Ring-Shaped SOFC Assembly for Aircraft Engine Shaft Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft engines using hydrocarbon-based fuel have a carbon footprint and efficiency can be improved, and solid oxide fuel cells are not optimally integrated for enhanced performance.
Innovation Solution
A ring-shaped solid oxide fuel cell assembly is designed with a central recess for the engine shaft, featuring inner and outer manifolds with hydrogen inlets and outlets, tubular fuel cells, and electrical contacts for improved packaging density and power, arranged in stacks with heat exchangers for cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If solid oxide fuel cells are integrated into aircraft engines, then fuel efficiency is improved, but packaging density is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel cell assembly is nested around the engine shaft, with tubular fuel cells arranged concentrically between inner and outer manifolds. This nesting approach allows the fuel cell assembly to occupy the annular space around the shaft, maximizing space utilization and improving packaging density while maintaining fuel efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a planar fuel cell arrangement to a three-dimensional radial configuration. Fuel cells are arranged radially around the shaft with inner and outer manifolds creating a volumetric structure, effectively utilizing the annular space and achieving higher packaging density without compromising energy efficiency.
2Use of energy by moving object
If solid oxide fuel cells are integrated into aircraft engines, then fuel efficiency is improved, but total power output is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple tubular fuel cells are merged into a single integrated assembly with common inner and outer manifolds. This merging of individual fuel cells into a unified structure allows for cumulative power output while sharing common fluid distribution systems, thereby increasing total power while maintaining fuel efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel cell assembly is segmented into multiple tubular units arranged radially, each contributing to the total power output. This segmentation allows parallel operation of multiple fuel cell units, summing their individual power contributions to achieve higher total power while maintaining the fuel efficiency benefits of solid oxide fuel cell technology.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If hydrogen fuel is used instead of hydrocarbon fuel, then carbon emissions are reduced, but fuel consumption efficiency needs improvement
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel cell assembly directly converts hydrogen chemical energy to electrical energy through electrochemical reactions, eliminating the need for mechanical conversion through turbines. This self-service energy conversion process achieves high efficiency while using hydrogen to produce zero carbon emissions, simultaneously addressing both environmental and efficiency concerns.
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 enhances fuel cell efficiency and power output by optimizing packaging density and power generation, reducing hydrocarbon fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
Implementation Method 1
tubular solid oxide fuel cells arranged radially with respect to the longitudinal axis between the inner manifold and the outer manifold, wherein each fuel cell comprises an anode in the form of an inner tube, an inner end of which being fluidly connected to the inner manifold and an outer end of which being fluidly connected to the outer manifold, a cathode in the form of an outer porous tube around the anode and between the anode and the cathode, an electrolyte
Implementation Method 2
a ring-shaped inner manifold arranged around a longitudinal axis and comprising a central recess for accommodating an engine shaft of the aircraft engine, a ring-shaped outer manifold arranged coaxially around the inner manifold, wherein one of the manifolds comprises at least one hydrogen inlet and the other of the manifolds comprises at least one hydrogen outlet
Implementation Method 3
arranged in stacks with heat exchangers for cooling
Data Source
AI summary
A ring-shaped solid oxide fuel cell assembly, for an aircraft engine, with a ring-shaped inner manifold, a ring-shaped outer manifold arranged coaxially around the inner manifold, wherein one of the manifolds comprises a hydrogen inlet and the other comprise a hydrogen outlet, a plurality of tubular solid oxide fuel cells arranged radially between the manifolds, wherein each fuel cell comprises an anode formed as an inner tube, an inner end fluidly connected to the inner manifold and an outer end fluidly connected to the outer manifold, a cathode formed as an outer porous tube around the anode, and, between, the anode and the cathode, an electrolyte. For each fuel cell, an inner electrical contact electrically connects at the inner end of that fuel cell to the anode or the cathode, and an outer electrical contact electrically connects at the outer end to the other.