Hydrogen Generation Apparatus Condenser Cooling Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydrogen generation apparatuses fail to effectively manage water condensation from recycle gases during start-up and shutdown, leading to potential passage blockages due to insufficient cooling of recycle gases in the condenser.
Innovation Solution
A method where a controller operates a delivery device to flow a heating medium through a condenser before and after the hydrogen generation apparatus is stopped or started, ensuring the recycle gas is cooled and reducing steam condensation in the condenser, thereby preventing passage blockages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the delivery device is stopped at start-up and stopping of the hydrogen generation apparatus, then energy consumption is reduced, but water condensation occurs in the recycle passage causing passage blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The controller causes the delivery device to operate before the recycle gas flows through the condenser at start-up, and continues operation after stopping at shutdown. This preliminary and extended operation ensures the condenser is properly cooled before steam condensation occurs and continues to cool residual steam after main operation stops, preventing passage blockage while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption
2Use of energy by stationary object
If the condenser is not cooled sufficiently at start-up and stopping, then energy consumption is reduced, but steam condensation is hindered leading to passage blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The controller activates the delivery device before recycle gas flow begins at start-up and maintains operation after stopping at shutdown. This timing strategy ensures the condenser achieves sufficient cooling capacity before steam condensation occurs and continues to condense residual steam, eliminating water condensation hazards without excessive energy waste
3Ease of operation
If the recycle gas is not cooled down, then the system operation is simpler, but water condensation and removal in the condenser is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors the operational state of the hydrogen generation apparatus and automatically adjusts the delivery device operation accordingly. At start-up, the controller activates cooling before gas flow; at shutdown, the controller extends cooling operation. This feedback-based control ensures reliable condensation and removal efficiency while maintaining ease of operation through automated decision-making
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 reduces the amount of steam condensed from the recycle gas without being condensed in the condenser, minimizing passage blockages and improving operational efficiency during start-up and shutdown of the hydrogen generation apparatus and fuel cell system.
Implementation Method 1
the recycle gas that flows through a recycle passage can be cooled down in a condenser by using a heating medium
Implementation Method 2
steam of the recycle gas is condensed into water
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrogen generation apparatus (100) includes: a reformer (1) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by using a raw material; a hydrodesulfurizer (2) configured to remove a sulfur compound from the raw material; a recycle passage (3) through which the hydrogen-containing gas is supplied to the hydrodesulfurizer (2); a condenser (4) provided on the recycle passage (3) or on a gas passage upstream from the recycle passage (3); a drain passage (4A) through which water condensed in the condenser (4) is drained; a heating medium passage (5) through which a heating medium that recovers heat from the condenser (4) flows; a delivery device (6) configured to cause the heating medium to flow through the heating medium passage (5); and a controller (7) configured to cause the delivery device to operate when the hydrogen-containing gas is not flowing through the recycle passage at at least one of start-up and stopping ofthe hydrogen generation apparatus (100).