Gas supply device

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas supply device (1) having a shaft (7), which is mounted in a housing (15) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation (13), and a temperature control device (11), which comprises a medium temperature control device (12), which surrounds the shaft (7) and which is combined with a gas temperature control device (20). In order to improve the gas supply device (1) in terms of functionality and / or production technology, the gas temperature control device (20) comprises at least two temperature control chambers (51, 52) which are connected to each other by means of a first temperature control path (61) which is connected to at least one first component (71) to be temperature-controlled in terms of temperature control.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a gas supply device having a shaft rotatably supported in a housing about a rotation axis and a temperature control device, the temperature control device comprising a medium temperature control device surrounding the shaft and the medium temperature control device being combined with a gas temperature control device. Background Art

[0002] German publication DE 10 2018 201 162 A1 discloses an air supply device implemented as a turbine, in particular for a fuel cell system, the air supply device having a compressor, a drive device and a shaft, wherein the compressor has an impeller arranged on the shaft, a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet, wherein a working fluid can be conveyed from the compressor inlet to the compressor outlet, wherein a drive cooling path for cooling the drive device branches off at the compressor outlet. German publication DE 10 2014 224 774 A discloses a cooling unit for an air compressor, the air compressor comprising a spiral housing, an impeller mounted on the spiral housing and a motor driving the impeller, and the cooling unit cools the motor and a bearing supporting a rotating shaft of the motor using air on the impeller outlet side, wherein the cooling unit has the following components: a plurality of coolant channels, the coolant channels being arranged in a radial direction in a motor housing coupled to the spiral housing and through which a coolant flows; and channels for cooled air, the channels being formed between the coolant channels of the motor housing and through which air flows. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to improve a gas supply device in terms of function and / or production technology, which has a shaft mounted rotatably about a rotation axis in a housing and a temperature control device, which includes a medium temperature control device surrounding the shaft and which is combined with a gas temperature control device.

[0004] This object is achieved in a gas supply device, which has a shaft rotatably supported in a housing about a rotation axis and a temperature control device, which includes a medium temperature control device around the shaft, which is combined with the gas temperature control device, in that the gas temperature control device includes at least two temperature control chambers, which are connected to each other via a first temperature control path, which is connected to at least one first component to be temperature controlled in terms of temperature control. With the help of these two temperature control chambers, at least two-stage temperature control, in particular cooling of the gas, in particular air, can be achieved in a simple manner during operation of the gas supply device. The claimed gas temperature control makes it possible to realize a multi-stage gas cooler, in particular an air cooler. For example, with the help of a gas cooler, in particular an air cooler, the air heated by the axial bearing in the gas supply device can be cooled again before it is used in another temperature control path, for example, to cool an electric drive of the gas supply device. As a result, a very compact structure can be achieved in particular, in which a housing-side gas channel, especially an air channel, for example, from the left side to the right side of the machine side of the gas supply device can be advantageously eliminated, because the gas to be temperature-controlled, especially the cooling air, can flow through the gap between the rotor and the stator of the electric drive of the gas supply device. The gap between the rotor and the stator is flowed through in the axial direction. The term "axial" refers to the axis of rotation of the shaft. Axial means in the direction of the axis of rotation or parallel to the axis of rotation. Similarly, "radial" means transverse to the axis of rotation. The gas supply device is a compressor for providing compressed air in a fuel cell system, in particular. The compressor can include an impeller. However, the compressor can also include multiple impellers. Alternatively or additionally, the compressor can be equipped with at least one turbine blade. Then, the compressor is also called a turbo compressor or a turbine. The electric drive of the gas supply device preferably includes an electric motor with a fixed stator, and the rotor is rotatably arranged in the stator. The temperature control device claimed is preferably used for cooling and is therefore also called a cooling device. The temperature control device constitutes a heat exchanger, which consists of three components. The temperature control sleeve constitutes an inner part. The gas temperature control ring forms the middle part. The housing body forms the outer part. The cooling device with the inner part, the middle part and the outer part is arranged in an annular chamber, which is bounded radially inside by the electric drive, in particular the stator of the electric drive, and is open radially outside or bounded by the housing or an attached structure. At least one channel is formed between the inner part and the middle part, through which a temperature control medium, such as a water-glycol mixture, flows. A gas channel is formed between the middle part and the outer part, through which a gas to be temperature-controlled, in particular air to be cooled, flows.

