A fuel cell water gas separation device, a fuel cell system, and a vehicle

Abstract

The application discloses a fuel cell water-gas separation device, a fuel cell system and a vehicle, and solves the technical problems of safety of hydrogen-containing tail gas emission of a fuel cell and blockage of a channel caused by high water content. The fuel cell water-gas separation device comprises a shell provided with a water-gas separation cavity, a mounting cavity, an air inlet channel, a hydrogen outlet channel, an exhaust channel, a water outlet channel, a recovery channel and an air channel, and a catalyst arranged in the mounting cavity and a switching piece for opening or closing the air channel; the water-gas separation cavity and the mounting cavity are communicated with the water outlet channel; the air inlet channel, the hydrogen outlet channel and the exhaust channel are communicated with the water-gas separation cavity; the air channel and the recovery channel are communicated with the mounting cavity; the air inlet channel is used for connecting a tail discharge port of a fuel cell stack; the hydrogen outlet channel is located above the exhaust channel in the height direction, so that the hydrogen concentration of the fuel cell stack tail gas emission meets the requirements, and normal use of the fuel cell water-gas separation device at low temperature is effectively ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fuel cell technology, specifically to a fuel cell water-gas separation device, a fuel cell system, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] With global environmental pollution becoming increasingly serious, the rise of new energy sources is inevitable. Among them, hydrogen fuel cells are considered the most promising energy power devices for the future due to their advantages such as no pollution, high energy conversion efficiency, and wide availability of raw materials.

[0003] However, with current fuel cell technology, the utilization rate of hydrogen fed into the fuel cell stack cannot reach 100%. A small portion of the unused hydrogen permeates from the internal structure of the stack to the cathode, while the majority is emitted into the atmosphere with the exhaust gas during purging. Direct emission of hydrogen into the atmosphere not only causes pollution but also poses safety hazards. Hydrogen concentrations exceeding 4% can lead to explosions, and hydrogen accumulation in poorly ventilated environments can easily trigger an explosion. Furthermore, during cold starts or in low ambient temperatures, some channels in the fuel cell system may freeze due to high moisture content, posing a risk of sudden shutdown of the fuel cell system.

[0004] In summary, existing fuel cell systems suffer from safety issues related to hydrogen-containing exhaust emissions, as well as technical problems such as blockages and poor gas flow caused by high water content in the channels. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a fuel cell water-gas separation device, a fuel cell system, and a vehicle, ensuring that the hydrogen concentration meets requirements during the exhaust gas emission of the fuel cell stack, while also effectively guaranteeing the normal operation of the fuel cell water-gas separation device at low temperatures.

[0006] The solution to achieve the technical objective of this invention is a fuel cell water-gas separation device, comprising:

[0007] The housing includes a water-gas separation chamber, a mounting chamber, an air inlet channel, a hydrogen outlet channel, an exhaust channel, a drainage channel, a recovery channel, and an air channel; the water-gas separation chamber and the mounting chamber are both connected to the drainage channel; the air inlet channel, the hydrogen outlet channel, and the exhaust channel are all connected to the water-gas separation chamber; the air channel and the recovery channel are both connected to the mounting chamber.

[0008] A switching element for opening or closing the air passage;

[0009] A catalyst, disposed within the mounting cavity, is used to catalyze the reaction between air and hydrogen in the gas introduced into the mounting cavity through the recovery channel when the air channel is open.

[0010] Wherein: the air intake channel is used to connect to the tail exhaust port of the fuel cell stack; the hydrogen outlet channel is located above the exhaust channel along the height direction.

[0011] In some embodiments, the housing further includes a partition disposed within the water-gas separation chamber; the partition divides the water-gas separation chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber connected by a connecting channel, the air inlet channel being connected to the first chamber and the hydrogen outlet channel being connected to the second chamber;

[0012] There is a gap between the partition and the wall of the water-air separation chamber, and the gap forms the communication channel; or, the communication channel is located on the partition and / or the shell.

[0013] In some embodiments, the air inlet channel and the hydrogen outlet channel are connected to the top of the water-gas separation chamber along the height direction, the exhaust channel is connected to the bottom of the water-gas separation chamber, and the connecting channel is located at the bottom of the water-gas separation chamber.

[0014] In some embodiments, the fuel cell water-gas separation device further includes a baffle plate located in the first cavity; the baffle plate is disposed on the partition and / or the cavity wall of the water-gas separation cavity.

[0015] In some embodiments, the housing includes a water-absorbing inner core and an outer shell sleeved outside the water-absorbing inner core, the water-air separation chamber is disposed in the water-absorbing inner core, the outer shell is connected to the water-absorbing inner core, and the outer shell has the mounting cavity or the outer shell and the outer wall of the water-absorbing inner core together form the mounting cavity.

[0016] In some embodiments, the outer casing includes an outer casing body and an insert embedded inside the outer casing body. The outer casing body is fitted over the water inner core and together with the water inner core to form the mounting cavity. The insert is disposed in the mounting cavity. The catalyst is disposed between the outer casing body and the insert.

