Blower for a fuel cell assembly for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, fuel cell assembly, vehicle

Abstract

Blower (1) for a fuel cell arrangement (205) for a vehicle (200a), in particular a commercial vehicle (200b); wherein the blower (1) for recirculating a gas mixture (40) used for the operation of the fuel cell arrangement (205) comprises a drive motor (7, 8, 9) with a motor shaft (7) defining an axis (A), a rotor (9) coupled to the motor shaft (7), and a stator (8) arranged radially outside the rotor (9); the blower (1) comprises a main housing (2) within which the drive motor (7, 8, 9) is arranged; the main housing (2) comprises an outer surface (2c) with cooling fins (2b); the cooling fins (2b) project outwards from the outer surface (2c) and from the main housing (2) and are designed for air cooling; and the blower (1) has a fuel channel (30) formed between the rotor (9) and the outer surface (2c) as a heat exchanger (25) for conveying fuel (46).

Description

The disclosure relates to a blower for a fuel cell arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle. The disclosure also relates to a fuel cell arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, comprising a fuel cell stack that can be supplied with a gas mixture on the anode side and a blower, and to a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, comprising a fuel cell arrangement. Such blowers for fuel cell arrays are known from the prior art. A fuel cell array of this type comprises a fuel cell system with galvanic cells that can be used to convert chemical energy into electrical energy. The electrical energy is generated from a so-called fuel cell reaction, a chemical reaction between a supplied fuel, for example hydrogen, and an oxidant, usually oxygen. To increase energy yield, several cells or fuel cells can be combined to form a fuel cell stack. In addition to the fuel cell stack, the fuel cell array typically includes other components, such as a compressor for supplying the fuel cell stack with the oxidant, for example air, on the cathode side. For fuel cell systems, especially for mobile applications with different operating points, such as vehicles, particularly commercial vehicles, it is useful to incorporate recirculation of a gas mixture containing the fuel in the anode path. The aim is to return fuel not consumed through chemical reactions, especially electrolysis, to the system, to remove harmful gases, such as nitrogen (also known as "purging"), and / or to allow purging of the fuel cell stack to prevent and / or remove liquid and / or water accumulation. Recirculation can be implemented passively and / or actively. Active recirculation means that a blower is used to circulate the fuel or gas mixture within the anode path according to the operating points and other requirements. If an active recirculation fan is also used, it must be cooled, as operating the recirculation fan generates heat. Cooling the recirculation fan can be achieved through water cooling. Fuel cell arrangements typically also include a fuel preheater, in particular a hydrogen preheater, to adapt the fuel, which is typically cooler from a fuel reservoir, to the required operating conditions of the fuel cell system and, in particular, to heat the fuel. The heating of the fuel and the cooling of the recirculation blower can take place in different parts of the system. US 2008 / 318093 A1 relates to a hydrogen return device for a fuel cell vehicle, the device comprising: a fuel cell stack with an inlet and an outlet; a hydrogen return blower; a hydrogen return line connecting the outlet of the fuel cell stack and the hydrogen return blower to return residual hydrogen discharged from the fuel cell outlet; a water separator provided in the hydrogen return line at a position between the hydrogen return blower and the outlet of the fuel cell stack, the water separator serving to separate condensate generated in the hydrogen return line;and a humidifier / heat exchanger for humidifying and heat-exchanging dry hydrogen flowing through the low-pressure regulator and recirculated hydrogen flowing through the hydrogen recirculation fan, wherein the humidifier / heat exchanger uses the condensate flowing from the water separator as a moisture source, wherein the water heat-exchanged with hydrogen by the humidifier / heat exchanger is reused to cool the hydrogen recirculation fan, and the water used in the hydrogen recirculation fan, the temperature of which is increased by the operation of the hydrogen recirculation fan, is mixed with water flowing from the water separator before being introduced into the humidifier / heat exchanger. Furthermore, it is known to use hydrogen directly to cool the blower, thereby heating the hydrogen. US 2009 / 014149 A1 relates to a device for cooling a hydrogen recirculation blower for a fuel cell vehicle, the device comprising: a blower housing with an inlet and outlet for hydrogen recirculation