Hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric cell coupling power generation device and method

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of fuel cells, and particularly relates to a hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric cell coupling power generation device and method. The device comprises a shell, a coupling power generation structure is arranged in the shell, a main binding post is arranged on the side portion of the shell, and the coupling power generation structure is connected with the main binding post; the coupling power generation structure comprises hydrogen fuel cells and temperature difference power generation structures which are alternately arranged, a gap is formed between every two adjacent hydrogen fuel cells, a temperature difference power generation positive electrode of each temperature difference power generation structure is located in the corresponding gap, and a temperature difference power generation negative electrode of each temperature difference power generation structure is located outside the corresponding gap. The shell of the whole coupling power generation device adopts the alternative combination of the thermoelectric power generation material and the high-thermal-conductivity ceramic, and the external atmospheric environment can be directly used as a low-temperature end to realize temperature difference maximization, so that the thermoelectric power generation efficiency is improved to the greatest extent, and the energy utilization efficiency and the power generation capacity of a coupling system are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of fuel cells, and particularly relates to a coupled power generation device and method for a hydrogen fuel cell and a thermoelectric cell. Background Art

[0002] Hydrogen energy has the advantages of being green, environmentally friendly, pollution-free, high calorific value, and wide raw material sources, and is regarded as the ideal energy in the future. A hydrogen fuel cell is an energy equipment that converts hydrogen energy into electric energy and heat energy, and has the characteristics of combined cooling, heat and power supply. Currently, countries around the world have begun to apply hydrogen energy in aspects such as electricity, transportation, chemical industry, and residential life. Although the application of hydrogen energy has developed rapidly, its utilization efficiency still needs to be improved. The efficiency of converting hydrogen into electric energy through a hydrogen fuel cell is about 55%-60%, and the rest is consumed in the form of heat. Therefore, how to improve the electro-conversion efficiency of hydrogen energy is one of the important development directions of current hydrogen fuel cells. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a coupled power generation device for a hydrogen fuel cell and a thermoelectric cell. The device includes a housing, a coupled power generation structure is arranged inside the housing, a total wiring terminal is arranged on the side of the housing, and the coupled power generation structure is connected to the total wiring terminal;

[0004] The coupled power generation structure includes alternately arranged hydrogen fuel cells and thermoelectric power generation structures. A gap is formed between two adjacent hydrogen fuel cells. The thermoelectric power generation positive electrode of the thermoelectric power generation structure is located inside the gap, and the thermoelectric power generation negative electrode of the thermoelectric power generation structure is located outside the gap.

[0005] Preferably, adjacent hydrogen fuel cells are connected in series;

[0006] Adjacent thermoelectric power generation structures are connected in series.

[0007] Preferably, the total wiring terminal includes a positive wiring terminal and a negative wiring terminal;

[0008] The positive electrode and negative electrode of the hydrogen fuel cell at the end are respectively connected to the positive wiring terminal and the negative wiring terminal;

[0009] The thermoelectric power generation positive electrode and thermoelectric power generation negative electrode at the end are respectively connected to the positive wiring terminal and the negative wiring terminal.

[0010] Preferably, the housing is a cylindrical structure;

[0011] The cylindrical surface of the housing is composed of alternately arranged heat-conducting ceramic sheets and thermoelectric power generation materials;

[0012] Wherein, the heat-conducting ceramic sheet covers the surface of the thermoelectric power generation negative electrode.

[0013] Preferably, a hydrogen intake pipe is provided on the surface of the housing, and the hydrogen intake pipe is connected to each of the hydrogen fuel cells;

[0014] An oxygen intake pipe is provided on the surface of the housing, and the oxygen intake pipe is connected to each of the hydrogen fuel cells.

[0015] Preferably, a drainage pipe is provided on the surface of the housing, and the drainage pipe is connected to each of the hydrogen fuel cells.

[0016] Preferably, the hydrogen intake pipe and the oxygen intake pipe are arranged along the cylindrical surface of the housing.

[0017] The present invention also provides a method for coupled power generation of a hydrogen fuel cell and a thermoelectric cell, and the method includes:

[0018] The hydrogen fuel cell performs an internal reaction to convert hydrogen energy into electric energy and heat energy; wherein, the electric energy generated by the hydrogen fuel cell is transmitted to the main terminal;

[0019] The heat energy generated by the hydrogen fuel cell is used as the heat source at the high-temperature end of the thermoelectric power generation structure, so that the temperature difference between the high-temperature end and the low-temperature end of the thermoelectric power generation structure reaches a preset standard, enabling the thermoelectric power generation structure to generate electric energy, and the electric energy generated by the thermoelectric power generation structure is transmitted to the main terminal.

