Air-Cooled Fuel Cell Warm-Up Using Controlled Air Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air-cooled fuel cell systems face challenges in efficiently warming up fuel cells due to issues like local overheating, decreased flow rate, and condensation leading to performance deterioration and increased risk of corrosion and short circuits.
Innovation Solution
An air-cooled fuel cell system with independent reaction air and cooling air manifolds, a controller that adjusts the opening and closing unit's opening degree based on temperature thresholds to control cooling air circulation and discharge, and an outside temperature sensor to optimize air circulation and prevent condensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If cooling air flow rate is decreased to accelerate fuel cell warming up, then warm-up speed is improved, but local overheating occurs due to low thermal conductivity of air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooling air flow path into multiple independent channels (first cooling air flow path and second cooling air flow path) that distribute cooling air to different regions of the fuel cell stack. This segmentation allows uniform heat dissipation across multiple locations, preventing local overheating while maintaining adequate overall cooling during the warm-up process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements region-specific cooling by directing cooling air through separate flow paths to different areas of the fuel cell stack. Each cooling channel provides localized thermal management, ensuring that heat is dissipated uniformly across the stack surface rather than concentrating in specific hot spots, thus preventing local overheating.
2Temperature
If multiple cooling fans are used to improve cooling performance, then cooling efficiency is improved, but assembly weight increases and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the cooling air driver perform multiple functions: it serves as both the cooling fan for heat dissipation and as the air supply source for the oxidation reaction. By using a single device for dual purposes, the system avoids the weight penalty of multiple separate fans while maintaining adequate cooling performance through the multi-channel flow path design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the cooling function and air supply function into a single integrated system. The cooling air driver that provides cooling air is the same device that supplies air for oxidation, merging two previously separate functions into one component, thereby reducing overall assembly weight and complexity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If reacted air is circulated in the fuel cell system to improve efficiency, then energy efficiency is improved, but condensed water or puddle is caused leading to performance deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts water vapor from the reacted air before it enters the cooling system. By removing the condensable component (water vapor) from the gas stream, the system prevents condensation issues in the cooling channels and fuel cell stack while still allowing the reacted air to be circulated for energy efficiency purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a drying agent or desiccant as an intermediary substance that absorbs water vapor from the reacted air. This intermediary component enables the circulation of reacted air for energy efficiency while preventing condensation by capturing moisture before it can condense in the cooling system.
4Temperature
If special fans are used to rotate cooling fans backward for warming up, then warm-up capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the cooling air driver reversible, capable of rotating in both forward and backward directions. This dynamic capability allows the same fan to perform both cooling (forward rotation) and warming up (backward rotation) functions, eliminating the need for separate fans or complex switching mechanisms while providing full thermal management capability.
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 efficiently warms up the fuel cell, reduces the risk of overheating and corrosion, and stabilizes power generation performance by uniformly increasing the temperature and preventing condensation.
Implementation Method 1
the cooling air circulation flow path includes a cooling air driver disposed downstream from the cooling air outlet of the fuel cell and configured to supply cooling air to the cooling air inlet of the fuel cell
Implementation Method 2
a fuel cell which generates electrical energy by electrochemical reaction between fuel gas (e.g., hydrogen) and oxidant gas (e.g., oxygen)
Implementation Method 3
to increase the fuel cell temperature to an appropriate temperature for power generation, it is needed to circulate cooling air by use of heat that is generated during power generation of the fuel cell
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an air-cooled fuel cell system configured to efficiently warm up a fuel cell. An air-cooled fuel cell system, wherein the air-cooled fuel cell system comprises: a fuel cell, a reaction air supplier configured to supply reaction air to a reaction air inlet of the fuel cell, a reaction air supply flow path configured to connect the reaction air supplier and the reaction air inlet of the fuel cell, a reaction air discharge flow path configured to connect a reaction air outlet of the fuel cell and the outside of the air-cooled fuel cell system, a housing, a temperature acquirer configured to acquire a temperature of inside air discharged from a cooling air outlet, and a controller; and wherein, based on the temperature measured by the temperature acquirer, the controller controls opening and closing of the opening and closing unit and an opening degree thereof.