provided in a front part thereof, and an impeller and a motor for driving the hydrogen recirculation blower provided therein; a cooling channel through which hydrogen is supplied to the blower housing to provide heat exchange provided on the blower housing; and a hydrogen supply line through which hydrogen is supplied to the cooling channel to cool the motor, branching off from a hydrogen supply line and connected to the blower housing. Cooling fins are also provided within the cooling channel so that the hydrogen supplied to the cooling channel cools the cooling fins, which are heated by the heat generated by the motor. However, arranging the cooling fins within the cooling channel results in a comparatively complex structure, less-than-ideal use of installation space, and / or a comparatively long thermal path from the hydrogen to, for example, the stator of the blower, which needs cooling and generates heat. Furthermore, this arrangement can create an outer surface for the cooling channel that borders the blower's surroundings, potentially increasing the risk of damage, such as leaks, from mechanical impacts. Against the background of this prior art, one object of the present disclosure is to provide a blower for a fuel cell arrangement of a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, which is suitable for enriching the prior art and improving at least the aforementioned aspects of the prior art. In particular, it is the object of the disclosure to provide an improved blower with an advantageous means of heat exchange with a fuel. The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims contain further developments of the disclosure. The problem is then solved according to one aspect of the disclosure by a blower for a fuel cell arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle; wherein the blower for recirculating a gas mixture used for operating the fuel cell arrangement comprises a drive motor with a motor shaft defining an axis, a rotor coupled to the motor shaft and a stator arranged radially outside the rotor; the blower comprises a main housing within which the drive motor is arranged; the main housing has an outer surface with cooling fins; the cooling fins project outwards from the outer surface and from the main housing and are configured for air cooling; and the blower comprises a fuel channel designed as a heat exchanger between the rotor and the outer surface for conveying fuel. It was recognized that cooling via cooling fins, also called housing fins, can be improved, supplemented, and / or replaced by using the fuel, for example, hydrogen, as a coolant and by routing the fuel through the fuel channel, which is designed as a heat exchanger. In this way, the fuel can be fed directly through the blower via the fuel channel for heat exchange. A separate heat exchanger and water cooling are therefore unnecessary, allowing the blower to be designed to be comparatively compact and space-efficient. Furthermore, it is proposed that the fuel channel run between the rotor and the outer surface. This allows the cooling of the blower by ambient air via the cooling fins to be supplemented by heat exchange with the fuel, resulting in more effective and / or direct cooling, particularly of the stator, thereby increasing the power density of the drive motor. The arrangement of the fuel channel can also have a positive impact on the use of installation space and reduce the risk of leaks, for example, due to mechanical influences. The heat exchange for cooling the blower also warms the fuel. This allows the fuel to be at least partially preconditioned for use in the fuel system, and in particular, tempered or heated. Combining blower cooling with fuel preheating can reduce the complexity of the fuel cell assembly, i.e., the overall system. This eliminates the need for a separate fuel preheater, or, if the transferred heat is insufficient, a preheater can be integrated, for example, on the blower, but due to the preheating of the fuel already achieved, it can be smaller and more cost-effective. Due to the significant cooling effect of the fuel compared to pure air cooling, which is primarily due to the comparatively low inlet temperature of the fuel in the fuel channel compared to the system temperature of the blower, advective and / or convective passive air cooling via the cooling fins can be supported and / or active cooling of the blower can be dimensioned smaller and more cost-effectively. In other words, the heat exchanger or fuel channel enables fuel coming from a fuel reservoir to be preheated to a temperature suitable for the fuel cell system and cools the blower and, in particular, the drive motor. The blower can be used to recirculate a gas mixture associated with an anode region of the fuel cell assembly. The gas mixture can contain hydrogen as fuel. It can also contain other components, particularly those resulting from the reaction of hydrogen in the anode region of the fuel cell