A tank structure for preventing condensate droplets from gathering and a control method thereof

Abstract

The application provides a box structure for preventing condensate droplets from gathering and a control method thereof. The box structure comprises a box, a stack fixedly installed in the box, a top wall of the box, a hydrophobic coating arranged at the bottom of the top wall of the box, a circulating pipeline comprising an air inlet pipeline and an air outlet pipeline connected with the side wall of the box, and a drain pipeline connected with the bottom of the box. The box structure for preventing condensate droplets from gathering and the control method thereof can prevent the hydrogen concentration from being too high to cause danger, prevent water vapor in the air from condensing into droplets on the top wall of the box and gathering together to drop into electrical components to cause the electrical components to fail, and increase the reliability of the electrical components. Meanwhile, the air flow of the blowing and purging can be automatically adjusted to adapt to different environments, and the energy utilization rate can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fuel cell stack housings, and more specifically to a housing structure and control method for preventing the accumulation of condensate droplets. Background Technology

[0002] Fuel cells typically require a matching enclosure structure for fixation and protection. To prevent hydrogen leakage due to fuel cell stack malfunctions, air is usually introduced into the enclosure to dilute the hydrogen and prevent safety issues such as explosions or combustion. The air entering the enclosure has a certain humidity level depending on the surrounding environment, containing some water vapor. The fuel cell also produces a small amount of water vapor during operation. When this water vapor encounters the low temperature of the enclosure, it condenses into droplets. These droplets flowing into the fuel cell can easily damage electrical components or the stack core, affecting product safety.

[0003] In existing technologies, humidity control plates are typically added to prevent moisture from condensing into droplets on the inner wall of the enclosure. These plates effectively absorb moisture from the air. However, humidity control plates have a certain saturation limit and need to be replaced frequently. They also have the problem of not being able to cover the entire upper wall of the enclosure and increasing the weight of the fuel cell stack. Therefore, there is a need for an enclosure structure that can effectively prevent moisture from condensing into droplets without the need for humidity control plates. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to propose a box structure and control method to prevent the accumulation of condensate droplets, thereby solving the problem that water vapor in the air condenses into droplets on the upper wall of the box, which can easily affect product safety.

[0005] A housing structure for preventing the accumulation of condensate droplets, comprising: A housing, in which an electric stack is fixedly installed, the housing being used to fix and protect the electric stack; The upper wall of the box is located at the top of the box, and the bottom of the upper wall of the box is provided with a hydrophobic coating. The upper wall of the box is used to prevent the accumulation of condensate droplets. A circulation pipe, comprising an air inlet pipe and an air outlet pipe, wherein the air inlet pipe and the air outlet pipe are connected to the side wall of the housing, and the circulation pipe is used for airflow within the housing and to blow off condensate droplets from the upper wall of the housing; A drain pipe is connected to the bottom of the housing and is used to drain condensate droplets.

[0006] Preferably, an inspection electrical component is provided on one side of the fuel cell stack. The inspection electrical component is used to detect the safety of the fuel cell stack. Preferably, the air intake pipe and the exhaust pipe are located at two opposite corners of the housing. The air intake pipe is located on the side away from the inspection electrical component, and the exhaust pipe is located on the side closer to the inspection electrical component. A waterproof and breathable valve is provided at the connection point between the air intake pipe and the exhaust pipe and the housing. The waterproof and breathable valve allows for air exchange with the interior of the housing while preventing water in the air from entering the housing.

[0007] Preferably, the drain pipe is located below the exhaust pipe. Liquid droplets condensing on the upper wall of the housing are blown towards the exhaust pipe by the air from the intake pipe. Because a waterproof and breathable valve is installed at the connection between the exhaust pipe and the housing, the droplets cannot be discharged from the exhaust pipe and instead flow down the side wall and out through the drain pipe.

[0008] Preferably, a hydrogen concentration sensor is installed inside the chamber to detect the hydrogen concentration inside the chamber.

