Stack intake humidification device, control method, fuel cell, and vehicle

Abstract

The application provides a stack air inlet humidification device, a control method, a fuel cell and a vehicle. The stack air inlet humidification device comprises an expander, a water distribution element, an atomization device and a proportional valve. The outlet of the turbine end of the expander is communicated with the inlet of the water distribution element. The water distribution element is communicated with the atomization device. The atomization device is communicated with the proportional valve. The proportional valve is communicated with the compression end of the expander. The exhaust gas discharged from the turbine end of the expander is subjected to gas-liquid separation through the water distribution element. The separated liquid water is atomized through the atomization device. The atomized liquid reaches the air inlet of the compression end of the expander through the proportional valve. The atomized liquid is vaporized after entering the compression end by absorbing the heat of the high-temperature gas at the outlet of the compression end. The purpose of controlling the humidity of the air inlet is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of fuel cell technology, and in particular relates to a fuel cell stack air intake humidification device, control method, fuel cell, and vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Fuel cell engines require a certain level of humidity in their intake air; that is, the intake air needs to be humidified and the humidity needs to be controlled within a specific range. Current fuel cell engine air intake humidification solutions primarily use humidifiers. This involves the humidified air discharged from the fuel cell stack passing through a membrane tube inside the humidifier, where water vapor permeates through the membrane tube and mixes with the dry air entering the stack, thus humidifying the dry air. Existing humidifiers have the following problems: high cost; large size; and uncontrollable humidification effect. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides a fuel cell stack air intake humidification device, control method, fuel cell and vehicle, which at least partially solves the problem of uncontrollable humidification effect in the prior art.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide an air intake humidification device for an electric fuel cell stack, comprising: an expander, a water distributor, an atomizing device, and a proportional valve. The outlet of the turbine end of the expander is connected to the inlet of the water distributor, the water distributor is connected to the atomizing device, the atomizing device is connected to the proportional valve, and the proportional valve is connected to the pressure roller end of the expander.

[0005] The exhaust gas discharged from the turbine end of the expander undergoes gas-liquid separation through a water separator. The separated liquid water is atomized by an atomizing device. The atomized liquid then passes through a proportional valve to the air inlet at the pressure roller end of the expander. After entering the pressure roller end, the atomized liquid absorbs heat from the high-temperature gas at the pressure roller end outlet and vaporizes.

[0006] Optionally, the atomizing device includes an ultrasonic oscillating plate.

[0007] Optionally, the flow rate of atomized liquid entering the pressure roller can be controlled by adjusting the opening of the proportional valve.

[0008] Optionally, it also includes an intercooler, the inlet of which is connected to the outlet of the pressure roller end, and the outlet of which is connected to the air inlet of the fuel cell stack. The intercooler is used to vaporize the liquid droplets that are not completely vaporized in the gas discharged from the pressure roller end.

[0009] Optionally, the circulating water in the intercooler comes from the water used to cool the fuel cell stack.

[0010] Secondly, this disclosure also provides a method for controlling the humidification of fuel cell stack air intake, applied to any of the fuel cell stack air intake humidification devices described in the first aspect, wherein the mass flow rate of liquid water entering the pressure roller end is calculated based on the target dew point temperature of the fuel cell stack.

[0011] Optionally, the mass flow rate of liquid water entering the pressure roller end is calculated based on the partial pressure of water vapor entering the reactor, the target dew point temperature entering the reactor, the moisture content of the entering air, the total pressure of the entering humid air, and the flow rate of the entering dry air.

[0012] Optionally, the mass flow rate of the liquid water entering the pressure roller end is calculated based on the target dew point temperature at the reactor core using the following formula:

[0013] lgPw=7.07406-(1657.46 / (T+227.02)),

[0014] d = 0.622Pw / (P-Pw),

[0015] m W =Q*d,

[0016] Where Pw is the partial pressure of water vapor entering the reactor; T is the target dew point temperature entering the reactor; d is the moisture content of the entering air; P is the total pressure of the entering moist air; Q is the flow rate of the entering dry air; m W To control the mass flow rate of liquid water entering the air compressor.

[0017] Thirdly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a fuel cell, including the stack air intake humidification device described in any of the first aspects.

[0018] Fourthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a vehicle including the fuel cell stack air intake humidification device described in any of the first aspects.