[0020] Preferably, the method further includes: supplementing hydrogen and oxygen into the hydrogen fuel cell through the hydrogen intake pipe and the oxygen intake pipe;

[0021] Discharging the water generated by the internal reaction of the hydrogen fuel cell through the drainage pipe.

[0022] Preferably, the method further includes: discharging the heat at the low-temperature end of the thermoelectric power generation structure through the heat-conducting ceramic sheet in the housing to reduce the temperature at the low-temperature end of the thermoelectric power generation structure.

[0023] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0024] (1) The coupling device of the present invention has the advantages of simple structure and high electric conversion efficiency;

[0025] (2) The present invention couples the hydrogen fuel cell and the thermoelectric cell by using the "round plate interspersed type" method, and has the characteristic of strong expandability;

[0026] (3) The present invention adopts the design concept of a cylindrical shape, maximally increases the heat receiving area of the thermoelectric cell, and improves the power generation efficiency;

[0027] (4) The outer shell of the entire coupled power generation device in the present invention adopts an alternating combination of thermoelectric materials and high - thermal - conductivity ceramics, which can directly use the external atmospheric environment as the low - temperature end to maximize the temperature difference, thereby facilitating maximizing the thermoelectric power generation efficiency and improving the energy utilization efficiency and power generation capacity of the coupled system;

[0028] (5) The present invention uses a hydrogen fuel cell as the coupling object, which is more economical than a solid oxide fuel cell.

[0029] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in the subsequent specification, and, in part, will become apparent from the specification or will be understood by implementing the present invention. The objectives and other advantages of the present invention can be achieved and obtained through the structures pointed out in the specification and the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0031] Figure 1 Showing the schematic internal structure diagram of the hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric cell coupled power generation device in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 Showing the top view of the hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric cell coupled power generation device in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 Showing the rear view of the hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric cell coupled power generation device in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 Showing the left view of the hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric cell coupled power generation device in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 5 Showing the schematic diagram of the hydrogen fuel cell principle in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 6 Showing the schematic diagram of the thermoelectric power generation principle in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 7 Showing the method diagram of the hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric cell coupled power generation in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] In the figure: 1. Negative electrode of hydrogen fuel cell; 2. Positive electrode of hydrogen fuel cell; 3. Electrolyte; 4. Proton membrane; 5. Hydrogen intake pipe; 6. Oxygen intake pipe; 7. Drain pipe; 8. Negative electrode terminal of hydrogen fuel cell; 9. Positive electrode terminal of hydrogen fuel cell; 10. Total terminal; 11. Positive electrode of thermoelectric power generation; 12. Negative electrode of thermoelectric power generation; 13. Positive electrode terminal of thermoelectric power generation; 14. Negative electrode terminal of thermoelectric power generation; 15. Outer shell; 16. Heat-conducting ceramic sheet; 17. Catalyst; 18. Oxygen diffusion layer; 19. Hydrogen diffusion layer; 20. P-type semiconductor; 21. N-type semiconductor. Detailed implementation manners

[0039] Now, example embodiments will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the example embodiments can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the example embodiments to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will realize that one or more of the specific details may be omitted in practicing the technical solutions of the present disclosure, or other methods, components, devices, steps, etc. may be adopted. In other cases, well-known technical solutions are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0040] In addition, the accompanying drawings are only schematic illustrations of the present disclosure and are not necessarily drawn to scale. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar parts, and thus their repeated description will be omitted. Some of the block diagrams shown in the drawings are functional entities and do not necessarily correspond to physically or logically independent entities. These functional entities can be implemented in software form, or in one or more hardware units or integrated circuits, or in different networks and / or processor devices and / or microcontroller devices.

[0041] The flowcharts shown in the accompanying drawings are only illustrative and do not necessarily include all steps. For example, some steps can be decomposed, while some steps can be combined or partially combined, so the actual execution order may change according to the actual situation.

