Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Condensed Water Recovery and Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cell systems face instability in supplying electric power due to inadequate clean water infrastructure and rising air temperatures, which complicates the recovery and utilization of moisture from discharged gases for reforming processes.
Innovation Solution
A solid oxide fuel cell system that recovers moisture from discharged gases, heats it using off-gas to prevent germ breeding, and efficiently utilizes exhaust heat to supply reforming water stably, incorporating a condensed water/off-gas heat exchanger and a humidifier to control steam supply effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If condensed water is recovered and stored in a tank for reforming water supply, then water supply stability is improved, but germ breeding occurs in the stored condensed water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the condensed water by heating it to 80°C or higher using a heater before storage in the condensed water tank. This temperature parameter change prevents germ breeding while maintaining water supply stability, resolving the contradiction between reliable water supply and harmful germ contamination.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If condensed water is heated to high temperature to prevent germ breeding, then germ breeding is suppressed, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating function with the condensed water/off-gas heat exchanger, using the thermal energy from off-gas to heat the condensed water. This combines the waste heat recovery function with the germ prevention heating function, reducing additional energy consumption while maintaining effective germ suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat from off-gas into a beneficial resource for heating condensed water to prevent germ breeding. By utilizing what would otherwise be wasted thermal energy, the system achieves germ prevention with minimal additional energy input.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If condensed water is circulated through a heat exchanger to heat it, then germ breeding is prevented, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the condensed water/off-gas heat exchanger perform multiple functions: it recovers thermal energy from off-gas and simultaneously heats condensed water to prevent germ breeding. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heating equipment, reducing system complexity while achieving germ prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the heat recovery function and the germ prevention heating function into a single integrated heat exchanger system. By merging these functions, the patent avoids adding separate complex heating systems while effectively preventing germ breeding through condensed water circulation and heating.
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 configuration enables stable electric power supply even in environments with inadequate clean water infrastructure and high temperatures by ensuring consistent reforming water supply and efficient energy utilization, reducing the risk of clogging and maintaining system performance.
Implementation Method 1
a condensed water/off-gas heat exchanger configured to heat the condensed water using off-gas
Implementation Method 2
a humidifier configured to humidify air by using the condensed water to generate humidified air
Implementation Method 3
a reformer configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by using humidified air and a raw material
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A solid oxide fuel cell system (90) including a reformer (10), a solid oxide fuel cell (12) configured to generate electric power by using a hydrogen-containing gas supplied from the reformer to an anode (14) and air supplied to a cathode (16), a heat radiator (17) configured to radiate heat from at least one of an anode off-gas and a combustion exhaust gas generated by combusting the anode off-gas to generate condensed water, a condensed water circulating passage (20) configured to circulate the condensed water supplied from the heat radiator, a condensed water tank (22) provided on the condensed water circulating passage and configured to store the condensed water therein, a condensed water pump (24) provided on the condensed water circulating passage and configured to circulate the condensed water, a condensed water/off-gas heat exchanger (26) provided on the condensed water circulating passage and configured to exchange heat between the condensed water and an off-gas discharged from the solid oxide fuel cell, and at least a part of the water supplied to the reformer is the condensed water.