[0019] The present invention provides a fuel cell stack air intake humidification device, a control method, a fuel cell, and a vehicle. The fuel cell stack air intake humidification device, by installing a water distributor, an atomizing device, and a proportional valve between the turbine end and the pressure wheel end of the expander, atomizes the liquid discharged from the turbine end to humidify the air entering the fuel cell stack, and controls the flow rate by adjusting the opening of the proportional valve, thereby achieving the purpose of controlling the intake air humidity. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The above and other objects, features and advantages of this disclosure will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals generally denote like parts.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of the fuel cell stack air intake humidification device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] It should be understood that the following specific examples illustrate the implementation of this disclosure, and those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of this disclosure from the content disclosed in this specification. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this disclosure, and not all of them. This disclosure can also be implemented or applied through other different specific implementation methods, and the details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other. Based on the embodiments in this disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0024] It should be noted that various aspects of embodiments within the scope of the appended claims are described below. It will be apparent that the aspects described herein can be embodied in a wide variety of forms, and any particular structure and / or function described herein is merely illustrative. Based on this disclosure, those skilled in the art will understand that one aspect described herein can be implemented independently of any other aspect, and two or more of these aspects can be combined in various ways. For example, any number of aspects set forth herein can be used to implement the device and / or practice the method. Additionally, this device and / or method can be implemented using structures and / or functionalities other than one or more of the aspects set forth herein.

[0025] It should also be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic representations of the basic concept of this disclosure. The illustrations only show the components related to this disclosure and are not drawn according to the number, shape and size of the components in actual implementation. In actual implementation, the form, quantity and proportion of each component can be arbitrarily changed, and the layout of the components may also be more complex.

[0026] Furthermore, specific details are provided in the following description to facilitate a thorough understanding of the examples. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the described aspects can be practiced without these specific details.

[0027] For ease of understanding, such as Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment discloses an air intake humidification device for an electric fuel cell stack, comprising: an expander, a water distributor, an atomizing device, and a proportional valve. The outlet of the turbine end of the expander is connected to the inlet of the water distributor, the water distributor is connected to the atomizing device, the atomizing device is connected to the proportional valve, and the proportional valve is connected to the pressure roller end of the expander.

[0028] The exhaust gas discharged from the turbine end of the expander undergoes gas-liquid separation through a water separator. The separated liquid water is atomized by an atomizing device. The atomized liquid then passes through a proportional valve to the air inlet at the pressure roller end of the expander. After entering the pressure roller end, the atomized liquid absorbs heat from the high-temperature gas at the pressure roller end outlet and vaporizes.

[0029] The proportional valve is adjustable in position before and after the atomizing device. It can be used to control the flow rate of the liquid after atomization after the atomizing device, or it can be used to control the flow rate of the liquid entering the atomizing device before the atomizing device.

[0030] Optionally, the atomizing device includes an ultrasonic oscillating plate.

[0031] Optionally, the flow rate of atomized liquid entering the pressure roller can be controlled by adjusting the opening of the proportional valve.

[0032] Optionally, it also includes an intercooler, the inlet of which is connected to the outlet of the pressure roller end, and the outlet of which is connected to the air inlet of the fuel cell stack. The intercooler is used to vaporize the liquid droplets that are not completely vaporized in the gas discharged from the pressure roller end.

[0033] Optionally, the circulating water in the intercooler comes from the water used to cool the fuel cell stack.

[0034] The turbine outlet is sequentially connected to a water separator, an atomizing device, and a proportional valve to the compressor inlet. The water separator can be centrifugal or other types, and its function is to separate the exhaust gas from the turbine. The gas is discharged into the atmosphere, while the liquid water (water mist or small droplets containing a small amount of air) is atomized by an atomizing device, which can be an ultrasonic vibrating plate (high-frequency oscillation atomizes the liquid water). The atomized liquid passes through an adjustable proportional valve to the air compressor inlet. By controlling the opening of the proportional valve, the flow rate of atomized water from the expander to the air compressor is controlled. The atomized liquid (water mist) mixes with the filtered air and enters the compressor end together, absorbing heat from the high-temperature gas at the compressor outlet and vaporizing, increasing the humidity of the air at the compressor outlet while lowering the temperature. The remaining unvaporized droplets further pass through an intercooler, absorbing heat from the intercooler and vaporizing completely. The circulating water in the intercooler can come from the fuel cell stack cooling water.

[0035] The mass flow rate of liquid water entering the pressure roller end is calculated based on the target dew point temperature of the reactor core.

[0036] Optionally, the mass flow rate of liquid water entering the pressure roller end is calculated based on the partial pressure of water vapor entering the reactor, the target dew point temperature entering the reactor, the moisture content of the entering air, the total pressure of the entering humid air, and the flow rate of the entering dry air.

[0037] Optionally, the mass flow rate of the liquid water entering the pressure roller end is calculated based on the target dew point temperature at the reactor core using the following formula:

[0038] lgPw=7.07406-(1657.46 / (T+227.02)),

[0039] d = 0.622Pw / (P-Pw),

[0040] m W =Q*d,

[0041] Where Pw is the partial pressure of steam entering the reactor, in kPaA;

[0042] T represents the target dew point temperature at the reactor inlet, in °C.

[0043] d represents the moisture content of the incoming air, expressed in kg / kg.

[0044] P is the total pressure of the incoming wet air, in kPaA;

[0045] Q represents the dry air flow rate into the reactor, measured in kg / s.

[0046] m W To control the mass flow rate of liquid water entering the air compressor, the unit is kg / s;

[0047] This embodiment also discloses a fuel cell, including a stack air inlet humidification device.