[0009] More preferably, the hydrogen concentration sensor is located at two opposite corners, different from the intake and exhaust pipes.

[0010] Preferably, the upper wall of the housing has a gradually decreasing slope along the direction of the ray formed by the air intake pipe and the exhaust pipe.

[0011] More preferably, the slope is calculated based on factors such as the water production of the fuel cell stack, ambient humidity, ambient temperature, and the hydrophobicity of the hydrophobic coating.

[0012] Preferably, the upper wall of the housing is provided with zones A, B, and C in sequence along the ray direction formed by the air intake pipe and the exhaust pipe, and the hydrophobic coating concentrations of zones A, B, and C are 30%, 50%, and 80%, respectively. More preferably, the boundary line between area A and area B, and between area B and area C, is perpendicular to the straight line formed by the intake pipe and the exhaust pipe.

[0013] More preferably, the areas of regions A, B, and C are the same.

[0014] A method for controlling a box structure is also provided, using a box structure as described in any one of the above, the steps of which include: The system detects the hydrogen concentration inside the chamber and determines whether it is below a preset safety threshold. If the hydrogen concentration is above the safety threshold, the airflow rate in the intake pipe is directly adjusted to Q4. If the hydrogen concentration is below the preset safety threshold, the airflow rate in the intake pipe is adjusted according to the current temperature: Q1 when the temperature is above or equal to 5℃; Q2 when the temperature is between -20℃ and 5℃; and Q3 when the temperature is below or equal to -20℃. Preferably, the air flow rates Q1, Q2, and Q3 are all less than the air flow rate Q4. Preferably, the specific values ​​of airflow rates Q1, Q2, and Q3 are calculated based on the condensation rate, the distribution of the hydrophobic coating, and the slope of the upper wall of the housing. More preferably, the condensation rate can be calculated using ambient temperature, humidity, and fuel cell operating temperature.

[0015] Beneficial effects: 1. This invention provides a box structure and control method for preventing the accumulation of condensate droplets. Air is introduced into the box to prevent excessive hydrogen concentration from causing danger. It can also prevent water vapor in the air from condensing into droplets on the upper wall of the box and accumulating together, dripping into electrical components and causing them to fail, thereby increasing the reliability of electrical components. At the same time, it can automatically adjust the airflow of the purging to adapt to different environments and improve energy utilization.

[0016] 2. In existing technologies, humidity control plates are typically added to prevent condensation on the inner wall of the enclosure. These plates effectively adsorb moisture from the air. However, humidity control plates have a saturation limit and require frequent replacement. They also have the drawback of not being able to cover the entire upper wall of the enclosure, increasing the weight of the fuel cell stack. This invention addresses this by creating a slope and a hydrophobic coating on the upper wall of the enclosure, with the concentration of the hydrophobic coating adjusted according to different zones. When moisture in the air condenses into droplets on the upper wall, the air blown from the intake pipe causes the droplets to flow along the hydrophobic coating towards the exhaust pipe, and then along the side wall of the enclosure into the drain pipe below the exhaust pipe. This prevents the droplets from accumulating and dripping into electrical components, causing them to malfunction. Furthermore, the slope and hydrophobic coating concentration control the flow speed and direction of the droplets, guiding them towards the drain pipe. 3. In existing technologies, to prevent excessive hydrogen concentration inside the chamber, the maximum flow rate is continuously used for purging. While this effectively controls the hydrogen concentration, it consumes a lot of energy. This invention uses a control method based on the chamber structure to automatically adjust the airflow, adapting to different environments and operating conditions. This ensures that the hydrogen concentration inside the chamber remains below the safe threshold while simultaneously improving energy utilization and reducing energy waste. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a box structure for preventing the accumulation of condensate droplets provided by the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a box structure for preventing the accumulation of condensate droplets provided by the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the upper wall of a box structure according to an embodiment of the present invention for preventing the accumulation of condensate droplets.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a control method for an embodiment of a box structure for preventing the accumulation of condensate droplets provided by the present invention.

