Hydrogen physiotherapy system based on fuel cell

Abstract

The invention discloses a hydrogen physiotherapy system based on a fuel cell, and relates to the technical field of fuel cells, the fuel cell comprises a pool body, a power grid subsystem and a fuel cell subsystem, the pool body is provided with a cavity capable of accommodating pool water and is used for physiotherapy; the power grid subsystem is used for supplying power to electric equipment around the pool body; the fuel cell subsystem comprises an electric pile, the electric pile is provided with an electric energy output terminal and an anode exhaust port, the electric energy output terminal is electrically connected with the power grid subsystem and is used for supplying power to the power grid subsystem, and the anode exhaust port is communicated with the cavity and is used for introducing excessive hydrogen in the electric pile into pool water; the hydrogen-rich water is formed. According to the technical scheme provided by the invention, by arranging the fuel cell subsystem, excessive hydrogen in an electric pile is reasonably applied, and meanwhile, electric energy can be provided for the power grid subsystem, so that the energy utilization rate is improved, and the operation cost is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fuel cell technology, and in particular to a hydrogen therapy system based on a fuel cell. Background Technology

[0002] Hydrogen-rich water, or water with dissolved hydrogen, has gained attention from various industries in recent years due to its potential therapeutic benefits. For example, many spas offer hydrogen-rich water baths. Immersing in hydrogen-rich water can improve endurance, alleviate oxidative stress from exercise, and slow down skin aging.

[0003] The hydrogen therapy systems currently used in spas typically involve directly introducing hydrogen from storage tanks into the pool to create hydrogen-rich water through physical dissolution, or introducing electrolyzed water into the pool as hydrogen-rich water. No measures have been taken to improve energy efficiency and operating costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to propose a hydrogen therapy system based on a fuel cell, which aims to solve the problems of low energy utilization and high operating costs of existing hydrogen therapy systems.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes a hydrogen therapy system based on a fuel cell, comprising:

[0006] The pool body has a cavity that can hold pool water and is used for physiotherapy;

[0007] A power grid subsystem for supplying power to electrical equipment surrounding the pool; and,

[0008] The fuel cell subsystem includes a stack having an electrical output terminal and an anode exhaust port. The electrical output terminal is electrically connected to the power grid subsystem to supply power to the power grid subsystem. The anode exhaust port is connected to the cavity to allow excess hydrogen gas inside the stack to be introduced into the pool water to form hydrogen-rich water.

[0009] In one embodiment, the fuel cell stack further includes a drain outlet connected to the cavity for discharging the product water generated within the fuel cell stack into the pool water.

[0010] In one embodiment, the fuel cell subsystem further includes a coolant circulation pipe having an absorbent section for exchanging heat with the fuel cell stack and a release section for exchanging heat with the pool body. The absorbent section is used to cool the fuel cell stack, and the release section is used to heat the pool water in the pool body.

[0011] In one embodiment, the fuel cell-based hydrogen therapy system further includes a micro-nano bubble generator. The air inlet of the micro-nano bubble generator is connected to the anode exhaust port, and the liquid inlet and liquid outlet are both connected to the cavity, for mixing hydrogen with pool water and then introducing it into the cavity.

[0012] In one embodiment, the hydrogen solubility of the pool water in the pool body is controlled between 0.8 ppm and 1.2 ppm.

[0013] In one embodiment, the fuel cell-based hydrogen therapy system further includes a dissolved hydrogen sensor disposed in the cavity for detecting the solubility of hydrogen in the pool water.

[0014] In one embodiment, the fuel cell subsystem further includes a drainage treatment subsystem, which includes a drainage pipe with one end connected to the drain outlet and the other end connected to the cavity, and a deionizer and / or ultrafiltration membrane and / or activated carbon disposed in the drainage pipe.

[0015] In one embodiment, the stack is configured as a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack.

[0016] In one embodiment, the fuel cell subsystem further includes an air supply subsystem, which includes an air supply duct connected to the cathode inlet of the fuel cell stack, and an air filter, an air compressor, and an intercooler sequentially disposed in the air supply duct for processing the air.