[0017] In some embodiments, the housing further includes a sleeve fitted over the housing body, both the housing body and the sleeve having vent holes, the vent holes on the housing body and the sleeve being positioned opposite each other to form the air passage.

[0018] In some embodiments, the sleeve is rotatably engaged with the outer casing, and the sleeve constitutes the switching element; the fuel cell water-gas separation device further includes a drive assembly that drives the sleeve to rotate.

[0019] In some embodiments, along the height direction, the insert is located between the air intake channel and the recovery channel; the insert is spaced apart from the moisture core, and the insert has a plurality of through holes.

[0020] In some embodiments, the drainage channel is located at the bottom of the housing; both the bottom of the water-absorbing core and the bottom of the housing body are provided with water passage holes, and the water-air separation chamber is connected to the mounting cavity and the drainage channel through the water passage holes;

[0021] The bottom of the water-air separation chamber is provided with a water-guiding inclined surface, and the water passage is located at the lower end of the water-guiding inclined surface.

[0022] Based on the same inventive concept, the present invention also provides a fuel cell system, comprising,

[0023] fuel cell stack;

[0024] The hydrogen supply subsystem is connected to the hydrogen inlet of the fuel cell stack;

[0025] The exhaust gas emission subsystem includes a hydrogen return pump, a switching valve, a mixed emission treatment component, and the aforementioned fuel cell water-gas separator. The inlet channel of the fuel cell water-gas separator is connected to the gas outlet of the fuel cell stack. The inlet of the hydrogen return pump is connected to the hydrogen outlet channel of the fuel cell water-gas separator, and the outlet of the hydrogen return pump is connected to the hydrogen supply subsystem or the hydrogen inlet of the fuel cell stack. The inlet of the switching valve is connected to the exhaust channel of the fuel cell water-gas separator, and the outlet of the switching valve can be selectively connected to the mixed emission treatment component or the recovery channel of the fuel cell water-gas separator. The drainage channel of the fuel cell water-gas separator is connected to the mixed emission treatment component.

[0026] Based on the same inventive concept, the present invention also provides a vehicle including the above-described fuel cell water-gas separation device or the above-described fuel cell system.

[0027] As can be seen from the above technical solution, the fuel cell water-gas separation device provided by the present invention includes a shell, a switching component, and a catalyst, wherein: the shell is provided with a water-gas separation chamber, an installation chamber, an air inlet channel, a hydrogen outlet channel, an exhaust channel, a drainage channel, a recovery channel, and an air channel; the water-gas separation chamber and the installation chamber are both connected to the drainage channel; the air inlet channel, the hydrogen outlet channel, and the exhaust channel are all connected to the water-gas separation chamber; the air channel and the recovery channel are both connected to the installation chamber; the air inlet channel is used to connect to the tail outlet of the fuel cell stack, and the gas discharged from the tail outlet of the stack is generally at a high temperature, with moisture flowing with the gas in the form of a certain humidity and vapor. After entering the water-gas separation chamber, the gas enters through a specific path and comes into contact with the chamber wall, cooling it down and causing it to adhere to the chamber wall, thus separating the gas and water. The separated water is eventually discharged through the drainage channel. The hydrogen outlet channel is located above the exhaust channel along the height direction. Due to the characteristics of hydrogen, hydrogen will accumulate above the water-gas separation chamber. As a result, the hydrogen and the mixed gas will separate into layers due to gravity in the water-gas separation chamber. Hydrogen is discharged through the hydrogen outlet channel, and the mixed gas with at least a portion of the hydrogen is discharged through the exhaust channel, effectively reducing the hydrogen concentration in the mixed gas discharged from the tail outlet of the fuel cell stack. The switching element is used to open or close the air passage. The catalyst is located in the mounting cavity and is used to catalyze the reaction between air and hydrogen in the gas entering the mounting cavity when the air passage is open. The water produced by the catalytic reaction eventually accumulates in the mounting cavity and is discharged through the drainage channel. The catalytic chemical reaction accelerates the consumption of hydrogen in the mixed gas entering the mounting cavity, ensuring that the hydrogen concentration in the mounting cavity meets the requirements. On the other hand, the heat released during the reaction is used to insulate or heat the shell, ensuring that the water in the mounting cavity and the water-gas separation cavity will not freeze in the low-temperature environment. This effectively avoids the technical problems of flow obstruction or even system emergency stop caused by the freezing of fluids in various channels.

[0028] The fuel cell water-gas separation device provided by this invention can separate at least a portion of hydrogen while achieving basic water-gas separation, thereby recovering hydrogen and improving hydrogen utilization. It can also achieve self-heating of the device by utilizing the exothermic reaction, which helps the fuel cell water-gas separation device to operate normally at low temperatures during cold starts or when the ambient temperature is low, without consuming energy or needing to introduce heat from the outside.