[0021] In the diagram, 1-box body, 2-fuel cell stack, 21-inspection electrical components, 22-fuel cell stack air inlet pipe, 23-fuel cell stack air outlet pipe, 24-air compressor, 25-intercooler, 3-box body upper wall, 31-area A, 32-area B, 33-area C, 4-inlet pipe, 5-exhaust pipe, 6-drainage pipe, 7-hydrogen concentration sensor, 8-waterproof and breathable valve. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The invention will be more readily understood by referring to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and included examples. Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. In case of conflict, the definitions in this specification shall prevail.

[0023] Example 1: This invention provides a box structure and control method for preventing the accumulation of condensate droplets. Air is introduced into the box to prevent excessive hydrogen concentration from causing danger. It also prevents water vapor in the air from condensing into droplets on the upper wall of the box and accumulating together, dripping into electrical components and causing them to fail, thus increasing the reliability of electrical components. At the same time, it can automatically adjust the airflow of the purging to adapt to different environments and improve energy utilization.

[0024] like Figure 1-3 The present invention provides a box structure for preventing the accumulation of condensate droplets, comprising: The enclosure 1 contains a fuel cell stack 2, which is fixedly installed inside. An inspection electrical component 21 is installed on one side of the fuel cell stack 2. An air inlet pipe 22 and an air outlet pipe 23 are connected to the fuel cell stack 2. An air compressor 24 and an intercooler 25 are installed on the air inlet pipe 22. The enclosure also includes an upper wall 3, located at the top of the enclosure 1, with a hydrophobic coating on its bottom. A circulation pipe, comprising an intake pipe 4 and an exhaust pipe 5, is connected to the side wall of the enclosure 1. The intake pipe 4 is connected to the air inlet pipe 22 of the fuel cell stack. A drainage pipe 6 is connected to the bottom of the enclosure 1. A hydrogen concentration sensor 7 is installed inside the enclosure 1.

[0025] The intake pipe 4 and exhaust pipe 5 are located at two opposite corners of the housing 1. The intake pipe 4 is located on the side away from the inspection electrical component 21, and the exhaust pipe 5 is located on the side closer to the inspection electrical component 21. Waterproof and breathable valves 8 are installed at the connections between the intake pipe 4 and the exhaust pipe 5 and the housing 1. The drain pipe 6 is located below the exhaust pipe 5. The hydrogen concentration sensor 7 is located at two different corners from the intake pipe 4 and exhaust pipe 5. Air enters through the intake pipe 4, is blown towards the exhaust pipe 5, and exits through the exhaust pipe 5. Moisture in the air condenses into droplets on the upper wall 3 of the housing. These droplets are blown towards the exhaust pipe 5 by the air from the intake pipe 4. Because of the waterproof and breathable valve 8 at the connection between the exhaust pipe 5 and the housing 1, the droplets cannot exit through the exhaust pipe 5 and flow downwards along the side wall, exiting through the drain pipe 6.

[0026] The upper wall 3 of the housing has a gradually decreasing slope along the ray formed by the air intake pipe 4 and the exhaust pipe 5. The slope is calculated based on factors such as the water production of the fuel cell stack 2, ambient humidity, ambient temperature, and the hydrophobicity of the hydrophobic coating. In this embodiment, the slope is set to 1°. The upper wall 3 of the housing has three sections, A 31, B 32, and C 33, arranged sequentially along the ray formed by the air intake pipe 4 and the exhaust pipe 5. The hydrophobic coating concentrations of sections A 31, B 32, and C 33 are 30%, 50%, and 80%, respectively. The boundary lines between sections A 31 and B 32, and between sections B 32 and C 33, are perpendicular to the straight line formed by the air intake pipe 4 and the exhaust pipe 5. Sections A 31, B 32, and C 33 have the same area. The droplets condensed on the upper wall 3 of the box can be easily blown away by the air due to the hydrophobic coating and the slope. Depending on the concentration of the hydrophobic coating, the droplets in different areas are blown away at different speeds. The arrangement of areas A 31, B 32, and C 33 can better guide the droplets to the drain pipe 6.

