A comprehensive test system for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Abstract

The present invention relates to a comprehensive test system suitable for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells, including a battery fixing seat, an air intake and exhaust module, an air intake duct module, an air exhaust duct module, a central control computer, an electronic load module, a single cell voltage monitoring device and a temperature scanning device; the air intake and exhaust module includes a box body, an air intake unit and an exhaust unit, and the air intake unit and the exhaust unit are arranged in the box body; the battery fixing seat is arranged between the air intake duct module and the air exhaust duct module, the electronic load module is connected to the fuel cell, the single cell voltage monitoring device is connected to each single cell of the fuel cell, and the temperature scanning device is arranged on one side of the fuel cell. Compared with the prior art, the present invention effectively realizes the performance test of the air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell and performs the subsequent design optimization and management of the fuel cell.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of fuel cell exchange, and in particular to a comprehensive testing system suitable for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Background Art

[0002] A fuel cell is a power generation device that generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. It has many advantages, such as high energy conversion efficiency, environmental friendliness, and low noise. With the development and commercialization of fuel cell technology, the safety and durability of fuel cells have received increasing attention. The current mainstream methods of removing heat from batteries include liquid cooling and air cooling, of which liquid cooling is the most typical and most commonly used. For air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells, there is still a lack of relevant practical application products. Therefore, there is currently no comprehensive testing equipment for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells on the market. Summary of the invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the defects of the prior art and provide a comprehensive testing system suitable for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

[0004] The purpose of the present invention can be achieved by the following technical solutions:

[0005] A comprehensive test system for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells, comprising a battery holder, an air intake and exhaust module, an air intake duct module, an air exhaust duct module, a central control computer, an electronic load module, a single cell voltage monitoring device and a temperature scanning device;

[0006] The intake and exhaust module comprises a box body, an intake unit and an exhaust unit, wherein the intake unit and the exhaust unit are arranged in the box body, wherein the intake unit comprises a hydrogen inlet, a nitrogen inlet, a hydrogen flowmeter, a three-way valve, a hydrogen solenoid valve, a nitrogen solenoid valve, a gas outlet and a pressure sensor, wherein the hydrogen inlet, the hydrogen flowmeter, the hydrogen solenoid valve and the first valve port of the three-way valve are connected in sequence through a pipeline, the nitrogen inlet, the nitrogen solenoid valve and the second valve port of the three-way valve are connected in sequence through a pipeline, and the gas outlet is connected in sequence to the pressure sensor and the third valve port of the three-way valve through a pipeline; the exhaust unit comprises an exhaust gas inlet, an exhaust solenoid valve and an exhaust gas outlet connected in sequence through pipelines, and the hydrogen inlet, the nitrogen inlet, the exhaust gas outlet, the gas outlet and the exhaust gas inlet are all located on the side wall of the box body;

[0007] The battery fixing seat is arranged between the air intake duct module and the air exhaust duct module, the fuel cell is installed on the battery fixing seat, the gas outlet and the exhaust gas inlet are connected to the fuel cell through a connecting pipe, the electronic load module is connected to the fuel cell, the single cell voltage monitoring device is connected to each single cell of the fuel cell, and the temperature scanning device is arranged on one side of the fuel cell;

[0008] The central control computer is connected to a hydrogen flow meter, a hydrogen solenoid valve, a nitrogen solenoid valve, an exhaust solenoid valve, a pressure sensor and an electronic load module.

[0009] Furthermore, the air intake unit and the exhaust unit are distributed in an upper and lower structure.

[0010] Furthermore, the hydrogen inlet, nitrogen inlet and tail gas outlet are located on one end side wall of the box body, and the gas outlet and tail gas inlet are located on the other end side wall of the box body.

[0011] Furthermore, the air intake and exhaust module also includes a temperature and humidity sensor and an anemometer, which are both fixed on the side walls of the box body, and the probes of the temperature and humidity sensor and the anemometer are respectively arranged in the air ducts of the air intake duct module and the air exhaust duct module.

[0012] Furthermore, the air intake duct module includes a plurality of temperature-controlled humidification flow channels, and each temperature-controlled humidification flow channel is provided with an independent heating unit and a humidification unit.

[0013] Furthermore, the exhaust unit is also provided with a pulse valve connected in parallel to one side of the exhaust solenoid valve, and the pulse valve is connected to the central control computer.

[0014] Furthermore, a rectification structure is provided in the air exhaust duct module.

[0015] Furthermore, an air filter unit is provided in the air intake duct module.

[0016] Furthermore, in the intake and exhaust module, a hydrogen pressure reducing valve is provided between the hydrogen inlet and the hydrogen flow meter; and a nitrogen pressure reducing valve is provided between the nitrogen inlet and the nitrogen solenoid valve.

