Hydrogen circulation system, method, device, apparatus and storage medium for fuel cell

Abstract

The application relates to a hydrogen circulation system, method, device, equipment and storage medium of a fuel cell, which comprises a stack, a hydrogen circulation pump, a first gas-liquid separator, a second gas-liquid separator and a controller; the first gas-liquid separator is provided with a first gas inlet, a first drain valve and a first liquid level sensor, and the first gas inlet is used for connecting a gas outlet of an anode side of the stack; the second gas-liquid separator is provided with a second gas inlet, a second drain valve and a second liquid level sensor, and the second gas inlet is used for connecting a gas outlet of the hydrogen circulation pump or a gas inlet of the anode side of the stack; the first liquid level sensor is used for monitoring first liquid level information of the first gas-liquid separator and feeding back to the controller; the second liquid level sensor is used for monitoring second liquid level information of the second gas-liquid separator and feeding back to the controller; and the controller is used for controlling opening and closing of the first drain valve and the second drain valve based on the first liquid level information and the second liquid level information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of fuel cell technology, and in particular to a hydrogen circulation system, method, apparatus, equipment and storage medium for a fuel cell. Background Technology

[0002] A fuel cell is a device that directly converts the chemical energy of fuel into electrical energy. Its only emission is water, causing no environmental pollution. It boasts advantages such as high power generation efficiency, long driving range, fast start-up, and environmental friendliness. It is widely used in mobile, fixed, and portable auxiliary power systems, submarines, and space shuttles, among many other fields. Compared to traditional internal combustion engines, fuel cells offer advantages such as high power density, high efficiency, and zero pollution, making them the ultimate energy form for the future.

[0003] In practical applications, because the output power of a single fuel cell is relatively low, multiple single fuel cells are usually connected in series to form a stack to meet the user's power or voltage requirements. During operation, a large amount of water is generated inside the fuel cell stack. If this water is not drained in time, it can cause flooding, leading to a decrease in fuel cell voltage and a decline in output performance. Furthermore, as the fuel cell cools down after shutdown, if a large amount of liquid water remains in the stack, the excessive amount of water can freeze at low temperatures, potentially puncturing the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and causing irreversible damage. This, in turn, reduces the reliability and durability of the fuel cell.

[0004] To address these issues, existing technologies typically involve purging the fuel cell stack during or after shutdown to remove excess liquid water. However, this method is insufficient to completely remove large amounts of liquid water, still posing risks of "flooding" the stack during operation and freezing damage at low temperatures, thus impacting the overall performance of the fuel cell.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need to provide an improved hydrogen circulation system, method, apparatus, equipment, and storage medium for fuel cells to solve the problems existing in the operation of fuel cells, thereby improving the overall performance of the fuel cell system. Summary of the Invention:

[0006] To address the aforementioned problems in the prior art, this application provides a hydrogen circulation system, method, apparatus, equipment, and storage medium for a fuel cell, thereby solving the technical problem that excessive water generated inside the fuel cell stack cannot be effectively discharged in the prior art.

[0007] To achieve this objective, the technical solution adopted in this application is:

[0008] On one hand, this application provides a hydrogen circulation system for a fuel cell, the system comprising: a fuel cell stack, a hydrogen circulation pump, a first gas-liquid separator, a second gas-liquid separator, and a controller;

[0009] The first gas-liquid separator is provided with a first air inlet, a first drain valve and a first liquid level sensor. The first air inlet is used to connect to the gas outlet on the anode side of the fuel cell stack.

[0010] The second gas-liquid separator is provided with a second air inlet, a second drain valve and a second liquid level sensor. The second air inlet is used to connect to the gas outlet of the hydrogen circulation pump or the anode side gas inlet of the fuel cell stack.

[0011] The first liquid level sensor is used to monitor the first liquid level information of the first gas-liquid separator and feed it back to the controller;

[0012] The second liquid level sensor is used to monitor the second liquid level information of the second gas-liquid separator and feed it back to the controller;

[0013] The controller is used to control the opening and closing of the first drain valve and the second drain valve based on the first liquid level information and the second liquid level information.

[0014] Furthermore, the controller is used to determine whether the liquid level in the first gas-liquid separator has reached the first preset upper limit of liquid level based on the first liquid level information; if the determination result is yes, the controller controls the first drain valve to open.

[0015] Furthermore, the controller is also used to determine whether the liquid level in the first gas-liquid separator has reached the first preset lower limit of liquid level based on the first liquid level information; if the determination result is yes, the controller controls the first drain valve to close.

[0016] Furthermore, the first liquid level information includes the first upper limit liquid level information and the first lower limit liquid level information of the first gas-liquid separator;

[0017] The first liquid level sensor is used to acquire the first liquid level upper limit information when the liquid level of the first gas-liquid separator reaches the first liquid level upper limit, and to feed the first liquid level upper limit information back to the controller;

[0018] The controller is used to control the opening of the first drain valve upon receiving the first liquid level upper limit information.

[0019] Furthermore, the first liquid level sensor is used to acquire the first liquid level lower limit information when the liquid level of the first gas-liquid separator reaches the first liquid level lower limit, and to feed back the first liquid level lower limit information to the controller;

[0020] The controller is used to control the first drain valve to close upon receiving the first liquid level lower limit information.

