Fuel cell cold start test bench and test method

Abstract

The invention relates to a fuel cell cold start test bench and a test method, and belongs to the technical field of fuel cells. The fuel cell cold start test bench comprises an electric pile test station; the gas supply module, the first branch and the second branch are arranged between the gas supply device and the gas supply pipeline in parallel, three interfaces of the three-way regulating valve are respectively communicated with an outlet of the gas supply device, an inlet of the first branch and an inlet of the second branch, the second branch is provided with an air pre-cooling device, and the third branch is in bypass connection with the gas supply pipeline. The third branch is provided with a first switch valve, and the air supply pipeline is provided with a second switch valve. The invention further provides a cold start test method of the fuel cell, the fuel cell cold start test bench is applied, the cold start process of the fuel cell is truly simulated, and effective reference data is provided for improving the cold start performance of the fuel cell.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of fuel cell technology, and in particular to a fuel cell cold start test bench and a test method. Background Art

[0002] A fuel cell is a chemical device that converts the chemical energy of fuel directly into electrical energy. It has the advantages of being pollution-free, noise-free, and having high power generation efficiency. It has good application prospects in the fields of aerospace, electric vehicles, etc.

[0003] With the rapid popularization of fuel cell engine systems, the requirements for the cold start capability of fuel cells are getting higher and higher, including lower minimum start temperature, shorter start time, and less start energy consumption. In order to improve the cold start performance of fuel cells, it is usually necessary to simulate the cold start process and conditions on the stack test bench and perform a series of cold start tests on the stack to study the related technologies of cold start. However, the common stack test benches currently cannot truly simulate the cold start process of fuel cells, and there are no related test methods. Summary of the invention

[0004] To this end, the present application proposes a fuel cell cold start test bench and test method, which can quickly adjust the temperature parameters of the gas entering the stack, truly simulate the cold start process of the fuel cell, and obtain test data that fits the actual process through testing, thereby providing effective reference data for improving the cold start performance of the fuel cell.

[0005] The fuel cell cold start test bench of the first aspect embodiment of the present application includes: a stack test station for placing the stack; a gas supply module, including a gas supply device, a three-way regulating valve, a first branch, a second branch, a third branch, a gas supply pipe and a tail exhaust pipe, the first branch and the second branch are arranged in parallel between the gas supply device and the gas supply pipe, the three interfaces of the three-way regulating valve are respectively connected to the outlet of the gas supply device, the inlet of the first branch and the inlet of the second branch, the second branch is provided with an air precooling device, the gas supply pipe is connected to the air inlet of the stack, the third branch is bypassed by the gas supply pipe, and the end merges into the tail exhaust pipe, the tail exhaust pipe is connected to the gas outlet of the stack, the third branch is provided with a first switch valve, and the gas supply pipe is provided with a second switch valve.

[0006] Optionally, in the preparatory start mode, the gas supply device is connected to the first branch and not connected to the second branch, the first switch valve is opened, and the second switch valve is closed; in the cold start mode, the gas supply device is connected to both the first branch and the second branch, the first switch valve is closed, and the second switch valve is opened.

[0007] Optionally, the gas supply module also includes a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor and a third temperature sensor, the first temperature sensor is arranged on the pipeline between the gas supply device and the three-way regulating valve, the second temperature sensor is arranged on the second branch, and the third temperature sensor is arranged on the gas supply pipeline; the three-way regulating valve is configured to adjust the flow ratio of the first branch and the second branch so that the gas temperature detected by the third temperature sensor is within a preset range.

[0008] Optionally, the fuel cell cold start test bench also includes: a thermal management module, including a heat exchanger, a cooling water inlet pipe and a cooling water outlet pipe, the cooling water inlet pipe connects the heat exchanger and the cooling water inlet of the stack test station, the cooling water outlet pipe connects the cooling water outlet of the stack test station and the heat exchanger, and a fourth temperature sensor is arranged on the cooling water outlet pipe.