assembly. The gas mixture can contain water, which is a byproduct of the hydrogen reaction. The gas mixture can be passed through the anode region of the fuel cell assembly. The blower can be operated by the drive motor, which can be an electric motor. The electric motor can be a brushless motor. The drive motor can be a media-gap motor. In this case, the medium conveyed by the blower, in particular the gas mixture used in the fuel cell arrangement, can be conveyed through an annular channel. The disclosure allows water cooling of the blower to be dispensed with, especially when using a media-gap motor. A blower impeller coupled to the motor shaft is designed to convey the gas mixture when the impeller rotates. The blower impeller may have an arrangement of blades distributed around its circumference. By rotating the impeller, the gas mixture can be conveyed based on a corresponding pumping action. The blower impeller can convey the gas mixture radially due to its rotation. Optionally, the main housing features a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet; the fuel channel runs between these inlets and outlets within the main housing. This allows the fuel channel to be positioned relatively close to the stator. The fuel inlet and outlet allow for well-defined points for the input of cooler fuel and the output of hotter fuel. The fuel channel between the inlet and outlet can be configured, for example, as cooling and / or heating coils, thus forming an effective heat exchanger; depending on the required cooling and / or heating capacity, the fuel channel can be implemented simply or as a cooling labyrinth. Optionally, the main housing has a shell; and the fuel channel runs within this shell. It was found that the stator is typically arranged radially within the shell. The fuel channel can be integrated into the shell of the main blower housing to achieve effective stator cooling through a comparatively short thermal path between the fuel channel and the stator. Optionally, the fuel channel runs inside the stator. In other words, the fuel channel can be integrated into the stator. Fuel arriving from the fuel reservoir can then be routed through the drive motor and directly absorb the heat generated at the stator. This cools the drive motor and preheats the fuel. Optionally, the stator features a laminated core, and the fuel channel is located within this core. The fuel channel can be integrated directly into the stator's laminated core. It can be sealed with a non-magnetic tube, for example, made of stainless steel, thus ensuring the integrity of the laminated core. The fuel channel's shape can vary. Alternatively, instead of the tube (liner), the fuel channel can be internally coated with a fuel-resistant material. Alternatively or additionally, the stator may include windings, with the fuel channel located between the windings and / or wound around the laminated core with the windings. This allows for direct cooling at the windings or so-called "hairpins." For this purpose, a number of hollow "wires" and / or "pins" made of fuel-resistant material can be incorporated into the copper winding.The fuel can be routed through the channels for cooling. Optionally, the fuel channel is formed from a non-magnetizable stainless steel tube and / or has a fuel-resistant coating. The fuel channel is made of a fuel-resistant material, for example, stainless steel 1.4404, and / or coated internally with a fuel-resistant material. A volume for a tube and / or the fuel channel can be cast and / or milled inside the main housing. The fuel channel can then be closed and sealed radially inwards, towards the engine side, using a tubular sleeve. Optionally, the outer surface has a mounting section at least partially free of cooling fins; the blower has power electronics arranged on the mounting section; and the heat exchanger and / or the fuel channel are designed and arranged to regulate the temperature of the power electronics. It was recognized that the power electronics, also called inverters, produce heat alongside the stator when the blower is operating. This heat can be used for heat exchange with the fuel, thus cooling the power electronics and preheating the fuel. The fuel channel or cooling channel may be formed partially by the main housing of the blower or its outer surface, and partially by a housing of the connected power electronics. Optionally, the fuel channel is arranged between the main housing and the stator. This allows the fuel channel to function as a cooling jacket between the stator and the main housing. This provides a fuel channel that is flat in the circumferential direction and comparatively shallow in the radial direction perpendicular to axis A. Such a jacket-shaped heat exchanger can thus provide a particularly large surface area for heat exchange. According to one aspect of the disclosure, a fuel cell arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, is provided, comprising a fuel cell stack