Inductive Heating Container for Frozen Water Separator Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water separators in fuel cell systems face issues with ice formation in low ambient temperatures due to freezing water, which can impair valve function and increase electrical interfaces and spark hazards in hydrogen environments.
Innovation Solution
A container with an inductive heating device using a coil outside the storage volume, connected in series with the drain valve, heats the container via a ferromagnetic metal part or additional coil within, reducing electrical interfaces and eliminating spark risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If an electric heater is used to prevent ice formation in the water separator tank, then the tank can be heated to prevent freezing, but the number of electrical interfaces increases and spark hazards arise in the hydrogen-containing environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electric heater (electrical heating system) with an induction heating system that uses electromagnetic fields to induce eddy currents in a ferromagnetic heating element. This substitution eliminates direct electrical contacts and spark hazards inside the hydrogen-containing environment while achieving the same thermal effect through electromagnetic induction and resistive heating of the ferromagnetic material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a ferromagnetic heating element as an intermediary between the external power source and the water to be heated. This heating element is positioned inside the tank but is magnetically coupled to an external induction coil, allowing thermal energy transfer without direct electrical connections inside the hazardous environment. The heating element acts as a mediator that converts electromagnetic energy to thermal energy safely.
2Temperature
If an electric heater is used to prevent ice formation, then heating function is achieved, but the number of electrical interfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electric heater with an induction heating system where the power source remains external to the tank. The induction coil is wound around a ferromagnetic heating element that is magnetically coupled to the external coil, eliminating the need for electrical penetrations into the tank. This reduces electrical interfaces while maintaining effective heating capability.
3Temperature
If the coil is placed inside the storage volume for direct heating, then heating efficiency increases, but spark hazards arise in the hydrogen-containing environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a ferromagnetic heating element as an intermediary that is magnetically coupled to an external induction coil. The coil itself remains outside the hydrogen-containing environment, eliminating spark hazards, while the ferromagnetic element inside the tank converts electromagnetic energy to heat through eddy currents and hysteresis losses, maintaining high heating efficiency without direct electrical contacts in the hazardous zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes direct electrical heating elements with an indirect induction heating system using electromagnetic fields. The heating is achieved through induced eddy currents in the ferromagnetic element rather than direct resistive heating from electrical contacts, eliminating spark hazards while preserving heating efficiency through electromagnetic energy conversion.
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
Effectively thaws frozen water without electrical interfaces inside the hydrogen-containing environment, reducing spark hazards and maintaining valve functionality.
Implementation Method 1
an inductive heating device with at least one coil (5), wherein the at least one coil (5) is arranged outside the storage volume (1.3) of the container (1)
Implementation Method 2
The at least one coil (5) is electrically connected in series with the at least one drain valve (3)
Implementation Method 3
the at least one coil interacts with a preferably ferromagnetic metal part accommodated in the storage volume of the container
Implementation Method 4
The at least one coil interacts with at least one other coil
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4c
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a container (1) with a storage volume (1.3) for accommodating a freezable medium (2), comprising - at least one drain valve (3, 4) for draining the medium (2) from the container (1), - an inductive heating device (7) with at least one coil (5, 6), wherein the at least one coil (5, 6) is arranged outside the storage volume (1.3) of the container (1) and is electrically connected in series with the at least one drain valve (3, 4). The invention further relates to a water separator with a container according to the invention and to an anode system for a fuel cell system with a water separator.