Hydrogen Fuel Architecture With Oxygen Separation and Flue Gas Superheating
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Solution Overview
Problem
The aerospace industry faces challenges in transitioning from hydrocarbon fuels to hydrogen due to inefficiencies and high emissions in existing hydrogen fuel cell gas turbine systems, necessitating improved energy conversion and emission reduction.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising heat exchangers to superheat hydrogen and oxygen streams for high-temperature oxy-fuel combustion, utilizing liquid hydrogen to separate oxygen and nitrogen, and incorporating a coolant circuit for temperature control, with nitrogen used for fire suppression and cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid hydrogen is used as fuel in gas turbine systems, then fuel-to-electricity conversion efficiency is improved, but emissions and energy loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates oxygen from air using cryogenic distillation, obtaining pure oxygen that is then used for hydrogen combustion. This extraction of pure oxygen from the air mixture eliminates nitrogen and other contaminants that would otherwise contribute to emissions, while maintaining high conversion efficiency through optimized combustion conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes nitrogen from the air separation process to create an inert atmosphere for cooling and fire suppression. The nitrogen serves as a safe, non-reactive medium that protects against unauthorized ignition of hydrogen fuel while maintaining system cooling, thereby reducing harmful emissions without compromising safety or efficiency.
2Productivity
If hydrogen is superheated to high temperatures, then combustion efficiency is improved, but energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the oxygen production process with the hydrogen superheating process by using the same heat exchanger system. The heat required for superheating hydrogen to high temperatures for efficient combustion is recovered from the oxygen production process, thereby improving combustion efficiency without proportional increases in energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous heat recovery and reuse throughout the system. Heat that would otherwise be lost during hydrogen superheating and oxygen production is continuously captured and redirected to maintain optimal combustion temperatures, ensuring continuous efficient operation while minimizing energy loss.
3Temperature
If multiple heat exchangers are added for superheating, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs heat exchangers that perform multiple functions simultaneously. The same heat exchanger system is used for both oxygen production and hydrogen superheating, eliminating the need for separate dedicated equipment. This multi-functionality improves temperature control across different process stages while avoiding the complexity increase that would result from adding separate single-purpose components.
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
Enhances fuel-to-electricity conversion efficiency, reduces emissions, and provides effective temperature control and fire protection in hydrogen fuel systems.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger configured to receive a first stream of compressed air and a stream of liquid hydrogen, wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat between the first stream of compressed air and the stream of liquid hydrogen to yield a stream of liquid oxygen and a stream of gaseous hydrogen
Implementation Method 2
transfer heat between the first stream of compressed air and the stream of liquid hydrogen to yield a stream of liquid oxygen and a stream of gaseous hydrogen
Implementation Method 3
a second heat exchanger configured to heat the stream of liquid oxygen to yield a stream of gaseous oxygen
Implementation Method 4
heat the stream of liquid oxygen to yield a stream of gaseous oxygen
Implementation Method 5
a third heat exchanger configured to receive a stream of flue gas from the turbine and at least one of the stream of gaseous hydrogen and the stream of gaseous oxygen, wherein the third heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat between the stream of flue gas and the stream of gaseous hydrogen and/or the stream of gaseous oxygen to superheat the stream of hydrogen and/or the stream of oxygen
Implementation Method 6
The combustion chamber may be configured to combust the stream of superheated/gaseous hydrogen and the stream of superheated/gaseous oxygen
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprising: a gas turbine having a combustion chamber and a turbine; a first heat exchanger configured to receive a first stream of compressed air and a stream of liquid hydrogen, wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat between the first stream of compressed air and the stream of liquid hydrogen to yield a stream of liquid oxygen and a stream of gaseous hydrogen; a second heat exchanger configured to heat the stream of liquid oxygen to yield a stream of gaseous oxygen; and a third heat exchanger configured to receive a stream of flue gas from the turbine and at least one of the stream of gaseous hydrogen and the stream of gaseous oxygen, wherein the third heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat between the stream of flue gas and the stream of gaseous hydrogen and/or the stream of gaseous oxygen to superheat the stream of hydrogen and/or the stream of oxygen; wherein the system is configured to direct the stream of hydrogen and the stream of oxygen to the combustion chamber, wherein at least one of the stream of hydrogen and the stream of oxygen is superheated.