Stacked Plate Heat Exchanger for Hydrogen Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrogen gas cooling methods require large amounts of heat transfer medium, leading to increased energy consumption and heat transfer resistance, while also necessitating larger heat exchangers and higher refrigerant pressures, which complicates efficient cooling of high-pressure hydrogen gas for fuel cell vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen gas cooling method using a non-evaporative brine antifreeze in a stacked heat exchanger with fine flow passages, where the hydrogen gas and brine flow in orthogonal directions, allowing controlled temperature and flow rate management to enhance heat transfer efficiency and reduce brine usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a filled bath with large amount of heat transfer medium is used, then heat transfer area increases, but heat transfer resistance increases and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a three-dimensional filled bath structure to a two-dimensional plate heat exchanger structure with stacked plates. This dimensional change allows for compact heat transfer surfaces with reduced heat transfer resistance, as the plate structure provides direct thermal pathways without the resistance inherent in bulk fluid-filled spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs thin plate structures as heat transfer surfaces, replacing the bulk-filled bath approach. These thin plates provide high heat transfer efficiency with minimal thermal resistance, allowing effective cooling without requiring large amounts of heat transfer medium.
2Productivity
If the number of dual pipes is increased to increase cooling capacity, then hydrogen gas cooling treatment increases, but heat exchanger size enlarges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple heat transfer surfaces into a compact stacked plate assembly where multiple plates work together in a integrated structure. This merging approach achieves high cooling capacity without proportionally increasing overall size, as the stacked configuration allows efficient space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate heat exchanger structure nests multiple heat transfer surfaces within a compact stacked arrangement, similar to nested dolls. Each plate contributes to cooling capacity while the overall structure remains compact, avoiding the linear size increase that would result from adding separate dual pipes.
3Strength
If pipe wall thickness is increased to ensure safety under pressure difference, then structural strength increases, but heat transfer resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes thin plate structures for heat transfer surfaces, minimizing wall thickness to reduce thermal resistance. The plates are designed with sufficient structural integrity for the application, achieving optimal balance between heat transfer efficiency and mechanical strength without requiring thick walls.
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 approach reduces brine usage, minimizes energy required for cooling, downsizes the heat exchanger, and ensures efficient hydrogen gas cooling, while maintaining effective treatment capacity and preventing hydrogen embrittlement.
Implementation Method 1
perform heat exchange between the hydrogen gas flowing through the first flow passages and the brine flowing through the second flow passages
Implementation Method 2
heat exchange between the hydrogen gas flowing through the first flow passages and the brine flowing through the second flow passages
Implementation Method 3
a cooler that cools the brine
Data Source
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AI summary
A hydrogen gas cooling method comprises: a preparation step of preparing a heat exchanger that comprises a layered body wherein a first layer in which a plurality of first channels that are micro channels are arranged, and a second layer in which a plurality of second channels that are micro channels are arranged, are layered; and a cooling step of cooling hydrogen gas by exchanging heat between the hydrogen gas flowing in the first channel with brine flowing in the second channel. In the cooling step, the hydrogen gas is made to flow in the first channel so that the hydrogen gas flowing in the first channel moves from one side to the other side in a specified direction that is perpendicular to the direction of layering of the first layer and the second layer, and the brine is made to flow in the second channel so that the brine flowing in the second channel moves from the other side to the one side in the specified direction. The temperature and flow rate of the brine introduced into the second channel is controlled so that the temperature of the brine at the outlet of the second channel is higher than the temperature of the hydrogen gas at the outlet of the first channel.