[0009] Optionally, the gas supply pipeline is provided with a third temperature sensor, and a preset temperature range of the third temperature sensor is configured to change in real time according to the water temperature detected by the fourth temperature sensor.

[0010] Optionally, the gas providing device includes a gas source and a mass flow control valve, and the mass flow control valve is arranged at the outlet side of the gas source.

[0011] Optionally, one-way valves are provided on both the first branch and the third branch.

[0012] Optionally, a tail exhaust valve is provided on the tail exhaust pipe, and the third branch merges into the outlet side of the tail exhaust valve.

[0013] Optionally, a flow meter is provided on the second branch.

[0014] Optionally, two gas supply modules are provided, one of which is an anode gas supply module and the other is a cathode gas supply module. The anode gas supply module is used to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell stack, and the cathode gas supply module is used to provide compressed air to the fuel cell stack.

[0015] The cold start test method of a fuel cell in the second embodiment of the present application uses the fuel cell cold start test bench described in the first embodiment of the present application, comprising:

[0016] In the preparatory start-up mode, the gas supply device is connected to the first branch and is not connected to the second branch, the first switch valve is opened, and the second switch valve is closed;

[0017] In the cold start mode, the gas supply device is connected to both the first branch and the second branch, the first switch valve is closed, and the second switch valve is opened.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, this solution has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] The fuel cell cold start test bench of the embodiment of the present application connects the first branch and the second branch in parallel through a three-way regulating valve, and an air precooling device is arranged on the second branch. The flow ratio of the first branch and the second branch is controlled by the three-way regulating valve, so as to adjust the flow of the uncooled gas and the flow of the cooled gas, and adjust the temperature of the mixed gas in the gas supply pipeline to a preset range. The three-way regulating valve can be used to quickly adjust the flow ratio of the first branch and the second branch, so as to quickly adjust the gas supply temperature of the gas supply pipeline, more realistically simulate the cold start process of the fuel cell, and provide effective reference data for improving the cold start performance of the fuel cell.

[0020] Additional aspects and advantages of the present application will be given in part in the description below, and in part will become apparent from the description below, or will be learned through the practice of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show certain embodiments of the present application and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a fuel cell cold start test bench provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0023] Icons: 100-fuel cell cold start test bench; 110-fuel cell stack test station; 120-gas supply module; 121-gas supply device; 1211-gas source; 1212-mass flow control valve; 122-three-way regulating valve; 123-first branch; 1231-first check valve; 124-second branch; 1241-air precooling device; 1242-second temperature sensor; 1243-flow meter; 125-third branch; 1251-first switch valve; 1252- The second one-way valve; 126-gas supply pipeline; 1261-the second switch valve; 1262-the third temperature sensor; 127-the tail exhaust pipeline; 1271-the back pressure valve; 1272-the pulse valve; 128-the first temperature sensor; 130-the thermal management module; 131-the heat exchanger; 132-the cooling water inlet pipe; 133-the cooling water outlet pipe; 134-the fourth temperature sensor; 135-the circulation pump; 141-the anode gas supply module; 142-the cathode gas supply module; 200-the fuel cell stack. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present application described and shown in the drawings here can be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0025] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present application provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the present application for which protection is sought, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in the field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0026] like Figure 1 As shown, the fuel cell cold start test bench 100 of some embodiments of the present application includes a fuel cell stack test station 110 and a gas supply module 120. The fuel cell stack test station 110 is used to place the fuel cell stack 200. The gas supply module 120 includes a gas supply device 121, a three-way regulating valve 122, a first branch 123, a second branch 124, a third branch 125, a gas supply pipe 126 and a tail exhaust pipe 127. The first branch 123 and the second branch 124 are arranged in parallel between the gas providing device 121 and the gas supply pipeline 126. The three interfaces of the three-way regulating valve 122 are respectively connected to the outlet of the gas providing device 121, the inlet of the first branch 123 and the inlet of the second branch 124. The second branch 124 is provided with an air precooling device 1241. The gas supply pipeline 126 is connected to the air inlet of the fuel cell stack 200. The third branch 125 is connected to the gas supply pipeline 126 and the end thereof merges into the tail exhaust pipeline 127. The tail exhaust pipeline 127 is connected to the air outlet of the fuel cell stack 200. The third branch 125 is provided with a first switch valve 1251, and the gas supply pipeline 126 is provided with a second switch valve 1261.