[0017] Furthermore, the central control computer adopts NI CDAQ controller.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] 1. The present invention effectively realizes the performance test of air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells and performs subsequent design optimization and management of fuel cells through the design of multiple modules such as battery fixing seat, air intake and exhaust module, air intake duct module, and air exhaust duct module. At the same time, the present invention integrates nitrogen pipelines in the air intake and exhaust module, which can protect the test process from accidents through the nitrogen purge function, effectively improving safety.

[0020] 2. The present invention simplifies the test equipment through a modular structure: 1. The hydrogen and nitrogen pipelines are integrated and packaged in an air intake and exhaust module, which is easy to connect and assemble and has portability; 2. A structurally fixed battery holder, air intake duct module and air exhaust duct module are designed to simplify the operating steps. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the intake and exhaust module.

[0023] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of the air intake duct module.

[0024] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of the air exhaust duct module.

[0025] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the control principle of the present invention.

[0026] Figure numerals: 1. Battery holder, 2. Inlet and exhaust module, 21. Box, 22. Inlet unit, 221. Hydrogen inlet, 222. Nitrogen inlet, 223. Hydrogen flow meter, 224. Three-way valve, 225. Hydrogen solenoid valve, 226. Nitrogen solenoid valve, 227. Gas outlet, 228. Pressure sensor, 23. Exhaust unit, 231. Exhaust inlet, 232. Exhaust solenoid valve, 233. Exhaust outlet, 234. Pulse valve, 24. Temperature and humidity sensor, 25. Anemometer, 26. Hydrogen pressure reducing valve, 27. Nitrogen pressure reducing valve, 3. Air intake duct module, 31. Air filter unit, 4. Air exhaust duct module, 41. Rectification structure, 5. Central control computer, 6. Electronic load module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The present invention is described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. This embodiment is implemented based on the technical solution of the present invention, and provides a detailed implementation method and specific operation process, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0028] like Figure 1As shown, this embodiment provides a comprehensive test system suitable for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells, including a battery holder 1, an air intake and exhaust module 2, an air intake duct module 3, an air exhaust duct module 4, a central control computer 5, an electronic load module 6, a single cell voltage monitoring device and a temperature scanning device. The battery holder 1 is arranged between the air intake duct module 3 and the air exhaust duct module 4, and the fuel cell is installed on the battery holder 1. The air intake and exhaust module 2 is connected to the fuel cell through a connecting pipe. The electronic load module 6 is directly connected to the fuel cell and is used to apply different loads to the stack. The single cell voltage monitoring device is connected to each single cell of the fuel cell to monitor the voltage of each cell. The single cell voltage monitoring device is an existing mature technology and is not expanded here. The temperature scanning device is arranged on one side of the fuel cell to monitor the temperature of the fuel cell. The temperature scanning device adopts an existing mature temperature optical thermal acquisition device, which is not expanded here. The single cell voltage monitoring device and the temperature scanning device can collect data separately, or the data can be aggregated to the central control computer 5 for centralized collection.

[0029] like Figure 2 As shown, the air intake and exhaust module 2 includes a box body 21, an air intake unit 22 and an exhaust unit 23, and the air intake unit 22 and the exhaust unit 23 are arranged in the box body 21. The air intake unit 22 and the exhaust unit 23 are arranged in an upper and lower structure. In this embodiment, the air intake unit 22 is on the top and the exhaust unit 23 is on the bottom. The air intake unit 22 includes a hydrogen inlet 221, a nitrogen inlet 222, a hydrogen flowmeter 223, a three-way valve 224, a hydrogen solenoid valve 225, a nitrogen solenoid valve 226 and a gas outlet 227. The hydrogen inlet 221, the hydrogen flowmeter 223, the hydrogen solenoid valve 225 and the first valve port of the three-way valve 224 are connected in sequence through a pipeline; the nitrogen inlet 222, the nitrogen solenoid valve 226 and the second valve port of the three-way valve 224 are connected in sequence through a pipeline; the gas outlet 227 is connected in sequence to the pressure sensor 228 and the third valve port of the three-way valve 224 through a pipeline. The exhaust unit 23 includes an exhaust gas inlet 231, an exhaust solenoid valve 232 and an exhaust gas outlet 233 connected in sequence by pipelines. The exhaust unit 23 is also provided with a pulse valve 234 connected in parallel to one side of the exhaust solenoid valve 232 as redundancy to improve the safety of exhaust.

