Gas Generator Cooling System for Hydrogen Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional hydrogen-oxygen gas generators using air-cooling systems face safety risks due to high temperatures during electrolysis, which can lead to hydrogen explosions if cooling fails.

Innovation Solution

A gas generator with a cooling system comprising an outer tank, an inner tank, and an electrolytic tank module where the electrolytic tank is immersed in a coolant, reducing temperature and preventing explosions by using a dual-tank configuration with a gas-out pipe and a liquid water supply system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If air-cooling type fans are used to decrease temperature of the electrolytic tank, then the temperature can be reduced, but if a fault occurs in the fans, the temperature increases causing hydrogen explosion risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature of electrolytic tankVSAvoidsafety of hydrogen-oxygen gas generation

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a coolant as an intermediary substance between the electrolytic tank and the external environment. The coolant circulates through a closed-loop cooling system, acting as a mediator to transfer heat away from the electrolytic tank without requiring direct contact with air or mechanical fans. This eliminates the single-point failure mode of fan-based air cooling while maintaining effective temperature control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a backup cooling mechanism where the coolant-based cooling system serves as a preliminary safety measure against fan failure. By having a redundant cooling pathway that does not depend on the same mechanical components, the system provides beforehand cushioning against potential failures, ensuring continuous temperature control even if the primary air-cooling fans fail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Productivity

If electrolysis of liquid water is performed to generate hydrogen-oxygen gas, then health effects and flame generation are achieved, but high working temperature causes hydrogen explosion risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen-oxygen gas generationVSAvoidhydrogen explosion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The coolant serves as an intermediary heat transfer medium that allows the electrolysis process to proceed at high productivity while maintaining safe operating temperatures. The coolant absorbs excess heat from the electrolytic tank through thermal conduction, enabling continuous hydrogen-oxygen gas generation without reaching explosion-prone temperature thresholds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The closed-loop cooling system creates a controlled thermal environment around the electrolytic tank, effectively isolating the hydrogen-oxygen generation process from uncontrolled temperature rises. This inert thermal environment prevents the harmful condition of excessive temperature while allowing the electrolysis reaction to proceed efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

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 decreases the temperature of the electrolytic tank, enhancing safety by reducing the risk of hydrogen explosions and maintaining the stability of the hydrogen-oxygen gas generation process.

Implementation Method 1

The electrolytic tank module is configured in the first hollow portion of the outer tank for electrolyzing the liquid water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrolysis: Electrolysis

Implementation Method 2

part of or the entire electrolytic tank module is immersed in the coolant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS9631288B2Gas generator

Publication Date: 2017.04.25 LIN HSIN YUNG

AI summary

The present invention discloses a gas generator with a cooling system and comprises an outer tank, an inner tank, and an electrolytic tank module. The outer tank is accommodated a coolant for cooling the electrolytic tank module and inner tank configured in the outer tank, whereby the temperature of the gas generator will be decreased to prevent the hydrogen explosion. Furthermore, in the present invention, the hydrogen-oxygen gas generated by the electrolytic tank module will be inputted to the inner tank, and the temperature of the hydrogen-oxygen gas will be further decreased through the liquid water in the inner tank to decrease the probability of the hydrogen explosion.