[0029] The fuel cell system and vehicle provided by this invention, due to the presence of the aforementioned fuel cell water-gas separation device, naturally possess all the above-mentioned beneficial effects. Hydrogen discharged from the hydrogen outlet channel can be reintroduced into the hydrogen inlet of the fuel cell stack, thereby improving hydrogen utilization. Furthermore, the gas discharged through the exhaust channel after being processed by the fuel cell water-gas separation device can be further treated by operating a switching valve. This gas can be referred to as pre-exhaust gas. When the hydrogen concentration of the gas discharged from the exhaust channel (pre-exhaust gas) meets the requirements, it is selected to be introduced into the mixed exhaust treatment component for unified discharge. When the hydrogen concentration of the gas discharged from the exhaust channel (pre-exhaust gas) still does not meet the requirements, the gas discharged from the exhaust channel is recycled into the recycling channel, and the air channel is opened, allowing the hydrogen in the pre-exhaust gas to react with air in the mounting chamber. The catalyst accelerates the hydrogen consumption rate, further consuming the hydrogen in the pre-exhaust gas, thereby reducing the hydrogen content below the emission requirements, resulting in exhaust gas that meets the requirements. The exhaust gas, along with the water produced from the reaction of hydrogen and air, is then introduced into the mixed exhaust treatment component through the drainage channel for unified discharge.

[0030] The fuel cell system and vehicle provided by this invention can utilize hydrogen in the pre-exhaust gas to undergo a catalytic exothermic reaction with air. This process consumes the hydrogen in the pre-exhaust gas, ensuring the safe use of hydrogen. At the same time, the heat released by the reaction heats the gas in the water-gas separation chamber and the installation chamber, as well as the water that has been separated and is attached to the inner wall or accumulated near the drainage channel. This prevents the water from freezing in low-temperature environments, enabling the fuel cell system to operate normally in different environments. Furthermore, the hydrogen in the pre-exhaust gas is used to heat and insulate the fuel cell water-gas separation device without increasing the energy consumption of additional components. This approach is both energy-saving and environmentally friendly, while also ensuring the normal operation of the fuel cell system in low-temperature environments. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fuel cell water-gas separation device provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A bottom view of the fuel cell water-gas separation device;

[0033] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the fuel cell water-gas separation device in the image;

[0034] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of the air passage of the fuel cell water-gas separator in the open state;

[0035] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of the air passage of the fuel cell water-gas separator in the closed state;

[0036] Figure 6 This refers to a portion of the assembly between the outer casing and the sleeve.

[0037] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fuel cell system provided in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0038] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1000-Fuel cell water-gas separation device; 100-Shell; 101-Water-gas separation chamber; 102-Mounting chamber; 103-Inlet channel; 104-Hydrogen outlet channel; 105-Exhaust channel; 106-Drainage channel; 107-Recovery channel; 108-Air channel; 110-Water core; 111-Core body; 112-Cover plate; 113-Water guide slope; 114-First chamber; 115-Second chamber; 120-Shell; 121-Shell body; 122-Bottom plate; 123-Side plate; 124-Shell insert; 125-Through hole; 126-Sleeve; 127-Mounting part; 128-Slot; 129-Ventilation hole; 130-Partition plate; 140-Baffle plate; 150-Water passage hole; 200-Catalyst; 300-Drive motor;

[0039] 10-Stack, 11-Hydrogen source, 12-Medium pressure sensor, 13-Hydrogen inlet valve, 14-Proportional valve, 15-Low pressure sensor at stack, 16-Hydrogen return pump, 17-Stack outlet sensor, 18-Drain valve; 19-Switching valve, 20-Mixed discharge treatment assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0040] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand this application, the technical solution of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0041] To address the safety issues related to hydrogen-containing exhaust emissions and the blockages and poor gas flow caused by high water content in channels in existing fuel cell systems, this invention provides a fuel cell water-gas separator, a fuel cell system, and a vehicle. This ensures that the hydrogen concentration in the exhaust emissions from the fuel cell stack meets requirements, while also effectively guaranteeing the normal operation of the fuel cell water-gas separator at low temperatures. The following three specific embodiments illustrate the invention in detail:

