Hydrogen Fuel Cell Backup Power with Stored-Hydrogen Startup

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Hydrogen-producing fuel cell systems for backup power applications face a finite startup time, requiring conventional batteries for temporary power support, which are expensive and maintenance-intensive, necessitating a reduction in startup time to minimize battery storage needs.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a hydrogen storage device into the fuel cell system that supplies stored hydrogen gas to the fuel cell stack during startup, allowing the system to generate an initial electrical output while the fuel processor reaches a hydrogen-producing state, subsequently switching to generated hydrogen gas for sustained output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional batteries are used to satisfy the applied load during fuel processor startup time, then the applied load can be satisfied during startup, but the battery storage capacity increases and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to satisfy applied load during startupVSAvoidbattery storage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel processor is pre-heated to operational temperature using an electric heater before the fuel cell system is needed. This preliminary heating action eliminates the startup delay caused by cold startup, allowing the fuel processor to immediately begin producing hydrogen when the applied load needs to be satisfied, thereby reducing the required battery storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the temperature parameter of the fuel processor from ambient temperature to operational temperature through pre-heating. This parameter change enables the fuel processor to be in a ready state before power is needed, eliminating the startup time bottleneck and reducing the size of battery storage required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If battery storage capacity is reduced to lower costs, then system cost decreases, but the ability to satisfy applied load during startup becomes compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem costVSAvoidability to satisfy applied load during startup

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By pre-heating the fuel processor before operation is needed, the system ensures that hydrogen production can begin immediately when power is required. This preliminary action allows for reduced battery storage capacity while maintaining the ability to reliably satisfy the applied load during startup conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of time

If fuel processor startup time is reduced, then battery storage capacity requirements decrease, but the fuel processor must be pre-heated which requires additional energy infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel processor startup timeVSAvoidenergy infrastructure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel processor is pre-heated to operational temperature during periods when full power is not needed, using an electric heater. This preliminary heating action reduces startup time to nearly zero when power is required, while the added energy infrastructure (electric heater) is only active during pre-heating periods, not during continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 approach reduces the startup time and decreases the required battery storage capacity, providing efficient and cost-effective backup power by leveraging stored hydrogen to initiate power generation quickly.

Implementation Method 1

The fuel processor is configured to receive one or more feed streams and to react the one or more feed streams to produce generated hydrogen gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

The fuel cell stack is configured to receive an oxidant and hydrogen gas and to generate an electrical output from the oxidant and the hydrogen gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFuel cell electrochemical reaction: Fuel Cell

Data Source

PatentUS11831051B2Hydrogen-producing fuel cell systems and methods of operating hydrogen-producing fuel cell systems for backup power operations

Publication Date: 2023.11.28 H2 POWERTECH LLC

AI summary

Hydrogen-producing fuel cell systems (HPFCS) and methods. The HPFCS includes a fuel processor configured to produce generated hydrogen gas, a hydrogen storage device configured to contain stored hydrogen gas, and a fuel cell stack configured to produce an initial electrical output from the stored hydrogen gas and an oxidant and to produce a subsequent electrical output from the generated hydrogen gas and the oxidant. The methods include detecting an inability of a primary power source to satisfy an applied load. Responsive to the detecting, the methods include initiating a startup of the fuel processor, supplying stored hydrogen gas to the fuel cell stack to produce the initial electrical output, satisfying the applied load with the initial electrical output, supplying generated hydrogen gas to the fuel cell stack after the startup to produce a subsequent electrical output, and satisfying the applied load with the subsequent electrical output.