[0005] A preferred embodiment of the gas supply device is characterized in that the first component to be temperature-controlled comprises an axial bearing which is embodied as a gas bearing. The gas bearing can advantageously be supplied with gas via the first temperature-control path, which gas is used to produce the desired support effect in the gas bearing. With the aid of the temperature-controlled gas, a load-bearing gas film can be formed in the gas bearing in a simple manner. The gas used is advantageously cooled by the temperature control. The other components to be combined include, for example, two radial bearings which are also embodied as gas bearings. These bearings are used to support the shaft in the gas supply device.

[0006] Another preferred embodiment of the gas supply device is characterized in that at least two temperature control chambers are bounded by a common gas temperature control ring, along the radial inner side of which the temperature control medium is guided. The temperature control medium is preferably a liquid. The gas temperature control ring prevents the gas to be temperature controlled, in particular the air to be cooled, from coming into contact with the liquid forming the temperature control medium.

[0007] Another preferred embodiment of the gas supply device is characterized in that at least two temperature control chambers include gas channels extending in the circumferential direction on the radial outer side of the gas temperature control ring, which are axially delimited by lamellar ribs at an angle to the cylindrical sleeve-shaped base body of the gas temperature control ring. The cylindrical sleeve-shaped base body of the gas temperature control ring advantageously delimits at least one medium channel on the radial inner side, through which a preferably liquid temperature control medium flows. The lamellar ribs constitute guide structures for the gas to be temperature controlled on the radial outer side of the gas temperature control ring. The gas channels are only flowed through by the gas to be temperature controlled. The guide structure which is open in itself and is realized on the gas temperature control ring by means of the lamellar ribs is advantageously closed by the housing body. A pressure equalization gap is advantageously provided between the lamellar ribs and the housing body. This further improves the function of the gas temperature control.

[0008] Another preferred embodiment of the gas supply device is characterized in that the two temperature control chambers each comprise an inlet groove and an outlet groove, which are connected via a first and a second gas channel. The inlet groove and the outlet groove are advantageously delimited radially on the outside by the housing body. At other locations, the inlet groove and the outlet groove are advantageously delimited only by the gas temperature control ring. This significantly simplifies the manufacture of the gas supply device with multi-stage temperature control. According to another aspect of the invention, the gas to be temperature controlled is advantageously supplied axially and also discharged axially. This can further simplify the manufacture of the gas supply device with multi-stage temperature control.

[0009] Another preferred embodiment of the gas supply device is characterized in that the gas temperature control ring has dividing ribs which delimit the inlet groove and the outlet groove and separate them from one another. This offers the advantage, in particular, that no guide structures or dividing structures for the gas need to be provided on the housing body which delimits the gas channel radially on the outside. The housing body which delimits the temperature control chamber with the gas channel radially on the outside can advantageously be designed very simply. The housing body particularly advantageously has the shape of a straight cylindrical outer shell, which can be manufactured cost-effectively.

[0010] Another preferred embodiment of the gas supply device is characterized in that the at least two temperature control chambers include a first temperature control chamber, which is connected to the gas pressure chamber of the gas supply device via a gas supply path and is connected to the second temperature control chamber via a first temperature control path, the second temperature control path starting from the second temperature control chamber, which is connected to at least one second component to be temperature controlled in terms of temperature control. The second component to be temperature controlled is, for example, a radial bearing, by means of which the shaft is rotatably supported in the housing of the gas supply device. By the claimed embodiment of the gas supply device with two temperature control chambers and two temperature control paths, in particular in combination with the claimed gas temperature control ring, it is possible to achieve easy-to-achieve multi-stage gas temperature control.

[0011] Another preferred embodiment of the gas supply device is characterized in that the second temperature control path extends through between the rotor and the stator of the gas supply device. The gas flowing through the second temperature control path is effectively temperature-controlled, in particular cooled, in the second temperature control chamber. As a result, the temperature control, in particular the cooling, of the electric drive of the gas supply device can be effectively improved.

[0012] Another preferred embodiment of the gas supply device is characterized in that the first temperature control path has a branch, from which the first sub-path extends to the second temperature control chamber, wherein the second sub-path is connected to at least one third component to be temperature controlled in terms of temperature control. The third component to be temperature controlled is, for example, a radial bearing, by means of which the shaft is rotatably supported in the housing of the gas supply device. The flow rate or throughflow of the gas through the sub-path can be adjusted in a simple manner, for example, by means of a fluid resistance. As a result, the gas temperature control can be configured more effectively during operation of the gas supply device than in conventional gas supply devices.