[0042] Example 1

[0043] like Figures 1-6As shown, this embodiment provides a fuel cell water-gas separation device 1000, including a housing 100, a switching component, and a catalyst 200. The housing 100 is provided with a water-gas separation chamber 101, a mounting chamber 102, an air inlet channel 103, a hydrogen outlet channel 104, an exhaust channel 105, a drainage channel 106, a recovery channel 107, and an air channel 108. The water-gas separation chamber 101 and the mounting chamber 102 are both connected to the drainage channel 106. The air inlet channel 103, the hydrogen outlet channel 104, and the exhaust channel 105 are all connected to the water-gas separation chamber 101. The air channel 108 and the recovery channel 107 are both connected to the mounting chamber 102. The air inlet channel 103 is used to connect to the tail outlet of the fuel cell stack 10, and the gas discharged from the tail outlet of the fuel cell stack 10 is generally at a relatively high temperature. At high altitudes, moisture, in the form of humidity and vapor, flows with the gas and enters the water-gas separation chamber 101. After entering the chamber, it comes into contact with the wall of the water-gas separation chamber 101 through a certain path, cools down, and adheres to the wall of the water-gas separation chamber 101, thereby separating the gas and water. The separated water is finally discharged through the drainage channel 106. The hydrogen outlet channel 104 is located above the exhaust channel 105 along the height direction. Due to the characteristics of hydrogen, hydrogen will accumulate above the water-gas separation chamber 101. As a result, hydrogen and mixed gas separate into layers due to gravity in the water-gas separation chamber 101. Hydrogen is discharged through the hydrogen outlet channel 104, and the mixed gas with at least a portion of the hydrogen is discharged through the exhaust channel 105, effectively reducing the hydrogen concentration in the mixed gas discharged from the tail outlet of the fuel cell stack 10. The switching element is used to open or close the air passage 108. The catalyst 200 is located in the mounting cavity 102 and is used to catalyze the reaction between air and hydrogen in the gas entering the mounting cavity 102 when the air passage 108 is open. The water produced by the catalytic reaction eventually accumulates in the mounting cavity 102 and is discharged through the drainage passage 106. The catalytic chemical reaction accelerates the consumption of hydrogen in the mixed gas entering the mounting cavity 102, ensuring that the hydrogen concentration in the mounting cavity 102 meets the requirements. On the other hand, the heat released during the reaction is used to keep the shell 100 warm or heat it, ensuring that the water in the mounting cavity 102 and the water-gas separation cavity 101 will not freeze in the low temperature environment. This effectively avoids the technical problem of flow obstruction or even system emergency stop caused by the freezing of fluids in various channels.

[0044] The fuel cell water-gas separation device 1000 provided in this embodiment can separate at least a portion of hydrogen while performing basic water-gas separation, thereby recovering hydrogen and improving hydrogen utilization. It can achieve self-heating of the device by utilizing the exothermic reaction, which helps the fuel cell water-gas separation device 1000 to operate normally at low temperatures during cold starts or when the ambient temperature is low, avoiding technical problems such as blockage and poor airflow. It does not consume energy and does not require the introduction of heat from the outside.

[0045] It should be noted that this embodiment does not specifically limit the source of the gas introduced into the recovery channel 107 and the installation cavity 102, and can be adapted according to actual needs. For example, in some embodiments, the recovery channel 107 can be connected to a separate gas tank filled with a pre-produced gas of a reasonable hydrogen concentration. Here, a reasonable hydrogen concentration means that the hydrogen concentration is slightly higher than the emission index, ensuring that there is enough hydrogen to catalyze the reaction with air, and that the hydrogen content of the pre-produced gas meets the emission requirements after at least some of the hydrogen has undergone catalytic reaction, thereby ensuring the safety of the emitted gas. In some embodiments, the hydrogen-containing gas introduced into the installation cavity 102 can also be the pre-exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust channel 105, to further consume the hydrogen in the pre-exhaust gas.

[0046] To achieve water-gas separation and ensure the separation effect of water and gas, as one implementation method, the housing 100 may further include a partition 130 disposed within the water-gas separation chamber 101. The partition 130 divides the water-gas separation chamber 101 into a first chamber 114 and a second chamber 115 connected by a connecting channel. The inlet channel 103 is connected to the first chamber 114, and the outlet channel 104 is connected to the second chamber 115. On the one hand, the partition 130 can increase the contact area between water and the solid structure of the housing 100 during gas flow, which is beneficial for water to adhere to the chamber wall and the partition 130, thus facilitating water-gas separation. On the other hand, the partition 130 can extend the gas flow path. The inlet channel 103 and the outlet channel 104 are located on opposite sides of the partition 130, and the gas needs to bypass the partition 130 to enter the second chamber 115, which improves the fluidity of the gas and the water attached to the gas, thus facilitating water-gas separation.

[0047] This embodiment does not specifically limit the location and formation method of the connecting channel, as long as it ensures that the gas entering through the air inlet channel 103 passes through the first chamber 114 and the connecting channel before entering the second chamber 115. For example, in some embodiments, there may be a gap between the partition 130 and the cavity wall of the water-gas separation chamber 101, and the gap constitutes the connecting channel. Or in some embodiments, the connecting channel is located on the partition 130 and / or the housing 100. For example, the connecting channel can be a through hole on the partition 130 with a closed envelope outline, or the connecting channel can be formed by the through hole with an open envelope outline on the partition 130 and the through hole with an open envelope outline on the housing 100.

[0048] To extend the path and improve the separation effect of water and gas, as well as the separation effect of hydrogen in the gas, and to match the characteristic that hydrogen will eventually accumulate at the top of the water-gas separation chamber 101, as a preferred embodiment, the air inlet channel 103 and the hydrogen outlet channel 104 are connected to the top of the water-gas separation chamber 101 along the height direction, and the exhaust channel 105 is connected to the bottom of the water-gas separation chamber 101, and the connecting channel is located at the bottom of the water-gas separation chamber 101, so that the flow path of hydrogen in the gas is approximately U-shaped.

[0049] This embodiment does not specifically limit the arrangement of the partition 130. The partition 130 can be at an angle to the vertical direction or parallel to the vertical plane.

