High-Efficiency Integrated Absorption Cooling System Utilizing Fuel Cell Exhaust Heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium to large-scale power generation fuel cell systems face inefficiencies in cooling systems due to low cooling coefficient of performance (COP) and high power consumption, along with issues like white smoke generation, especially when using exhaust gases from phosphoric acid and solid oxide fuel cells, which are not sufficient for high-efficiency double-effect absorption chillers.
Innovation Solution
A high-efficiency double-effect absorption cooling system that utilizes exhaust gases from fuel cells, incorporating an absorption chiller, exhaust gas intake device, upper cooling tower, cooling water and chilled water pumps, bypass and introduction valves, and a system control unit to manage exhaust gas flow and pressure, preventing white smoke and optimizing cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If exhaust gas from solid oxide fuel cells is used as heat source for double-effect absorption chillers, then cooling efficiency is improved, but exhaust gas pressure and temperature are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines exhaust gas from solid oxide fuel cells with exhaust gas from phosphoric acid fuel cells in a mixed exhaust gas line. This merging allows the system to achieve both high temperature (from SOFC) and sufficient pressure (from PAFC) requirements for the double-effect absorption chiller, resolving the contradiction between cooling efficiency and exhaust gas parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a universal exhaust gas utilization system that can handle both SOFC and PAFC exhaust gases. The system is designed to accept exhaust from either fuel cell type and process it through the same absorption cooling system, making the cooling system universally applicable to different fuel cell configurations while maintaining high cooling efficiency.
2Productivity
If exhaust gas from phosphoric acid fuel cells is used for single-effect absorption chillers, then cooling is provided, but cooling coefficient of performance is low and power consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges exhaust gas from phosphoric acid fuel cells with exhaust gas from solid oxide fuel cells to create a combined exhaust stream with higher temperature and pressure. This combined exhaust gas drives a double-effect absorption chiller, which achieves higher cooling capacity and lower power consumption compared to using PAFC exhaust alone with a single-effect chiller.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the thermal parameters of the exhaust gas by combining SOFC high-temperature exhaust with PAFC exhaust. This parameter change enables the system to operate a double-effect absorption chiller instead of a single-effect chiller, improving the cooling coefficient of performance and reducing power consumption of auxiliary equipment.
3Ease of operation
If exhaust gas is directly discharged from fuel cells, then simple operation is maintained, but white smoke is generated and environmental pollution occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful exhaust gas that would normally cause white smoke into a useful heat source for the absorption chiller. By utilizing the exhaust gas from both fuel cell types to drive the cooling system, the harmful emissions are transformed into a beneficial resource, eliminating white smoke while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control.
4Productivity
If double-effect absorption chiller is used with insufficient exhaust gas temperature, then high cooling efficiency is achieved, but exhaust gas parameters are inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges exhaust gas streams from two different fuel cell types to ensure reliable supply of exhaust gas with adequate temperature and pressure to the double-effect absorption chiller. The combined exhaust system provides reliable operation by compensating for the insufficient temperature of SOFC exhaust with the thermal characteristics of PAFC exhaust.
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 utilizes fuel cell exhaust gases for efficient cooling, maintaining power generation efficiency while preventing white smoke, thereby enhancing cooling performance and reducing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
an absorption chiller (10) that receives the exhaust gas as a heat source
Implementation Method 2
an upper cooling tower (30) that lowers the temperature of the cooling water heated by the absorption chiller
Data Source
AI summary
The absorption cooling system of the present invention includes a fuel cell unit (100) that discharges exhaust gas generated during power generation and an absorption cooling unit (200) that utilizes the exhaust gas as a heat source. The absorption cooling unit (200) includes an absorption chiller (10) that receives the exhaust gas as a heat source; an upper cooling tower (30) that lowers the temperature of the cooling water heated by the absorption chiller; a cooling water pump (40) that controls the flow of cooling water; a chilled water pump (50) that controls the flow of chilled water cooled by the absorption chiller; a system control unit (90) that controls the operation of the absorption cooling unit (200); a bypass valve (60) installed in the bypass pipe (12) that controls the external discharge of the exhaust gas supplied from the fuel cell unit (100); an exhaust gas introduction valve (70) installed in the exhaust gas introduction pipe (13) that controls the supply of the exhaust gas to the absorption chiller (10); and an exhaust gas intake device (20) that provides pressure so that the exhaust gas can be supplied to the absorption chiller (10).