Renewable fuel cell system with water and gas management island

Abstract

The invention discloses a renewable fuel cell system with a water and gas management island. The renewable fuel cell system comprises a renewable fuel cell module and an external auxiliary module, the renewable fuel cell module comprises a high-efficiency drainage fuel cell, a water-gas management island and a high-efficiency exhaust water electrolytic cell which are sequentially connected in series and stacked; the external auxiliary module comprises a hydrogen / oxygen circulation part assembly, a water pump, a hydrogen / oxygen storage tank and a water storage tank. The renewable fuel cell system with the water and gas management island is high in integration level, reliable in operation, wide in power range, flexible in configuration, long in service life and suitable for miniature and medium-large renewable fuel cell energy systems.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of fuel cells and water electrolysis, and in particular to a renewable fuel cell system with a water and gas management island. Background Art

[0002] Fuel cells convert the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy and produce water through electrochemical reactions. Water electrolysis cells electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen by loading current. The two are reverse processes. Renewable fuel cells have both power generation and water electrolysis functions and can be divided into integrated renewable fuel cells and split renewable fuel cells. Renewable fuel cells have significant advantages in energy density and comprehensive utilization of energy quality compared to batteries in the fields of energy storage power generation, combined heat and power, environmental control and life protection.

[0003] Renewable fuel cells face many technical challenges. During the electrochemical reaction of proton exchange membrane fuel cells, the product water is not discharged in time, resulting in flooding, which hinders the further progress of the reaction. The product oxygen in the proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer forms a large number of bubbles or even slug flow in the liquid water, resulting in a reduction in reaction sites and a decrease in electrolysis efficiency. Therefore, the separation of gas and liquid phases is a key problem faced by fuel cells and water electrolyzers. In addition, although the combination of fuel cells and water electrolyzers to form a renewable fuel cell system avoids the problems of short life and inability to decouple power of integrated renewable fuel cells, it has problems such as complex system structure and poor reliability of water and gas management. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a renewable fuel cell and system that modularly connects a fuel cell and a water electrolyzer in series, centrally performs gas-water separation and supply management, has power generation and electrolysis power decoupling, a compact system structure, high integration, efficient and reliable water and gas management, and a long service life.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a renewable fuel cell system with a water and gas management island, comprising: a renewable fuel cell module and an external auxiliary module;

[0006] The renewable fuel cell module comprises a high-efficiency drainage fuel cell, a water and gas management island, and a high-efficiency exhaust water electrolysis cell stacked in series;

[0007] The external auxiliary module includes a hydrogen / oxygen circulation component, a water pump, a hydrogen / oxygen storage tank, and a water storage tank.

[0008] Optionally, the high-efficiency drainage fuel cell comprises: an end plate, an insulating plate, a current collecting plate, and a plurality of fuel cell units; the fuel cell unit comprises a fuel cell partitioned cathode plate, a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, and a fuel cell partitioned anode plate stacked in sequence.

[0009] Optionally, the partitioned cathode plate of the fuel cell has parallel flow channels that are not interconnected.

[0010] Optionally, the high-efficiency exhaust water electrolysis cell comprises: an end plate, an insulating plate, a current collecting plate, and a plurality of water electrolysis cell units; the water electrolysis cell units include a water electrolysis cell partitioned anode plate, a water electrolysis cell membrane electrode assembly, and a water electrolysis cell cathode plate.

[0011] Optionally, the partitioned anode plate of the water electrolysis cell has parallel flow channels that are not interconnected.

[0012] Optionally, the water and gas management island comprises: a plurality of gas plates, a liquid plate, and a gas-blocking and water-permeable component, and the liquid water in the gas plate can be separated into the liquid plate through the gas-blocking and water-permeable component.

[0013] Optionally, the gas plate comprises a gas cavity, and the gas cavity connects the parallel flow channels in the partitioned cathode plate of the fuel cell in series end to end.

[0014] Optionally, the liquid plate comprises a gas-liquid separation chamber, a baffle, and a liquid cavity, and in the process of liquid water circulation, bubbles are collected and discharged into the oxygen channel through the exhaust holes.

[0015] Optionally, the gas plate and the liquid plate are both made of insulating materials.

[0016] Optionally, the external auxiliary module further comprises a water storage tank.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention include at least:

[0018] (1) The present invention modularly integrates a high-efficiency drainage fuel cell, a water and gas management island, and a high-efficiency exhaust water electrolysis cell into a renewable fuel cell module, thereby reducing a set of auxiliary components such as end plates and insulating plates between the fuel cell and the water electrolysis cell, and also reducing two sets of gas-water separation components and related pipelines outside the renewable fuel cell, thereby greatly improving the system integration and reducing the system volume and weight.

[0019] (2) The present invention adopts an active water-gas management method of gas-liquid circulation, so that the product water or oxygen can quickly leave the reaction interface, ensuring that the reaction proceeds continuously and stably, avoiding the risk of water flooding or bubble coverage that is easily caused by the passive water-gas management method, resulting in a reduction in reaction sites, reduced operating efficiency, or even shutdown. In addition, the active water-gas management method of gas-liquid circulation can operate stably under both low and high current densities, and has a wider power operating range than renewable fuel cells with passive water-gas management methods.