[0050] To further improve the water-gas separation effect and optimize hydrogen separation, as a preferred embodiment, the fuel cell water-gas separation device 1000 further includes a baffle plate 140 located in the first chamber 114; the baffle plate 140 is disposed on the partition plate 130 and / or the cavity wall of the water-gas separation chamber 101. In the first chamber 114, the separation of water and gas is mainly carried out, which is mainly achieved by the contact between the gas and the partition plate 130 and the baffle plate; in the second chamber 115, the separation of hydrogen and mixed gas (mainly nitrogen) is mainly carried out by gravity settling.

[0051] This embodiment does not limit the number or arrangement of the baffles. In this embodiment, baffles are provided on the walls of both the baffle 130 and the water-air separation chamber 101 located in the first chamber 114. The baffles are tilted downwards, so that the water after cooling and condensation can drip naturally to the bottom of the water-air separation chamber under the action of gravity. Optionally, the baffle 140 and the baffle 130 can be arranged at an angle.

[0052] This embodiment does not specifically limit the specific structure of the housing 100 or the distribution between the water vapor separation chamber 101 and the mounting chamber 102. The mounting chamber 102 and the water vapor separation chamber 101 can be arranged side by side, adjacent to each other, or at least partially surrounding each other in the circumferential direction. Since the housing 100 is a whole, the local heat generated by the mounting chamber 102 can also be transferred to the position of the water vapor separation chamber 101 to heat and insulate the water vapor separation chamber 101 and each channel.

[0053] To achieve uniform heating and heat preservation and ensure effective utilization of the heat from the catalytic reaction, in a preferred embodiment, the shell 100 includes a water-containing inner core 110 and an outer shell 120 fitted over the water-containing inner core 110. A water-gas separation chamber 101 is located within the water-containing inner core 110, and the outer shell 120 is connected to the water-containing inner core 110. The outer shell 120 has an installation cavity 102, or the outer shell 120 and the outer wall of the water-containing inner core 110 together form an installation cavity 102, such that the installation cavity 102 is distributed around the periphery of the water-gas separation chamber 101, which is beneficial for heat conduction, improving the utilization rate of reaction heat and heat preservation effect.

[0054] Preferably, the catalyst 200 is arranged at intervals along the circumference of the water-gas separation chamber 101 or arranged continuously along the circumference of the water-gas separation chamber 101. For example, the catalyst 200 is arranged in a cylindrical shape, or the catalyst 200 is in particulate form to ensure that the reactant gas has a large contact area with the catalyst 200, thereby enabling efficient processing of hydrogen.

[0055] To facilitate assembly and the placement of the catalyst 200, in a preferred embodiment, the outer shell 120 includes an outer shell body 121 and an insert 124 embedded inside the outer shell body 121. The outer shell body 121 is fitted over the water inner core 110 and together with the water inner core 110 forms an installation cavity 102, with the insert 124 disposed within the installation cavity 102. The catalyst 200 is disposed between the outer shell body 121 and the insert 124, allowing the outer shell 120 to be pre-formed. Before assembling the outer shell 120 with the water inner core 110, the catalyst 200 can be pre-positioned between the outer shell body 121 and the insert 124, which are then connected and fixed to the water inner core 110. Furthermore, for drainage and venting, the cavity between the outer shell body 121 and the insert 124 communicates with a drainage channel 106.

[0056] This embodiment does not specifically limit the formation method and setting position of the air channel 108, as long as it can enable air to enter the mounting cavity 102. As a preferred embodiment, the outer shell 120 also includes a sleeve 126 sleeved outside the outer shell body 121. Both the outer shell body 121 and the sleeve 126 are provided with vent holes 129. The vent holes 129 on the outer shell body 121 and the sleeve 126 are positioned opposite each other to form the air channel 108.

[0057] This embodiment does not specifically limit the structure of the switching element or the working principle of opening or closing the air channel 108. For example, in some embodiments, the switching element can be a valve connected to the inlet of the air channel 108. As a preferred embodiment, the sleeve 126 and the outer shell 121 can adopt a rotating fit structure, with the sleeve 126 constituting the switching element. The fuel cell water-gas separation device 1000 also includes a drive assembly for driving the sleeve 126 to rotate, so that the vent hole 129 on the sleeve 126 switches between aligned and misaligned states with the vent hole 129 on the outer shell 121. In this case, it is not necessary to add an additional air tank, and the oxygen that reacts with hydrogen can be provided directly by using the air in the external environment.

[0058] To improve the catalytic reaction rate and effect of hydrogen and air, multiple vent holes 129 are provided on both the outer shell 121 and the sleeve 126. These holes can be arranged in random order or in multiple rows to increase the airflow. Furthermore, when there are multiple rows of vent holes 129, they can be set to different sizes to match the required airflow. This invention does not impose any specific limitations on these arrangements. In one embodiment, multiple rows of vent holes 129 are provided on the outer shell 121 and the sleeve 126, and all vent holes 129 are of the same size. A portion of the water vapor produced by the reaction of hydrogen and air is discharged through the air channel 108, and a portion is located in the mounting cavity 102 and discharged through the drainage channel 106.

