Oxygen Supply via OSM Ceramics and Exhaust Heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to economically supply pure oxygen to closed-cycle hydrogen engines without using the engine's useful work, as existing methods are inefficient and costly, especially for small to medium-sized engines, and introduce impurities that require frequent gas bleeds and nitrogen, which forms harmful compounds.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using OSM ceramics and exhaust gas heat to generate oxygen by alternately purging and regenerating reactors with exhaust gas and air, avoiding inert gas losses and nitrogen entry through intermediate purging with low-pressure steam, and adjusting oxygen content in the recycle gas using a bypass valve to match combustion needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If oxygen is supplied from water electrolysis, then pure oxygen is obtained, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own exhaust gas heat to drive the oxygen generation process through OSM ceramics, making the oxygen supply self-sufficient without external energy input or water electrolysis
Solution Approach 2:
The OSM ceramics change their oxygen release properties based on temperature and oxygen partial pressure parameters, automatically adjusting oxygen supply to match combustion needs without external control energy
2Quantity of substance
If atmospheric nitrogen is used for oxygen supply, then oxygen is obtained, but harmful nitric oxides are formed
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the oxygen component from air using OSM ceramics, separating it from nitrogen before supply to the engine, thereby preventing nitric oxide formation while maintaining oxygen supply
Solution Approach 2:
The OSM ceramics act as an intermediary that selectively transfers oxygen from air to the engine's oxidizer gas, blocking nitrogen from entering the combustion chamber
3Temperature
If inert gas is recirculated, then combustion cooling is achieved, but inert gas losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers inert gas that would otherwise be lost by using it to purge and regenerate the OSM ceramics, converting a loss into a useful function that maintains oxygen supply capability
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculated inert gas serves multiple functions: cooling combustion, purging OSM reactors, and regenerating oxygen storage capacity, eliminating the need for additional inert gas input
4Speed
If oxygen content in oxidizer gas is increased, then flame propagation accelerates, but mechanical loads increase rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts oxygen content in the oxidizer gas using recirculated gas with varying oxygen concentrations, allowing flexible control of flame speed and mechanical loads based on operating conditions
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 approach enables economical and efficient local oxygen supply for closed-cycle hydrogen engines, reducing energy consumption and preventing impurity-related issues, ensuring stable engine operation and cost-effective local energy production.
Implementation Method 1
The oxygen release to the purge gas takes place through redox reactions
Implementation Method 2
the oxygen content in the gas phase is markedly increased in that the water vapor is condensed out
Implementation Method 3
The latter is generated by the exhaust heat of the exhaust gas or exhaust air
Data Source
AI summary
A method for supplying hydrogen-operated internal combustion engines with oxygen, wherein an inert gas is cycled. An economical local supply of pure oxygen for a closed-cycle hydrogen engine with argon cycling is realized by separating the oxygen from the atmosphere without relying on the useful work of the engine. OSM ceramics and exhaust gas heat and low oxygen partial pressure of the exhaust gas are used to generate oxygen. Two reactors filled with OSM ceramics are used, these reactors being alternately purged with exhaust gas and regenerated with air. Losses of inert gases and the entry of atmospheric nitrogen are avoided by intermediate purging with steam. The steam is generated by the heat of the exhaust gas or exhaust air. A mixture of water vapor, inert gas and oxygen is formed during purging. Subsequently, the oxygen content in the gas phase is markedly increased since water vapor is condensed out.