[0042] The terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification, claims and above-mentioned accompanying drawings of the present application are used to distinguish similar objects and do not necessarily describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances so that the embodiments of the present application described herein can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0043] In addition, the terms "comprising" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that comprises a series of steps or sub-modules need not be limited to those steps or sub-modules clearly listed, but may include other steps or sub-modules not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0044] As Figure 5 As shown, a hydrogen fuel cell stack is composed of a series connection of many single hydrogen fuel cells. A single hydrogen fuel cell mainly includes parts such as a hydrogen fuel cell negative electrode 1, a hydrogen fuel cell positive electrode 2, a hydrogen gas diffusion layer 19, an oxygen gas diffusion layer 18, an electrolyte 3, a proton membrane 4, a hydrogen fuel cell negative electrode terminal 8, and a hydrogen fuel cell positive electrode terminal 9. Hydrogen enters the hydrogen gas diffusion layer 19 area through a hydrogen gas inlet pipe 5, and oxygen enters the oxygen gas diffusion layer 18 area through an oxygen gas inlet pipe 6. Among them, the hydrogen entering the hydrogen gas diffusion layer 19 reacts with an anode catalyst 17 to produce protons and electrons. The generated protons reach the hydrogen fuel cell positive electrode 2 through the electrolyte 3 and the proton membrane 4. The generated electrons flow through an external circuit (load) through the hydrogen fuel cell negative electrode terminal 8, and then flow into the circuit through the hydrogen fuel cell positive electrode terminal 9, and react with the oxygen, protons, and a cathode catalyst 17 entering the oxygen gas diffusion layer 18 in the oxygen gas diffusion layer 18 area to generate water, and at the same time heat is dissipated. The heat is dissipated through the hydrogen fuel cell positive electrode 2.

[0045] As Figure 6 As shown, the power generation principle of a thermoelectric battery is that the contact potential formed at the interface between a P-type semiconductor 20 and an N-type semiconductor 21 is an internal electric field. In an environment with a temperature difference gradient, the electrons in the internal electric field gain kinetic energy by heating and overcome the energy bands between particles, thereby forming a directional current. The P-type semiconductor material and N-type semiconductor material used are also called thermoelectric conversion materials.

[0046] The idea of the present invention is to utilize the heat generated by a hydrogen fuel cell and the thermoelectric principle of a thermoelectric battery to propose a hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric battery coupled power generation device and method, which can solve the problem of low electrical conversion efficiency of a fuel cell and improve the hydrogen energy conversion and utilization efficiency at the same time.

[0047] As Figure 1 As shown, the present invention proposes a hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric battery coupled power generation device. The device includes a housing 15. A coupled power generation structure is arranged inside the housing 15. A main terminal 10 is arranged on the side of the housing 15. The coupled power generation structure is connected to the main terminal 10;

[0048] The coupled power generation structure includes alternately arranged hydrogen fuel cells and thermoelectric power generation structures. A gap is formed between two adjacent hydrogen fuel cells. The thermoelectric power generation positive electrode 11 of the thermoelectric power generation structure is located within the gap, and the thermoelectric power generation negative electrode 12 of the thermoelectric power generation structure is located outside the gap.

[0049] Specifically, the disc-shaped proton membrane 4 is immersed in the electrolyte 3 and placed between the hydrogen fuel cell negative electrode 1 and the hydrogen fuel cell positive electrode 2 to form a hydrogen fuel cell. In this embodiment, both the hydrogen fuel cell negative electrode 1 and the hydrogen fuel cell positive electrode 2 are disc-shaped structures.

[0050] Specifically, the thermoelectric power generation structure is composed of a thermoelectric power generation positive electrode 11 and a thermoelectric power generation negative electrode 12. The thermoelectric power generation positive electrode 11 is disc-shaped, and the thermoelectric power generation negative electrode 12 is bow-shaped. The thermoelectric power generation positive electrode 11 and the thermoelectric power generation negative electrode 12 are connected in a "7" shape to form the thermoelectric power generation structure.

[0051] Specifically, adjacent hydrogen fuel cells are connected in series; adjacent thermoelectric power generation structures are connected in series.

[0052] Specifically, the total terminal 10 includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal; the hydrogen fuel cell positive electrode 2 and the hydrogen fuel cell negative electrode 1 at the end are respectively connected to the positive terminal and the negative terminal; the thermoelectric power generation positive electrode 11 and the thermoelectric power generation negative electrode 12 at the end are respectively connected to the positive terminal and the negative terminal.