[0059] This embodiment does not specifically limit the structure and implementation of the drive assembly, and can be adapted to meet actual needs, as long as it can enable the drive sleeve 126 to rotate relative to the outer shell 121 to open or close the air passage 108. For example, in some embodiments, as one implementation method, the drive assembly may also include a drive motor 300 and a belt (not shown in the figure) driven by the drive motor 300; the sleeve 126 is provided with a mounting part 127 for rotatably mounting the sleeve 126 to the outer shell 121, the mounting part 127 is provided with a slot 128, and the belt is disposed in the slot 128 and wound around the sleeve 126.

[0060] To further increase the contact area between hydrogen, air, and catalyst 200 within the mounting cavity 102, thereby improving reaction efficiency and ensuring sufficient hydrogen consumption and heat to prevent water freezing, in a preferred embodiment, the air inlet channel 103 is located above the recovery channel 107 along the height direction, and the insert 124 is located between the air inlet channel 103 and the recovery channel 107. The insert 124 is spaced apart from the water core 110, and the insert 124 is provided with multiple through holes 125. Since the recovery channel 107 is located below the catalyst 200, after the gas enters the mounting cavity 102, due to the light weight of hydrogen, the hydrogen flows upward and accumulates in the upper part of the mounting cavity 102, located between the insert 124 and the water core 110. The hydrogen enters between the insert 124 and the outer shell 121 through the through holes 125 and comes into contact with air and catalyst 200. Taking full advantage of the characteristics of hydrogen, the structure of the outer shell 120 is designed, considering the water-gas separation efficiency, flow resistance, and catalytic reaction efficiency.

[0061] In some embodiments, in order to increase the rate at which hydrogen enters between the insert 124 and the outer shell 121, the through holes 125 may also be configured in multiple rows, while facilitating the rapid flow of water vapor generated by the catalytic reaction to the bottom of the mounting cavity 102 of the outer shell 120.

[0062] This embodiment does not limit the connection method between the mounting cavity 102, the water-air separation cavity 101, and the drainage channel 106, and can be adapted to meet the needs based on drainage. As one implementation, the drainage channel 106 is located at the bottom of the outer casing 120; both the bottom of the water-absorbing core 110 and the bottom of the outer casing 121 are provided with through-holes 150. The water-air separation cavity 101 is connected to the mounting cavity 102 and the drainage channel 106 through the through-holes 150, so as to simultaneously discharge the water separated from the water-air mixture and the water produced by the reaction.

[0063] To facilitate the drainage of moisture from the water-air separation chamber 101, in this embodiment, the bottom of the water-air separation chamber 101 is provided with a water-guiding slope 113, and a water passage 150 is located at the lower end of the water-guiding slope 113. In some embodiments, the water-guiding slope 113 can also be provided at the position of the installation chamber 102 corresponding to the drainage channel 106.

[0064] In one embodiment, the outer shell body 121 includes a bottom plate 122 and a side plate 123 connected together, with the bottom plate 122 and the side plate 123 being spaced apart from the water-absorbing inner core 110; a drainage channel 106 is provided at the bottom of the bottom plate 122.

[0065] This embodiment does not limit the structure of the water-absorbing core 110. In this embodiment, the water-absorbing core 110 includes a connected core body 111 and a cover plate 112, and a partition plate 130 is disposed on the cover plate 112.

[0066] Example 2

[0067] Based on the same inventive concept, this embodiment provides a fuel cell system, including a fuel cell stack 10, a hydrogen supply subsystem, and an exhaust gas emission subsystem, such as... Figure 7 As shown. The hydrogen supply subsystem is connected to the hydrogen inlet of the fuel cell stack 10; the exhaust gas subsystem includes a hydrogen return pump 16, a switching valve 19, a mixing and exhaust treatment assembly 20, and the fuel cell water-gas separator 1000 in Example 1. The air inlet channel 103 of the fuel cell water-gas separator 1000 is connected to the gas outlet of the fuel cell stack 10. The inlet of the hydrogen return pump 16 is connected to the hydrogen outlet channel 104 of the fuel cell water-gas separator 1000, and the outlet of the hydrogen return pump 16 is connected to the hydrogen supply subsystem or the hydrogen inlet of the fuel cell stack 10. The air inlet of the switching valve 19 is connected to the fuel cell water-gas separator 1000. The exhaust passage 105 of the 000 is connected, and the outlet of the switching valve 19 can be selectively connected to the mixing and exhaust treatment component 20 or the recovery passage 107 of the fuel cell water-gas separator 1000; the drainage passage 106 of the fuel cell water-gas separator 1000 is connected to the mixing and exhaust treatment component 20, that is, the exhaust passage 105 can selectively discharge gas outside the housing 100 or introduce gas into the installation cavity 102 through the recovery passage 107. By controlling the conduction of the switching valve 19 and opening the air passage 108, the flow rate of hydrogen in the tail exhaust can be automatically adjusted, and the amount of hydrogen emission can be effectively controlled.

[0068] This invention does not limit or elaborate on other structures of the hydrogen supply subsystem and exhaust gas emission subsystem that are not described in detail, and any fuel cell system in the prior art can be referred to.