that can be supplied with a gas mixture on the anode side and a blower according to the disclosure. Optionally, the blower has one or more features described as optional and / or advantageous in order to achieve an associated technical effect. The blower can be connected via appropriate piping within the fuel cell assembly to one or more fuel cell modules or fuel cell stacks in such a way that the blower can guide the gas mixture through the anode area of ​​the fuel cell assembly. The blower can also be connected to a fuel source or fuel storage system, which allows the fuel content of the recirculated gas mixture to be adjusted. The blower can be connected to a fuel cell module via a piping system within the fuel cell assembly. The blower can be designed to recirculate hydrogen-containing gas within the fuel cell assembly. In particular, the recirculation of the hydrogen-containing gas can be configured for the anode side of the fuel cell assembly. The blower can be controlled as needed via a control unit, which can take into account the operating state of the fuel cell assembly. The fuel cell assembly can also include several blowers of the type described above, which are integrated into the fuel cell assembly via corresponding piping systems. According to one aspect of the disclosure, a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, is provided, comprising a fuel cell arrangement as described in the disclosure. Optionally, the blower and / or the fuel cell arrangement has one or more features described as optional and / or advantageous in order to achieve an associated technical effect. The blower and / or fuel cell assembly can be used in a mobile application. Specifically, the blower and / or fuel cell assembly can be used in an electric vehicle, where the electrical power is generated by the fuel cell assembly and can optionally be supplied to a buffer battery or traction battery. Alternatively, the fuel cell assembly with the blower can be used in a stationary application. The blower can also be used to provide a gas flow in other applications. In particular, the blower can be used to achieve a flow through the cathode side of the fuel cell arrangement. Further features of the disclosure and their technical effects will become apparent from the figures and the description of the preferred embodiments shown in the figures. Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, according to one aspect of the disclosure; Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of components of a fuel cell arrangement according to one aspect of the disclosure; Fig. 3 shows a section of a blower according to one aspect of the disclosure; Fig. 4 shows a section of a blower according to one aspect of the disclosure; Fig. 5 shows a schematic detail of a stator of a blower according to one aspect of the disclosure; and Fig. 6 shows a schematic detail of a stator of a blower according to one aspect of the disclosure. Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 200a, in particular a commercial vehicle 200b, according to one aspect of the disclosure. Vehicle 200a, in particular commercial vehicle 200b, is hereinafter referred to as vehicle 200a, 200b. Vehicle 200a, 200b is, for example, a land vehicle or a watercraft. The vehicle 200a, 200b comprises a fuel cell assembly 205, an energy storage device 260, and an electric main drive 250. The fuel cell assembly 205 is configured to supply electrical energy 65 to the energy storage device 260. The energy storage device 260 is, for example, a rechargeable energy storage device 260 and serves as a buffer battery for storing electrical energy 65. The energy storage device 260 is also referred to as a traction battery. The energy storage device 260 is connected to the electric main drive 250 to supply the electric main drive 250 with electrical energy 65 so that the electric main drive 250 can propel the vehicle 200a, 200b. The fuel cell assembly 205 comprises a blower 1, a compressor 210, a fuel cell system 204 or a fuel cell stack 206 and optionally an expander 270. The fuel cell stack 206 has a cathode 207 and an anode 208. The blower 1 is used in a fuel cell assembly 205 in which hydrogen-containing gas 46 is circulated as a gas mixture 40 and reacts electrochemically to generate electrical energy 65. Specifically, the blower 1 is used to purge an anode region of the fuel cell stack 206 and / or to ensure a predetermined composition of the gas mixture 40 located in the anode region. More precisely, the hydrogen-containing gas mixture 40 becomes enriched with nitrogen due to the reaction. The composition of the gas mixture 40 is not directly determined by the recirculation blower itself, but can be adjusted by purging, which involves releasing nitrogen from the gas mixture 40. The blower 1 is configured to supply the anode 208 with the gas mixture 40 and thus with the fuel 46. Several blowers 1 can be used in the fuel cell assembly 205. Furthermore, the fuel cell