Hydrogen Purification Assembly with Switchable Regeneration Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrogen gas purification devices are inadequate in efficiently removing impurities such as moisture and sulfur compounds, leading to degraded system performance and efficiency in systems utilizing hydrogen gas.
Innovation Solution
A purification arrangement with a substrate that stores impurities, switchable between hydrogen gas guiding and regeneration gas guiding conditions, using a gas guiding assembly to facilitate purification and regeneration modes, and optionally includes heating to desorb impurities, allowing for efficient and versatile hydrogen gas purification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a purification device uses a single substrate to remove impurities from hydrogen gas, then purification effectiveness is improved, but the device cannot be regenerated and requires replacement, increasing loss of substance and device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic switching system between two substrates (first substrate and second substrate) using a gas guiding assembly with valves. The system alternates between purifying hydrogen gas through one substrate while regenerating the other substrate with regeneration gas, enabling continuous operation without substrate replacement. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction by making the purification system regenerative rather than disposable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers the purification capacity of the substrate by implementing a regeneration process. When one substrate becomes saturated with impurities, it is switched to the regeneration mode where regeneration gas removes the accumulated impurities, restoring the substrate's purification capability. This allows the substrate to be reused multiple times, eliminating the need for replacement and reducing substance loss.
2Productivity
If a purification device is designed for continuous operation without interruption, then productivity is improved, but the device cannot perform regeneration, leading to degraded purification effectiveness over time
Solution Approach 1:
The gas guiding assembly dynamically switches between two operational modes: purification mode and regeneration mode. During purification mode, hydrogen gas passes through the first substrate for purification while the second substrate undergoes regeneration. The system can switch between modes without interruption, maintaining continuous productivity while ensuring both substrates remain effective through alternating regeneration cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic alternation between purification and regeneration operations on different substrates. While one substrate is actively purifying hydrogen gas, the other substrate periodically undergoes regeneration treatment. This periodic switching ensures that purification effectiveness is maintained over time while continuous productivity is preserved, as the regeneration occurs in parallel with ongoing purification operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate devices are used for purification and regeneration operations, then functional versatility is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines both purification and regeneration functions into a single integrated device housing. The housing contains both the first substrate and second substrate, along with the gas guiding assembly that can direct hydrogen gas or regeneration gas to the appropriate substrate. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate purification and regeneration devices, reducing overall system complexity and space requirements while maintaining full functional versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the purification function and regeneration function into a single unified system. Both substrates are housed together in one device, and the gas guiding assembly integrates the flow control for both hydrogen gas purification and regeneration gas treatment. This consolidation combines multiple functions into one device, reducing the total number of components and simplifying the overall system architecture.
4Productivity
If impurities are not effectively removed from hydrogen gas, then system efficiency is maintained, but system components degrade and performance reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs substrate materials that are optimized for effective impurity removal, accepting that they will become saturated and require regeneration. Rather than using durable but less effective filtration materials, the system uses highly effective substrates that can be regenerated, combining the benefits of high purification performance with sustainable reuse through the regeneration process.
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 arrangement achieves effective purification of hydrogen gas by removing impurities, enhancing system efficiency and usability, and reduces environmental impact by converting impurities into less harmful compounds.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one substrate is adapted to store the impurities in the hydrogen gas by way of absorption
Implementation Method 2
the purification arrangement comprises a heating member configured to heat the at least one substrate to a predefined temperature during a regeneration mode
Implementation Method 3
such that absorbed impurities are desorbed from a surface of the at least one substrate at the predefined temperature
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a purification arrangement, comprising: - a purification device (301) comprising a housing (310) which in turn comprises at least one substrate (315) adapted to guide said hydrogen gas and to store impurities in the hydrogen gas; - a hydrogen gas feeding guide (305a); - a hydrogen gas discharging guide (305b); - a regeneration gas feeding guide (304a); - a regeneration gas discharging guide (304b),; - a gas guiding assembly (320) adapted to assume each one of the following conditions: ∘ a hydrogen gas guiding condition in which each one of said hydrogen gas feeding guide (305a) and hydrogen gas discharging guide (305b) is in fluid communication with said at least one substrate (315), ∘ a regeneration gas guiding condition in which each one of said regeneration gas feeding guide (304a) and said regeneration gas discharging guide (304b) is in fluid communication with said at least one substrate (315).