[0069] In this embodiment, the hydrogen supply subsystem includes a hydrogen source 11, a hydrogen inlet valve 13, and a proportional valve 14, which are sequentially connected. The outlet of the proportional valve 14 is connected to the hydrogen inlet of the fuel cell stack 10. It also includes a medium-pressure sensor 12 located between the hydrogen source 11 and the hydrogen inlet valve 13, and a low-pressure sensor 15 located between the proportional valve 14 and the fuel cell stack 10. An outlet sensor 17 is provided between the tail outlet of the fuel cell stack 10 and the inlet channel 103 of the fuel cell water-gas separator 1000. A drain valve 18 is provided between the drain channel 106 and the mixing and discharge processing assembly 20 to periodically or as needed drain water.

[0070] The fuel cell system provided by the present invention has all the above-mentioned beneficial effects because it has the above-mentioned fuel cell water-gas separation device 1000. The hydrogen gas discharged from the hydrogen outlet channel 104 can be reintroduced into the hydrogen inlet of the stack 10, thereby improving the utilization rate of hydrogen gas. Alternatively, the gas discharged through the exhaust channel 105 after being processed by the fuel cell water-gas separator 1000 can be treated by operating the switching valve 19. The gas discharged through the exhaust channel 105 can be called the pre-exhaust gas. When the hydrogen concentration of the gas discharged through the exhaust channel 105 (pre-exhaust gas) meets the requirements, it is selected to be introduced into the mixed exhaust treatment component 20 for unified discharge. When the hydrogen concentration of the gas discharged through the exhaust channel 105 (pre-exhaust gas) still does not meet the requirements, the gas discharged through the exhaust channel 105 is selected to be recovered and introduced into the recovery channel 107 and the air channel 108 is opened so that the hydrogen in the pre-exhaust gas reacts with the air in the installation cavity 102. The catalyst 200 catalyzes and accelerates the hydrogen consumption rate, further consuming the hydrogen in the pre-exhaust gas, thereby making the hydrogen content lower than the emission requirements, and obtaining the exhaust gas that meets the requirements. The exhaust gas and the water produced by the reaction of hydrogen and air are then introduced into the mixed exhaust treatment component 20 for unified discharge through the drainage channel 106.

[0071] The method of using and working principle of the fuel cell system provided by this invention are as follows:

[0072] When at room temperature and the hydrogen emission meets the requirements, the sleeve 126 is misaligned with the vent hole 129 on the outer shell 121, the air passage 108 is closed, and the catalyst 200 does not come into contact with air. The pre-exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust passage 105 directly enters the mixing and treatment assembly 20 through the switching valve 19. When the temperature is low or the hydrogen concentration sensor detects that the hydrogen emission in the pre-exhaust gas exceeds 4%, the switching valve 19 can open the dotted channel, i.e., connect the recovery channel 107. The switching valve 19 can be adjusted to control the hydrogen flow rate. At this time, the gas enters the mounting cavity 102 through the recovery channel 107 of the fuel cell water-gas separator 1000. At this time, the drive motor 300 drives the sleeve 126 to rotate until the vent hole 129 on the sleeve 126 is aligned with the vent hole 129 on the outer shell 121, thus opening the air passage 108. The heat generated by the contact reaction of the catalyst 200, air, and hydrogen can heat the water and prevent it from freezing.

[0073] Example 3

[0074] Based on the same inventive concept, this embodiment also provides a vehicle, including the fuel cell water-gas separation device 1000 of Embodiment 1 or the fuel cell system of Embodiment 2.

[0075] This invention does not specifically limit the type or category of the vehicle, and it can be any type of vehicle in the prior art, such as a passenger car, bus, or truck. Other undescribed structures of the vehicle can be referred to the relevant disclosures in the prior art, and will not be elaborated here.

[0076] In summary, the fuel cell water-gas separation device 1000, fuel cell system, and vehicle provided by this invention can reduce hydrogen in the exhaust and ensure hydrogen safety. This application, through the design and development of the fuel cell water-gas separation device 1000, considers separation efficiency and flow resistance, and combines the operating conditions of the fuel cell system under different operating conditions. It modifies the alignment of the vent holes 129 on the sleeve 126 and the outer shell 121, and controls the outlet direction of the switching valve 19, thereby achieving normal operation of the fuel cell system in different environments. This application utilizes hydrogen in the exhaust for heating, without increasing the energy consumption of unnecessary components, thus saving energy and protecting the environment while ensuring the normal operation of the fuel cell system in low-temperature environments.

[0077] The fuel cell system and vehicle provided by this invention can utilize hydrogen in the pre-exhaust gas to undergo a catalytic exothermic reaction with air. This process consumes the hydrogen in the pre-exhaust gas, ensuring the safe use of hydrogen. At the same time, the heat released by the reaction heats the gas in the water-gas separation chamber 101 and the installation chamber 102, as well as the water that has been separated and is attached to the inner wall or accumulated near the drainage channel 106. This prevents the water from freezing in low-temperature environments, enabling the fuel cell system to operate normally in different environments. Furthermore, the hydrogen in the pre-exhaust gas is used to heat and maintain the fuel cell water-gas separation device 1000 without increasing the energy consumption of additional components. This approach is both energy-saving and environmentally friendly, while also ensuring the normal operation of the fuel cell system in low-temperature environments.