[0021] Furthermore, the system also includes: a hydrogen storage device, a hydrogen inlet shut-off valve, a heat exchanger, and a water inlet shut-off valve;

[0022] The heat exchanger is disposed between the hydrogen storage device and the hydrogen inlet shut-off valve;

[0023] The inlet of the heat exchanger is connected to the coolant inlet channel, and the water inlet shut-off valve is installed on the coolant inlet channel;

[0024] The heat exchanger is used to heat the hydrogen gas output from the hydrogen storage device.

[0025] The controller is also used to control the opening and closing of the inlet shut-off valve based on the second liquid level information.

[0026] Furthermore, the controller is used to: determine whether the liquid level in the second gas-liquid separator has reached the second preset upper limit of liquid level based on the second liquid level information; if the determination result is yes, control the second drain valve and the water inlet shut-off valve to open.

[0027] Furthermore, the controller is used to determine whether the liquid level in the second gas-liquid separator has reached the second preset lower limit based on the second liquid level information; if the determination result is yes, the controller controls the second drain valve and the water inlet shut-off valve to close.

[0028] Furthermore, the second liquid level information includes the second upper liquid level limit information and the second lower liquid level limit information of the second gas-liquid separator;

[0029] The second liquid level sensor is used to acquire the second liquid level upper limit information when the liquid level of the second gas-liquid separator reaches the second liquid level upper limit, and to feed the second liquid level upper limit information back to the controller;

[0030] The controller is used to control the opening of the second drain valve and the inlet shut-off valve when it receives the second upper limit liquid level information.

[0031] Furthermore, the second liquid level sensor is used to acquire the second liquid level lower limit information when the liquid level of the second gas-liquid separator reaches the second liquid level lower limit, and to feed back the second liquid level lower limit information to the controller;

[0032] The controller is used to control the second drain valve and the inlet shut-off valve to close upon receiving the second liquid level lower limit information.

[0033] On the other hand, this application also provides a control method for a hydrogen circulation system of a fuel cell, applied to the aforementioned hydrogen circulation system of a fuel cell, the method comprising:

[0034] Monitor the first liquid level information in the first gas-liquid separator and the second liquid level information in the second gas-liquid separator;

[0035] When the first liquid level reaches the first upper limit, the first drain valve is opened.

[0036] When the second liquid level reaches the upper limit of the second liquid level, control the second drain valve and the water inlet shut-off valve to open;

[0037] With the second drain valve open, determine whether the second liquid level information has reached the second lower limit of the liquid level;

[0038] If so, close the second drain valve;

[0039] With the first drain valve open, determine whether the first liquid level information has reached the first lower limit of the liquid level;

[0040] If so, control the first drain valve and the inlet shut-off valve to close.

[0041] On the other hand, this application also provides a control device for a hydrogen circulation system of a fuel cell, the device comprising:

[0042] Liquid level information monitoring module: used to monitor the first liquid level information in the first gas-liquid separator and the second liquid level information in the second gas-liquid separator;

[0043] Drain valve and inlet shut-off valve control module: used to control the opening of the first drain valve when the first liquid level information reaches the first liquid level upper limit;

[0044] The drain valve and inlet shut-off valve control module is also used to control the opening of the second drain valve and inlet shut-off valve when the second liquid level information reaches the upper limit of the second liquid level.

[0045] Second liquid level information judgment module: used to determine whether the second liquid level information has reached the second lower liquid level limit when the second drain valve is open;

[0046] The drain valve and inlet shut-off valve control module is also used to control the second drain valve to close when the output command of the second liquid level information judgment module is yes;

[0047] First liquid level information judgment module: When the first drain valve is open, judge whether the first liquid level information has reached the first lower limit of liquid level;

[0048] The drain valve and inlet shut-off valve control module is also used to control the first drain valve and the inlet shut-off valve to close when the output command of the first liquid level information judgment module is yes.

[0049] On the other hand, this application also provides an electronic device, characterized in that the device includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing at least one instruction and at least one program, the at least one instruction and the at least one program being loaded and executed by the processor to implement the control method of the hydrogen circulation system of the fuel cell as described above.

[0050] On the other hand, this application also provides a computer storage medium, characterized in that the computer storage medium stores at least one instruction and at least one program, wherein the at least one instruction and the at least one program are loaded and executed by a processor to implement the control method of the hydrogen circulation system of the fuel cell as described above.

[0051] The beneficial effects of the technical solution in this application are:

[0052] This application provides a fuel cell hydrogen circulation system that, by setting first and second gas-liquid separators in the fuel cell hydrogen circulation system, more effectively drains the water generated in the fuel cell stack, thereby avoiding the problem of excessive liquid water in the fuel cell stack, improving the voltage in the fuel cell, the reliability and durability of the fuel cell, and enhancing the overall performance of the fuel cell system.

[0053] This application improves the overall performance of the fuel cell system by installing a heat exchanger between the hydrogen storage device and the hydrogen inlet shut-off valve, and by monitoring the second liquid level information of the second gas-liquid separator to control the opening and closing of the water inlet shut-off valve. The heat exchanger increases the temperature of the hydrogen inlet, allowing the hydrogen to enter the fuel cell stack at a suitable temperature, reducing the generation of condensate in the stack, lowering the risk of the stack freezing and being damaged at low temperatures, and mitigating the problem of excessive liquid water in the stack. This improves the voltage, reliability, and durability of the fuel cell, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the fuel cell system.