[0017] In one embodiment, the fuel cell subsystem further includes a hydrogen supply subsystem, which includes a hydrogen supply pipeline connected to the anode inlet of the fuel cell stack, and a hydrogen storage tank and a valve sequentially disposed in the hydrogen supply pipeline.

[0018] The technical solution in this invention achieves a breakthrough based on traditional water bath facilities by innovatively introducing a fuel cell subsystem. Specifically, the fuel cell subsystem includes a fuel cell stack with an electrical output terminal and an anode exhaust port. The electrical output terminal is electrically connected to the power grid subsystem to supply power to it. The anode exhaust port is connected to the cavity to allow excess hydrogen from the fuel cell stack to be introduced into the pool water, creating hydrogen-rich water. By incorporating this fuel cell subsystem, not only are the needs of hydrogen-rich hydrotherapy in water bath facilities met, but the system can also supply power to the power grid subsystem. Furthermore, due to the rational utilization of excess hydrogen in the fuel cell stack, there is no need for pipelines to recover excess hydrogen, simplifying the structure and thus achieving a hydrogen therapy system with high energy utilization and low operating costs. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the hydrogen therapy system based on a fuel cell provided by the present invention.

[0021] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0022] 100. Fuel Cell-Based Hydrogen Therapy System; 1. Fuel Cell Body; 2. Power Grid Subsystem; 3. Fuel Cell Subsystem; 31. Fuel Stack; 311. Power Output Terminal; 312. Anode Exhaust Port; 313. Drainage Outlet; 32. Drainage Treatment Subsystem; 321. Drainage Pipeline; 33. Coolant Circulation Pipeline; 331. Heat Absorption Section; 332. Heat Release Section; 34. Air Supply Subsystem; 341. Air Supply Pipeline; 342. Air Filter; 343. Air Compressor; 344. Intercooler; 35. Hydrogen Supply Subsystem; 351. Hydrogen Supply Pipeline; 352. Hydrogen Storage Tank; 353. Valve; 4. Micro / Nano Bubble Generator; 5. Dissolved Hydrogen Sensor.

[0023] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indications are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0026] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0027] Using hydrogen-rich water in hydrotherapy has many benefits.

[0028] 1. Antioxidant effect: Hydrogen molecules are lightweight molecules that can easily penetrate cell membranes and enter the cell interior, including key areas such as mitochondria and the cell nucleus. Studies have shown that hydrogen molecules can selectively neutralize harmful reactive oxygen species (such as hydroxyl radicals) without affecting other reactive oxygen species with important physiological functions (such as hydrogen peroxide). This selective antioxidant property helps reduce oxidative stress and alleviate symptoms of various diseases caused by oxidative damage.

[0029] 2. Anti-inflammatory effect: By reducing the production of inflammatory mediators and inhibiting inflammatory response pathways, hydrogen molecules can alleviate chronic inflammatory states. This is particularly beneficial for relieving problems such as arthritis and skin inflammation.

[0030] 3. Promotes tissue recovery: For athletes or people undergoing rehabilitation, using hydrogen-rich water for hydrotherapy can help accelerate the muscle fatigue recovery process and may reduce the occurrence of muscle soreness after exercise.

[0031] 4. Improves skin condition: Studies have shown that hydrogen-rich water baths may improve skin's moisturizing ability, increase skin elasticity, and combat skin aging caused by ultraviolet rays. Therefore, in the beauty industry, hydrogen-rich water is also considered a valuable skincare ingredient.

[0032] Based on the aforementioned effects of hydrogen-rich water, hydrogen-rich water therapy services have been widely sought after by consumers. However, due to the high operating costs and low economic benefits of existing hydrogen therapy systems, many bathhouses lack the capacity to provide hydrogen therapy services and cannot meet the growing demand from consumers.

