Reversible Thermodynamic System for Fuel Cell Heat Recovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells, particularly those of the PEMFC type, face challenges in energy efficiency and heat management, especially during start-up and operation, leading to high energy consumption and thermal inefficiencies, which limits their application in transport and other fields.
Innovation Solution
An assembly combining a fuel cell with a reversible thermodynamic system that alternately evacuates thermal energy produced by the fuel cell and transforms it into mechanical or electrical energy, while also providing thermal energy input to the fuel cell, using modules like organic Rankine cycles and Stirling engines to enhance energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a fuel cell operates at high temperature to increase thermal power output, then thermal energy production is improved, but heat removal becomes more difficult and membrane deterioration risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful thermal energy that needs to be removed into a beneficial resource by coupling the fuel cell with a thermodynamic system (organic Rankine cycle or Stirling engine) that transforms waste heat into mechanical or electrical energy, thereby resolving the contradiction between high thermal power output and heat removal difficulty
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter management by implementing a dual-temperature strategy: operating the fuel cell at elevated temperatures (120-180°C) for high thermal power while using active cooling systems to maintain the membrane temperature within safe limits, thus allowing high power operation without membrane deterioration
2Loss of energy
If thermal energy is evacuated and transformed into mechanical energy through a thermodynamic system, then overall energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional thermodynamic system that can operate in different modes (organic Rankine cycle for heat-to-mechanical energy conversion, or Stirling engine for similar purpose) and can be integrated with the fuel cell's existing cooling system, thereby improving energy efficiency while limiting the increase in device complexity through versatile component design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fuel cell's thermal management system with the thermodynamic energy conversion system by using the same heat transfer fluid circuit for both cooling the fuel cell and driving the thermodynamic cycle, thus improving energy efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity
3Use of energy by moving object
If a reversible thermodynamic system is used to transform thermal energy into mechanical energy, then energy consumption during start-up is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-heating the fuel cell stack using the reversible thermodynamic system (operating in reverse as a heat pump) before正式启动 the fuel cell, thereby reducing the energy consumption during start-up while managing the added device complexity through integrated control
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 solution improves overall energy efficiency by reducing energy consumption during start-up and enhancing thermal energy production, allowing for more efficient operation and potential cost reduction in fuel cell systems.
Implementation Method 1
a reversible thermodynamic system configured to alternatively evacuate the thermal energy produced by the fuel cell and to transform it into mechanical energy through the first heat-transfer fluid
Implementation Method 2
a first exchanger intended to exchange thermal energy between the fluidic thermodynamic circuit and the fluidic fuel circuit
Implementation Method 3
A PEMFC transforms the chemical energy released during the electrochemical reaction of dihydrogen (H2) and dioxygen (O2) into electrical energy
Implementation Method 4
to input thermal energy to the fuel cell through the first heat-transfer fluid
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly for producing energy may include a fuel cell, a fluidic cell circuit configured to receive a first heat-transfer fluid and arranged at least partially around the fuel cell, a reversible thermodynamic system configured to alternatively: (i) evacuate the thermal energy produced by the fuel cell and transform it into mechanical energy through the first heat-transfer fluid, and (ii) input thermal energy to the fuel cell through the first heat-transfer fluid, wherein the thermodynamic system includes: (a) a fluidic thermodynamic circuit to receive a second heat-transfer fluid; (b) a first exchanger to exchange thermal energy between the fluidic thermodynamic circuit and the fluidic cell circuit; and (c) a second exchanger configured to exchange thermal energy between the fluidic thermodynamic circuit and an external source. The arrangement may improve fuel cell function, particularly for proton exchange membrane, usefully with fuel cell(s), particularly, proton exchange membrane fuel cells, preferably in transport.