Electrochemical Hydrogen Compression Return Tank for Shutdown Loss Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrochemical hydrogen compression systems, the inefficiency arises from the release of hydrogen gas remaining on the cathode when the system is stopped, leading to a decrease in hydrogen production efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An electrochemical hydrogen compression system with a hydrogen storage tank in the return flow path to store hydrogen gas, reducing its release to the exterior and maintaining efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrogen gas remaining on the cathode is released into the atmosphere when the system is stopped, then the system can be safely shut down, but hydrogen production efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers hydrogen gas that would otherwise be discarded to the atmosphere during system shutdown. By providing a return flow path with a storage tank, the system captures and stores the remaining hydrogen gas, preventing its release and enabling its reuse in subsequent operations, thus improving overall hydrogen production efficiency while maintaining safe shutdown procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where hydrogen gas from the cathode side is returned to the system through a dedicated flow path. This creates a closed-loop system where the output (remaining hydrogen) is fed back into the storage tank, allowing the system to monitor and utilize its own byproducts, thereby improving efficiency without compromising safety
2Productivity
If hydrogen gas is stored in a tank in the return flow path, then hydrogen production efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage tank in the return flow path serves multiple functions: it stores remaining hydrogen gas from the cathode side, provides a reservoir for subsequent operations, and acts as a buffer that simplifies pressure management. By making this single component multi-functional, the patent improves hydrogen production efficiency without proportionally increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The return flow path with storage tank acts as an intermediary between the cathode and the atmosphere. Instead of directly venting hydrogen or adding complex recovery systems, the patent introduces this intermediate storage mechanism that simplifies the overall architecture while achieving the goal of reducing hydrogen release and improving efficiency
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 suppresses the decrease in hydrogen production efficiency by returning and storing hydrogen gas, preventing damage to the electrolyte membrane and optimizing pressure management.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrogen compression stack 16... configured to supply a hydrogen gas to the anode 36, and to deliver from the cathode 40 the hydrogen gas which has been compressed
Implementation Method 2
an electrical power source device 28 configured to apply a voltage to the hydrogen compression stack 16
Data Source
AI summary
An electrochemical hydrogen compression system comprises a hydrogen compression stack having a unit cell including an electrolyte membrane, an anode disposed on one surface of the electrolyte membrane, and a cathode disposed on another surface of the electrolyte membrane, and that supplies a hydrogen gas to the anode, and delivers from the cathode the hydrogen gas which has been compressed, an electrical power source device that applies a voltage to the hydrogen compression stack, a hydrogen supply device that supplies the hydrogen gas to the hydrogen compression stack, a storage device that stores the hydrogen gas output from the hydrogen compression stack, and a return flow path that returns the hydrogen gas output from the hydrogen compression stack to the hydrogen supply device, wherein a hydrogen storage tank that stores the hydrogen gas is provided in the return flow path.