Moisture-generating device for a fuel cell, and method for operating a moisture-generating device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cell systems face challenges in efficiently increasing moisture levels in fuel gases, particularly when using passive water humidification methods, which can result in inefficient water evaporation and distribution.
Innovation Solution
A moisture-generating device with a housing, water injector, separator grid, and homogenizing region is designed to actively evaporate and distribute water vapor within a fuel cell system, utilizing a cylindrical shape and adjustable water droplet size to enhance evaporation and homogenization of moisture in air or gas flows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If passive water humidification is used, then system complexity is reduced, but moisture distribution efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive mechanical diffusion-based humidification with an active ultrasonic atomization system. The ultrasonic atomizer generates fine water droplets through high-frequency vibration, and a blower actively distributes these droplets throughout the housing, significantly improving moisture distribution efficiency while accepting increased system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition from liquid to vapor through ultrasonic atomization. The ultrasonic atomizer breaks liquid water into fine droplets that rapidly evaporate in the warm air environment, providing efficient moisture enrichment without requiring direct heating of large water volumes.
2Quantity of substance
If water atomization is used to increase moisture, then moisture level improves, but system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of water delivery by using ultrasonic atomization to create extremely fine droplets with high surface-area-to-volume ratio. This allows rapid evaporation and efficient moisture transfer into the air, achieving high moisture levels with minimal water volume and compact system dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces active air movement in the vertical dimension using a blower to circulate air through the housing. This three-dimensional air circulation distributes atomized water droplets throughout the entire housing volume, achieving uniform moisture enrichment without requiring a larger system footprint.
3Productivity
If active water evaporation is implemented, then evaporation efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal evaporation systems (heaters, steam generators) with ultrasonic mechanical atomization. The ultrasonic atomizer uses high-frequency mechanical vibration to create fine droplets that evaporate passively through surface area exposure, achieving high evaporation efficiency without complex heating elements or thermal management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces air as an intermediary medium to facilitate evaporation. The blower circulates air through the housing, providing continuous fresh air contact with atomized water droplets, which accelerates evaporation through convective mass transfer without requiring direct heating of the water.
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 device effectively enriches air or gas flows with moisture, optimizing water evaporation and distribution, leading to improved efficiency and reduced system size, while ensuring uniform moisture levels are achieved in fuel cell applications.
Implementation Method 1
a water injector which is located in the lateral inlet region and by means of which atomized water can be introduced in the mixing region
Implementation Method 2
liquid water supplied from the outside within the module may be largely or completely evaporated and homogenized with the air flow or gas flow
Implementation Method 3
a homogenizing region which adjoins the mixing region in the main extension direction and the separator grid is located between the mixing region and the homogenizing region, and whereby a degree of moisture of at least regions of the gas or air flow in the homogenizing region can be homogenized
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a moisture-generating device (10) for generating a moisture-enriched air flow or gas flow, said device comprising: a housing (H) having a main extension direction (HR) and an inflow region (2) and an outflow region (3), and having a lateral inlet region (EB) which extends at a specified angle to the main extension direction (HR), and having a mixing region (MB), a water injector (WI) which is located in the lateral inlet region (EB) and by means of which atomized water can be introduced into the mixing region (MB) at the specified angle with or counter to the main extension direction (HR); a separator grid (SG) which is located in the mixing region (MB); and a homogenizing region (HB), which adjoins the mixing region (MB) in the main extension direction (HR), and wherein a degree of moisture of at least regions of the gas or air flow in the homogenizing region (HB) can be homogenized.