[0054] This application controls the internal water volume of the gas-liquid separator by installing a liquid level sensor inside the gas-liquid separator; when the gas-liquid separator drains, a portion of the water is retained, ensuring that there is always some water in the gas-liquid separator. This portion of water isolates hydrogen, thus avoiding the waste of hydrogen and improving the utilization rate of hydrogen. Attached Figure Description

[0055] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions and advantages in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0056] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a hydrogen circulation system for a fuel cell provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0057] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another hydrogen circulation system for a fuel cell provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0058] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the control flow of a hydrogen circulation system for another fuel cell provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0059] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the control flow of a hydrogen circulation system for another fuel cell provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0060] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0061] In the figure, the corresponding reference numerals are as follows: 1 - fuel cell stack; 2 - hydrogen circulation pump; 3 - first gas-liquid separator; 4 - second gas-liquid separator; 5 - hydrogen storage device; 6 - hydrogen inlet shut-off valve; 7 - heat exchanger; 8 - water inlet shut-off valve; 9 - proportional valve; 10 - pressure sensor; 11 - ejector; 31 - first drain valve; 32 - exhaust valve; 41 - second drain valve. Detailed Implementation

[0062] This application discloses a hydrogen circulation system for a fuel cell, which can effectively drain water generated inside the fuel cell stack, thereby avoiding the problem of excessive liquid water inside the stack, thus improving the voltage of the fuel cell, improving the reliability and durability of the fuel cell, and thus enhancing the overall performance of the fuel cell system.

[0063] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0064] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of the invention described herein can be implemented in sequences other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0065] In the embodiments of this application, the hydrogen circulation pump 2 in the hydrogen circulation system can be replaced by the ejector 11, or it can be a combination of the hydrogen circulation pump 2 and the ejector 11.

[0066] Example 1

[0067] The following combination Figure 1 This application discloses a hydrogen circulation system for a fuel cell, comprising: a fuel cell stack 1, a hydrogen circulation pump 2, a first gas-liquid separator 3, a second gas-liquid separator 4, and a controller; the first gas-liquid separator 3 is provided with a first air inlet, a first drain valve 31, and a first liquid level sensor, the first air inlet being connected to the gas outlet on the anode side of the fuel cell stack 1; the second gas-liquid separator 4 is provided with a second air inlet, a second drain valve 41, and a second liquid level sensor, the second air inlet being connected to the gas outlet on the hydrogen circulation pump 2 or the gas inlet on the anode side of the fuel cell stack 1; the first liquid level sensor is used to monitor the first liquid level information of the first gas-liquid separator 3 and feed it back to the controller; the second liquid level sensor is used to monitor the second liquid level information of the second gas-liquid separator 4 and feed it back to the controller; the controller is used to control the opening and closing of the first drain valve 31 and the second drain valve 41 based on the first and second liquid level information.

[0068] In one embodiment, the second inlet of the second gas-liquid separator 4 is used to connect to the gas outlet of the hydrogen circulation pump 2. In another embodiment, the second inlet of the second gas-liquid separator 4 is used to connect to the anode-side gas inlet of the fuel cell stack 1. The connection position of the second gas-liquid separator 4 can be flexibly adjusted according to the positional relationship of each component in the hydrogen circulation system and the remaining space in the hydrogen circulation system.

[0069] By installing first and second gas-liquid separators in the hydrogen circulation system of the fuel cell, water generated in the stack can be discharged more effectively, thereby avoiding the problem of excessive liquid water in the stack. This improves the voltage, reliability, and durability of the fuel cell, and enhances the overall performance of the fuel cell system.

[0070] In one embodiment, the first gas-liquid separator 3 is further provided with an exhaust valve for discharging nitrogen gas accumulated in the fuel cell system. The hydrogen recirculation system also includes a pressure sensor for monitoring the pressure at the inlet of the fuel cell stack.

[0071] In one embodiment, the controller is used to determine whether the liquid level in the first gas-liquid separator 3 has reached a first preset upper limit based on the first liquid level information; if the determination result is yes, the controller controls the first drain valve 31 to open. The controller is also used to determine whether the liquid level in the first gas-liquid separator 3 has reached a first preset lower limit based on the first liquid level information; if the determination result is yes, the controller controls the first drain valve 31 to close.

[0072] It should be noted that the first liquid level sensor collects liquid level information in real time and feeds it back to the controller in real time. The controller then analyzes and judges the first liquid level information in real time to determine whether the first preset upper limit and the first preset lower limit of liquid level have been reached, and makes corresponding control operations, namely controlling the opening and closing of the first drain valve.

[0073] In another embodiment, the first liquid level information includes a first upper liquid level limit and a first lower liquid level limit for the first gas-liquid separator 3. A first liquid level sensor is used to acquire the first upper liquid level limit information when the liquid level of the first gas-liquid separator 3 reaches the first upper liquid level limit, and feeds this information back to the controller. The controller, upon receiving the first upper liquid level limit information, controls the first drain valve 31 to open. The first liquid level sensor is also used to acquire the first lower liquid level limit information when the liquid level of the first gas-liquid separator 3 reaches the first lower liquid level limit, and feeds this information back to the controller. The controller, upon receiving the first lower liquid level limit information, controls the first drain valve 31 to close.

[0074] It should be noted that the first liquid level sensor is a trigger-type sensor. When the liquid level of the first gas-liquid separator reaches the first upper limit or the first lower limit, the first liquid level sensor is triggered to collect the first upper limit information and the first lower limit information of the first gas-liquid separator, and feed back the first upper limit information and the first lower limit information to the controller. Based on the collected first upper limit information and first lower limit information, the controller makes corresponding control operations to control the opening and closing of the first drain valve.

