A hydrogen quality detection device and a detection method

Abstract

The present invention discloses a hydrogen quality detection device and detection method, including a fuel cell, a control unit, a three-way valve, standard hydrogen (high-purity hydrogen), and a load. The hydrogen source to be tested, the standard hydrogen, and the fuel cell are connected by a three-way valve. It can be used for online real-time monitoring and for random inspection; the detection of hydrogen purity is directly related to the application requirements of the fuel cell, eliminating the possibility of the fuel cell performance being affected by hydrogen purity; the fuel cell can be a very small 1cm*1cm single cell, or even smaller, and the cost of the detection equipment can be very low; the detection device can be made fixed or portable as needed, which is flexible and convenient; it can be connected to the hydrogen pipeline to be tested and can be started with one button, which is simple and convenient to operate; the indicator light is used as the judgment method, which is simple and convenient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to hydrogen quality detection, and is particularly applicable to the field of hydrogen monitoring for fuel cells, and specifically is a hydrogen quality detection device. Background Art

[0002] At present, most hydrogen purity detection technologies use gas chromatographs for analysis or infrared analyzers to analyze the components of certain impurities in hydrogen. This type of detection equipment is often expensive, the analysis is cumbersome, and impurity gas standard gas is required, which is very inconvenient. There are certain limitations in the widespread promotion and application of fuel cells. Patent CN201280063909.0 uses a method of testing two stacks at the same time, one stack passes the hydrogen to be tested, and the other stack passes the standard hydrogen for reference testing. It is necessary to configure standard hydrogen and standard air for comparison. This method can be used for hydrogen quality detection for fuel cells, but the setting is cumbersome and not very realistic in actual use. In addition, the two fuel cells themselves are allowed to have certain differences. One as a reference for the other may result in a large performance difference due to the difference between the two, and errors may lead to misjudgment due to errors.

[0003] The present invention designs a hydrogen quality detection device for online or offline detection of hydrogen quality, which solves the problems of cumbersome operation and expensive detection equipment caused by conventional sampling and monitoring methods for analyzing gas components such as conventional gas chromatographs, and can monitor hydrogen quality in real time or detect it offline as needed, so as to avoid the hydrogen used for fuel cell power generation from not meeting its requirements, which affects the performance and long-term life of the fuel cell stack. By designing a fuel cell that can switch freely between standard hydrogen and hydrogen to be tested to detect hydrogen quality, the large error and possible misjudgment caused by two fuel cell devices passing different hydrogen in patent CN201280063909.0 are avoided.

[0004] There is no effective solution to the problems in the related technology. Therefore, we propose a hydrogen quality detection device. Summary of the invention

[0005] Technical Solution

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a hydrogen quality detection device, comprising a fuel cell, a control unit, a three-way valve, standard hydrogen (high-purity hydrogen), and a load, wherein the hydrogen source to be tested and the standard hydrogen are connected to the fuel cell by a three-way valve.

[0007] As a further improvement, the fuel cell may be a single cell or multiple cells, and the minimum effective active area may be 1 cm2 or less. The electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell requires heat dissipation, which may be air-cooled or water-cooled.

[0008] Further improved, the three-way valve is explosion-proof, and can be a manual valve, an electric control valve or a secondary control valve. Before detecting the hydrogen to be tested, it is first tested with standard hydrogen under set conditions. The control unit records and memorizes the standard hydrogen test data, manually or automatically sets it as reference data, and then automatically or manually adjusts the three-way valve, closes the standard hydrogen, opens the hydrogen source to be tested, and tests are performed under the same set conditions. When the fuel cell voltage is lower than a certain value under the same current, it means that the hydrogen quality cannot meet the requirements (the content of impurities such as sulfides or CO is greater than a certain value), the three-way valve is automatically or manually adjusted to the standard hydrogen side, the fuel cell is restored and tested, and calibrated again. When the detection is completed, the control unit shuts down the fuel cell, closes the three-way valve, and removes the hydrogen pipeline.

[0009] As a further improvement, the standard hydrogen (high-purity hydrogen) can be a metal hydrogen storage that releases hydrogen as a portable device, and can be configured with a standard hydrogen bottle or a metal hydrogen storage that releases hydrogen as a fixed detection device.

[0010] Further improved, the control unit has a data acquisition module, data storage and memory functions, and makes judgments and executes instructions based on data comparison and analysis, and controls the three-way valve and the load or indicator light.

[0011] Further improved, the load in the device is used to consume electricity generated by the fuel cell. The load can be a resistor or an indicator light. When the load is an indicator light, different powers can be displayed in different colors. For example, the normal power range is an indicator color A, the abnormal power range is an indicator color B, and the critical range between normal power and abnormal power is an indicator color C.