[0013] The invention also relates to a gas temperature regulating ring, a rotor, a stator and / or a housing for the above-mentioned gas supply device. The mentioned parts can be sold separately.

[0014] The present invention may also relate to a fuel cell system having the above-described gas supply device. The gas supply device, which is preferably implemented as an air supply device, is used in the fuel cell system to compress air which is supplied to a fuel cell stack in the fuel cell system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Further major advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following description in which various exemplary embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0016] Figure 1a : A longitudinal sectional view of a gas supply device implemented as a compressor according to a first embodiment, the gas supply device having a temperature control device including a medium temperature control combined with a gas temperature control;

[0017] Figure 1b : According to the first embodiment and Figure 1a The same illustration with arrows which visually illustrate the gas paths during operation of the gas supply device;

[0018] Figure 2 : Figure 1a , 1b A three-dimensional view of a gas temperature regulating ring of a gas supply device;

[0019] Figure 3 : Half-section view of the gas temperature regulating ring;

[0020] Figure 4 : Schematic diagram of a gas temperature control ring with two-stage gas temperature control in the same direction;

[0021] Figure 5 :and Figure 4 Same diagram but with reversed two-stage gas temperature control;

[0022] Figure 6 and Figure 7 :and Figure 1b The same diagram but with gas paths according to two further embodiments; and

[0023] Figure 8 :and Figure 4 and Figure 5 Similar diagram, but with three tempering chambers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] exist Figure 1a Schematically shows a longitudinal section through an air delivery device 1 . The air delivery device 1 is designed as a compressor having two impellers 3 , 4 .

[0025] The impellers 3, 4 are designed as compressor impellers and are rotatably arranged in respective spiral housings 5, 6. The impellers 3, 4 are rotatably driven by an electric drive 2. The electric drive 2 comprises a stator 38 in which a rotor 39 is rotatably driven with a shaft 7.

[0026] The shaft 7 is rotatably supported in the housing 15 by means of two radial bearings 8, 9 and an axial bearing 10. The housing 15 comprises a housing body 16 which is substantially pot-shaped. The pot-shaped housing body 16 is closed by a housing cover 17. The housing 15 having the housing body 16 and the housing cover 17 is arranged in the axial direction between the two spiral housings 5, 6, which are also part of the housing 15.

[0027] The term "axial" relates to the axis of rotation 13 about which the shaft 7 with the two impellers 3, 4 is rotatably supported in the housing 15. Axial means in the direction of or parallel to the axis of rotation 13. Similarly, "radial" means transverse to the axis of rotation 13.

[0028] Electric drive 2, in particular its stator, is surrounded by temperature control device 11 designed as a cooling device in housing 15. Cooling device 11 is arranged in an annular chamber which is delimited radially on the inside by electric drive 2, in particular its stator 38.

[0029] The annular chamber in which the cooling device 11 is arranged is delimited radially outwardly by the housing body 16. The annular chamber in which the cooling device 11 is arranged is delimited by the housing body 16 and the housing cover 17 in the axial direction.

[0030] The cooling device 11 comprises a medium temperature control device 12 which is implemented as a cooling medium and a gas temperature control device 20 which is implemented as an air cooling. The cooling medium cooling device 12 is operated with a preferably liquid cooling medium, for example a water-glycol mixture. During the operation of the cooling medium cooling device 12, the temperature-controlled, preferably cooled cooling medium flows through the cooling channel geometry 18 which is open radially outward.

[0031] The radially outwardly open cooling channel geometry 18 comprises a plurality of coolant channels 19 which are formed on the motor cooling sleeve 14. The radially outwardly open cooling channel geometry 18 of the coolant cooler 12 is bounded largely by the housing body 16 and to a lesser extent by the air cooler 20.

[0032] The air cooler 20 comprises a cooling channel geometry 21 which is likewise open radially outwards and has a plurality of gas channels, in particular air channels 22. The cooling channel geometry 21 of the air cooler 20 which is open radially outwards is delimited radially on the outside by the housing body 16.

[0033] The cooling channel geometry 18 of the coolant cooler 12 is delimited radially on the inside by the base body 23 of the motor cooling sleeve 14. Similarly, the cooling channel geometry 21 of the air cooler 20 is delimited radially on the inside by the base body 29 of the gas temperature control ring 24. The base bodies 23, 29 each preferably have essentially the shape of a straight cylindrical jacket.

