Side-Channel Hydrogen Recirculation With Direct Impeller Feed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cell system conveying devices for gaseous media, such as hydrogen, face inefficiencies due to complex flow paths, high component costs, and poor cold-start properties, leading to increased ice formation and reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
A conveying device with a side channel compressor where the gaseous medium is supplied directly to the impeller via a metering valve, reducing flow losses and component complexity, and utilizing radial channels to convert pressure energy into rotational energy, enhancing efficiency and compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If components (metering valve, jet pump, side channel blower) are arranged as separate assemblies connected via pipes, then each component can be individually housed and maintained, but this results in numerous flow deflections and flow losses, reducing pumping system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the metering valve, jet pump, and side channel blower into a single integrated conveying device with a common housing. The metering valve is positioned directly adjacent to the side channel blower, eliminating intermediate piping. This integration reduces the number of flow deflections and connections, thereby minimizing flow losses while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular assembly within the unified housing structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If components are arranged as separate assemblies, then each component has its own housing, but this collectively forms a large surface area relative to installation space, promoting rapid cooling and increased ice bridge formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple components into a single housing structure, significantly reducing the total external surface area compared to separate assemblies. This reduced surface area minimizes heat loss to the environment, preventing rapid cooling and ice bridge formation during extended vehicle inactivity or cold-start conditions, thereby improving system reliability.
3Ease of operation
If components are arranged far apart as separate assemblies, then each component can be independently accessed, but this requires individual heating energy input for each component during cold-start, increasing complexity and reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates components within a shared housing, allowing a single heating source to warm the entire assembly during cold-start conditions. This eliminates the need for multiple separate heating systems, reducing energy consumption while maintaining operational accessibility through the unified structure's design.
4Reliability
If separate housings are provided for each component, then each component is protected independently, but this leads to high manufacturing costs and material costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides a single common housing that protects all components (metering valve, jet pump, side channel blower) simultaneously. This unified housing structure reduces manufacturing complexity and material requirements compared to multiple separate housings, while still providing adequate protection for all internal components through strategic positioning and structural design.
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 design improves efficiency, reduces material and assembly costs, and enhances the service life of the conveyor unit by minimizing friction and flow losses, while maintaining compactness and efficient operation across varying fuel cell states.
Implementation Method 1
a side-channel compressor (2), wherein the conveying device (1) is at least partially driven by a metering valve (6) with a motive jet (12) of a pressurized gaseous medium
Implementation Method 2
with a motive jet (12) of a pressurized gaseous medium, the pressurized gaseous medium being supplied to a compressor chamber (30) of the side-channel compressor (2) at least indirectly by means of the metering valve (6)
Implementation Method 3
an impeller (14) located in the housing (17) which is set in rotation about an axis of rotation (23) by a drive (10)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a conveying device (1) for a fuel cell system (31) for conveying and/or recirculating a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, comprising: a side channel compressor (2), the conveying device (1) being driven at least partially by means of a metering valve (6) having a propulsion jet (12) of a pressurised gaseous medium, and the pressurised gaseous medium being fed to the side channel compressor (2) at least indirectly by means of the metering valve (6); a compressor chamber (30) which extends around an axis of rotation (23) in the housing (17) and has at least one circumferential side channel (19); an impeller (14) which is located in the housing (17), is rotatable about the axis of rotation (23) and is driven by the drive (10), the side channel compressor (2) having a housing (17) with a gas inlet opening (20) formed on the housing (17) and a gas outlet opening (22), which are fluidically connected to one another via the compressor chamber (30), in particular the at least one first side channel (19). According to the invention, the gaseous medium is fed by means of the metering valve (6) to the side channel compressor (2) via the impeller (14), the feed taking place at least almost in the direction of the axis of rotation (23) on the side of the impeller (14) facing away from the drive (10).