[0012] A hydrogen quality detection method, wherein the gas to be tested is introduced for testing, 1. If the indicator light is color A, it indicates that the hydrogen quality is normal and the process is carried out normally as planned;

[0013] 2. If the indicator light is B color, it means that the hydrogen quality may have problems. Immediately switch to high-purity hydrogen for recovery calibration. If the high-purity hydrogen test is normal, switch to the hydrogen to be tested again. Otherwise, shut down for troubleshooting.

[0014] 3. If the indicator light is color C, it means that the quality of hydrogen is between normal and there is uncertainty. First test and observe for a period of time. If the indicator light continues to be color B or C, switch to high-purity hydrogen for recovery calibration according to the above 2 logics. If the indicator light turns to color A, proceed according to the planned interest calculation.

[0015] (III) Beneficial effects

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a new photolysis purification fume hood, which has the following beneficial effects: it can be used for online real-time monitoring and for random inspection; the detection of hydrogen purity is directly related to the application requirements of fuel cells, eliminating the possibility of the performance of fuel cells being affected by hydrogen purity; the fuel cell can be as small as 1cm*1cm single cell, or even smaller, and the cost of the detection equipment can be very low; the detection device can be made fixed or portable as needed, which is flexible and convenient; it can be connected to the hydrogen pipeline to be inspected and started with one button, which is simple and convenient to operate; the indicator light is used as the judgment method, which is simple and convenient. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 : Schematic diagram of hydrogen purity detection device (three-way valve is manually controlled);

[0018] Figure 2 : Schematic diagram of hydrogen quality detection device (three-way valve is an automatic control valve);

[0019] Figure 3 : Simple diagram of the functional architecture of the control unit;

[0020] Figure 4 : Control logic diagram. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] The utility model provides a technical solution: a hydrogen quality detection device, including a fuel cell, a control unit, a three-way valve and standard hydrogen (high-purity hydrogen), and a load, wherein the hydrogen source to be tested and the standard hydrogen are connected to the fuel cell by a three-way valve.

[0023] Preferably, the fuel cell can be a single cell or multiple cells, and the minimum effective active area can be 1 cm2 or less. The electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell requires heat dissipation, which can be air-cooled or water-cooled.

[0024] Preferably, the three-way valve is explosion-proof and can be a manual valve, an electric control valve or a secondary control valve. Before testing the hydrogen to be tested, it is first tested with standard hydrogen under set conditions. The control unit records and memorizes the standard hydrogen test data, manually or automatically sets it as reference data, and then automatically or manually adjusts the three-way valve, closes the standard hydrogen, opens the hydrogen source to be tested, and tests are performed under the same set conditions. When the fuel cell voltage is lower than a certain value under the same current, it means that the hydrogen quality cannot meet the requirements (the content of impurities such as sulfides or CO is greater than a certain value). The three-way valve is automatically or manually adjusted to the standard hydrogen side, the fuel cell is restored and tested, and calibrated again. When the test is completed, the control unit shuts down the fuel cell, closes the three-way valve, and removes the hydrogen pipeline.

[0025] Preferably, the standard hydrogen (high-purity hydrogen) can be a metal hydrogen storage that releases hydrogen as a portable device, and can be configured with a standard hydrogen bottle or a metal hydrogen storage that releases hydrogen as a fixed detection device.

[0026] Preferably, the control unit has a data acquisition module, data storage and memory functions, and makes judgments and executes instructions based on data comparison and analysis, and controls the three-way valve and the load or indicator light.

[0027] Preferably, the load in the device is used to consume electricity generated by the fuel cell. The load can be a resistor or an indicator light. When the load is an indicator light, different powers can be displayed in different colors. For example, the normal power range is an indicator color A, the abnormal power range is an indicator color B, and the critical range between normal power and abnormal power is an indicator color C.

[0028] A method for testing hydrogen quality, wherein the gas to be tested is introduced, 1. If the indicator light is color A, it indicates that the hydrogen quality is normal and the process is carried out normally as planned;

[0029] 2. If the indicator light is B color, it means that the hydrogen quality may have problems. Immediately switch to high-purity hydrogen for recovery calibration. If the high-purity hydrogen test is normal, switch to the hydrogen to be tested again. Otherwise, shut down for troubleshooting.

[0030] 3. If the indicator light is color C, it means that the quality of hydrogen is between normal and there is uncertainty. First test and observe for a period of time. If the indicator light continues to be color B or C, switch to high-purity hydrogen for recovery calibration according to the above 2 logics. If the indicator light turns to color A, proceed according to the planned interest calculation.

[0031] Example 1 Description: The hydrogen detection device uses a three-way solenoid valve. According to the normal process, when detecting a kind of hydrogen quality, connect the gas source pipeline, start the device with one button, and open the three-way valve to conduct calibration test on the standard hydrogen. The stable test is for 5 minutes or more. The control unit records and memorizes the data, the indicator light displays color A, and the three-way valve automatically switches to the end of the hydrogen to be tested. The control unit processes and judges the test data. If the hydrogen quality is normal, the indicator light displays color A; if the hydrogen quality is abnormal, the indicator light displays color B, and the three-way valve automatically turns to the standard hydrogen end to restore and calibrate the fuel cell; if the indicator light is color C for a certain period of time, the three-way valve automatically turns to the standard hydrogen end to restore and calibrate the fuel cell after the indicator light continues for a certain period of time.

