Fuel cell system with auxiliary water drain, fuel cell and vehicle

Abstract

The application provides a fuel cell system with auxiliary drainage, a fuel cell and a vehicle, wherein the fuel cell system with auxiliary drainage comprises an air compression and expansion integrated machine, an intercooler, an air inlet throttle valve, a humidifier, an electric pile, an exhaust throttle valve and a water separation device; the air compression and expansion integrated machine comprises a compression wheel end and a turbine end, air is compressed by the compression wheel end and then enters the intercooler, the gas output by the intercooler is transmitted to the humidifier after the air inlet throttle valve, and the gas after the humidifier enters the electric pile; the product after the electric pile reaction is transmitted to the water separation device in sequence after the humidifier and the exhaust throttle valve, the product after the reaction is separated into gas and liquid by the water separation device, the separated gas is transmitted to the turbine end, and the separated liquid is discharged through a drainage port, and the drainage port is arranged on the water separation device; a capillary tube is arranged at the bottom of the water separation device. Liquid water is prevented from adhering to the exhaust throttle valve after the fuel cell is shut down, and the liquid water is completely discharged.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of fuel cells, and particularly relates to a fuel cell system with auxiliary drainage, a fuel cell and a vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0002] Fuel cell engines are widely used in various applications, and are currently widely used in vehicles. When a fuel cell engine is matched with a vehicle, the operating conditions and scenarios of the vehicle, such as running on a slope, parking conditions and the like, need to be considered. Therefore, the above-mentioned operating scenarios need to be considered when designing a fuel cell engine system. At present, air compressors on the fuel cell system are gradually replaced by air compression and expansion integrated machines to recover the energy in the air exhaust of the fuel cell, thereby further reducing the power consumption of the air compressor. Since the air exhaust of the fuel cell stack contains liquid water, the liquid water in the air exhaust needs to be separated before entering the turbine end to avoid the liquid water entering the turbine and affecting the turbine recovery efficiency and impeller. Therefore, a water separation device needs to be provided after the air exhaust throttle to separate the liquid water, but there is a pipeline connection between the water separation device and the exhaust throttle. When the engine is in an inclined state, liquid water cannot be discharged from the pipeline between the water separation device and the exhaust throttle, which causes the liquid water to adhere to the exhaust throttle after the fuel cell is shut down. When the ambient temperature is low, the liquid water freezes to cause the exhaust throttle to be frozen and unable to be normally opened. SUMMARY

[0003] In view of the problems in the prior art, the present application provides a fuel cell system with auxiliary drainage, a fuel cell and a vehicle, which at least partially solve the problem that when the engine is in an inclined state, liquid water cannot be discharged from the pipeline between the water separation device and the exhaust throttle, which causes the liquid water to adhere to the exhaust throttle after the fuel cell is shut down.

[0004] In a first aspect, the present application provides a fuel cell system with auxiliary drainage, which comprises an air compression and expansion integrated machine, an intercooler, an intake throttle, a humidifier, a stack, an exhaust throttle and a water separation device.

[0005] The air compression and expansion integrated machine comprises a compression end and a turbine end. The air is compressed by the compression end and then enters the intercooler. The gas output by the intercooler is transmitted to the humidifier after passing through the intake throttle. The gas after the humidifier enters the stack.

[0006] The products after the stack reaction are sequentially transmitted to the water separation device after passing through the humidifier and the exhaust throttle. The water separation device separates the products after the reaction into gas and liquid. The separated gas is transmitted to the turbine end, and the separated liquid is discharged through a drainage port provided on the water separation device.

[0007] A capillary tube is arranged at the bottom of the water separation device.

[0008] Optionally, the bottom of the water diversion part is provided with a plurality of capillary tubes, and the tube diameter parameters of the capillary tubes include multiple types.

[0009] Optionally, the water diversion part includes a first end and a second end, the first end is in communication with the turbine end, and the second end is in communication with the tail exhaust valve, capillary tubes are arranged between the first end and the water outlet and between the second end and the water outlet, the capillary tubes use capillary effect to suck liquid water into the capillary tubes, and the liquid water is discharged from the capillary tubes through the potential difference existing between the inlet and the outlet of the capillary tubes.

[0010] Optionally, the number of the capillary tubes is determined according to the volume of the pipeline between the tail exhaust valve and the turbine end.

[0011] Optionally, the water outlet is arranged at a low point of the water diversion part, and the low point is a low point when the fuel cell is in a horizontal state.