[0030] In addition, a hydrogen pressure reducing valve 26 is provided between the hydrogen inlet 221 and the hydrogen flowmeter 223, and a nitrogen pressure reducing valve 27 is provided between the nitrogen and the nitrogen solenoid valve 226 for better controlling the gas supply pressure and avoiding excessive pressure shock to the pipeline.

[0031] In this embodiment, the hydrogen inlet 221, the nitrogen inlet 222, the exhaust gas outlet 233, the gas outlet 227, and the exhaust gas inlet 231 are all located on the side wall of the box body 21. Specifically: the hydrogen inlet 221, the nitrogen inlet 222 and the exhaust gas outlet 233 are located on the side wall of one end of the box body 21, the hydrogen inlet 221 is connected to an external hydrogen bottle, and the nitrogen inlet 222 is connected to an external nitrogen bottle; the gas outlet 227 and the exhaust gas inlet 231 are located on the side wall of the other end of the box body 21, which is convenient for docking with the fuel electrode through a connecting pipe.

[0032] The exhaust module also includes a temperature and humidity sensor 24 and an anemometer 25, which are fixed on the side wall of the box 21. The probes of the temperature and humidity sensor 24 and the anemometer 25 are connected to the temperature and humidity sensor 24 and the anemometer 25 in a wireless or wired manner, and are used to be set in the air intake duct module 3 and the air exhaust duct module 4 to monitor the air condition.

[0033] Therefore, this embodiment realizes the integrated structural design of the intake and exhaust module 2, integrates the hydrogen and nitrogen pipelines and packages them in one intake and exhaust module 2, which is convenient for connection and assembly and has portability.

[0034] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the probes of the temperature and humidity sensor 24 and the anemometer 25 are respectively arranged in the air ducts of the air intake duct module 3 and the air exhaust duct module 4. The air intake duct module 3 is responsible for arranging the air inlet airflow of the battery stack to measure the inlet temperature and humidity, including multiple temperature control and humidification channels, each of which is provided with an independent heating unit and a humidification unit. A track can also be provided in the air intake duct module 3, and the probe of the humidity sensor can be arranged on the guide rail to realize the probe position change, so as to monitor any position of the air duct. An air filter unit 31 such as a filter is provided in the air intake duct module 3, which is used to filter pollutants in the air. The air exhaust duct module 4 is responsible for arranging the air outlet airflow of the battery stack to measure the outlet wind speed temperature and humidity, and a rectifier structure 41 is provided inside, which is used to rectify the outlet air to realize the laminar state of the outlet air. Similarly, a track can be provided in the air exhaust duct module 4, and the probe of the temperature and humidity sensor 24 can be arranged on the guide rail to realize the probe position change, so as to monitor any position of the air duct.

[0035] The central control computer 5 uses the NI CDAQ controller as a data acquisition platform, uses the NI Veristand system to establish a host computer interface to collect experimental data in real time, and uses the Veristand program compilation software to establish a protection system. The central control computer 5 is connected to the hydrogen flow meter 223, the hydrogen solenoid valve 225, the nitrogen solenoid valve 226, the exhaust solenoid valve 232, the pulse valve 234, the pressure sensor 228 and the electronic load module 6 to control the test system.

[0036] like Figure 5 As shown, the working principle of this embodiment is as follows:

[0037] During normal testing, the central control computer 5 opens the hydrogen solenoid valve 225 and closes the nitrogen solenoid valve 226 to supply gas to the fuel cell, and adjusts the electronic load module 6 to make the fuel cell react and work normally, and tests its parameters during normal operation.

[0038] A protection program is provided in the central control computer 5 to prevent the hydrogen and nitrogen pipelines from being opened at the same time: when the hydrogen solenoid valve 225 is turned on, if the nitrogen solenoid valve 226 is to be opened, the hydrogen solenoid valve 225 will be closed first, and then the nitrogen solenoid valve 226 will be opened; when the nitrogen solenoid valve 226 is turned on, the process is the same.

[0039] When the temperature of the fuel cell is too high, nitrogen purge is performed: the central control computer 5 controls the hydrogen solenoid valve 225 to close, adjusts the current of the electronic load module 6 to 0A, and opens the nitrogen solenoid valve 226 and the exhaust solenoid valve 232. After the load voltage rises to 1V, the upper computer automatically controls the closing of the nitrogen valve and records the maximum temperature of the battery.

[0040] When the voltage of a single cell of the fuel cell is too low, nitrogen purge is performed: the central control computer 5 controls the hydrogen solenoid valve 225 to close, adjusts the current of the electronic load module 6 to 0A, and opens the nitrogen solenoid valve 226 and the exhaust solenoid valve 232. After the load voltage rises to 1V, the upper computer automatically controls the closing of the nitrogen valve and records the single cell number.