[0034] exist Figure 1b , the gas supply path 60, the first temperature control path 61 and the second temperature control path 62 are intuitively shown by arrows. The gas supply path 60 starts from the gas pressure chamber 55. The gas mass flow supplied to the fuel cell (not shown) is indicated by arrows 56. Compressed air is advantageously provided in the gas pressure chamber 55, and the compressed air reacts in the fuel cell.

[0035] A portion of the compressed air is supplied to the first temperature control chamber 51 via the gas supply path 60. The first temperature control path 61 extends from the first temperature control chamber 51 to a branch 64. The branch 64 is assigned to a first component to be temperature controlled 71. The first component to be temperature controlled 71 is the axial bearing 10.

[0036] At the branch 64 , the first temperature control path 61 is divided into a first sub-path 65 and a second sub-path 66 . Both sub-paths 65 and 66 extend along the axial bearing 10 forming the first component 71 .

[0037] The first sub-path 65 extends from the first component 71, namely the axial bearing 10, into the second temperature control chamber 52. The second sub-path 66 extends through the second component 72 to be temperature controlled. The second component 72 to be temperature controlled is the radial bearing 8.

[0038] The second temperature control path 62 extends through a gap, in particular an annular gap, which extends through in the axial direction between the rotor 39 and the stator 38. In this exemplary embodiment, the second sub-path 66 merges with the second temperature control path 62 downstream of the second component 72 to be temperature controlled.

[0039] A portion of the gas mass flow compressed by the impeller 3 is used as cooling air via the gas supply path 60. A larger portion of the mass flow reaches the fuel cell system. The gas mass flow supplied via the gas supply path 60 is cooled down from the compressor outlet temperature in the first temperature control chamber 51 at the gas temperature control ring 24 until the gas mass flow approximately reaches the temperature of the liquid temperature control medium in the temperature control channel, in particular the coolant channel.

[0040] The gas mass flow cooled in the first temperature control chamber 51 is conducted to the axial bearing 10 via the first temperature control path 61. The gas mass flow is then divided into two partial mass flows at the branch 64. One of the two partial mass flows is led back to the gas temperature control ring 24 via the first partial path 65.

[0041] In the second temperature control chamber 52, the partial mass flow is cooled again approximately to the temperature of the liquid medium in the temperature control channel 33. The cooled partial mass flow is then used via the second temperature control path 62 to cool the electric drive with the stator 38 and the rotor 39 and the third component 73 to be temperature controlled.

[0042] The third component 73 to be temperature-controlled is the radial bearing 9. The entire cooling mass flow is directed to the side of the gas supply device 1 having the impeller 4. If the impeller 4 is designed as a turbine impeller, the mass flow is directed in the direction of the surroundings. However, the impeller 4 can also be designed as a compressor impeller. The gas mass flow can then be advantageously compressed again and directed into the fuel cell system.

[0043] exist Figure 2 2 shows only a perspective view of the gas temperature control ring 24. The gas temperature control ring 24 comprises a collar 40 on a base body 29. Furthermore, the base body 29 has lamellar ribs 36 on the radial outside, which delimit the gas channels 22 in the gas temperature control ring 24 extending in the circumferential direction.

[0044] Two inlet grooves 41, 43 and two outlet grooves 42, 44 are also provided on the gas temperature control ring 24. Between the inlet grooves 41 and 43, a dividing rib 45 is formed on the gas temperature control ring 24. Between the inlet grooves 41, 43 and the outlet grooves 42, 44, further dividing ribs 46, 47 are provided.

[0045] exist Figure 3 In the case 15 with the case body 16, Figure 2 The gas temperature control ring 24 of the embodiment of the present invention. The lamellar ribs 36 delimit the first gas channel 48 in the first temperature control chamber 51. The lamellar ribs 36 delimit the second gas channel 49 in the second temperature control chamber 52.

[0046] A first pressure balancing gap 31 is provided between the free end of the lamellar rib 36 in the first temperature regulating chamber 51 and the housing body 16. The first pressure balancing gap 31 is smaller than the second pressure balancing gap 32 between the lamellar rib 36 in the second temperature regulating chamber 52 and the housing body 16.