[0027] The fuel cell cold start test bench 100 of the embodiment of the present application connects the first branch 123 and the second branch 124 in parallel through the three-way regulating valve 122, and an air precooling device 1241 is arranged on the second branch 124. The flow ratio of the first branch 123 and the second branch 124 is controlled by the three-way regulating valve 122, so as to adjust the flow of the uncooled gas and the flow of the cooled gas, and adjust the temperature of the mixed gas in the gas supply pipeline 126 to a preset range. The three-way regulating valve 122 can be used to quickly adjust the flow ratio of the first branch 123 and the second branch 124, so as to quickly adjust the gas supply temperature of the gas supply pipeline 126, so as to more realistically simulate the cold start process of the fuel cell, and provide effective reference data for improving the cold start performance of the fuel cell.

[0028] In some embodiments of the present application, two gas supply modules 120 are provided, one of which is an anode gas supply module 141 and the other is a cathode gas supply module 142. The anode gas supply module 141 is used to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell stack 200, and the cathode gas supply module 142 is used to provide compressed air to the fuel cell stack 200.

[0029] The gas supply pipeline 126 of the anode gas supply module 141 delivers hydrogen to the anode of the fuel cell stack 200 , and the gas supply pipeline 126 of the cathode gas supply module 142 delivers compressed air to the cathode of the fuel cell stack 200 , and the inlet temperatures of hydrogen and compressed air are quickly adjusted through their respective three-way regulating valves 122 .

[0030] The fuel cell stack 200 is a hydrogen fuel cell that converts chemical energy into electrical energy through the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen.

[0031] For ease of description, the embodiment of the present application takes the cathode gas supply module 142 as an example to specifically illustrate the structure of the gas supply module 120 .

[0032] In other embodiments, the fuel cell cold start test bench 100 may also be applicable to cold start tests of other types of fuel cells.

[0033] In some embodiments of the present application, in the preparatory start mode, the gas providing device 121 is connected to the first branch 123 and is not connected to the second branch 124, the first switch valve 1251 is opened, and the second switch valve 1261 is closed; in the cold start mode, the gas providing device 121 is connected to both the first branch 123 and the second branch 124, the first switch valve 1251 is closed, and the second switch valve 1261 is opened.

[0034] In the preparatory start-up mode, the gas provided by the gas providing device 121 enters the gas supply pipe 126 through the first branch 123, and then enters the bypass third branch 125 to achieve normal gas flow, pre-cooling the first branch 123 to the target temperature, and does not enter the fuel cell stack 200, but is directly discharged into the tail exhaust pipe 127.

[0035] In the cold start mode, the gas provided by the gas providing device 121 passes through the first branch 123 and the second branch 124 at the same time, and is cooled by the air pre-cooling device 1241 in the second branch 124. The cold and hot gases are combined into the gas supply pipeline 126 and are sent into the fuel cell stack 200 by the gas supply pipeline 126.

[0036] In some embodiments of the present application, the gas supply module 120 also includes a first temperature sensor 128, a second temperature sensor 1242 and a third temperature sensor 1262. The first temperature sensor 128 is arranged on the pipeline between the gas supply device 121 and the three-way regulating valve 122, the second temperature sensor 1242 is arranged on the second branch 124, and the third temperature sensor 1262 is arranged on the gas supply pipeline 126; the three-way regulating valve 122 is configured to adjust the flow ratio of the first branch 123 and the second branch 124 so that the gas temperature detected by the third temperature sensor 1262 is within a preset range.