[0032] Example 2 Description: The hydrogen detection device uses a three-way solenoid valve. According to the normal process, when detecting a kind of hydrogen quality, connect the gas source pipeline, start the device with one button, manually start the three-way valve to the standard hydrogen for calibration test, stabilize the test for 5 minutes or more, the control unit records and memorizes the data, the indicator light displays color A, and manually switches the three-way valve to the end of the hydrogen to be tested. The control unit processes and judges the test data. If the hydrogen quality is normal, the indicator light displays color A; if the hydrogen quality is abnormal, the indicator light displays color B, and the three-way valve is manually switched to the standard hydrogen end to restore and calibrate the fuel cell; if the indicator light is color C for a certain period of time, the indicator light is manually switched to the standard hydrogen end after a certain period of time to restore and calibrate the fuel cell.

[0033] Example 3 Description: The hydrogen detection device uses a three-way solenoid valve. According to the normal process, when detecting a kind of hydrogen quality, the gas source pipeline is connected, the device is started with one button, and the three-way valve opens the standard hydrogen for calibration test. The stable test is for 5 minutes or more. The control unit records and memorizes the data. The display screen shows that the voltage data is normal. The three-way valve automatically switches to the hydrogen end to be tested. The control unit processes and judges the test data. If the hydrogen quality is normal, the display screen shows that the voltage is normal; if the hydrogen quality is abnormal, the display screen shows that the voltage is too low, and the three-way valve automatically turns to the standard hydrogen end to restore and calibrate the fuel cell; if the voltage support is at a critical value, the indicator light will continue for a certain period of time, and the three-way valve automatically turns to the standard hydrogen end to restore and calibrate the fuel cell.

[0034] The electrical components mentioned in this article are all electrically connected to an external main controller and 220V mains electricity, and the main controller can be a conventional known device for controlling a computer or the like.

[0035] It should be noted that, in this article, relational terms such as first and second, etc. are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device.

[0036] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inside", "outside", "front end", "rear end", "two ends", "one end", "the other end" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limitations on the present invention.

[0037] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A hydrogen quality detection device, comprising a fuel cell, a control unit, a three-way valve, standard hydrogen, and a load, wherein the hydrogen source to be tested and the standard hydrogen are connected to the fuel cell by a three-way valve; The load in the device is used to consume electricity generated by the fuel cell. The load is a resistor or an indicator light. When the load is an indicator light, different colors are used to display different powers. For example, a normal power range is an indicator color A, an abnormal power range is an indicator color B, and a critical range between normal power and abnormal power is an indicator color C. The three-way valve is explosion-proof and is a manual valve, an electric control valve or a magnetic control valve. Before testing the hydrogen to be tested, it is first tested with standard hydrogen under set conditions. The control unit records and memorizes the standard hydrogen test data, manually or automatically sets it as reference data, and then automatically or manually adjusts the three-way valve, closes the standard hydrogen, opens the hydrogen source to be tested, and tests are performed under the same setting conditions. When the fuel cell voltage is lower than a certain value under the same current, it means that the hydrogen quality cannot meet the requirements. The three-way valve is automatically or manually adjusted to the standard hydrogen side, the fuel cell is restored and tested, and calibrated again. When the test is completed, the control unit shuts down the fuel cell, closes the three-way valve, and removes the hydrogen pipeline.

2. A hydrogen quality detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The standard hydrogen, as a portable device, is a metal hydrogen storage that releases hydrogen. As a fixed detection device, it is equipped with a standard hydrogen bottle or a metal hydrogen storage that releases hydrogen.

3. A hydrogen quality detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control unit has a data acquisition module, data storage and memory functions, and makes judgments and executes instructions based on data comparison and analysis, and controls the three-way valve, load and indicator light.

4. A method for detecting hydrogen quality using the hydrogen quality detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method comprises: Pass the gas to be tested. S1. If the indicator light is color A, it means the hydrogen quality is normal and the process is proceeding as planned; S2. If the indicator light is B color, it means that the hydrogen quality may have problems. Immediately switch to high-purity hydrogen for recovery calibration. If the high-purity hydrogen test is normal, switch to the hydrogen to be tested again. Otherwise, shut down for troubleshooting. S3. If the indicator light is color C, it means that the quality of hydrogen is between normal and there is uncertainty. First test and observe for a period of time. If the indicator light continues to be color B or C, switch to high-purity hydrogen for recovery calibration according to the logic in S2 above. If the indicator light changes to color A, proceed as planned.

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