assembly 205 generally includes a control unit (not shown) which, among other things, controls the operation of the blower 1. This includes controlling the speed of the blower 1, which allows the blower output to be adjusted. In addition, the operating state of the fuel cell assembly 205 is taken into account to determine whether or not operation of the blower 1 is necessary. If the blower 1 is not operated, the gas mixture 40 can easily pass through the blower 1 due to its design as a media-gap motor 1'.Due to the structure of the blower 1 and in particular a flow guide device 14 or a guide grid 14, it is conceivable that the separation function for separating water from the gas mixture 40 can be achieved by the flow through the blower 1, since the guide grid 14 can impart a swirl to the gas flow. The compressor 210 is configured to supply an airflow to the cathode side of the fuel cell stack 206, i.e., to the cathode 207. For this purpose, the compressor 210 is configured to be powered by electrical energy 65 in order to draw in air, compress it, and supply it to the fuel cell stack 206 as supply air 240. The expander 270 is configured to be supplied with exhaust air 245 from the fuel cell stack 206 in order to convert energy from the exhaust air 245 into electrical energy 65. The blower 1 and its features in connection with the fuel cell arrangement 205 are further described with reference to Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 to Fig. 6. Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of components of a fuel cell arrangement 205 according to one aspect of the disclosure. The fuel cell arrangement 205 of Fig. 2 is the fuel cell arrangement 205 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is described with reference to Fig. 1. The fuel cell assembly 205 has a fuel reservoir 209. Fuel 46 is stored in the fuel reservoir 209 and can be made available. In the case of hydrogen as fuel 46, the fuel reservoir 209 can also be referred to as a hydrogen tank. The blower 1 can be supplied with fuel 46 from the fuel reservoir 209. During this process, the fuel 46 can decompress or expand, which leads to a reduction in the temperature of the fuel 46 compared to the system temperature, for example, the temperature of the blower 1. The temperature of the decompressed fuel 46 is typically lower than the temperature required to supply the fuel cell stack 206. The blower 1 comprises a heat exchanger 25, a drive motor 7, 8, 9, and power electronics 20. The heat exchanger 25 is configured to be supplied with fuel 46 from the fuel reservoir 209. During operation of the blower 1, the drive motor 7, 8, 9, and the power electronics 20 generate heat. The heat exchanger 25 is configured to cool the drive motor 7, 8, 9, and the power electronics 20 by means of heat exchange with the fuel 46 coming from the fuel reservoir 209. In this process, heat is transferred from the drive motor 7, 8, 9, and the power electronics 20 to the fuel 46. The fuel 46 is heated, the temperature of the fuel 46 rises, and the drive motor 7, 8, 9 and the power electronics 20 are cooled, so heat is removed from the drive motor 7, 8, 9 and the power electronics 20. The blower 1 is further described with reference to Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 to Fig. 6. Fig. 3 shows a section of a blower 1 according to one aspect of the disclosure. The blower 1 according to Fig. 3 is a blower 1 for a fuel cell arrangement 205 for a vehicle 200a, in particular a commercial vehicle 200b. Such a blower 1 and such a vehicle 200a, 200b are each described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The blower 1 is designed to recirculate the gas mixture 40 used for operating the fuel cell arrangement 205. For this purpose, the blower 1 has a drive motor 7, 8, 9 with a motor shaft 7, a rotor 9 coupled to the motor shaft 7, and a stator 8 arranged radially outside the rotor 9. The motor shaft 7 defines an axis A, which corresponds to the axis of rotation of the motor shaft 7. A radial direction R is defined perpendicular to the axis A. The blower 1 comprises a multi-part housing (not shown) consisting of a main housing 2 and a volute component 43b. In the assembled state, the main housing 2 and the volute component 43b are mounted together. The blower 1 also includes a functional component 2a. The functional component 2a is arranged radially within the main housing 2 and forms an annular channel 10. The stator 8 is fixedly connected to the main housing 2. In the present embodiment, the rotor 9 comprises one or more permanent magnet elements 9a (only schematically indicated in Fig. 2). When energy is applied, the stator 8 generates a rotating magnetic field, so that the rotor 9 rotates about the axis A together with the motor shaft 7 when energy is applied to the stator 8. The rotor 9 is connected to the rotatable motor shaft 7, allowing the rotor 9 to rotate together with the motor shaft 7. The motor shaft 7 is rotatably supported