[0012] Optionally, the inlet of the turbine end is higher than the outlet of the water diversion part.

[0013] Optionally, a tail exhaust outlet is arranged on the turbine end, and the tail exhaust outlet is lower than the inlet of the turbine end.

[0014] Optionally, the system further includes an air filter and a flow meter, and the air is transmitted to the turbine end in sequence through the air filter and the flow meter.

[0015] In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fuel cell having the fuel cell system with auxiliary water drainage.

[0016] In a third aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a vehicle having the fuel cell of the second aspect.

[0017] The fuel cell system with auxiliary water drainage, the fuel cell and the vehicle provided by the present disclosure have the following advantages: the bottom of the water diversion part is provided with capillary tubes, the capillary tubes use capillary effect to automatically discharge liquid water in the water diversion part, the capillary effect of the capillary tubes is sufficient to discharge water, thereby avoiding that liquid water adheres to the tail exhaust valve after the fuel cell is shut down, and because the liquid water is completely discharged, the tail exhaust valve cannot be normally opened due to freezing of liquid water when the ambient temperature is low. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to the like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

[0019] Figure 1 A principle block diagram of the fuel cell system with auxiliary water drainage provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure is shown in the figure;

[0020] Figure 2 A structural schematic diagram of a horizontal state of a water diversion piece provided for an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1.

[0021] Figure 3 and Figure 4 A structural schematic diagram of an inclined state of a water diversion piece provided for an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 2.

[0022] 1 - air filter; 2 - flow meter; 301 - pressure wheel end; 302 - turbine end; 4 - intercooler; 5 - intake throttle; 6 - humidifier; 7 - stack; 8 - exhaust throttle; 9 - water diversion piece; 10 - drain port; 11 - exhaust; 12 - first end; 13 - capillary tube; 14 - second end. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] It should be apparent that the following describes embodiments of this disclosure by way of specific examples, and that one of ordinary skill in the art can readily derive other advantages and benefits from this disclosure without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this disclosure, and are not all the embodiments. This disclosure can also be implemented or applied by other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can be modified or changed based on different views and applications without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. It should be noted that the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other without conflict. Based on the embodiments in this disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by one of ordinary skill in the art without creative labor are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0025] It should be noted that the various aspects of the embodiments described below are within the scope of the appended claims. It should be apparent that the aspects described herein can be embodied in a wide variety of forms and that any specific structure and / or function described herein is merely illustrative. Based on the teachings provided herein one skilled in the art will appreciate that one aspect described herein can be implemented independently of any other aspects and that the various aspects described herein can be combined in various ways. For example, an apparatus can be implemented or a method can be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, such an apparatus can be implemented or such a method can be practiced using other structure and / or functionality in addition to or other than one or more of the aspects set forth herein.

[0026] It is also need to be explained that the figures provided in the following embodiments only schematically illustrate the basic concept of the present disclosure, and only the components related to the present disclosure are shown in the figures, not the number, shape and size of the components when actually implemented, and the shape, number and ratio of each component when actually implemented can be arbitrarily changed, and the layout of the components can be more complex.

[0027] In addition, in the following description, specific details are provided to facilitate a thorough understanding of the examples. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the described aspects can be practiced without these specific details.

[0028] For ease of understanding, as Figure 1 shown, the present embodiment discloses a fuel cell system with auxiliary drainage, comprising an air compression and expansion integrated machine, a intercooler 4, an air intake throttle 5, a humidifier 6, a stack 7, an exhaust throttle 8 and a water separation device 9;

[0029] The air compression and expansion integrated machine comprises a compression wheel end 301 and a turbine end 302, the air is compressed by the compression wheel end 301 and enters the intercooler 4, the gas output by the intercooler 4 is transmitted to the humidifier 6 after the air intake throttle 5, and the gas after the humidifier 6 enters the stack 7;

[0030] The product after the reaction of the stack 7 is transmitted to the water separation device 9 in turn after the humidifier 6 and the exhaust throttle 8, the water separation device 9 separates the gas and the liquid after the reaction product, the separated gas is transmitted to the turbine end 302, and the separated liquid is discharged through the drainage port 10, and the drainage port 10 is arranged on the water separation device 9;

[0031] The bottom of the water separation device 9 is provided with a capillary tube 13.