[0053] Specifically, the outer shell 15 is a cylindrical structure; as Figure 2 shown, the cylindrical surface of the outer shell 15 is composed of alternately arranged heat-conducting ceramic sheets 16 and thermoelectric power generation materials; among them, the heat-conducting ceramic sheet 16 covers the surface of the thermoelectric power generation negative electrode 12. In this embodiment, the heat-conducting ceramic sheet 16 is bow-shaped.

[0054] Specifically, a hydrogen intake pipe 5 is provided on the surface of the outer shell 15, and the hydrogen intake pipe 5 is connected to each hydrogen fuel cell; an oxygen intake pipe 6 is provided on the surface of the outer shell 15, and the oxygen intake pipe 6 is connected to each hydrogen fuel cell.

[0055] Specifically, a drainage pipe 7 is provided on the surface of the outer shell 15, and the drainage pipe 7 is connected to each hydrogen fuel cell. As Figure 3 shown, the drainage pipe 7 is located directly below the cylindrical outer shell 15.

[0056] Specifically, the hydrogen intake pipe 5 and the oxygen intake pipe 6 are arranged along the cylindrical surface of the outer shell 15. As Figure 3 shown, the hydrogen intake pipe 5 and the oxygen intake pipe 6 are respectively located on the front and back sides of the outer shell 15 and are inclined at 30° to the vertical line.

[0057] As Figure 2 and Figure 4As shown, the negative terminal 8 and the positive terminal 9 of the hydrogen fuel cell are located at the top of the housing 15 and are arranged alternately.

[0058] In this embodiment, the energy storage battery can also be replaced with an alkaline fuel cell (AFC), a phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), etc. Then, the thermoelectric battery is coupled with the energy storage battery, and by making full use of the thermal effect generated by the energy storage battery, the power generation efficiency of the entire device is improved.

[0059] The structural principle of this device is as follows:

[0060] A single hydrogen fuel cell is a cylindrical device. One set of thermoelectric power generation device is installed between every two hydrogen fuel cells. The single set of thermoelectric power generation device is arranged in a "7" shape. All the hydrogen fuel cells are connected in series, and all the thermoelectric batteries are connected in series, finally forming a "Ji" shape, thus forming a set of coupled power generation device. The structural materials of the hydrogen fuel cell already have a mature system and will not be elaborated here. The materials used for the thermoelectric power generation device are mainly semiconductor materials, and commonly used ones are alloy materials such as ZnSb, PbTe, GeTe, and SiGe.

[0061] According to the thermoelectric power generation principle, its positive electrode is the high-temperature end (i.e., the heated end), and the negative electrode is the low-temperature end. Here, the external working environment is used to provide a low-temperature environment, and a layer of high-thermal-conductivity ceramic material (generally SiC, AlN, BN) is covered on the surface of the negative electrode material at the low-temperature end. The purpose is to improve the heat exchange rate between the low-temperature end and the external environment, and secondly, to play an electrical insulation protection role.

[0062] The working principle of this device is as follows:

[0063] When hydrogen enters through the hydrogen inlet pipe 5 and oxygen enters through the oxygen inlet pipe 6, a chemical reaction occurs in the hydrogen fuel cell, converting hydrogen energy into electrical energy and heat energy. The electrical energy is sent out through the negative terminal 8 and the positive terminal 9 of the hydrogen fuel cell respectively. The heat provides a heat source for the thermoelectric power generation structure, causing the thermoelectric power generation structure to generate electricity, and the electrical energy is sent out through the positive terminal 13 and the negative terminal 14 of the thermoelectric power generation. The hydrogen fuel cell and the thermoelectric power generation structure are arranged alternately. The internal connection lines of the negative terminal 8 and the positive terminal 9 of the hydrogen fuel cell, and the positive terminal 13 and the negative terminal 14 of the thermoelectric power generation are finally connected to the main terminal 10 of the coupled power generation system device of the hydrogen fuel cell and the thermoelectric battery respectively, providing the electrical energy generated by the coupled power generation system device of the hydrogen fuel cell and the thermoelectric battery for the electrical load.

[0064] As Figure 7 shown, the present invention also proposes a method for coupled power generation of a hydrogen fuel cell and a thermoelectric battery. The method includes the following steps:

[0065] The S1 hydrogen fuel cell undergoes an internal reaction to convert hydrogen energy into electric energy and heat energy; wherein, the electric energy generated by the hydrogen fuel cell is transmitted to the main terminal;

[0066] In S2, the heat energy generated by the hydrogen fuel cell serves as the heat source at the high-temperature end of the thermoelectric power generation structure, so that the temperature difference between the high-temperature end and the low-temperature end of the thermoelectric power generation structure reaches a preset standard, enabling the thermoelectric power generation structure to generate electric energy, and the electric energy generated by the thermoelectric power generation structure is transmitted to the main terminal.