[0075] In one embodiment, the hydrogen circulation system further includes: a hydrogen storage device 5, a hydrogen inlet shut-off valve 6, a heat exchanger 7, and a water inlet shut-off valve 8.

[0076] Heat exchanger 7 is located between hydrogen storage device 5 and hydrogen inlet shut-off valve 6;

[0077] The inlet of heat exchanger 7 is connected to the coolant inlet channel, and the water inlet shut-off valve 8 is installed on the coolant inlet channel;

[0078] Heat exchanger 7 is used to heat the hydrogen gas output from hydrogen storage device 5;

[0079] The controller is also used to control the opening and closing of the inlet shut-off valve 8 based on the second liquid level information.

[0080] Hydrogen gas in the hydrogen storage device 5 enters the fuel cell stack 1 through an inlet channel. A proportional valve is installed after the hydrogen inlet shut-off valve 6 within the inlet channel, which reduces the pressure of the hydrogen gas entering the fuel cell stack 1. In some embodiments, the proportional valve can be replaced by a hydrogen injector.

[0081] In one embodiment, the heat exchanger 7 is connected to a channel for coolant inlet, wherein the coolant used to heat hydrogen can be the coolant of the stack 1 heat dissipation system, the coolant of the fuel cell auxiliary heat dissipation system, or the coolant of the applied vehicle heat dissipation system.

[0082] In one embodiment, the heat exchanger 7 can be a shell-and-tube heat exchanger 7 or a plate-fin heat exchanger 7.

[0083] In a preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger 7 can be a plate heat exchanger 7. By using a plate heat exchanger 7, the heat exchange efficiency can be improved, the plate heat exchanger 7 has a long service life, and the overall structure of the hydrogen circulation system is compact and lightweight.

[0084] In one embodiment, the controller is configured to: determine whether the liquid level in the second gas-liquid separator 4 has reached a second preset upper limit based on the second liquid level information; if the determination result is yes, control the second drain valve 41 and the water inlet shut-off valve 8 to open. Furthermore, the controller is configured to: determine whether the liquid level in the second gas-liquid separator 4 has reached a second preset lower limit based on the second liquid level information; if the determination result is yes, control the second drain valve 41 and the water inlet shut-off valve 8 to close.

[0085] It should be noted that the second liquid level sensor collects liquid level information in real time and feeds the liquid level information back to the controller in real time. The controller then analyzes and judges the real-time second liquid level information to determine whether the second preset upper limit and the second preset lower limit of liquid level have been reached, and makes corresponding control operations, namely controlling the opening and closing of the second drain valve 41 and the water inlet shut-off valve 8.

[0086] In another embodiment, the second liquid level information includes upper and lower liquid level information of the second gas-liquid separator 4. The second liquid level sensor acquires the upper liquid level information when the liquid level of the second gas-liquid separator 4 reaches the upper liquid level and feeds this information back to the controller. Upon receiving the upper liquid level information, the controller controls the second drain valve 41 and the inlet shut-off valve 8 to open. Furthermore, the second liquid level sensor acquires the lower liquid level information when the liquid level of the second gas-liquid separator 4 reaches the lower liquid level and feeds this information back to the controller. Upon receiving the lower liquid level information, the controller controls the second drain valve 41 and the inlet shut-off valve 8 to close.

[0087] It should be noted that the second liquid level sensor is a trigger-type sensor. When the liquid level in the second gas-liquid separator reaches the upper or lower limit of the second liquid level, the second liquid level sensor is triggered to collect the upper and lower limit information of the second liquid level of the second gas-liquid separator and feed it back to the controller. Based on the collected upper and lower limit information of the second liquid level, the controller performs corresponding control operations, opening and closing the second drain valve 41 and the inlet shut-off valve 8.

[0088] In this embodiment, when the first liquid level of the first gas-liquid separator 3 reaches the lower limit corresponding to the first lower limit information, there is still residual water in the first gas-liquid separator 3. When the second liquid level of the second gas-liquid separator 4 reaches the lower limit corresponding to the second lower limit information, there is still residual water in the second gas-liquid separator 4. By setting the first lower limit information and the second lower limit information, a portion of the internal water is retained when the gas-liquid separator drains. This portion of water is used to isolate hydrogen in the hydrogen circulation system, thereby avoiding the waste of hydrogen and improving the utilization rate of hydrogen.

[0089] In one embodiment, the operating temperature inside the fuel cell stack 1 is 60-80°C. When the water inlet shut-off valve 8 is opened, the temperature of the hydrogen entering the fuel cell stack 1 is increased through the heat exchanger 7, thereby allowing the hydrogen to enter the fuel cell stack 1 at a suitable temperature, which reduces the generation of condensate, thereby reducing the risk of the fuel cell stack 1 freezing and being damaged at low temperatures, and alleviating the problem of excessive liquid water inside the fuel cell stack 1.

[0090] Example 2

[0091] The following combination Figure 2 This application discloses a hydrogen circulation system for a fuel cell. Embodiment 2 provides the same hydrogen circulation system as Embodiment 1, except that an ejector 11 is used instead of the hydrogen circulation pump 2. Specifically, the other parts of Embodiment 2 are the same as in Embodiment 1 and will not be described again here.