[0032] Optionally, the bottom of the water separation device 9 is provided with a plurality of capillary tubes 13, and the pipe diameter parameters of the capillary tubes 13 include multiple types. That is, the bottom of the water separation device 9 is provided with capillary tubes 13 of multiple pipe diameters, for example, 10 capillary tubes 13, which can have 2 pipe diameters, for example, 5 capillary tubes 13 with pipe diameter A and the other 5 capillary tubes 13 with pipe diameter B. It can also be that 3 capillary tubes 13 have pipe diameter A and the other 7 capillary tubes 13 have pipe diameter B, etc. There can also be 3 pipe diameters, for example, 3 capillary tubes 13 with pipe diameter A, 3 capillary tubes 13 with pipe diameter B and 4 capillary tubes 13 with pipe diameter C, etc. The present embodiment does not limit the number of pipe diameters and the number of capillary tubes 13 with the same pipe diameter.

[0033] Optionally, the water separating member 9 comprises a first end 12 and a second end 14, the first end 12 is communicated with the turbine end 302, the second end 14 is communicated with the tail exhaust valve 8, the first end 12 and the water outlet 10 and the second end 14 and the water outlet 10 are both provided with capillary tubes 13, the capillary tubes 13 use capillary effect to suck liquid water into the capillary tubes 13, and the liquid water is discharged from the capillary tubes 13 through the potential difference existing in the inlet and outlet of the capillary tubes 13.

[0034] Optionally, the number of the capillary tubes 13 is set according to the volume of the pipeline between the tail exhaust valve 8 and the turbine end 302.

[0035] Optionally, the water outlet 10 is arranged at the low point of the water separating member 9, the low point is the low point when the fuel cell is in the horizontal state. Figure 2 Optionally, the low point in the horizontal state is shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 Optionally, the horizontal state of the embodiment is the normal state of the fuel cell, and the low point in the inclined state is also a routine replacement for those skilled in the art.

[0036] Optionally, the inlet of the turbine end 302 is higher than the outlet of the water separating member 9.

[0037] Optionally, the turbine end 302 is provided with a tail exhaust 11 outlet, and the tail exhaust 11 outlet is lower than the inlet of the turbine end 302.

[0038] Optionally, the air filter 1 and the flow meter 2 are further included, and the air is transmitted to the turbine end 301 in sequence through the air filter 1 and the flow meter 2.

[0039] In one specific application scenario, air enters the flowmeter 2 from the air filter 1, is compressed by the compressor wheel end 301, passes through the intercooler 4 and the intake throttle valve 5, enters the humidifier 6, is humidified by the humidifier 6, and then enters the stack 7. The remaining products after the reaction of the stack 7 include gas and liquid water. The products pass through the humidifier 6, are humidified, pass through the tail exhaust throttle valve 8, enter the water separation device 9, and the liquid water in the pipeline is separated in the water separation device 9. The gas after passing through the water separation device 9 enters the turbine end 302, and the turbine performs adiabatic expansion work to reduce the power consumption of the compressor end. To avoid the presence of liquid water in the turbine pipeline of the turbine end 302, the inlet position of the turbine end 302 is higher than the outlet of the water separation device 9 to avoid the backflow of liquid water to the turbine end 302. The water separation device 9 has a self-draining pipeline device, and different diameter capillary tubes 13 are installed between the water separation device 9 and the tail exhaust throttle valve 8 and between the water separation device 9 and the turbine connecting pipeline. One end of the capillary tube 13 is connected to the water outlet drainage low point, and the other end is connected to the pipeline connected to the water separation device 9 and the tail exhaust throttle valve 8 and the pipeline connected to the water separation device 9 and the turbine. The capillary tube 13 is laid on the bottom layer of the water separation device 9, and the specific number can be set according to the volume of the pipeline between the tail exhaust throttle valve 8 and the turbine end 302. When the fuel cell engine fails to shut down and cannot be normally purged, there will be a certain amount of liquid water and saturated steam condensate in the water separation device 9 and its pipeline. When the fuel cell engine is in an inclined state, the liquid water will accumulate at the low points on both sides of the water separation device 9. At this time, the capillary tube 13 on the bottom layer of the water separation device 9 will use the capillary effect to absorb the liquid water into the capillary tube 13, and then the liquid water will be discharged from the capillary tube 13 through the potential difference between the inlet and outlet of the capillary tube 13, thereby avoiding the storage of liquid water at both ends of the water separation device 9, which can cause the components on both sides to fail due to icing at low temperatures.