[0027] like Figure 4 As shown, a method for controlling a box structure is also provided, using a box structure as described above, the steps of which include: Upon startup, the system first detects the hydrogen concentration within housing 1 to determine if it falls below a preset safety threshold. If the hydrogen concentration exceeds the safety threshold, the airflow rate in intake pipe 4 is directly adjusted to Q4 (in this embodiment, the safety threshold is 4%). If the hydrogen concentration is below the preset safety threshold, the airflow rate in intake pipe 4 is adjusted based on the current temperature: Q1 for temperatures above or equal to 5°C; Q2 for temperatures between -20°C and 5°C; and Q3 for temperatures below or equal to -20°C. Airflow rates Q1, Q2, and Q3 are all less than Q4. The specific values ​​of airflow rates Q1, Q2, and Q3 are calculated based on the condensation rate, the distribution of the hydrophobic coating, and the slope of the upper wall 3 of the housing. The condensation rate can be calculated using ambient temperature, humidity, and the operating temperature of the fuel cell stack 2. By automatically adjusting the airflow rate, the system can adapt to different environments and operating conditions, ensuring that the hydrogen concentration within housing 1 remains below the safety threshold while simultaneously improving energy utilization and reducing energy waste.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a box structure to prevent the accumulation of condensate droplets, characterized in that, The enclosure structure includes: A housing, in which an electric stack is fixedly installed, the housing being used to fix and protect the electric stack; The upper wall of the box is located at the top of the box, and the bottom of the upper wall of the box is provided with a hydrophobic coating. The upper wall of the box is used to prevent the accumulation of condensate droplets. A circulation pipe, comprising an air inlet pipe and an air outlet pipe, wherein the air inlet pipe and the air outlet pipe are connected to the side wall of the housing, and the circulation pipe is used for airflow within the housing and to blow off condensate droplets from the upper wall of the housing; A drain pipe is connected to the bottom of the housing and is used to drain condensate droplets. The chamber is equipped with a hydrogen concentration sensor to detect the hydrogen concentration inside the chamber. The upper wall of the housing is provided with a gradually decreasing slope along the direction of the ray formed by the air intake pipe and the exhaust pipe; The upper wall of the housing is provided with zones A, B, and C in sequence along the radial direction formed by the air intake pipe and the exhaust pipe, and the hydrophobic coating concentrations of zones A, B, and C are 30%, 50%, and 80%, respectively. Control methods include: The system detects the hydrogen concentration inside the chamber and determines whether it is below a preset safety threshold. If the hydrogen concentration is above the safety threshold, the airflow rate in the intake pipe is directly adjusted to Q4. If the hydrogen concentration is below the preset safety threshold, the airflow rate in the intake pipe is adjusted according to the current temperature: Q1 when the temperature is above or equal to 5℃; Q2 when the temperature is between -20℃ and 5℃; and Q3 when the temperature is below or equal to -20℃. Airflow rates Q1, Q2, and Q3 are all less than airflow rate Q4; The specific values ​​of airflow rates Q1, Q2, and Q3 are calculated based on the condensation rate, the distribution of the hydrophobic coating, and the slope of the upper wall of the enclosure. The condensation rate is calculated using ambient temperature, humidity, and fuel cell operating temperature.

2. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Inspection electrical components are provided on one side of the fuel cell stack.

3. The control method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The air intake pipe and the exhaust pipe are located at two opposite corners of the housing. The air intake pipe is located on the side away from the inspection electrical component, and the exhaust pipe is located on the side closer to the inspection electrical component. Waterproof and breathable valves are provided at the connection points of the air intake pipe and the exhaust pipe with the housing.

4. The control method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The drainage pipe is located below the exhaust pipe.

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