[0048] This embodiment also discloses a vehicle, including an air intake humidification device for an electric stack.

[0049] The intake humidification device in this embodiment utilizes a tail drain recirculation method, adding a branch to the turbine exhaust port and the pressure wheel intake port. Liquid water is separated from the exhaust air by a steam-water separator, atomized by an atomizing device, and the flow rate of liquid water (water mist or small droplets) entering the pressure wheel is controlled by the opening of a proportional valve. The intercooler further absorbs heat and vaporizes the liquid water to achieve the purpose of controlling the intake humidity.

[0050] The basic principles of this disclosure have been described above with reference to specific embodiments. However, it should be noted that the advantages, benefits, and effects mentioned in this disclosure are merely examples and not limitations, and should not be considered as essential features of each embodiment of this disclosure. Furthermore, the specific details disclosed above are for illustrative and facilitative purposes only, and are not limitations. These details do not limit the scope of this disclosure to the necessity of employing the aforementioned specific details for implementation.

[0051] In this disclosure, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Words such as "including," "comprising," "having," etc., are open-ended terms meaning "including but not limited to," and are used interchangeably with them. The terms "or" and "and" as used herein refer to the terms "and / or," and are used interchangeably with them unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise. The term "such as" as used herein refers to the phrase "such as but not limited to," and is used interchangeably with it.

[0052] Additionally, as used herein, the “or” used in a list of items beginning with “at least one” indicates a separate list, such that a list of, for example, “at least one of A, B, or C” means A or B or C, or AB or AC or BC, or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Furthermore, the word “exemplary” does not imply that the described example is preferred or better than other examples.

[0053] It should also be noted that in the systems and methods of this disclosure, the components or steps can be decomposed and / or recombined. These decompositions and / or recombinations should be considered as equivalent solutions to this disclosure.

[0054] Various changes, substitutions, and modifications can be made to the technology described herein without departing from the teachings defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, the scope of the claims of this disclosure is not limited to the specific aspects of the processes, machines, manufactures, events, means, methods, and actions described above. Currently existing or later-developed processes, machines, manufactures, events, means, methods, or actions that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding aspects described herein can be utilized. Therefore, the appended claims include such processes, machines, manufactures, events, means, methods, or actions within their scope.

[0055] The above description of the disclosed aspects is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use this disclosure. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but rather to be carried out within the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

[0056] The above description has been given for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, this description is not intended to limit the embodiments of this disclosure to the forms disclosed herein. Although numerous exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those skilled in the art will recognize certain variations, modifications, alterations, additions, and sub-combinations therein.

Claims

1. A fuel cell stack air intake humidification device, characterized in that, include: The expander comprises an expander, a water distributor, an atomizing device, and a proportional valve. The outlet of the expander's turbine end is connected to the inlet of the water distributor. The water distributor is connected to the atomizing device. The atomizing device is connected to the proportional valve. The proportional valve is connected to the pressure roller end of the expander. The exhaust gas discharged from the turbine end of the expander is separated into gas and liquid by a water separator. The separated liquid water is atomized by an atomizing device. The atomized liquid reaches the air inlet of the pressure roller end of the expander through a proportional valve. After entering the pressure roller end, the atomized liquid absorbs the heat of the high-temperature gas at the outlet of the pressure roller end and vaporizes. The fuel cell stack air intake humidification device also includes an intercooler. The inlet of the intercooler is connected to the outlet of the pressure roller end, and the outlet of the intercooler is connected to the air inlet of the fuel cell stack. The intercooler is used to vaporize the liquid droplets that are not completely vaporized in the gas discharged from the pressure roller end. The control method applied to the fuel cell stack inlet humidification device calculates the mass flow rate of liquid water entering the pressure roller end based on the target dew point temperature entering the stack. The calculation formula is as follows: lgPw=7.07406-(1657.46 / (T+227.02)), d=0.622Pw / (P-Pw) mW=Q*d, Where Pw is the partial pressure of water vapor entering the reactor; T is the target dew point temperature entering the reactor; d is the moisture content of the air entering the reactor; P is the total pressure of the humid air entering the reactor; Q is the flow rate of the dry air entering the reactor; and mW is the mass flow rate of liquid water entering the air compressor.

2. The fuel cell stack air intake humidification device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The atomizing device includes an ultrasonic oscillating plate.

3. The fuel cell stack air intake humidification device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flow rate of atomized liquid entering the pressure roller is controlled by adjusting the opening of the proportional valve.

4. The fuel cell stack air intake humidification device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The circulating water in the intercooler comes from the water used to cool the fuel cell stack.

5. The fuel cell stack air intake humidification device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mass flow rate of liquid water entering the pressure roller end is calculated based on the partial pressure of water vapor entering the reactor, the target dew point temperature entering the reactor, the moisture content of the entering air, the total pressure of the entering humid air, and the flow rate of the entering dry air.

6. A fuel cell, characterized in that, Includes a fuel cell stack air intake humidification device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes a fuel cell stack air intake humidification device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5.

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