[0037] Specifically, the second temperature sensor 1242 is arranged on the outlet side of the air precooling device 1241, and is used to detect the temperature of the gas after being cooled by the air precooling device 1241; the third temperature sensor 1262 is arranged in the gas supply pipe 126 and close to the confluence of the first branch 123 and the second branch 124 to accurately detect the temperature of the mixed cold and hot gas.

[0038] In some embodiments of the present application, the fuel cell cold start test bench 100 also includes a thermal management module 130, including a heat exchanger 131, a cooling water inlet pipe 132 and a cooling water outlet pipe 133, the cooling water inlet pipe 132 connects the heat exchanger 131 and the cooling water inlet of the stack test station 110, the cooling water outlet pipe 133 connects the cooling water outlet of the stack test station 110 and the heat exchanger 131, and a fourth temperature sensor 134 is arranged on the cooling water outlet pipe 133.

[0039] The cooling medium can be water or other coolants. A circulating pump 135 is also provided on the cooling water inlet pipe 132. The stack test station 110 is provided with a circulating water cooling pipe. The cooling water inlet pipe 132 is connected to the water inlet of the circulating water cooling pipe, and the water outlet of the circulating water cooling pipe is connected to the cooling water outlet pipe 133.

[0040] The fourth temperature sensor 134 is used to detect the water temperature of the cooling water outlet pipe 133, that is, the outlet water temperature after cooling the fuel cell stack.

[0041] In some embodiments of the present application, the preset temperature range of the third temperature sensor 1262 is configured to change in real time according to the water temperature detected by the fourth temperature sensor 134 .

[0042] During the cold start of the battery stack, the temperature of the battery stack 200 and the temperature of the battery stack cooling water will gradually increase as the battery stack 200 generates heat. In the actual process, the temperature of the air supply entering the battery stack 200 will also change with the change of the cooling water temperature. The air supply temperature of the air supply pipeline 126 needs to change in real time with the cooling water outlet temperature, that is, the target temperature range of the third temperature sensor 1262 changes in real time with the temperature measured by the fourth temperature sensor 134.

[0043] In some embodiments of the present application, the gas providing device 121 includes a gas source 1211 and a mass flow control valve 1212 , and the mass flow control valve 1212 is disposed at the outlet side of the gas source 1211 .

[0044] The gas supply of the gas source 1211 can be adjusted by the mass flow control valve 1212 .

[0045] In some embodiments of the present application, one-way valves are provided on both the first branch 123 and the third branch 125 .

[0046] Specifically, the first branch 123 is provided with a first one-way valve 1231 , and the third branch 125 is provided with a second one-way valve 1252 .

[0047] By providing a one-way valve, it is possible to prevent gas from flowing in the first branch 123 and the third branch 125 in the reverse direction.

[0048] In some embodiments of the present application, a tail exhaust valve is provided on the tail exhaust pipe 127, and the third branch 125 merges into the outlet side of the tail exhaust valve.

[0049] For the cathode gas supply module 142, a back pressure valve 1271 is provided on the tail exhaust pipe 127, and the third branch 125 merges into the outlet side of the back pressure valve 1271; for the anode gas supply module 141, a pulse valve 1272 is provided on the tail exhaust pipe 127, and the third branch 125 merges into the outlet side of the pulse valve 1272.

[0050] In some embodiments of the present application, a flow meter 1243 is provided on the second branch 124 .

[0051] By detecting the flow rate of the second branch 124 , the flow rate of the gas passing through the air precooling device 1241 can be known, providing a data reference for calibrating the flow rate ratio between the first branch 123 and the second branch 124 .

