. This segmentation allows each blower to operate independently at optimal speeds, preventing overheating while maintaining device functionality. The separation enables the reaction air blower to run slower without compromising cooling performance, thus controlling the temperature of supplied air.
2Productivity
If the blower rotates fast to supply sufficient air flow, then the productivity is improved, but the blower overheats and the relative humidity of air becomes excessively low
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the air supply function into two separate blowers, the system can achieve sufficient total air flow without requiring either blower to rotate at excessively high speeds. The cooling air blower handles the bulk of the air flow requirement, allowing the reaction air blower to operate at lower speeds with maintained reliability and appropriate humidity levels.
3Ease of operation
If the cathode is always open to supply air, then the ease of operation is improved, but the cathode is corroded and vulnerable to external environment
Solution Approach 1:
A valve is introduced as an intermediary component between the external environment and the cathode. This valve acts as a controlled gateway, allowing air supply when needed while preventing harmful substances from reaching and corroding the cathode during storage or when the fuel cell is not in operation. The valve enables the system to switch between open and closed states based on operational requirements.
4Manufacturing precision
If a pump is used to supply air, then the manufacturing precision of air supply control is improved, but the apparatus size increases and power consumption becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses simple, low-cost blowers instead of expensive, high-power pumps. While blowers are less precise in control, the separation of cooling and reaction air supply functions allows sufficient control accuracy to be achieved through independent operation of each blower, avoiding the need for high-power pumping equipment.
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 prevents blower overheating, maintains cathode integrity, and enhances fuel cell performance by ensuring efficient air supply and cooling without additional cooling devices, reducing size and power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a blower fan configured to supply air for cooling a fuel cell stack
Implementation Method 2
air is supplied to the cathode, and electricity is generated through the reaction between oxygen contained in the air and hydrogen
Implementation Method 3
a part of air supplied through an air generating part of the blower is sprayed toward the outside of the air generating part, thereby preventing overheating of the air generating part
Data Source
AI summary
A task performance method for a system configured to perform a task on a delivery object using a plurality of robots assisting a worker, in which the task includes information on a location where one or more delivery objects are stored and the system includes a server and the plurality of robots, wherein the task performance method includes assigning, by the server, at least one task of a plurality of tasks stored in advance to a first robot among the plurality of robots, determining, by the server, a path for arranging the first robot to a first location in which at least one delivery object related to the task assigned to the first robot is stored, guiding the first robot to the first location according to the determined path, and guiding the first robot arranged in the first position to a second position.