[0047] The number of lamellar ribs 36 for forming a suitable cooling structure on the gas temperature control ring 24 depends on the required cooling power and the maximum permissible pressure drop. The height of the individual lamellar ribs 36 with different sizes of pressure equalization gaps 31 and 32 also advantageously depends on the required cooling power and the maximum permissible pressure drop.

[0048] The pressure equalization gaps 31, 32 between the free ends of the lamellar ribs 36 and the housing body 16 of the housing 15 are also referred to as head gaps. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure equalization gaps 31, 32 are implemented in different sizes. Different from the illustrated case, the width of the lamellar ribs 36 can also be configured in different sizes in the two temperature control chambers 51 and 52.

[0049] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 , vertical arrows indicate how the gas is axially supplied to the temperature control chambers 51 and 52 or axially discharged from the temperature control chambers 51, 52. Figure 4 In the case of gas channels, the flow through the channels takes place in the same flow direction. Figure 5 In the embodiment, the two temperature control chambers 51, 52 are flowed through in opposite directions.

[0050] exist Figure 6 FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the gas supply device 1, in which two sub-paths 65 and 66 of the first temperature adjustment path 61 are jointly guided to the second temperature adjustment chamber 52. The second temperature adjustment path 62 is connected to the second temperature adjustment chamber 52 at other positions. Figure 1b The exemplary embodiment shown extends identically.

[0051] exist Figure 7 FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the gas supply device 1, in which the third sub-path 67 starts from the first temperature control chamber 51 and Figure 7 The gas mass flow guided by the third sub-path 67 can be used to cool the third component 73 or to adjust the temperature of the third component 73. The third component 73 is a radial bearing 9. Then, the third sub-path 67 merges with the second temperature adjustment path 62.

[0052] exist Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 1 , three or more stages of temperature control can also be achieved with the aid of the gas temperature control ring 24. In addition to the two inlet grooves 41, 43 and the two outlet grooves 42, 44, Figure 8 The gas supply device 1 shown in FIG. 1 further comprises a third inlet groove 75 and a third outlet groove 76 .

Claims

1. A gas supply device (1), comprising: a shaft (7) which is rotatably supported in a housing (15) about an axis of rotation (13), and A temperature control device (11), the temperature control device comprising a medium temperature control device (12) surrounding the shaft (7), the medium temperature control device being combined with a gas temperature control device (20), It is characterized in that The gas temperature control device (20) comprises at least two temperature control chambers (51, 52), which are connected to each other via a first temperature control path (61), which is connected to at least one first component (71) to be temperature controlled in terms of temperature control.

2. The gas supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first component (71) to be temperature-controlled comprises an axial bearing (10) designed as a gas bearing.

3. A gas supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The at least two temperature control chambers (51, 52) are bounded by a common gas temperature control ring (24), along the radial inner side of which a temperature control medium is guided.

4. The gas supply device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The at least two temperature control chambers (51, 52) comprise, radially outside the gas temperature control ring (24), a gas channel (22) extending in the circumferential direction, the gas channel being axially delimited by lamellar ribs (36) which are at an angle to a cylindrical sleeve-shaped base body (29) of the gas temperature control ring (24).

5. The gas supply device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The two temperature control chambers (51, 52) respectively comprise an inlet groove (41, 43) and an outlet groove (42, 44), wherein the inlet groove and the outlet groove are connected via a first gas channel (48) and a second gas channel (49).

6. The gas supply device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The gas temperature control ring (24) has dividing ribs (45, 46, 47) which delimit the inlet grooves (41, 43) and the outlet grooves (42, 44) and separate them from one another.

7. A gas supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The at least two temperature control chambers (51, 52) include a first temperature control chamber (51), which is connected to a gas pressure chamber (55) of the gas supply device (1) via a gas supply path (60), and is connected to a second temperature control chamber (52) via the first temperature control path (61), a second temperature control path (62) starting from the second temperature control chamber, and the second temperature control path is connected to at least one second component (72) to be temperature controlled in terms of temperature control.

8. The gas supply device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The second temperature control path (61) extends through between the rotor (39) and the stator (38) of the gas supply device (1).

9. A gas supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The first temperature control path (61) has a branch (64), from which a first sub-path (65) extends to the second temperature control chamber (52), wherein a second sub-path (66) is connected to at least one third component (73) to be temperature controlled in terms of temperature control.

10. A gas temperature control ring (24), a rotor (39), a stator (38) and / or a housing (15) for a gas supply device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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