[0033] The main objective of this invention is to propose a hydrogen therapy system based on a fuel cell, which aims to solve the problems of low energy utilization and high operating costs of existing hydrogen therapy systems.

[0034] To achieve the above objectives, please refer to Figure 1 This invention proposes a hydrogen therapy system 100 based on a fuel cell, comprising a pool body 1, a power grid subsystem 2, and a fuel cell subsystem 3. The pool body 1 has a cavity capable of containing pool water for therapy purposes. The power grid subsystem 2 is used to supply power to electrical equipment around the pool body 1. The fuel cell subsystem 3 includes a fuel cell stack 31, which has an energy output terminal 311 and an anode exhaust port 312. The energy output terminal 311 is electrically connected to the power grid subsystem 2 to supply power to the power grid subsystem 2. The anode exhaust port 312 is connected to the cavity to allow excess hydrogen gas from inside the fuel cell stack 31 to be introduced into the pool water to form hydrogen-rich water.

[0035] The technical solution of this invention achieves a breakthrough based on traditional water bath facilities by innovatively introducing a fuel cell subsystem 3. Specifically, the fuel cell subsystem 3 includes a fuel cell stack 31, which has an energy output terminal 311 and an anode exhaust port 312. The energy output terminal 311 is electrically connected to the power grid subsystem 2 to supply power to it. The anode exhaust port 312 is connected to the cavity to allow excess hydrogen gas from the fuel cell stack 31 to be introduced into the pool water to form hydrogen-rich water. By setting up the fuel cell subsystem 3, not only are the needs of hydrogen-rich hydrotherapy in water bath facilities met, but the power grid subsystem 2 can also be powered. Furthermore, because the excess hydrogen gas in the fuel cell stack 31 is rationally utilized, there is no need to set up pipelines to recover excess hydrogen gas, simplifying the structure and thus realizing a hydrogen therapy system with high energy utilization and low operating costs.

[0036] Logically, the application scenario of this solution is generally in a bathhouse. Therefore, the power grid subsystem 2 can be understood as the power grid of the bathhouse, and the electrical equipment around the pool 1 can be understood as all the electrical equipment in the bathhouse, such as lights, heating equipment to maintain water temperature, etc.

[0037] It is worth mentioning that the hydrogen-rich water in this solution is obtained by directly mixing hydrogen with water through a physical dissolution method. Specifically, in one embodiment of this solution, the fuel cell-based hydrogen therapy system 100 further includes a micro / nano bubble generator 4. The air inlet of the micro / nano bubble generator 4 is connected to the anode exhaust port 312, and both the liquid inlet and outlet are connected to the cavity, used to mix hydrogen with pool water and then introduce it into the cavity. The micro / nano bubble generator 4 is a device capable of generating tiny bubbles with diameters in the micrometer and nanometer range. By dispersing hydrogen into micro / nano bubbles and injecting them into the water, the hydrogen solubility is improved because these micro / nano bubbles have a large specific surface area and a low rising velocity, allowing them to remain in the water for a longer time. This solution, by using the micro / nano bubble generator 4, prepares hydrogen-rich water with high efficiency and meets the hydrogen solubility requirements for hydrogen-rich hydrotherapy.

[0038] Furthermore, the hydrogen solubility of the pool water in pool 1 is controlled between 0.8 ppm and 1.2 ppm. Here, ppm is an abbreviation for "parts per million," a unit used to express extremely low concentrations. By controlling the hydrogen solubility between 0.8 ppm and 1.2 ppm, the pool water can have good antioxidant and fatigue-reducing therapeutic effects. Furthermore, at this concentration, long-term immersion will not cause harm to the human body. Simultaneously, within this concentration range, hydrogen-rich water exhibits strong stability, and hydrogen does not easily dissipate rapidly, reducing waste.

[0039] To further improve energy utilization, in one embodiment of the present invention, the fuel cell stack 31 further includes a drain outlet 313, which is connected to the cavity and used to channel the product water generated in the fuel cell stack 31 into the pool water. It is understood that the product water is the water generated after the chemical reaction in the fuel cell stack 31. By discharging the product water into the pool 1, waste of the product water is avoided, further reducing operating costs.