[0052] The cold start test method of a fuel cell in some embodiments of the present application uses a fuel cell cold start test bench 100, comprising:

[0053] In the preparatory start-up mode, the gas supply device 121 is connected to the first branch 123 and is not connected to the second branch 124, the first switch valve 1251 is opened, and the second switch valve 1261 is closed;

[0054] In the cold start mode, the gas providing device 121 is connected to both the first branch 123 and the second branch 124 , the first switch valve 1251 is closed, and the second switch valve 1261 is opened.

[0055] In some embodiments of the present application, before the preparatory start mode, the cold start test method of the fuel cell further includes a stack precooling mode.

[0056] In the stack precooling mode, the thermal management module 130 is turned on to make the stack 200 reach the target cold start temperature after a certain period of time, and the air precooling is turned on simultaneously. Before the stack 200 is started, the first switch valve 1251 and the second switch valve 1261 are both in the closed state.

[0057] In the preparatory start-up mode, the mass flow control valve 1212 is opened to control the flow of the gas source 1211, the first switch valve 1251 is opened, and the second switch valve 1261 is in a closed state, so that air flows, and the first branch 123 is precooled to the target temperature, and is directly discharged into the tail exhaust pipe 127 without passing through the fuel cell stack 200.

[0058] When the fuel cell stack 200 is cold started, the first switch valve 1251 is closed, the second switch valve 1261 is opened, the three-way regulating valve 122 controls the gas flow into the second branch 124 for pre-cooling, and the mixed gas of the first branch 123 and the second branch 124 enters the fuel cell stack 200 through the gas supply pipe 126.

[0059] It can be understood that the flow rate of the first branch 123 is Q1, the flow rate of the second branch 124 is Q2, and the opening of the three-way regulating valve 122 is K. It is necessary to calibrate the opening flow characteristics of Q1, Q2 and K first to obtain the relationship between the three parameters. Under different temperatures and flow rates, the relationship between the three parameters is relatively complex. According to the data measured during the test, several points can be taken within the test range for calibration fitting to obtain the relationship between the three parameters, which is recorded as Q2=f(Q, Q1, K).

[0060] The temperatures detected by the first temperature sensor 128 , the second temperature sensor 1242 , the third temperature sensor 1262 , and the fourth temperature sensor 134 are T1 , T2 , T3 , and T4 , respectively.

[0061] In the actual test process, since the precooling capacity of the air precooling device 1241 is large enough, T2 is proposed to be a constant parameter, and the temperature of the first branch 123 is the same as T1;

[0062] In the test temperature range, the change of air heat capacity is small and is not considered, and the result is:

[0063] Among them, Q = Q1 + Q2, then

[0064] The target adjustment temperature of T3 is related to the measured temperature of T4 and changes in real time with T4. After Q2 is calculated based on Q, T1, T2 and T3, the valve opening K is adjusted according to Q2=f(Q, Q1, K) to achieve rapid change of the inlet temperature.

[0065] The fuel cell cold start test bench 100 of the embodiment of the present application adds a three-way regulating valve 122 and a first temperature sensor 128 before the air precooling device 1241, and adds a second temperature sensor 1242, a first switch valve 1251 and a second switch valve 1261 after the air precooling device 1241. The flow ratio of the first branch 123 and the second branch 124 is adjusted by the three-way regulating valve 122 to quickly change the ratio of the cold and hot gases, so as to quickly adjust the temperature of the gas entering the stack. The first temperature sensor 128, the second temperature sensor 1242 and the third temperature sensor 1262 are used to monitor in real time the temperature of the uncooled gas, the temperature of the cooled gas and the temperature of the gas after the cold and hot gases are mixed, so as to provide a reference for adjusting the opening of the three-way regulating valve 122.

[0066] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the features in the embodiments of this application may be combined with each other.