[0020] (3) The present invention adopts a split fuel cell and a water electrolyzer. Under the premise of high integration and small volume, the fuel cell and the water electrolyzer can be designed to be decoupled. According to the different power requirements of power generation and water electrolysis, the number of fuel cell units and water electrolyzer units can be flexibly configured, thereby avoiding the problem that the power generation and water electrolysis of the integrated renewable fuel cell cannot be decoupled due to the number of units in the same group. In addition, the split fuel cell and the water electrolyzer each work in a single mode, and have low tolerance requirements for materials such as catalysts and proton membranes, so that the operating life of the renewable fuel cell system of the present invention is longer and the efficiency is higher than that of the integrated renewable fuel cell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of a renewable fuel cell system with a water and gas management island according to the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of a fuel cell unit of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of the partitioned cathode plate of the fuel cell of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the water and gas management island of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of mass transfer and storage using a renewable fuel cell system with a water and gas management island according to the present invention.

[0026] Among them, 1-fuel cell, 2-water and gas management island, 3-water electrolyzer, 4-hydrogen storage tank, 5-hydrogen optional pump, 6-oxygen storage tank, 7-oxygen optional pump, 8-water storage tank, 9-water pump, 11-fuel cell end plate, 12-fuel cell insulation plate, 13-fuel cell front conductive plate, 14-fuel cell core, 15-fuel cell rear conductive plate, 141-fuel cell partitioned cathode plate, 142-fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, 143-fuel cell partitioned anode plate, 21-gas plate, 22-liquid plate, 22a-permeable plate, 31-water electrolyzer rear conductive plate , 32-water electrolyzer core, 33-water electrolyzer front conductive plate, 34-water electrolyzer insulating plate, 35-water electrolyzer end plate, 111-fuel cell oxygen inlet, 112-fuel cell oxygen outlet, 113-fuel cell hydrogen inlet, 114-fuel cell hydrogen outlet, 115-fuel cell cooling inlet, 116-fuel cell cooling outlet, 351-water electrolyzer inlet, 352-water electrolyzer outlet, 353-water electrolyzer oxygen outlet a, 354-water electrolyzer oxygen outlet b, 355-water electrolyzer hydrogen outlet a, 356-water electrolyzer hydrogen outlet b. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The technical solution of the present invention is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a renewable fuel cell system with a water and gas management island, comprising: a renewable fuel cell module and an external auxiliary module; the renewable fuel cell module comprises a fuel cell 1, a water and gas management island 2, and a water electrolysis cell 3 stacked in series; the external auxiliary module comprises a hydrogen / oxygen circulation component, a liquid water circulation component, and a hydrogen / oxygen storage tank. The fuel cell 1 comprises a fuel cell end plate 11, a fuel cell insulating plate 12, a current collector (i.e., a fuel cell front conductive plate 13 and a fuel cell rear conductive plate 15), and a plurality of fuel cell units, such as Figure 2 As shown, the fuel cell unit comprises a fuel cell partitioned cathode plate 141, a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly 142, and a fuel cell partitioned anode plate 143 which are stacked in sequence, wherein the fuel cell partitioned cathode plate 141 and the fuel cell anode plate 143 constitute a fuel cell bipolar plate assembly, and the fuel cell bipolar plate assembly and the fuel cell membrane electrode assembly 142 are alternately stacked to form a fuel cell stack core 14. The fuel cell further comprises a fuel cell oxygen inlet 111, a fuel cell oxygen outlet 112, a fuel cell hydrogen inlet 113, a fuel cell hydrogen outlet 114, a fuel cell cooling inlet 115, and a fuel cell cooling outlet 116.

[0029] like Figure 3 As shown, the partitioned cathode plate 141 of the fuel cell has parallel flow channels a1, a2, and a3 that are not interconnected in the partitions, wherein the solid arrow is the flow direction of oxygen in the partitioned cathode plate 141 of the fuel cell, and the dotted arrow is the flow direction of oxygen in the gas plate 21 in the water gas management island 2.

[0030] like Figure 1 , 4 As shown, the water and gas management island 2 includes a plurality of gas plates 21, liquid plates 22, and water-permeable plates 22a stacked in sequence. The liquid water in the gas plate 21 can be separated into the liquid plate 22 through the water-permeable plate 22a. The fuel cell partitioned cathode plate 141 and the gas plate 21 are used to realize multiple separations of the cathode reaction product water of the fuel cell unit, effectively avoiding the occurrence of flooding. Among them, the gas plate 21 includes a gas cavity, and the gas cavity connects the parallel flow channels in the fuel cell partitioned cathode plate 141 in series. The liquid plate 22 includes a gas-liquid separation chamber, a baffle, and a liquid cavity. During the circulation of liquid water, bubbles are collected and discharged into the oxygen channel through the exhaust hole. Because the fuel cell and the water electrolysis cell each have a positive and negative electrode, in order to avoid the influence and short circuit between the electrodes, the materials of the gas plate 21 and the liquid plate 22 are both insulating materials.