[0092] Example 2 provides a hydrogen circulation system for a fuel cell, wherein the second inlet of the second gas-liquid separator 4 is connected to the anode-side gas inlet of the fuel cell stack 1; the second gas-liquid separator 4 is also connected to the ejector 11, which is connected to the gas outlet of the first gas-liquid separator 3, and the ejector 11 is also connected to the heat exchanger 7. When the second inlet of the second gas-liquid separator 4 is connected to the anode-side gas inlet of the fuel cell stack 1, the hydrogen entering the fuel cell stack can first undergo gas-liquid separation, avoiding the presence of a large amount of condensate in the fuel cell stack, reducing the risk of the fuel cell stack freezing and being damaged at low temperatures, and thus alleviating the problem of excessive liquid water in the fuel cell stack.

[0093] Example 3

[0094] This embodiment 3 provides a hydrogen circulation system for the fuel cell provided in embodiment 1. The difference from embodiment 1 is that the first gas-liquid separator 3 and the second gas-liquid separator 4 are connected together. By connecting the first gas-liquid separator 3 and the second gas-liquid separator 4, the drainage status of the fuel cell stack can be understood more quickly, so as to prevent the excessive liquid water in the fuel cell stack from occurring.

[0095] Example 4

[0096] This embodiment 4 also provides a control method for a hydrogen circulation system of a fuel cell, applied to a hydrogen circulation system of a fuel cell, the method comprising:

[0097] S201: During the process of draining the fuel cell stack 1, acquire the first liquid level information of the first gas-liquid separator 3 and / or the second liquid level information of the second gas-liquid separator 4.

[0098] S203: Based on the first liquid level information and / or the second liquid level information, control the opening and closing of the first drain valve 31, the second drain valve 41, and the inlet shut-off valve 8.

[0099] In some embodiments, S203 includes: determining whether the liquid level in the first gas-liquid separator 3 has reached a first preset upper limit based on the first liquid level information; if so, controlling the first drain valve 31 to open. Alternatively, determining whether the liquid level in the first gas-liquid separator 3 has reached a first preset lower limit based on the first liquid level information; if so, controlling the first drain valve 31 to close.

[0100] Based on the second liquid level information, determine whether the liquid level in the second gas-liquid separator 4 has reached the second preset upper limit; if so, control the second drain valve 41 and the water inlet shut-off valve 8 to open. Based on the second liquid level information, determine whether the liquid level in the second gas-liquid separator 4 has reached the second preset lower limit; if so, control the second drain valve 41 and the water inlet shut-off valve 8 to close.

[0101] In another embodiment, S203 includes: first liquid level information including first upper liquid level information and first lower liquid level information of the first gas-liquid separator 3; when the liquid level of the first gas-liquid separator 3 reaches the first upper liquid level, controlling the first drain valve 31 to open; and controlling the first drain valve 31 to close when the liquid level of the first gas-liquid separator 3 reaches the first lower liquid level.

[0102] The second liquid level information includes the upper limit and lower limit of the second liquid level of the second gas-liquid separator 4. When the liquid level of the second gas-liquid separator 4 reaches the upper limit of the second liquid level, the second drain valve 41 and the inlet shut-off valve 8 are opened. When the liquid level of the second gas-liquid separator 4 reaches the lower limit of the second liquid level, the second drain valve 41 and the inlet shut-off valve 8 are closed.

[0103] This application also provides an electronic device, which includes a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores at least one instruction and at least one program, and the processor loads and executes the at least one instruction and at least one program to implement the control method of the hydrogen circulation system of the fuel cell as described above.

[0104] This application also provides a computer storage medium storing at least one instruction and at least one program, wherein the at least one instruction and at least one program are loaded and executed by a processor to implement the control method of the hydrogen circulation system of the fuel cell as described above.

[0105] Example 5

[0106] This application also provides a control device for a hydrogen circulation system of a fuel cell, applied to the hydrogen circulation system of a fuel cell, the device comprising:

[0107] During the process of draining fuel cell stack 1;

[0108] Water level detection unit: used to acquire the first liquid level information of the first gas-liquid separator 3 and the second liquid level information of the second gas-liquid separator 4; Drain valve control unit: based on the first liquid level information and the second liquid level information, controls the opening of the first drain valve 31 and the second drain valve 41; Inlet shut-off valve 8 control unit: based on the second liquid level information, controls the opening of the inlet shut-off valve 8.

[0109] In one embodiment, the water level determination unit determines whether the liquid level in the first gas-liquid separator 3 has reached the first preset upper limit based on the first liquid level information; if so, the drain valve control unit controls the first drain valve 31 to open. The water level determination unit also determines whether the liquid level in the first gas-liquid separator 3 has reached the first preset lower limit based on the first liquid level information; if so, the drain valve control unit controls the first drain valve 31 to close.

[0110] The water level determination unit determines whether the liquid level in the second gas-liquid separator 4 has reached the second preset upper limit based on the second liquid level information; if so, the drain valve control unit controls the second drain valve 41 and the inlet shut-off valve 8 control unit controls the inlet shut-off valve 8 to open. The water level determination unit also determines whether the liquid level in the second gas-liquid separator 4 has reached the second preset lower limit based on the second liquid level information; if so, the drain valve control unit controls the second drain valve 41 and the inlet shut-off valve 8 control unit controls the inlet shut-off valve 8 to close.

[0111] In another embodiment, the first liquid level information includes a first upper limit liquid level and a first lower limit liquid level for the first gas-liquid separator 3; when the liquid level of the first gas-liquid separator 3 reaches the first upper limit liquid level, the drain valve control unit controls the first drain valve 31 to open. When the liquid level of the first gas-liquid separator 3 reaches the first lower limit liquid level, the drain valve control unit controls the first drain valve 31 to close.

