Multi-Plate Evaporator for Fuel Cell Vapor Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional evaporators are unsuitable for large evaporation outputs due to non-constant vapor production, resulting in the formation of vapor bubbles that prevent effective evaporation, and they are not designed for power ranges in the kilowatt range.
Innovation Solution
An evaporator design featuring a multitude of flat plates with a liquid distributor structure, evaporator area, and gas collection structure, where the liquid is distributed homogeneously between the plates, preventing vapor bubble formation and allowing unhindered vapor flow, and can produce either saturated or superheated vapor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional evaporator channels with cross section below 100 μm2 are used, then the evaporator structure is compact, but vapor bubbles form and effective evaporation is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator is divided into multiple parallel micro-evaporator channels instead of using a single large channel. This segmentation allows each small channel to maintain efficient heat transfer while the collective arrangement prevents vapor bubble accumulation by providing multiple escape paths, thus resolving the contradiction between compact size and evaporation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-channel design to a multi-channel parallel arrangement, adding the dimension of channel multiplicity. This dimensional change enables the system to maintain the benefits of small channel dimensions for heat transfer while avoiding the harmful effect of vapor bubble formation through increased spatial diversity in vapor escape routes.
2Stress or pressure
If small mass flow rate of liquid is used, then the evaporator operates with lower pressure drop, but vapor bubbles form and prevent effective evaporation
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the evaporator into multiple parallel channels, the system can operate with lower liquid flow rates in each channel while maintaining effective evaporation. The segmentation distributes the liquid flow across multiple paths, preventing vapor bubble coalescence and ensuring continuous liquid supply to all evaporator surfaces, thus resolving the contradiction between low pressure drop and evaporation effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If conventional evaporator design is used, then the structure is simple, but it is unsuitable for large evaporation outputs in the kilowatt range
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator is segmented into multiple parallel micro-channels, transforming a simple single-channel design into a multi-channel system capable of handling large evaporation outputs. This segmentation increases the total evaporator surface area and vapor production capacity while maintaining the simplicity of the basic channel structure, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple micro-evaporator channels are merged into a single integrated evaporator body with common inlet and outlet connections. This merging approach combines the evaporative capacity of multiple channels to achieve high productivity in the kilowatt range while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure with unified fluid distribution, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and high evaporation output.
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 design ensures homogeneous evaporation and efficient vapor production, preventing vapor bubbles and enabling the evaporator to handle larger evaporation outputs effectively, suitable for power ranges in the kilowatt range.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid distributor structure with distributor conduits... The liquid to be evaporated is distributed very homogeneously between the individual plates
Implementation Method 2
an evaporator area... for generation of saturated vapour or superheated vapour
Implementation Method 3
at least partial evaporation of the at least one medium... for superheating the evaporated medium
Implementation Method 4
a gas collection structure... The vapour generated is guided from the evaporator area through the gas collection structure to the outlet
Implementation Method 5
a heating unit for providing thermal energy for at least partial evaporation of the medium flowing through the flow unit
Implementation Method 6
the flow unit is thermally coupled to the heating unit
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an evaporator (V) comprising an evaporator body (3) surrounded by an evaporator housing (5) having an inlet (1) for supply of liquid into the evaporator housing (5) and an outlet (6) for discharge of vapour generated,wherein the evaporator body (3) comprises a multitude of plates (7) arranged flat one on top of another,wherein there is a liquid distributor (2) for distributing the liquid between the multitude of plates (7) arranged between the inlet (1) and the evaporator body (3),wherein each of the plates (7) comprises, on a first surface, a liquid distributor structure (10) with distributor conduits (20, 21, 22), an evaporator area (11) and a gas collection structure (12).The invention further relates to a corresponding fuel cell arrangement.