[0031] The water electrolysis cell 3 comprises a water electrolysis cell end plate 35, a water electrolysis cell insulating plate 34, a current collecting plate (i.e., a water electrolysis cell front conductive plate 33 and a water electrolysis cell rear conductive plate 31), and a plurality of water electrolysis cell units stacked in sequence, wherein the water electrolysis cell unit comprises a water electrolysis cell partitioned anode plate, a water electrolysis cell electrode assembly, and a water electrolysis cell cathode plate. The water electrolysis cell partitioned anode plate has parallel flow channels that are not interconnected in partitions. The water electrolysis cell 3 also comprises a water electrolysis cell inlet 351, a water electrolysis cell outlet 352, a water electrolysis cell oxygen outlet a353, a water electrolysis cell oxygen outlet b354, a water electrolysis cell hydrogen outlet a355, and a water electrolysis cell hydrogen outlet b356.

[0032] like Figure 5 As shown, the connection between the external auxiliary module and the renewable fuel cell module is a system integration project. Each component is connected to the renewable fuel cell module through a pipeline for system integration. The external auxiliary module includes a hydrogen / oxygen circulation component, a water pump, a hydrogen / oxygen storage tank, and a water storage tank. Specifically, it includes a hydrogen storage tank 4, an optional hydrogen pump 5, an oxygen storage tank 6, an optional oxygen pump 7, a water storage tank 8, and a water pump 9. The structure and medium transfer direction of the water electrolyzer 3 are similar to those of the fuel cell 1. The separation, collection, and transfer of the product water of the fuel cell 1 to the anode of the water electrolyzer 3 are realized through the water and gas management island 2, and the material transfer and storage are realized through the external auxiliary module (hydrogen storage tank 4, optional hydrogen pump 5, oxygen storage tank 6, optional oxygen pump 7, water storage tank 8, water pump 9).

[0033] In summary, a renewable fuel cell system with a water and gas management island of the present invention comprises: a renewable fuel cell module and an external auxiliary module; the renewable fuel cell module comprises a high-efficiency drainage fuel cell, a water and gas management island, and a high-efficiency exhaust water electrolysis cell stacked in series; the external auxiliary module comprises a hydrogen / oxygen circulation unit component, a water pump, a hydrogen / oxygen storage tank, and a water storage tank. The high-efficiency drainage fuel cell, the water and gas management island, and the high-efficiency exhaust water electrolysis cell are integrated into one, which greatly improves the system's integration and reduces the system's volume and weight. The renewable fuel cell system with a water and gas management island of the present invention has reliable operation, a wide power range, flexible configuration, and a long life, and is suitable for micro and medium-to-large renewable fuel cell energy systems.

[0034] Although the content of the present invention has been described in detail through the above preferred embodiments, it should be appreciated that the above description should not be considered as a limitation of the present invention. After reading the above content, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and substitutions of the present invention will occur. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be limited by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A renewable fuel cell system with a water and gas management island, characterized in that: Includes: Renewable fuel cell module and external auxiliary module; The renewable fuel cell module comprises a high-efficiency drainage fuel cell, a water and gas management island, and a high-efficiency exhaust water electrolysis cell stacked in series; The external auxiliary module includes a hydrogen / oxygen circulation component, a water pump, a hydrogen / oxygen storage tank, and a water storage tank.

2. The renewable fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein: The high-efficiency drainage fuel cell comprises: an end plate, an insulating plate, a current collecting plate, and a plurality of fuel cell units; the fuel cell unit comprises a fuel cell partitioned cathode plate, a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, and a fuel cell partitioned anode plate stacked in sequence.

3. The renewable fuel cell system according to claim 2, wherein: The partitioned cathode plate of the fuel cell has parallel flow channels that are not interconnected.

4. The renewable fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein: The high-efficiency exhaust water electrolysis cell comprises: an end plate, an insulating plate, a current collecting plate, and a plurality of water electrolysis cell units; the water electrolysis cell units comprise a water electrolysis cell partitioned anode plate, a water electrolysis cell membrane electrode assembly, and a water electrolysis cell cathode plate.

5. The renewable fuel cell system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The partitioned anode plate of the water electrolysis cell has parallel flow channels that are not interconnected.

6. The renewable fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein: The water and gas management island comprises: a plurality of gas plates, a liquid plate, and a gas-blocking and water-permeable component. Liquid water in the gas plate can be separated into the liquid plate through the gas-blocking and water-permeable component.

7. The regenerative fuel cell system according to claim 6, wherein: The gas plate comprises a gas cavity, and the gas cavity connects the parallel flow channels in the partitioned cathode plate of the fuel cell in series from end to end.

8. The renewable fuel cell system according to claim 6, wherein: The liquid plate comprises a gas-liquid separation chamber, a baffle, and a liquid cavity, and collects bubbles during the circulation of liquid water and discharges them into the oxygen channel through the exhaust holes.

9. The renewable fuel cell system according to claim 6, wherein: The gas plate and the liquid plate are both made of insulating materials.

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