[0067] Specifically, the method further includes: supplementing hydrogen and oxygen into the hydrogen fuel cell through a hydrogen intake pipe and an oxygen intake pipe;

[0068] Discharging the water generated by the internal reaction of the hydrogen fuel cell through a drainage pipe.

[0069] Specifically, the method further includes: discharging the heat at the low-temperature end of the thermoelectric power generation structure through the heat-conducting ceramic sheet in the outer shell to reduce the temperature at the low-temperature end of the thermoelectric power generation structure.

[0070] Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that: Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it is still possible to modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements on some of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric battery coupled power generation device, characterized in that, the device includes a housing (15), a coupled power generation structure is arranged inside the housing (15), a total wiring terminal (10) is arranged on the side of the housing (15), and the coupled power generation structure is connected to the total wiring terminal (10); the coupled power generation structure includes alternately arranged hydrogen fuel cells and thermoelectric power generation structures, a gap is formed between two adjacent hydrogen fuel cells, the thermoelectric power generation positive electrode (11) of the thermoelectric power generation structure is located in the gap, and the thermoelectric power generation negative electrode (12) of the thermoelectric power generation structure is located outside the gap.

2. The hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric battery coupled power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, adjacent hydrogen fuel cells are connected in series; adjacent thermoelectric power generation structures are connected in series.

3. The hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric battery coupled power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the total wiring terminal (10) includes a positive wiring terminal and a negative wiring terminal; the positive electrode (2) and negative electrode (1) of the hydrogen fuel cell at the end are respectively connected to the positive wiring terminal and the negative wiring terminal; the thermoelectric power generation positive electrode (11) and thermoelectric power generation negative electrode (12) at the end are respectively connected to the positive wiring terminal and the negative wiring terminal.

4. The hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric battery coupled power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the housing (15) is a cylindrical structure; the cylindrical surface of the housing (15) is composed of alternately arranged heat-conducting ceramic sheets (16) and thermoelectric power generation materials; wherein, the heat-conducting ceramic sheet (16) covers the surface of the thermoelectric power generation negative electrode (12).

5. The hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric battery coupled power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, a hydrogen intake pipe (5) is arranged on the surface of the housing (15), and the hydrogen intake pipe (5) is connected to each hydrogen fuel cell; an oxygen intake pipe (6) is arranged on the surface of the housing (15), and the oxygen intake pipe (6) is connected to each hydrogen fuel cell.

6. The hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric battery coupled power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, a drainage pipe (7) is arranged on the surface of the housing (15), and the drainage pipe (7) is connected to each hydrogen fuel cell.

7. The hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric battery coupled power generation device according to claim 5, characterized in that, the hydrogen intake pipe (5) and the oxygen intake pipe (6) are arranged along the cylindrical surface of the housing (15).

8. A hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric battery coupled power generation method, characterized in that, the method includes: the hydrogen fuel cell performs an internal reaction to convert hydrogen energy into electrical energy and heat energy; wherein, the electrical energy generated by the hydrogen fuel cell is transmitted to the total wiring terminal; The heat energy generated by the hydrogen fuel cell serves as the heat source at the high-temperature end of the thermoelectric power generation structure, enabling the temperature difference between the high-temperature end and the low-temperature end of the thermoelectric power generation structure to reach a preset standard, causing the thermoelectric power generation structure to generate electrical energy, and moreover, the electrical energy generated by the thermoelectric power generation structure is transmitted to the main terminal block.

9. The hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric cell coupled power generation method according to claim 8, wherein, the method further includes: supplementing hydrogen and oxygen into the hydrogen fuel cell through a hydrogen intake pipe and an oxygen intake pipe; discharging the water generated by the internal reaction of the hydrogen fuel cell through a drain pipe.

10. The hydrogen fuel cell and thermoelectric cell coupled power generation method according to claim 8, wherein, the method further includes: discharging the heat at the low-temperature end of the thermoelectric power generation structure through a heat-conducting ceramic sheet in the outer shell to reduce the temperature at the low-temperature end of the thermoelectric power generation structure.

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