Recirculation Pump Housing Gas-Liquid Separator

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas-liquid separators in fuel cell systems require additional housing and line connections, leading to increased costs, space requirements, and reduced efficiency due to the recirculation of unwanted constituents like nitrogen, which can damage components and reduce fuel cell performance.

Innovation Solution

Integrating the gas-liquid separator into the housing of a recirculation pump, allowing for cost savings and reduced installation space, while utilizing the pump's compression and acceleration to separate water and nitrogen from hydrogen without additional energy, and employing a centrifugal principle with constrictions and curvatures to enhance separation efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate gas-liquid separator is used, then separation function is provided, but housing space and material costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation functionVSAvoidhousing space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The gas-liquid separator is integrated into the housing of the recirculation pump, combining two separate functions (separation and recirculation) into a single housing structure. This eliminates the need for a separate gas-liquid separator housing, reducing overall housing space and material costs while maintaining the separation function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a separate gas-liquid separator is used, then separation function is provided, but production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation functionVSAvoidproduction costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the gas-liquid separator into the recirculation pump housing, the number of separate components is reduced. This decreases assembly complexity and material requirements, leading to lower production costs while maintaining the separation function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If additional line connections are made for gas-liquid separator, then separation function is provided, but installation space increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation functionVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The gas-liquid separator utilizes the existing housing and flow paths of the recirculation pump, eliminating the need for additional line connections and external mounting space. This integration reduces installation space requirements while maintaining separation functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Productivity

If recirculation pump compresses medium, then recirculation is achieved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverecirculationVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The recirculation pump's compression of the medium serves dual purposes: it enables recirculation and simultaneously provides the energy needed for the gas-liquid separation process. The separator utilizes the kinetic energy and pressure differential created by the pump's compression, eliminating the need for additional energy input devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 integration reduces material and production costs, minimizes installation space, enhances the efficiency and reliability of the fuel cell system by effectively separating unwanted constituents, improving cold-start properties, and reducing operating costs by eliminating the need for additional components and energy consumption.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing the pump's compression and acceleration to separate water and nitrogen from hydrogen without additional energy, and employing a centrifugal principle with constrictions and curvatures to enhance separation efficiency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Implementation Method 2

employing a centrifugal principle with constrictions and curvatures to enhance separation efficiency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11298651B2Gas-liquid separator for separating at least one liquid component from a gaseous component

Publication Date: 2022.04.12 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a gas-liquid separator (2) for separating at least one liquid component, in particular H2O, from a gaseous component, in particular H2, the separator comprising at least one collecting tank (12) which is supplied with a medium, at least the liquid component of the medium being separated into the collecting tank (12), and the separated portion of the medium being discharged from the collecting tank (12) via a discharge valve (46). According to the invention, the gas-liquid separator (2) is integrated into a housing (11) of a recirculation pump (9).