[0112] The second liquid level information includes the upper limit and lower limit of the second liquid level of the second gas-liquid separator 4. When the liquid level of the second gas-liquid separator 4 reaches the upper limit, the drain valve control unit controls the second drain valve 41 to open and the inlet shut-off valve control unit controls the inlet shut-off valve 8 to open. When the liquid level of the second gas-liquid separator 4 reaches the lower limit, the drain valve control unit controls the second drain valve 41 to close and the inlet shut-off valve control unit controls the inlet shut-off valve 8 to close.

[0113] Example 6

[0114] This application also provides a control method for a hydrogen circulation system of a fuel cell, applied to the aforementioned hydrogen circulation system of a fuel cell. This application provides method operation steps as shown in the embodiments or flowcharts, but based on conventional or non-inventive methods, more or fewer operation steps may be included. The order of steps listed in the embodiments is merely one possible execution order among many and does not represent the only execution order. In actual device, system, or equipment products, the method can be executed sequentially according to the embodiments or drawings, or in parallel (e.g., in a parallel processor or multi-threaded processing environment). Please refer to... Figure 3 and Figure 4 The methods include:

[0115] S101: Monitor the first liquid level information in the first gas-liquid separator and the second liquid level information in the second gas-liquid separator.

[0116] S102: When the first liquid level reaches the first upper limit of the liquid level, control the first drain valve to open.

[0117] S103: When the second liquid level reaches the upper limit of the second liquid level, control the second drain valve and the water inlet shut-off valve to open. It should be noted that when the water inlet shut-off valve is open, the heat exchanger is in operation, heating the hydrogen entering the fuel cell stack, so that the hydrogen enters the fuel cell stack at a suitable temperature, reducing the generation of condensate in the fuel cell stack and alleviating the problem of excessive liquid water in the fuel cell stack.

[0118] S104: When the second drain valve is open, determine whether the second liquid level information has reached the lower limit of the second liquid level.

[0119] S105: If yes, control the second drain valve to close; if no, proceed to step S101.

[0120] S106: When the first drain valve is open, determine whether the first liquid level information has reached the first lower limit of the liquid level.

[0121] S107: If yes, control the first drain valve and the inlet shut-off valve to close; if no, execute step S101.

[0122] This application monitors the first liquid level information of the first gas-liquid separator and the second liquid level information of the second gas-liquid separator, thereby controlling the opening and closing of the water inlet shut-off valve, which in turn changes the temperature of the hydrogen inlet gas. This allows the hydrogen to enter the fuel cell stack at a suitable temperature, reducing the generation of condensate in the stack and lowering the risk of the stack freezing and being damaged at low temperatures. It also alleviates the problem of excessive liquid water in the stack, thereby improving the voltage, reliability, and durability of the fuel cell and enhancing the overall performance of the fuel cell system.

[0123] In another implementation, the method further includes:

[0124] S201: Monitor the first liquid level information in the first gas-liquid separator and the second liquid level information in the second gas-liquid separator;

[0125] S202: If the first liquid level information reaches the first liquid level upper limit and the second liquid level information does not reach the second liquid level upper limit, control the first drain valve to open;

[0126] S203: With the first drain valve open, determine whether the first liquid level information has reached the first lower limit of the liquid level;

[0127] S204: If yes, control the first drain valve to close; if no, proceed to step S201.

[0128] This application, by setting up a first gas-liquid separator and a second gas-liquid separator, more effectively drains the water generated in the fuel cell stack, thereby avoiding the problem of excessive liquid water in the fuel cell stack, improving the voltage in the fuel cell, the reliability and durability of the fuel cell, and enhancing the overall performance of the fuel cell system.

[0129] In this embodiment, when the second drain valve is open, and the second liquid level reaches the second lower limit, the second drain valve is controlled to close; when the first drain valve is open, and the first liquid level reaches the first lower limit, the first drain valve is controlled to close. Specifically, when the first liquid level of the first gas-liquid separator reaches the first lower limit, there is still residual water in the first gas-liquid separator; when the second liquid level of the second gas-liquid separator reaches the second lower limit, there is still residual water in the second gas-liquid separator. Based on the first and second liquid level information, the first and second drain valves are controlled to open, so that a portion of the internal water is retained when the gas-liquid separator drains. This portion of water is used to isolate hydrogen in the hydrogen circulation system, thereby avoiding hydrogen waste and improving hydrogen utilization.

[0130] Example 7

[0131] This application also provides a control device for a hydrogen circulation system of a fuel cell, the device comprising:

[0132] Liquid level information monitoring module: used to monitor the first liquid level information in the first gas-liquid separator and the second liquid level information in the second gas-liquid separator.

[0133] Drain valve and inlet shut-off valve control module: used to control the opening of the first drain valve when the first liquid level information reaches the first liquid level upper limit.

[0134] The drain valve and inlet shut-off valve control module is also used to control the opening of the second drain valve and inlet shut-off valve when the second liquid level information reaches the upper limit of the second liquid level.

[0135] Second liquid level information judgment module: used to determine whether the second liquid level information has reached the second liquid level lower limit when the second drain valve is open.

[0136] The drain valve and inlet shut-off valve control module is also used to control the second drain valve to close when the output command of the second liquid level information judgment module is yes.

[0137] First liquid level information judgment module: When the first drain valve is open, it judges whether the first liquid level information has reached the first lower limit of the liquid level.

[0138] The drain valve and inlet shut-off valve control module is also used to control the first drain valve and inlet shut-off valve to close when the output command of the first liquid level information judgment module is yes.

