Hydrogen Compressor Moisture Purge for Stable Transfer Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hydrogen compressors in fuel cell systems face issues with maintaining airtightness and hydrogen flow due to moisture accumulation in metal diffusion layers, which clogs the pathways and reduces hydrogen transfer efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that includes preliminary driving of the hydrogen compressor with a reference voltage, estimating hydrogen transfer, and performing initialization driving to reduce moisture by increasing temperature and applying high voltages to the anode and cathode separators, ensuring effective removal of moisture from the metal diffusion layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a metal diffusion layer is used to maintain airtightness in the hydrogen compressor, then airtightness is improved, but water molecules are injected into the metal diffusion layer and block hydrogen movement paths, worsening hydrogen transfer efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveairtightnessVSAvoidhydrogen transfer efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary driving of the hydrogen compressor before normal operation to proactively remove water molecules from the metal diffusion layer. By estimating hydrogen transfer amount and detecting when it falls below a threshold, the system initiates initialization driving to vaporize and remove moisture, preventing it from blocking hydrogen paths during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters by applying high voltage (higher than reference voltage) to the anode separator or cathode separator during initialization driving. This parameter change increases temperature inside the hydrogen compressor, causing water molecules to vaporize and be removed from the metal diffusion layer, thereby restoring hydrogen transfer efficiency while maintaining airtightness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Power

If the hydrogen compressor operates at high pressure to compress hydrogen, then compression efficiency is improved, but maintaining airtightness becomes more critical, and moisture accumulation worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidmoisture accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The controller continuously monitors hydrogen transfer amount by calculating current density of the membrane electrode assembly during preliminary driving. When the transferred hydrogen amount falls below a threshold, the system provides feedback to initiate initialization driving, creating a closed-loop control system that automatically responds to moisture accumulation conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the harmful effect of moisture accumulation into a beneficial initialization process. By detecting reduced hydrogen transfer caused by moisture, the system triggers high-voltage application that vaporizes the water, transforming the harmful moisture blockage into an opportunity for system maintenance and performance restoration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 effectively maintains hydrogen flow and reduces moisture interference, preventing clogging and ensuring efficient hydrogen transfer by vaporizing water molecules within the compressor, thus maintaining system integrity and performance.

Implementation Method 1

The hydrogen compressor may compress the hydrogen via an electrochemical method, and may include an anode, an electrolyte membrane, and a cathode for this purpose. The hydrogen supplied to the anode is separated into hydrogen ions and electrons by an oxidation reaction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrochemical method: Electrolysis

Implementation Method 2

The hydrogen ions move to the cathode via the electrolyte membrane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon transport: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

The hydrogen ions moved to the cathode become hydrogen molecules via a reduction reaction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReduction reaction: Reduction

Implementation Method 4

Because the metal diffusion layer has a hydrophilic characteristic, water molecules may be injected into the metal diffusion layer and block a movement path of the hydrogen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophilic characteristic: Hydrophile

Data Source

PatentUS20230352711A1System for supplying hydrogen and method for controlling the same

Publication Date: 2023.11.02 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a system for supplying hydrogen and a method for controlling the same. The system includes a hydrogen compressor for electrochemically compressing the hydrogen, and a controller that preliminarily drives the hydrogen compressor, estimates an amount of hydrogen transferred via a membrane electrode assembly interposed between an anode separator and a cathode separator in a cell of the hydrogen compressor in a period of the preliminary driving, and performs initialization driving to reduce moisture on a side of the anode separator of the cell based on the transferred amount of hydrogen being smaller than a threshold value.