Metal Hydride Hydrogen Tank Heating for Fast Fuel Cell Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell systems in working machines face challenges in quickly responding to sudden electric power loads due to limitations in hydrogen gas supply from metal hydride tanks, leading to decreased responsiveness and unused hydrogen storage.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell system with a hydrogen tank, a fuel cell, and a temperature controller, where a control unit adjusts the temperature and flow rate of circulating water to manage hydrogen gas supply, increasing temperature when hydrogen levels are low and stopping electricity generation when pressure falls below a minimum threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the flow rate of hydrogen gas released from metal hydride tank increases abruptly to respond to sudden electric power load, then the responsiveness of output power of fuel cell improves, but the pressure inside MH tank drops abruptly causing decrease in responsiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-heats the metal hydride tank before sudden load occurs by controlling the heater to maintain temperature at a level that enables quick hydrogen release. When load increases suddenly, the tank is already at optimal temperature to release hydrogen quickly without excessive pressure drop.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the metal hydride tank to control hydrogen release characteristics. By increasing temperature, the equilibrium pressure increases and hydrogen release rate increases, allowing quick response to load changes while managing pressure dynamics.
2Quantity of substance
If pressure of hydrogen gas in MH tank is reduced further to release more hydrogen, then hydrogen supply to fuel cell improves, but hydrogen gas cannot be released at constant temperature without refilling
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses temperature as a control parameter to manage hydrogen release from metal hydride. By heating the tank, the equilibrium shifts to release more hydrogen at higher pressure, allowing sustained operation without frequent refilling even when significant hydrogen remains stored.
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically adjusts the temperature of the metal hydride tank based on hydrogen consumption patterns and load requirements. The heater is controlled to maintain optimal temperature ranges that enable continuous hydrogen release throughout the operational cycle.
3Speed
If temperature inside hydrogen tank is increased to release hydrogen quickly, then responsiveness to load increases, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors temperature, pressure, and load conditions to intelligently control the heater. Temperature is adjusted based on actual hydrogen release rate and load requirements, avoiding excessive heating and optimizing energy consumption while maintaining required responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial heating rather than maximum heating continuously. Temperature is increased only to the extent necessary to achieve the required hydrogen release rate for the current load, avoiding excessive energy consumption while maintaining adequate responsiveness.
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
Enables quick response to sudden electric power loads without decreasing fuel cell responsiveness and reduces unused hydrogen in the storage alloy, allowing the fuel cell to operate efficiently and extend its operational time.
Implementation Method 1
a fuel cell which generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas such as hydrogen gas and an oxidant gas such as air
Implementation Method 2
an MH tank using a hydrogen storage alloy (also called an alloy for hydrogen storage, an alloy for hydrogen sorption, a hydrogen absorbing alloy, a hydrogen occlusion alloy, etc.) which can store hydrogen
Implementation Method 3
a temperature controller to adjust a temperature inside the hydrogen tank, and a control unit to control the temperature controller based on the amount of hydrogen remaining in the hydrogen tank
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell system includes a hydrogen tank to store hydrogen, a fuel cell to receive hydrogen gas from the hydrogen tank to generate electricity, a temperature controller to adjust a temperature inside the hydrogen tank, and a control unit to control the temperature controller based on the amount of hydrogen remaining in the hydrogen tank, the control unit being configured to increase the temperature inside the hydrogen tank when the amount of the remaining hydrogen is equal to or less than a first predetermined value.