Hydrogen Heating Tube with Integrated Combustor for Low-Weight Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrogen heating apparatuses for combustion in gas turbines or fuel cells are heavy due to the use of heat-exchangers, making them unsuitable for aerospace applications.
Innovation Solution
A heating device comprising a combustor and igniter within a thermally-conductive outer tube, where combustion products flow along multiple paths to transfer heat to hydrogen, eliminating the need for separate heat-exchangers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a heat-exchanger is used to heat hydrogen, then heating efficiency is improved, but weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating function and hydrogen flow conduction function into a single outer tube structure. The outer tube serves dual purposes: it conducts heat from combustion products to liquid hydrogen while also serving as the hydrogen flow conduit, eliminating the need for separate heat-exchanger components and reducing overall apparatus weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer tube is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously acts as a heat transfer surface, a flow conduit for liquid hydrogen, and a structural element. This universal design allows the same component to perform multiple functions that would traditionally require separate parts, thereby reducing weight while maintaining heating efficiency.
2Temperature
If combustion products flow through the outer tube, then heat transfer to hydrogen is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is segmented into distinct zones: an inner tube for combustion product flow, an outer tube for liquid hydrogen flow, and an annular space between them for heat transfer. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each flow path while maintaining simple overall structure, improving heat transfer efficiency without excessive complexity.
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
Provides efficient hydrogen heating without the weight penalty of traditional heat-exchangers, suitable for aerospace applications.
Implementation Method 1
a combustor arranged to combust air and gaseous hydrogen input to the heating device and to introduce resulting combustion products into a first end of the outer tube
Implementation Method 2
an elongate, thermally-conductive outer tube... combustion products produced by the combustor flow from the combustor to an output of the heating device along a flow path such that they are in contact with at least a portion of the internal surface of the outer tube
Implementation Method 3
an igniter arranged to ignite the air and gaseous hydrogen
Data Source
AI summary
A heating device comprises a thermally-conductive outer tube, and a combustor arranged to combust air and gaseous hydrogen input to the device and introduce resulting combustion products into a first end of the outer tube. The device includes an igniter arranged to ignite the air and gaseous hydrogen. Combustion products produced by the combustor flow from the combustor to an output of the device along a flow path such that they are in contact with the internal surface of the outer tube over at least a portion of the flow path. Apparatus for heating a flow of hydrogen comprises a conduit for conducting the flow of hydrogen from a principal input port to a principal output port, the apparatus further comprising the heating device located at least partially within the conduit between the principal input port and the principal output port.