[0067] The above description is only the preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. For those skilled in the art, the present application may have various modifications and variations. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A fuel cell cold start test bench (100), characterized in that: include: A battery stack testing station (110), used for placing a battery stack; A gas supply module (120) comprises a gas supply device (121), a three-way regulating valve (122), a first branch (123), a second branch (124), a third branch (125), a gas supply pipeline (126) and a tail exhaust pipeline (127), wherein the first branch (123) and the second branch (124) are arranged in parallel between the gas supply device (121) and the gas supply pipeline (126), and three interfaces of the three-way regulating valve (122) are respectively connected to the outlet of the gas supply device (121), the first branch (123) and the third branch (125). The inlet of the second branch (123) is connected to the inlet of the second branch (124), the second branch (124) is provided with an air precooling device (1241), the air supply pipeline (126) is connected to the air inlet of the fuel cell stack, the third branch (125) is connected to the air supply pipeline (126) and the end thereof merges into the tail exhaust pipeline (127), the tail exhaust pipeline (127) is connected to the air outlet of the fuel cell stack, the third branch (125) is provided with a first switch valve (1251), and the air supply pipeline (126) is provided with a second switch valve (1261).

2. The fuel cell cold start test bench (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the preparatory start-up mode, the gas supply device (121) is connected to the first branch (123) and is not connected to the second branch (124); the first switch valve (1251) is opened and the second switch valve (1261) is closed; In the cold start mode, the gas supply device (121) is connected to both the first branch (123) and the second branch (124), the first switch valve (1251) is closed, and the second switch valve (1261) is opened.

3. The fuel cell cold start test bench (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas supply module (120) further comprises a first temperature sensor (128), a second temperature sensor (1242) and a third temperature sensor (1262), wherein the first temperature sensor (128) is arranged on a pipeline between the gas supply device (121) and the three-way regulating valve (122), the second temperature sensor (1242) is arranged on the second branch (124), and the third temperature sensor (1262) is arranged on the gas supply pipeline (126); The three-way regulating valve (122) is configured to adjust the flow ratio between the first branch (123) and the second branch (124) so ​​that the gas temperature detected by the third temperature sensor (1262) meets a preset range.

4. The fuel cell cold start test bench (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fuel cell cold start test bench (100) further comprises: The thermal management module (130) comprises a heat exchanger (131), a cooling water inlet pipe (132) and a cooling water outlet pipe (133), wherein the cooling water inlet pipe (132) is connected to the heat exchanger (131) and the cooling water inlet of the stack test station (110), the cooling water outlet pipe (133) is connected to the cooling water outlet of the stack test station (110) and the heat exchanger (131), and a fourth temperature sensor (134) is arranged on the cooling water outlet pipe (133).

5. The fuel cell cold start test bench (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The air supply pipe (126) is provided with a third temperature sensor (1262), and the preset temperature range of the third temperature sensor (1262) is configured to change in real time according to the water temperature detected by the fourth temperature sensor (134).

6. The fuel cell cold start test bench (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas providing device (121) comprises a gas source (1211) and a mass flow control valve (1212), wherein the mass flow control valve (1212) is arranged at the outlet side of the gas source (1211).

7. The fuel cell cold start test bench (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the first branch (123) and the third branch (125) are provided with a one-way valve.

8. The fuel cell cold start test bench (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tail exhaust pipe (127) is provided with a tail exhaust valve, and the third branch (125) merges into the outlet side of the tail exhaust valve.

9. The fuel cell cold start test bench (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second branch (124) is provided with a flow meter (1243).

10. The fuel cell cold start test bench (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas supply modules (120) are provided with two, one of which is an anode gas supply module and the other is a cathode gas supply module. The anode gas supply module is used to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell stack, and the cathode gas supply module is used to provide compressed air to the fuel cell stack.

11. A cold start test method for a fuel cell, which uses the fuel cell cold start test bench (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: include: In the preparatory start-up mode, the gas supply device (121) is connected to the first branch (123) and is not connected to the second branch (124); the first switch valve (1251) is opened and the second switch valve (1261) is closed; In the cold start mode, the gas supply device (121) is connected to both the first branch (123) and the second branch (124), the first switch valve (1251) is closed, and the second switch valve (1261) is opened.

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