on both sides by radial bearings 11, 12. The radial bearings 11, 12 are designed as foil bearings 11', 12'. The radial bearings 11, 12 are arranged at opposite ends of the motor shaft 7. In the assembled state, one end 7a of the motor shaft 7 extends into the volute component 43b, and the other end 7d of the motor shaft 7 extends through the functional component 2a into the main housing 2 on the inlet side. The blower 1 is designed to convey the gas mixture 40. For this purpose, the blower 1 has an inlet side 41 in the area of ​​the inlet flange 13 and an outlet side 42 in the area of ​​the volute component 43b. The main housing 2 forms an outer circumference of a main section of the blower 1 and, in the present embodiment, is essentially cylindrical, i.e., it has a substantially hollow cylindrical outer shell 2f. In the assembled state, the drive motor 7, 8, 9 is arranged radially inside the main housing 2. It comprises the radially outer stator 8, the radially inner rotor 9, and the motor shaft 7 connected to the rotor 9. In other words, the blower 1 has a main housing 2 within which the drive motor 7, 8, 9 is arranged. The main housing 2 includes the inlet flange 13 or an inlet pipe. The blower 1 has a blower impeller 5 coupled to the motor shaft 7. The blower impeller 5 is rotationally fixed to the motor shaft 7. Rotation of the motor shaft 7 causes rotation of the blower impeller 5. The blower impeller 5 is arranged on the motor shaft 7. The blower impeller 5 has an upstream side 5a, which is exposed to the gas mixture 40, and a back side 5b, which is arranged opposite the upstream side 5a in the direction of the axis A. The upstream side 5a points towards the inlet side 41 and the back side 5b points in the opposite direction, i.e., towards the volute component 43b. The blower impeller 5 is designed to convey the gas mixture 40 from the inlet side 41 to the outlet side 42 when the motor shaft 7 rotates. For this purpose, the blower impeller 5 has blades arranged on the upstream side 5a, which are shaped to achieve a conveying or pumping function. Radially outside the blower impeller 5 is an annular gap that opens to form a volute 43. The gas mixture can flow radially outwards through this annular gap towards the volute 43. The blower 1 has an annular channel 10 arranged radially between the rotor 9 and the stator 8. In other words, the annular channel 10 is located on the upstream side 5a of the blower impeller 5. The annular channel 10 is provided radially between the stator 8 and the rotor 9. The blower 1 has sealing elements (not shown) for fluidic sealing of the annular channel 10 against the stator 8. A radial inner wall of the annular channel 10 is formed by an outer circumference of the rotor 9. A radial outer wall of the annular channel 10 is formed by a cylindrical wall of the functional component 2a, arranged radially outside the rotor 9 and radially inside the stator 8. The annular channel 10 thus has a cylindrical inner wall and a cylindrical outer wall. The gas mixture 40 can flow between the cylindrical inner wall and the cylindrical outer wall of the annular channel 10. The blower 1 is thus designed as a media gap motor 1'. The main housing 2 has a flow guide 14 in the area of ​​the inlet flange 13. The flow guide 14 is explained below. The flow guide 14 is provided in the form of a guide vane 14 on the right-hand section of the inlet flange 13 in Fig. 3, i.e., on the inlet side 41. The flow guide 14, or guide vane 14, has an arrangement of guide vanes (not shown) distributed around the circumference of the flow guide 14. Flow can pass through the guide vane 14 via a passage in the direction of the upstream side 5a of the fan impeller 5. The guide vane 14 is integrated with the elements of the inlet flange 13. In particular, the radial outer wall in the inlet area of ​​the inlet flange 13 has the guide vanes of the guide vane 14. The guide vanes are formed in one piece with a tube of the inlet flange 13.This design enables a simplified manufacturing of the inlet flange 13, since the outer tube can be manufactured with the guide vanes of the guide grid 14. With appropriate dimensioning of the flow guide device 14, it is possible to achieve the separation of liquid components from the gas mixture 40 onto the outer wall of the annular channel 10. The liquid components can be separated via a provided water separation channel 16. The blower 1 has the water separation channel 16 and a water tank 17 which is fluidically connected to the annular channel 10 via the water separation channel 16. Water can be separated from the gas mixture 40 and optionally conveyed by gravity into the water tank 17, where the water can evaporate and / or be drained. The blower 1 comprises a thrust bearing 19 with a housing-mounted thrust bearing carrier, a thrust bearing rotor, and a housing-mounted second thrust bearing carrier (each not shown) as components of the thrust bearing 19. The thrust bearing rotor is rotationally