[0139] The device also includes:

[0140] First drain valve control module: used to control the opening of the first drain valve when the first liquid level information reaches the first liquid level upper limit and the second liquid level information does not reach the second liquid level upper limit.

[0141] The first liquid level information judgment module is also used to determine whether the first liquid level information has reached the first liquid level lower limit when the first drain valve is open.

[0142] The first drain valve control module is also used to control the first drain valve to close when the output command of the first liquid level information judgment module is yes.

[0143] Regarding the control device in the above embodiments, the specific manner in which each module performs its operation has been described in detail in the embodiments related to the method, and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0144] On the other hand, embodiments of this application also provide an electronic device, the device including a processor and a memory, the memory storing at least one instruction and at least one program, the at least one instruction and the at least one program being loaded and executed by the processor to implement the fuel cell system power control method as described above.

[0145] Furthermore, Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the hardware structure of an electronic device for implementing the control method of the hydrogen circulation system of the fuel cell provided in the embodiments of this application is shown. The electronic device may participate in or include the apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 5 As shown, electronic device 1 may include one or more processors 902 (shown as 902a, 902b, ..., 902n in the figure) 902 (processor 902 may include, but is not limited to, a microprocessor MCU or a programmable logic device FPGA, etc.), a memory 904 for storing data, and a transmission device 906 for communication functions. In addition, it may also include: a display, an input / output interface (I / O interface), a universal serial bus (USB) port (which may be included as one of the ports of the I / O interface), a network interface, a power supply, and / or a camera. Those skilled in the art will understand that... Figure 5 The structure shown is for illustrative purposes only and does not limit the structure of the aforementioned electronic device.

[0146] It should be noted that the aforementioned one or more processors 902 and / or other data processing circuits are generally referred to herein as "data processing circuits". These data processing circuits may be wholly or partially embodied in software, hardware, firmware, or any other combination thereof. Furthermore, the data processing circuits may be a single, independent processing module, or wholly or partially integrated into any other element within the electronic device 1 (or mobile device). As involved in the embodiments of this application, the data processing circuit serves as a processor control mechanism (e.g., selection of a variable resistor termination path connected to an interface).

[0147] The memory 904 can be used to store software programs and modules of application software, such as the program instructions / data storage device corresponding to the method in the embodiments of this application. The processor 902 executes various functional applications and data processing by running the software programs and modules stored in the memory 904, thereby realizing the above-described method for controlling the loaded power of a fuel cell system. The memory 904 may include high-speed random access memory, and may also include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic storage devices, flash memory, or other non-volatile solid-state memory. In some instances, the memory 904 may further include memory remotely located relative to the processor 902, and these remote memories can be connected to the electronic device 1 via a network. Examples of such networks include, but are not limited to, the Internet, corporate intranets, local area networks, mobile communication networks, and combinations thereof.

[0148] The transmission device 906 is used to receive or send data via a network. Specific examples of the network described above may include a wireless network provided by the communication provider of the electronic device 1. In one example, the transmission device 906 includes a Network Interface Controller (NIC), which can connect to other network devices via a base station to communicate with the Internet. In another example, the transmission device 906 may be a Radio Frequency (RF) module for wireless communication with the Internet.

[0149] The display can be, for example, a touchscreen liquid crystal display (LCD) that allows a user to interact with the user interface of the electronic device 1 (or mobile device).

[0150] In this embodiment, the memory can be used to store software programs and modules. The processor executes various functional applications and data processing by running the software programs and modules stored in the memory. The memory may mainly include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system, applications required for the functions, etc.; the data storage area may store data created according to the use of the device, etc. In addition, the memory may include high-speed random access memory, and may also include non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, or other volatile solid-state storage device. Accordingly, the memory may also include a memory controller to provide the processor with access to the memory.

[0151] On the other hand, embodiments of this application also provide a computer storage medium storing at least one instruction and at least one program, wherein the at least one instruction and the at least one program are loaded and executed by a processor to implement the control method for the hydrogen circulation system of the fuel cell as described above.

[0152] Optionally, in this embodiment, the storage medium may be located at at least one of the multiple network servers in a computer network. Optionally, in this embodiment, the storage medium may include, but is not limited to, various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), portable hard drives, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0153] The beneficial effects of the technical solution in this application are:

[0154] This application improves the overall performance of the fuel cell system by installing first and second gas-liquid separators in the hydrogen circulation system of the fuel cell, which more effectively drains the water generated in the fuel cell stack, thereby avoiding the problem of excessive liquid water in the fuel cell stack.

[0155] This application improves the overall performance of the fuel cell system by installing a heat exchanger between the hydrogen storage device and the hydrogen inlet shut-off valve, and by monitoring the second liquid level information of the second gas-liquid separator to control the opening and closing of the water inlet shut-off valve. The heat exchanger increases the temperature of the hydrogen inlet, allowing the hydrogen to enter the fuel cell stack at a suitable temperature, reducing the generation of condensate in the stack, lowering the risk of the stack freezing and being damaged at low temperatures, and mitigating the problem of excessive liquid water in the stack. This improves the voltage, reliability, and durability of the fuel cell, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the fuel cell system.

[0156] This application controls the internal water volume of the gas-liquid separator by installing a liquid level sensor inside the gas-liquid separator; when the gas-liquid separator drains, a portion of the water is retained, ensuring that there is always some water in the gas-liquid separator. This portion of water isolates hydrogen, thus avoiding the waste of hydrogen and improving the utilization rate of hydrogen.