[0040] The basic principles of the present disclosure are described above in combination with specific embodiments, but it should be noted that the advantages, advantages, effects, etc. mentioned in the present disclosure are only examples and not limitations, and these advantages, advantages, effects, etc. cannot be considered as necessary for each embodiment of the present disclosure. In addition, the above specific details are only for the purpose of example and understanding, and are not limited to the above specific details for the implementation of the present disclosure.

[0041] In this disclosure, relational terms such as first and second and the like can be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The block diagram of the devices, apparatus, equipment, systems referred to in this disclosure is merely illustrative and not intended to imply the necessity or arrangement of the connections, arrangement, configuration as shown in the block diagram. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the devices, apparatus, equipment, systems can be connected, arranged, configured in any manner. The words comprising, including, having and the like are to be open ended. As used in this document, the conjunction "or" is to be interpreted in the inclusive sense, i.e. as meaning one or the other, or both. As used in this document, the words "and" and "or" are to be interpreted as having the meaning indicated in the phrase "and / or". As used in this document, the word "such as" is to be interpreted as meaning "such as, but not limited to".

[0042] Also, as used in this document, the word "or" in the cases used to introduce an enumeration of several items, for example, a list of items, is to be interpreted in the inclusive sense, i.e. as meaning one or more or any single one of the items, but not the combination of more than one of the items. Additionally, the phrase "example of" as used in this document is not meant to be limiting in any way.

[0043] It is also important to note that the systems and methods of the present disclosure can be embodied in a variety of forms including, but not limited to, a data processor, a computer program product, a computer, one or more components of a computer, software, and combinations of the foregoing. Furthermore, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can be used in a variety of environments and systems including, but not limited to, a data processor, a computer, a computer network, a computer software, and combinations of the foregoing.

[0044] Various changes, modifications and improvements in the technologies described herein can be made without departing from the teachings of the teachings defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the claims of this disclosure is not limited to the specific aspects described above. The processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, as described in this disclosure can be practiced in various embodiments and implementations in combination with other processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps not expressly described or implied herein but well known in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims include within their scope all such alternative processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

[0045] The above description of the disclosed aspects is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein can be applied to other aspects without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

[0046] The foregoing description has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the embodiments of the disclosure to the forms disclosed herein. Although the various example aspects and embodiments have been described herein with regard to particular aspects and embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that certain modifications, changes, substitutions, additions and sub-combinations can be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system with auxiliary drainage, characterized in that: Including air compressor and expander, intercooler, intake throttle, humidifier, fuel cell stack, tail exhaust throttle and water distribution parts; The air compressor and expander includes a compressor end and a turbine end. The air is compressed by the compressor end and then enters the intercooler. The gas output by the intercooler is transmitted to the humidifier after passing through the air intake throttle. The gas after passing through the humidifier enters the fuel cell stack. The products after the stack reaction are sequentially transmitted to the water separation component after passing through the humidifier and the tail exhaust throttle. The water separation component separates the gas and water from the products after the reaction. The separated gas is transmitted to the turbine end, and the separated liquid water is discharged through the drain port, which is set on the water separation component. A capillary tube is provided at the bottom of the water distribution member; a plurality of capillaries are provided at the bottom of the water distribution member, and the diameter parameters of the capillary tubes include various types; The water distribution member includes a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the turbine end, and the second end is connected to the tail exhaust throttle. Capillaries are provided between the first end and the drain outlet, and between the second end and the drain outlet. The capillaries utilize a capillary effect to draw liquid water into the capillaries, and discharge the liquid water from the capillaries due to the potential difference between the inlet and outlet of the capillaries. The number of the capillaries is set according to the volume of the pipeline between the tail exhaust throttle and the turbine end. The drain outlet is provided at the lowest point of the water distribution member, which is the lowest point when the fuel cell is in a horizontal state.

2. The fuel cell system with auxiliary drainage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inlet of the turbine end is higher than the outlet of the water distribution piece.

3. The fuel cell system with auxiliary drainage according to claim 2, characterized in that: A tail outlet is provided on the turbine end, and the tail outlet is lower than the inlet of the turbine end.

4. The fuel cell system with auxiliary drainage according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes an air filter and a flow meter, and the air is transmitted to the pressure wheel end after passing through the air filter and the flow meter in sequence.

5. A fuel cell, characterized in that: A fuel cell system with auxiliary drainage according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A vehicle, characterized in that: A fuel cell according to claim 5.

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