Johnson thermo-electrochemical converter
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Johnson Thermo-Electrochemical Converter (JTEC) systems face reliability issues due to pressure loss caused by molecular hydrogen diffusion through membranes, limiting their operational efficiency and utility.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a low temperature membrane electrode assembly array with additional cells compared to the high temperature array to pump more hydrogen to the high pressure side, compensating for diffusion losses, and using a controller to actuate MEA cells independently to maintain pressure differential.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If molecular hydrogen diffusion through membranes is allowed to occur naturally, then the system structure remains simple, but pressure differential is lost and operational reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of hydrogen diffusion through membranes into a beneficial feature by designing the system to utilize this diffusion for pressure equalization while simultaneously using additional electrochemical cells to actively manage and compensate for pressure differential losses, thereby maintaining reliability without requiring overly complex external control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces additional electrochemical cells as intermediary components that act as active mediators to compensate for hydrogen diffusion losses. These cells serve as a buffer mechanism that automatically maintains pressure differential by generating electrical current proportional to the diffusion rate, thereby improving reliability without direct mechanical intervention
2Productivity
If additional electrochemical cells are added to compensate for hydrogen diffusion, then pressure differential is maintained and efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the function of hydrogen diffusion compensation with the existing electrochemical cell structure by integrating additional cells into the same membrane assembly architecture. This allows the compensation mechanism to be embedded within the core system rather than added as a separate external component, thereby improving efficiency with minimal increase in overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the electrochemical cell array by configuring cells in series to generate higher voltage that corresponds to the pressure differential. This parameter adjustment allows the system to maintain efficiency by optimizing the electrical output to match the thermodynamic requirements of the pressure management function
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 configuration maintains the operating pressure differential, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the JTEC system by continuously pumping additional hydrogen to counteract diffusion, thereby sustaining performance and output.
Implementation Method 1
The hydrogen ions are conducted through the electrolyte separator to the oxygen side of the cell under the chemical reaction potential of the hydrogen and oxygen
Implementation Method 2
molecular hydrogen diffusion that occurs through the membranes of the membrane electrode assembly arrays
Data Source
AI summary
A electrochemical direct heat to electricity converter having a low temperature membrane electrode assembly array and a high temperature membrane electrode assembly array is provided. Additional cells are provided in the low temperature membrane electrode assembly array, which causes an additional amount of the working fluid, namely hydrogen, to be pumped to the high pressure side of the converter. The additional pumped hydrogen compensates for the molecular hydrogen diffusion that occurs through the membranes of the membrane electrode assembly arrays. The MEA cells may be actuated independently by a controller to compensate for hydrogen diffusion.