[0041] The preferred specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above. It should be understood that a person skilled in the art can make many modifications and changes based on the concept of the present invention without creative work. Therefore, any technical solution that can be obtained by a person skilled in the art through logical analysis, reasoning or limited experiments based on the concept of the present invention on the basis of the prior art should be within the scope of protection determined by the claims.

Claims

1. A comprehensive test system suitable for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells, characterized in that: It comprises a battery fixing seat (1), an air intake and exhaust module (2), an air intake duct module (3), an air exhaust duct module (4), a central control computer (5), an electronic load module (6), a single battery voltage monitoring device and a temperature scanning device; The air intake and exhaust module (2) comprises a housing (21), an air intake unit (22) and an exhaust unit (23), wherein the air intake unit (22) and the exhaust unit (23) are arranged in the housing (21), wherein the air intake unit (22) comprises a hydrogen inlet (221), a nitrogen inlet (222), a hydrogen flow meter (223), a three-way valve (224), a hydrogen solenoid valve (225), a nitrogen solenoid valve (226), a gas outlet (227) and a pressure sensor (228), wherein the hydrogen inlet (221), the hydrogen flow meter (223), the hydrogen solenoid valve (225) and the first valve port of the three-way valve (224) are connected to the gas outlet (227), and the gas outlet (227) is connected to the gas outlet (227). The exhaust unit (23) comprises an exhaust gas inlet (231), an exhaust solenoid valve (232) and an exhaust gas outlet (233) which are connected in sequence through a pipeline, the nitrogen inlet (222), the nitrogen solenoid valve (226) and the second valve port of the three-way valve (224) are connected in sequence through a pipeline, and the gas outlet (227) is connected in sequence to a pressure sensor (228) and the third valve port of the three-way valve (224) through a pipeline; the exhaust unit (23) comprises an exhaust gas inlet (231), an exhaust solenoid valve (232) and an exhaust gas outlet (233) which are connected in sequence through a pipeline, and the hydrogen inlet (221), the nitrogen inlet (222), the exhaust gas outlet (233), the gas outlet (227) and the exhaust gas inlet (231) are all located on the side wall of the box body (21); The battery fixing seat (1) is arranged between the air intake duct module (3) and the air exhaust duct module (4), the fuel cell is mounted on the battery fixing seat (1), the gas outlet (227) and the exhaust gas inlet (231) are connected to the fuel cell via a connecting pipe, the electronic load module (6) is connected to the fuel cell, the single cell voltage monitoring device is connected to each single cell of the fuel cell, and the temperature scanning device is arranged on one side of the fuel cell; The central control computer (5) is connected to a hydrogen flow meter (223), a hydrogen solenoid valve (225), a nitrogen solenoid valve (226), an exhaust solenoid valve (232), a pressure sensor (228) and an electronic load module (6).

2. A comprehensive test system for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air intake unit (22) and the air exhaust unit (23) are arranged in an upper and lower structure.

3. A comprehensive test system for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hydrogen inlet (221), the nitrogen inlet (222) and the tail gas outlet (233) are located on a side wall at one end of the box body (21), and the gas outlet (227) and the tail gas inlet (231) are located on a side wall at the other end of the box body (21).

4. A comprehensive test system for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air intake and exhaust module (2) further comprises a temperature and humidity sensor (24) and an anemometer (25), wherein the temperature and humidity sensor (24) and the anemometer (25) are both fixed on the side wall of the box body (21), and the probes of the temperature and humidity sensor (24) and the anemometer (25) are respectively arranged in the air ducts of the air intake duct module (3) and the air exhaust duct module (4).

5. The comprehensive test system for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air intake duct module (3) comprises a plurality of temperature-controlling and humidifying flow channels, each of which is provided with an independent heating unit and a humidifying unit.

6. A comprehensive test system for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells according to claim 1, characterized in that: The exhaust unit (23) is also provided with a pulse valve (234) connected in parallel to one side of the exhaust solenoid valve (232), and the pulse valve (234) is connected to the central control computer (5).

7. A comprehensive test system for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air exhaust duct module (4) is provided with a rectification structure (41) therein.

8. The comprehensive test system for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells according to claim 1, characterized in that: An air filter unit (31) is provided in the air intake duct module (3).

9. The comprehensive test system for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the intake and exhaust module (2), a hydrogen pressure reducing valve (26) is provided between the hydrogen inlet (221) and the hydrogen flow meter (223); and a nitrogen pressure reducing valve (27) is provided between the nitrogen inlet (222) and the nitrogen solenoid valve (226).

10. The comprehensive test system for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells according to claim 1, characterized in that: The central control computer (5) adopts a NI CDAQ controller.

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