Turbine-Driven Compressor for Underwater Fuel Cell Gas Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underwater vehicles face challenges in efficiently managing residual gases from fuel cell systems due to limited volume and high hydrostatic pressure, leading to energy inefficiencies in gas disposal and compression.
Innovation Solution
A drive system incorporating a turbine and compressor sharing a common gear system, where the turbine expands operating gases to drive the compressor, eliminating the need for an electric motor and optimizing energy use for gas compression and disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If an electrically powered compressor is used to compress residual gas, then the residual gas can be compressed against hydrostatic pressure, but electrical energy from the fuel cell system is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the turbine and compressor into a single integrated unit with a common gear system. The turbine expands the operating gas to generate mechanical work, which directly drives the compressor through the shared gear system, eliminating the need for separate electric motor-driven compression and improving overall energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The gear system acts as an intermediary mechanism that transfers and transmits the mechanical work from the turbine to the compressor. This mechanical coupling allows the expansion work to be directly utilized for compression without energy conversion losses associated with electric motors
2Stress or pressure
If the operating pressure of the fuel cell system is increased to expel residual gas against hydrostatic pressure, then gas discharge becomes possible, but the compressor requires more energy
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine performs preliminary expansion of the operating gas before it enters the fuel cell system. This pre-expansion reduces the pressure differential that the compressor must overcome, thereby reducing the energy required for final compression while still achieving the necessary discharge pressure
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the pressure parameters of the operating gas more efficiently by expanding it in the turbine first, changing its pressure state before combustion. This parameter change allows the residual gas to be compressed to the required level with less energy input
3Quantity of substance
If storage containers are used to store residual gas, then sufficient volume is available for gas storage, but the vehicle requires additional volume capacity
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of storing residual gas in additional containers, the system recovers value from the residual gas by using a portion of it to drive the turbine-compressor unit. The compressed residual gas is then discharged directly, eliminating the need for separate storage volume while still managing the gas quantity effectively
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 enhances the energy balance by reducing electrical energy consumption and enabling efficient compression and discharge of residual gases, even at lower pressure ranges, facilitating safe disposal at various diving depths.
Implementation Method 1
a turbine arranged between the operating gas container and the fuel cell system for expanding the operating gas before it enters the fuel cell system
Implementation Method 2
a compressor for compressing a residual gas from the fuel cell system
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to drive system (2) for a water vehicle, in particular for a submarine underwater vehicle or an unmanned underwater vehicle, comprising a fuel cell system (6), at least one operating-gas container (4) for supplying the fuel cell system (6) with an operating gas (B), and a compressor (14) arranged on a gas discharge line (16) for compressing a residual gas (R) from the fuel cell system (6). For the purpose of improving the energy balance of the drive system (2), a turbine (10) arranged between the operating-gas container (4) and the fuel cell system (6) is provided for expanding the operating gas (B) before the operating gas enters the fuel cell system (6), wherein the compressor (14) is driven by the turbine (10).