[0157] It should be noted that the order of the above embodiments of the present invention is merely for descriptive purposes and does not represent the superiority or inferiority of the embodiments. Furthermore, specific embodiments have been described above. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps described in the claims can be performed in a different order than that shown in the embodiments and still achieve the desired results.

[0158] The foregoing description has fully disclosed the specific embodiments of this application. It should be noted that any modifications made by those skilled in the art to the specific embodiments of this invention do not depart from the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the scope of the claims is not limited to the foregoing specific embodiments.

Claims

1. A hydrogen recirculation system for a fuel cell, characterized in that, The system includes: a fuel cell stack (1), a hydrogen circulation pump (2), a first gas-liquid separator (3), a second gas-liquid separator (4), and a controller; The first gas-liquid separator (3) is provided with a first air inlet, a first drain valve (31) and a first liquid level sensor. The first air inlet is used to connect to the gas outlet on the anode side of the fuel cell stack (1). The second gas-liquid separator (4) is provided with a second air inlet, a second drain valve (41) and a second liquid level sensor. The second air inlet is used to connect to the gas outlet of the hydrogen circulation pump (2) or the anode side gas inlet of the fuel cell stack (1). The first liquid level sensor is used to monitor the first liquid level information of the first gas-liquid separator (3) and feed it back to the controller; The second liquid level sensor is used to monitor the second liquid level information of the second gas-liquid separator (4) and feed it back to the controller; The controller is used to control the opening and closing of the first drain valve (31) and the second drain valve (41) based on the first liquid level information and the second liquid level information; The system also includes a hydrogen storage device (5), a hydrogen inlet shut-off valve (6), a heat exchanger (7), and a water inlet shut-off valve (8). The heat exchanger (7) is located between the hydrogen storage device (5) and the hydrogen inlet shut-off valve (6). The inlet of the heat exchanger (7) is connected to the coolant inlet channel, and the water inlet shut-off valve (8) is located on the coolant inlet channel. The heat exchanger (7) is used to heat the hydrogen gas output from the hydrogen storage device (5). The controller is also used to control the opening and closing of the water inlet shut-off valve (8) based on the second liquid level information; wherein, when the water inlet shut-off valve (8) is open, the heat exchanger (7) is in working state, and the heat exchanger (7) heats the hydrogen entering the fuel cell stack (1); The controller is used to determine whether the liquid level in the first gas-liquid separator (3) has reached the first preset upper limit of liquid level based on the first liquid level information; if the determination result is yes, the controller controls the first drain valve (31) to open; the controller is also used to determine whether the liquid level in the first gas-liquid separator (3) has reached the first preset lower limit of liquid level based on the first liquid level information; if the determination result is yes, the controller controls the first drain valve (31) to close. The controller is used to determine whether the liquid level in the second gas-liquid separator (4) has reached the second preset upper limit of liquid level based on the second liquid level information; if the determination result is yes, the controller controls the second drain valve (41) and the water inlet shut-off valve (8) to open; the controller is used to determine whether the liquid level in the second gas-liquid separator (4) has reached the second preset lower limit of liquid level based on the second liquid level information; if the determination result is yes, the controller controls the second drain valve (41) to close.

2. A control method for a hydrogen circulation system of a fuel cell, applied to the hydrogen circulation system of the fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method includes: Monitor the first liquid level information in the first gas-liquid separator and the second liquid level information in the second gas-liquid separator; When the first liquid level reaches the first upper limit, the first drain valve is opened. When the second liquid level reaches the upper limit of the second liquid level, control the second drain valve and the water inlet shut-off valve to open; With the second drain valve open, determine whether the second liquid level information has reached the second lower limit of the liquid level; If so, close the second drain valve; With the first drain valve open, determine whether the first liquid level information has reached the first lower limit of the liquid level; If so, control the first drain valve and the inlet shut-off valve to close.

3. A control device for a hydrogen circulation system of a fuel cell, characterized in that, The apparatus is used in a hydrogen recirculation system for a fuel cell according to claim 1, the apparatus comprising: Liquid level information monitoring module: used to monitor the first liquid level information in the first gas-liquid separator and the second liquid level information in the second gas-liquid separator; Drain valve and inlet shut-off valve control module: used to control the opening of the first drain valve when the first liquid level information reaches the first liquid level upper limit; The drain valve and inlet shut-off valve control module is also used to control the opening of the second drain valve and inlet shut-off valve when the second liquid level information reaches the upper limit of the second liquid level. Second liquid level information determination module: used to determine the second liquid level information when the second drain valve is open. Has the second lower limit of the liquid level been reached? The drain valve and inlet shut-off valve control module is also used to control the second drain valve to close when the output command of the second liquid level information judgment module is yes; First liquid level information judgment module: When the first drain valve is open, judge whether the first liquid level information has reached the first lower limit of liquid level; The drain valve and inlet shut-off valve control module is also used to control the first drain valve and the inlet shut-off valve to close when the output command of the first liquid level information judgment module is yes.

4. An electronic device, characterized in that, The device includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing at least one instruction and at least one program, the at least one instruction and the at least one program being loaded and executed by the processor to implement the control method of the hydrogen circulation system of the fuel cell as described in claim 2.

5. A computer storage medium, characterized in that, The computer storage medium stores at least one instruction and at least one program, which are loaded and executed by a processor to implement the control method for the hydrogen circulation system of the fuel cell as described in claim 2.

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