[0040] Furthermore, the fuel cell subsystem 3 also includes a drainage treatment subsystem 32. The drainage treatment subsystem 32 includes a drainage pipe 321 connected at one end to the drain outlet 313 and at the other end to the cavity. It also includes a deionizer, an ultrafiltration membrane, and activated carbon disposed within the drainage pipe 321. With this configuration, the product water can be fully purified by the deionizer, ultrafiltration membrane, and activated carbon, thereby ensuring the water quality of the pool water. Furthermore, the product water after the above filtration does not require traditional chlorine disinfection, reducing pollution, providing convenience and speed, lowering costs, and improving the treatment efficiency of the pool water.

[0041] It is worth mentioning that the deionizer, ultrafiltration membrane and activated carbon mentioned above can be selected individually or installed simultaneously. In a preferred embodiment of this solution, the simultaneous installation method is adopted to ensure the water quality of the pool water.

[0042] To further improve energy utilization, in one embodiment of the present invention, the fuel cell subsystem 3 further includes a coolant circulation pipe 33. The coolant circulation pipe 33 has a heat-absorbing section 331 for heat exchange with the fuel cell stack 31 and a heat-releasing section 332 for heat exchange with the pool body 1. The heat-absorbing section 331 is used to cool the fuel cell stack 31, and the heat-releasing section 332 is used to heat the pool water in the pool body 1. With this configuration, the coolant cools the fuel cell stack 31 and then transfers the heat back to the pool water, thereby achieving heat recovery from the fuel cell stack 31 and simultaneously cooling the fuel cell stack 31 and heating the pool water, greatly improving energy utilization. Furthermore, this circulation pipe structure is simple, replacing traditional cooling towers and air-cooled structures, thus reducing costs.

[0043] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fuel cell-based hydrogen therapy system 100 further includes a dissolved hydrogen sensor 5, which is disposed in the cavity and used to detect the hydrogen solubility in the pool water. By setting the dissolved hydrogen sensor 5 to monitor the hydrogen solubility in the pool water in real time, the hydrogen concentration can be adjusted according to the actual situation to keep it within a reasonable range, avoiding excessively high concentrations that may cause harm to the human body, or excessively low concentrations that may not achieve the expected therapeutic effect.

[0044] It is worth mentioning that the fuel cell stack 31 is a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell directly generates electricity through the electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. It has advantages such as high efficiency, rapid start-up capability, low operating temperature, and compact layout, making it particularly suitable for hydrogen therapy systems. Many proton exchange membrane fuel cell stacks are available on the market, such as the Xiongtao Hydrogen Rui A1-H series stack, which can be directly applied to this solution.

[0045] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fuel cell subsystem 3 further includes an air supply subsystem 34. The air supply subsystem 34 includes an air supply duct 341 connected to the cathode inlet of the fuel cell stack 31, and further includes an air filter 342, an air compressor 343, and an intercooler 344 sequentially disposed in the air supply duct 341 for air treatment. This configuration achieves oxygen supply to the fuel cell stack 31 in a simple structural form, meeting the oxygen concentration requirements of the fuel cell stack 31 while reducing costs.

[0046] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fuel cell subsystem 3 further includes a hydrogen supply subsystem 35, which includes a hydrogen supply pipeline 351 connected to the anode inlet of the fuel cell stack 31, and a hydrogen storage tank 352 and a valve 353 sequentially disposed on the hydrogen supply pipeline 351. This arrangement achieves hydrogen supply to the fuel cell stack 31 in a simple structural form, meeting the hydrogen concentration requirements of the fuel cell stack 31 while reducing costs.

