Hydrogen Engine Water Management With Exhaust Vapor Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water injection systems for hydrogen engines require large-volume water tanks and periodic refills, which compromise vehicle package freedom and user convenience.
Innovation Solution
A water management system that recovers and recycles water vapor from the hydrogen engine's exhaust gas, condensing it back into liquid form for reuse as cooling water, thereby reducing the size of the water tank and eliminating the need for refills.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a conventional water injection system is used to cool the hydrogen engine, then the cooling effectiveness is improved, but the water tank volume increases and requires periodic refilling
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers water vapor from the exhaust gas that would otherwise be discarded, condenses it back to liquid water, and returns it to the water tank. This recovery process eliminates the need for periodic refilling and reduces the required water tank volume while maintaining continuous cooling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes phase transition of water from vapor in the exhaust gas to liquid form through condensation. The condensation process converts waste water vapor into usable cooling water, which is then stored in the water tank for continuous injection into the combustion chamber.
2Duration of action of moving object
If a large-volume water tank is used to store cooling water, then the cooling supply is sufficient for extended operation, but the vehicle package freedom is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By recovering and condensing water vapor from exhaust gas, the system creates a closed-loop water management system that continuously replenishes the water tank. This eliminates the need for large water tank capacity to achieve extended operational duration, as water is continuously recovered and reused.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically recovering and condensing its own water consumption from the exhaust stream. The water management system sustains itself without external refilling, maintaining sufficient cooling water supply with minimal tank volume.
3Temperature
If a conventional water injection system is used, then the engine cooling is effective, but user convenience is reduced due to periodic refilling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically recovers water vapor from exhaust gas and condenses it back to liquid, creating a self-sustaining water supply system. This eliminates the need for user intervention to refill water, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining effective engine cooling through continuous water injection.
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 reduces the water tank volume, enhances vehicle package freedom, improves user convenience, and maintains efficient cooling and power performance by continuously supplying water to the engine.
Implementation Method 1
a water pump, provided in the water tank and configured to supply the water stored in the main space portion of the water tank to the hydrogen engine
Implementation Method 2
The exhaust line is configured to deliver exhaust gas, containing water vapor, discharged from the hydrogen engine to the sub space portion of the water tank
Implementation Method 3
the water tank may be provided with a cooling nozzle configured to spray the water onto the exhaust gas introduced into the sub space portion
Implementation Method 4
the water tank may be provided therein with a partition wall configured to separate the main space portion and the sub space portion from each other
Data Source
AI summary
A water management system for a hydrogen engine can reduce the volume of a water tank for storing therein cooling water to be injected to the hydrogen engine, and eliminate the need to refill the water tank. The water management system includes a water tank including a main space portion configured to store therein water for cooling the hydrogen engine and a sub space portion into which exhaust gas generated in the hydrogen engine is supplied. The water management system also includes: a water pump, provided in the water tank, to supply water stored in the main space portion of the water tank to the hydrogen engine; and an exhaust line, provided between the hydrogen engine and the water tank, and configured to deliver exhaust gas, containing water vapor, discharged from the hydrogen engine to the sub space portion of the water tank.