Turbine Arrangement Gas Flow Control Energy Recuperation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for controlling gas flow in fuel cells and internal combustion engines are inefficient and require costly components, such as throttle valves, to manage airflow and energy recovery.
Innovation Solution
A compact turbine arrangement with an adjustable slide bushing that controls gas flow by varying the cross-section of a bypass channel, allowing for energy recuperation without a throttle valve, using an electric engine as a generator to manage gas flow and counter-pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a throttle valve is used to control gas flow, then the gas flow can be controlled, but the system becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the throttle valve from the system entirely and replaces it with a turbine arrangement that controls gas flow through the expansion and conversion of gas energy into rotational motion, thereby eliminating the need for a separate throttling component and reducing system complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical throttle valve system with a turbine-based flow control mechanism that uses aerodynamic forces and energy conversion principles, substituting a simple mechanical throttling approach with a more sophisticated energy-recovering system that reduces overall system complexity
2Loss of energy
If energy is recovered from gas flow, then energy efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the gas flow control function and energy recovery function into a single integrated turbine arrangement, where the turbine wheel serves both to regulate flow and generate useful work, thereby achieving energy recovery without proportionally increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The turbine arrangement performs multiple functions simultaneously: it controls gas flow rate, recovers energy from the expanding gas, and can be integrated with existing engine or fuel cell systems, making a single component that delivers multiple benefits without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function
3Adaptability or versatility
If counter-pressure is controlled in fuel cell, then air humidity and flow are optimized, but additional control components are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine arrangement automatically regulates counter-pressure in the fuel cell through its own operation: as gas expands through the turbine, it naturally maintains a pressure differential that controls flow rate and indirectly optimizes air humidity without requiring external control valves or additional active control components
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 solution enables efficient control of gas flow and energy recovery in fuel cells and internal combustion engines, reducing component costs and improving operational efficiency by directly managing airflow and counter-pressure through the turbine arrangement.
Implementation Method 1
a controllable proportion of the gas flow drives a turbine wheel (38) arranged on a shaft (16) of an electric engine (18) functioning as a generator for recuperating energy
Implementation Method 2
an adjustable slide bushing (48) that controls gas flow by varying the cross-section of a bypass channel
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine arrangement for controlling a gas flow, in particular for a fuel cell (2) or for an internal combustion engine (3), and a charging device having such a turbine arrangement, is described, in which the gas flow supplied by an inlet (10) can be controlled by an adjustable slide bushing (48) covering an entry opening (43) to form a turbine wheel (38) arranged in a turbine housing (30) between a closed position and an open position, such that, in the closed position, the gas flow is throttled and, in the at least partially open position, a controllable proportion of the gas flow drives the turbine wheel (38) arranged on a shaft (22) of an electric engine (18) functioning as a generator for recuperating energy, wherein the slide bushing (48) releases a wall opening (64) in the turbine housing (30) above a predetermined value of the gas flow, such that a bypass channel emerges in order to guide gas flow past the turbine wheel (38) directly to an outlet opening (24).