fixed to the motor shaft 7. The thrust bearing 19 is designed to axially support the motor shaft 7. The blower 1 has a fastener 7c pressed onto the motor shaft 7 and / or a screwable fastener 7c on the motor shaft 7 for securing the thrust bearing rotor axially. The thrust bearing rotor is positioned between the fastener 7c and a shoulder (not shown) of the motor shaft 7. The fastener 7c and the shoulder axially secure the thrust bearing rotor. The main housing 2, or rather its outer shell 2f, has an outer surface 2c with cooling fins 2b. The cooling fins 2b project outwards from the outer surface 2c and from the main housing 2 and are designed for air cooling. In other words, the outer surface 2c is formed by the essentially hollow cylindrical outer shell 2f and the majority of the cooling fins 2b. The cooling fins 2b provide a comparatively large proportion of the surface area of ​​the main housing 2, or rather the outer shell 2f, in order to effectively dissipate heat into the vicinity of the fan 1. The cooling fins 2b can be arranged at least partially distributed along the axis A and can be arranged fully (not shown) or partially. The blower 1 has a power electronics unit 20, which is only schematically indicated. The power electronics unit 20 is configured to receive electrical energy, convert this electrical energy, and supply the stator 8 with electrical energy to generate an electromagnetic field. The outer surface 2c has a mounting section 2g that is at least partially free of cooling fins. The mounting section 2g can, in particular, be encompassed by the outer shell 2f or form part of the outer shell 2f. Mounting means such as threads are optionally provided in the mounting section 2g to allow the power electronics unit 20 to be mounted on the blower 1. The power electronics unit 20 is thus arranged on the blower 1 at the mounting section 2g. The blower 1 has a fuel channel 30 (shown only schematically) designed as a heat exchanger 25 between the rotor 9 and the outer surface 2c for conveying fuel 46. The fuel channel 30 is arranged in the radial direction R between the rotor 9 and the outer surface 2c. In other words, the fuel channel 30 is arranged radially outside the rotor 9 and radially inside the outer surface 2c. The fuel channel 30 is also arranged radially outside the annular channel 10. The main housing 2 has a fuel inlet 2d and a fuel outlet 2e. The fuel inlet 2d is configured to receive a cooler fuel 46. The fuel outlet 2e is configured to discharge heated fuel 46 from the blower 1. The fuel channel 30 runs between the fuel inlet 2d and the fuel outlet 2e within the main housing 2 to absorb and dissipate heat generated by the stator 8 and, optionally, the power electronics 20. The fuel channel 30 can be arranged in a circumferential manner (not shown, see also Fig. 5 and Fig. 6) to enable circumferential heat dissipation from the stator 8. As schematically indicated in Fig. 3, the fuel channel 30 runs within the shell side 2f. For this purpose, the fuel channel 30 can, for example, be cast into the shell side 2f of the main housing 2 and have a fuel-resistant coating 31", for example, a coating 31" made of stainless steel. Alternatively or additionally, the fuel channel 30 can be arranged in the radial direction R between the main housing 2 and the stator 8. In this case, a space for the fuel channel 30 can be milled into the shell side 2f, and the fuel channel 30 is formed from a non-magnetizable stainless steel tube 31' and arranged in the space within the shell side 2f. The heat exchanger 25 and / or the fuel channel 30 are designed and arranged to temperature-control the power electronics 20. In other words, the fuel channel 30 is located at least partially in the vicinity of the power electronics 20. For example, the fuel channel 30 runs through the main housing 2 in the area of ​​the mounting section 2g. Fig. 4 shows a section of a blower 1 according to one aspect of the disclosure. The blower 1 according to Fig. 4 is an alternative to the blower 1 according to Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 to 3, describing the differences between the blower 1 according to Fig. 3 and the blower 1 according to Fig. 4. The fuel channel 30 runs inside the stator 8. In other words, the fuel channel 30 is designed to guide fuel 46 through the shell 2f to the stator 8 and from there. The fuel 46 can then be used directly for heat exchange at the stator 8. Two possible embodiments are shown and described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Fig. 5 shows a schematic detail of a stator 8 of a blower 1 according to one aspect of the disclosure. The stator 8 is an example of a stator 8 of the blower 1 according to Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is described with reference to Fig. 4. The annular channel 10 arranged radially inside the stator 8 and the main housing 2 arranged radially outside the stator 8 are omitted. The stator 8 has a laminated core 8a