[0078] Although preferred embodiments of this application have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments as well as all changes and modifications falling within the scope of this application.

[0079] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A fuel cell water-gas separation device, characterized in that, include, The housing includes a water-gas separation chamber, a mounting chamber, an air inlet channel, a hydrogen outlet channel, an exhaust channel, a drainage channel, a recovery channel, and an air channel; the water-gas separation chamber and the mounting chamber are both connected to the drainage channel; the air inlet channel, the hydrogen outlet channel, and the exhaust channel are all connected to the water-gas separation chamber; the air channel and the recovery channel are both connected to the mounting chamber. The dashed line indicates that the exhaust channel is connected to the recovery channel via the dashed line. A switching element for opening or closing the air passage; A catalyst, disposed within the mounting cavity, is used to catalyze the reaction between air and hydrogen in the gas introduced into the mounting cavity through the recovery channel when the air channel is open. Wherein: the air intake channel is used to connect to the tail exhaust port of the fuel cell stack; the hydrogen outlet channel is located above the exhaust channel along the height direction.

2. The fuel cell water-gas separation device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The housing also includes a partition disposed within the water-gas separation chamber; the partition divides the water-gas separation chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber connected by a connecting channel, the air inlet channel being connected to the first chamber and the hydrogen outlet channel being connected to the second chamber; There is a gap between the partition and the wall of the water-air separation chamber, and the gap forms the communication channel; or, the communication channel is located on the partition and / or the shell.

3. The fuel cell water-gas separation device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The air inlet channel and hydrogen outlet channel are connected to the top of the water-gas separation chamber along the height direction, and the exhaust channel is connected to the bottom of the water-gas separation chamber, with the connecting channel located at the bottom of the water-gas separation chamber.

4. The fuel cell water-gas separation device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The fuel cell water-gas separation device further includes a baffle plate located in the first cavity; the baffle plate is disposed on the partition and / or the cavity wall of the water-gas separation cavity.

5. The fuel cell water-gas separation device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The housing includes a water-absorbing inner core and an outer shell fitted outside the water-absorbing inner core. The water-air separation chamber is located in the water-absorbing inner core, and the outer shell is connected to the water-absorbing inner core. The outer shell has the mounting cavity, or the outer shell and the outer wall of the water-absorbing inner core together form the mounting cavity.

6. The fuel cell water-gas separation device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The outer shell includes an outer shell body and an insert embedded inside the outer shell body. The outer shell body is fitted over the water inner core and together with the water inner core to form the mounting cavity. The insert is disposed in the mounting cavity. The catalyst is disposed between the outer shell body and the insert.

7. The fuel cell water-gas separation device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The outer casing also includes a sleeve fitted over the outer casing body. Both the outer casing body and the sleeve are provided with vent holes, and the vent holes on the outer casing body and the sleeve are positioned opposite each other to form the air passage.

8. The fuel cell water-gas separation device as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The sleeve is rotatably engaged with the outer shell body, and the sleeve constitutes the switching component; the fuel cell water-gas separation device also includes a drive component that drives the sleeve to rotate.

9. The fuel cell water-gas separation device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, Along the height direction, the insert is located between the air intake channel and the recovery channel; the insert and the moisture core are spaced apart, and the insert is provided with multiple through holes.

10. The fuel cell water-gas separation device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The drainage channel is located at the bottom of the outer shell; the bottom of the water-absorbing inner core and the bottom of the outer shell body are both provided with water passage holes, and the water-air separation chamber is connected to the mounting cavity and the drainage channel through the water passage holes; The bottom of the water-air separation chamber is provided with a water-guiding inclined surface, and the water passage is located at the lower end of the water-guiding inclined surface.

11. A fuel cell system, characterized in that, include, fuel cell stack; The hydrogen supply subsystem is connected to the hydrogen inlet of the fuel cell stack; The exhaust gas emission subsystem includes a hydrogen return pump, a switching valve, a mixed emission treatment component, and a fuel cell water-gas separator as described in any one of claims 1-10. The inlet channel of the fuel cell water-gas separator is connected to the gas outlet of the fuel cell stack. The inlet of the hydrogen return pump is connected to the hydrogen outlet channel of the fuel cell water-gas separator, and the outlet of the hydrogen return pump is connected to the hydrogen supply subsystem or the hydrogen inlet of the fuel cell stack. The inlet of the switching valve is connected to the exhaust channel of the fuel cell water-gas separator, and the outlet of the switching valve can be selectively connected to the mixed emission treatment component or the recovery channel of the fuel cell water-gas separator. The drainage channel of the fuel cell water-gas separator is connected to the mixed emission treatment component.

12. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the fuel cell water-gas separation device according to any one of claims 1-10 or the fuel cell system according to claim 11.

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