[0047] This solution overcomes the pain points of high energy consumption, high pollution, and limited functionality in the operation of traditional swimming pools / baths / hydrogen therapy equipment through a multi-dimensional closed-loop design encompassing energy, water quality, and resources. It achieves breakthroughs in three aspects: environmental benefits, economic value, and technological barriers. By integrating fuel cell waste heat utilization, water purification, and hydrogen molecule applications across different fields, it forms a unique competitive advantage. It not only solves the problems of traditional swimming pools being "expensive, polluting, and functionally limited," but also transforms the "cost center" into a "value center" through technological innovation—creating new profit points on the basis of environmental protection and energy conservation. Simultaneously meeting the needs of policy, market, and users, it combines technical feasibility, commercial viability, and social value, making it the optimal solution for upgrading application scenarios to "low-carbon, intelligent, and high-end" levels.

[0048] Calculations show that, taking a swimming pool measuring 25 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 1.5 meters deep (with a volume of 750 cubic meters) as an example, the traditional method would cost 360 yuan per day for electricity (based on 600 kWh), 920 yuan for disinfection, and 8,000 yuan for water, totaling approximately 515,200 yuan per year. In contrast, this solution only requires 180 yuan per day for electricity (based on 600 kWh), with approximately 0 yuan for disinfection and 0 yuan for water. Even without considering the cost of equipment and raw materials, the annual cost is approximately 65,700 yuan, demonstrating the significant economic benefits of this solution.

[0049] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention's specification and drawings under the technical concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hydrogen therapy system based on a fuel cell, characterized in that, include: The pool body has a cavity that can hold pool water and is used for physiotherapy; A power grid subsystem is used to supply power to electrical equipment around the pool. as well as, The fuel cell subsystem includes a stack having an electrical output terminal and an anode exhaust port. The electrical output terminal is electrically connected to the power grid subsystem to supply power to the power grid subsystem. The anode exhaust port is connected to the cavity to allow excess hydrogen gas inside the stack to be introduced into the pool water to form hydrogen-rich water.

2. The fuel cell-based hydrogen therapy system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The fuel cell stack also includes a drain outlet, which is connected to the cavity and is used to pass the product water generated in the fuel cell stack into the pool water.

3. The fuel cell-based hydrogen therapy system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The fuel cell subsystem further includes a drainage treatment subsystem, which includes a drainage pipe with one end connected to the drain outlet and the other end connected to the cavity, and also includes a deionizer and / or ultrafiltration membrane and / or activated carbon disposed in the drainage pipe.

4. The fuel cell-based hydrogen therapy system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The fuel cell subsystem further includes a coolant circulation pipe, which has an absorbent section for exchanging heat with the fuel cell stack and a release section for exchanging heat with the pool body. The absorbent section is used to cool the fuel cell stack, and the release section is used to heat the pool water in the pool body.

5. The fuel cell-based hydrogen therapy system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The fuel cell-based hydrogen therapy system also includes a micro-nano bubble generator. The air inlet of the micro-nano bubble generator is connected to the anode exhaust port, and the liquid inlet and outlet are both connected to the cavity, which is used to mix hydrogen with pool water and then introduce it into the cavity.

6. The fuel cell-based hydrogen therapy system as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The hydrogen solubility in the pool water is controlled between 0.8 ppm and 1.2 ppm.

7. The fuel cell-based hydrogen therapy system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The fuel cell-based hydrogen therapy system also includes a dissolved hydrogen sensor, which is located in the cavity and is used to detect the hydrogen solubility in the pool water.

8. The fuel cell-based hydrogen therapy system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The stack is configured as a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack.

9. The fuel cell-based hydrogen therapy system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The fuel cell subsystem also includes an air supply subsystem, which includes an air supply duct connected to the cathode inlet of the fuel cell stack, and an air filter, an air compressor, and an intercooler arranged sequentially in the air supply duct for processing the air.

10. The fuel cell-based hydrogen therapy system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The fuel cell subsystem also includes a hydrogen supply subsystem, which includes a hydrogen supply pipeline connected to the anode inlet of the fuel cell stack, and a hydrogen storage tank and valves sequentially disposed in the hydrogen supply pipeline.

Images