and windings 8b. The windings 8b can be configured as arbitrarily curved wires, for example as coil windings and / or as so-called hairpins. The fuel channel 30 is arranged within the lamination stack 8a. The fuel channel 30 is formed by a stainless steel tube 31' running through the lamination stack 8a and / or by a coating 31" of a tubular channel within the lamination stack 8a. Fig. 6 shows a schematic detail of a stator 8 of a blower 1 according to one aspect of the disclosure. The stator 8 is an example of a stator 8 of the blower 1 according to Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is described with reference to Fig. 4. The annular channel 10 arranged radially inside the stator 8 and the main housing 2 arranged radially outside the stator 8 are omitted. The fuel channel 30 is arranged between the windings 8b and / or wound around the laminated core 8a with the windings 8b. The fuel channel 30 can be designed as a tube, in particular a stainless steel tube 31', or as a hollow wire. Reference symbol (part of the description) 1 Blower 1' Media gap motor 2 Main housing 2a Functional component 2b Cooling fins 2c Outer surface 2d Fuel inlet 2e Fuel outlet 2f Shell side 2g Mounting section 5 Blower impeller 5a Inlet side 5b Rear side 6 Housing cover 7 Motor shaft 7c Fastening means 8 Stator 8a Laminated core 8b Windings 9 Rotor 9a Permanent magnet element 10 Ring channel 11 Radial bearing 11' Foil bearing 12 Radial bearing 12' Foil bearing 13 Inlet flange 14 Flow guide deviceGuide vane 16 Water separator channel 17 Water tank 19 Axial bearing 20 Power electronics 25 Heat exchanger 30 Fuel channel 31' Stainless steel tube 31" Coating 40 Gas mixture 41 Inlet side 42 Outlet side 43 Volute 43b Volute component 43c Outlet 46 Fuel 47 Anode-side exhaust air 48 Liquid 65 Electrical energy 200a Vehicle 200b Commercial vehicle 204 Fuel cell system 205 Fuel cell arrangement 206 Fuel cell stack 207 Cathode 208 Anode 209 Fuel reservoir 240 Inlet air 245 Exhaust air 250 Main drive 260 Energy storage device A Axis R Radial direction QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature US 2008 / 318093 A1

[0008] US 2009 / 014149 A1

[0010]

Claims

Blower (1) for a fuel cell arrangement (205) for a vehicle (200a), in particular a commercial vehicle (200b); wherein: - the blower (1) for recirculating a gas mixture (40) used for the operation of the fuel cell arrangement (205) comprises a drive motor (7, 8, 9) with a motor shaft (7) defining an axis (A), a rotor (9) coupled to the motor shaft (7), and a stator (8) arranged radially outside the rotor (9); - the blower (1) comprises a main housing (2) within which the drive motor (7, 8, 9) is arranged; - the main housing (2) comprises an outer surface (2c) with cooling fins (2b); - the cooling fins (2b) project outwards from the outer surface (2c) and from the main housing (2) and are designed for air cooling; and- the blower (1) has a fuel channel (30) formed between the rotor (9) and the outer surface (2c) as a heat exchanger (25) for conveying fuel (46). Blower (1) according to claim 1, wherein- the main housing (2) has a fuel inlet (2d) and a fuel outlet (2e); and- the fuel channel (30) runs between the fuel inlet (2d) and the fuel outlet (2e) inside the main housing (2). Blower (1) according to claim 1, wherein the main housing (2) has a shell side (2f); and the fuel channel (30) runs inside the shell side (2f). Blower (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fuel channel (30) runs inside the stator (8). Blower (1) according to claim 4, wherein - the stator (8) has a laminated core (8a); - the fuel channel (30) is arranged within the laminated core (8a); and / or - the stator (8) comprises windings (8b) and the fuel channel (30) is arranged between the windings (8b) and / or is wound with the windings (8b) around the laminated core (8a). Blower (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fuel channel (30) is formed from a non-magnetizable stainless steel tube (31') and / or has a fuel-resistant coating (31"). Blower (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the outer surface (2c) has a mounting section (2g) that is at least partially free of cooling fins; - the blower (1) has power electronics (20) arranged on the mounting section (2g); and - the heat exchanger (25) and / or the fuel channel (30) are designed and arranged to temperature control the power electronics (20). Blower (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fuel channel (30) is arranged between the main housing (2) and the stator (8). Fuel cell arrangement (205) for a vehicle (200a), in particular a commercial vehicle (200b), comprising a fuel cell stack (206) that can be supplied with a gas mixture (40) on the anode side and a blower (1) according to one of the preceding claims. Vehicle (200a), in particular commercial vehicle (200b), comprising a fuel cell arrangement (205) according to claim 9.

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