Water vapor supply system of multi-stack integrated renewable fuel cell
By integrating an electrolyzer and a fuel cell into a multi-stack integrated renewable fuel cell, combined with a water and steam supply system, the problems of hydrogen production and transportation have been solved, achieving improved energy density and safety, extending stack life, and reducing system costs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202610147628.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-06
AI Technical Summary
In existing multi-stack fuel cell systems, the production, storage, and transportation of hydrogen increase system costs and risks, and insufficient energy density limits the development of the system.
It adopts a multi-stack integrated renewable fuel cell, integrating the electrolyzer and fuel cell into one unit. It achieves adaptive high-pressure hydrogen production through mode switching, and combined with a water vapor supply system, it reduces transportation costs and improves system safety.
It improves the volumetric energy density of the system, reduces costs, enhances system safety, and extends stack life through flexible start-stop and mode switching strategies, thereby improving system reliability and fault tolerance.
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Figure CN121617995A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the field of fuel cell technology and relates to hydrogen production equipment, overall control and collaborative operation of high-power fuel cell stacks, specifically a water and steam supply system for a multi-stack integrated renewable fuel cell. Background Technology
[0002] An integrated renewable fuel cell is a novel energy conversion device. Its principle is to integrate a traditional electrolyzer and a fuel cell into one unit. In electrolysis mode, it consumes water to produce hydrogen and oxygen; in power generation mode, it consumes hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity. Current research and products on multi-stall fuel cells mostly focus on configuration design and energy management, achieving higher power output through parallel connection of multiple fuel cells. Existing multi-stall fuel cell intake and exhaust configurations, strategies, and energy management and control methods exist. Compared to existing technologies, this configuration aims to integrate power generation and hydrogen production, improving overall system efficiency and reducing operating costs. Through real-time monitoring of the fuel cell stack, various target parameters required by the stack are calculated, and actual and target parameters are sent to the control module in real time. Control measures are taken when changes in target parameters or significant errors with actual parameters are detected. The control module issues a series of commands to corresponding actuators, such as solenoid valves and air compressors, adjusting their operating conditions to regulate the actual input and output parameters of the fuel cell stack. This ensures the fuel cell stack operates in a stable state to meet demand. However, fuel cell power generation requires hydrogen, which involves a series of processes including production, storage, and transportation, increasing the overall system cost and risk. The emergence of integrated renewable fuel cells eliminates the traditional model of producing hydrogen through electrolysis in an electrolyzer and then transporting it to the demand side for fuel cell power generation. This reduces transportation costs and risks, and increases the overall energy density of the system, making it an effective means of cost reduction and efficiency improvement. Summary of the Invention
[0003] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a water-gas supply system for a multi-stacking integrated regenerative fuel cell, involving the overall control and coordinated operation of high-power fuel cell stacks. This solves the problem of controlling the stack output through fuel supply management in integrated regenerative fuel cells under high-power conditions. Compared to traditional multi-stacking fuel cells, the multi-stacking integrated regenerative fuel cell used in this invention can achieve adaptive high-pressure hydrogen production through mode switching, improving the overall volumetric energy density of the system, reducing costs, and enhancing system safety. Currently, the energy density of fuel cell systems is a crucial area for improvement. The production, storage, and transportation of hydrogen in fuel cell systems are currently obstacles to fuel cell development; therefore: This invention addresses the shortcomings of existing technologies by providing a water and steam supply system for a multi-stack integrated renewable fuel cell.
[0004] The aforementioned multi-stack integrated renewable fuel cell replaces the traditional multi-stack fuel cell.
[0005] The integrated renewable fuel cell combines a traditional electrolyzer and a fuel cell into one unit.
[0006] A water vapor supply system for a multi-stacking integrated renewable fuel cell includes: A pair of fuel cell stacks, wherein the fuel cell stack is an integrated renewable fuel cell stack having two modes: electrolysis for hydrogen production and power generation, and comprising an upper electrode plate and a lower electrode plate. In the power generation mode, the upper electrode plate is the anode, and in the electrolysis for hydrogen production mode, the upper electrode plate is the cathode. The upper electrode plate is provided with an upper left interface and an upper right interface that communicate with the internal flow channel of the fuel cell stack; the lower electrode plate is provided with a lower left interface and a lower right interface that communicate with the internal flow channel of the fuel cell stack. The hydrogen supply module has its output connected to two upper left ports via a humidifier; The oxygen supply module has its output connected to two lower left ports via a humidifier; The electrolytic water supply module has two upper right interfaces connected to its output end; The hydrogen collection module has its input end connected to two upper right interfaces and its output end connected to the hydrogen supply module. And the oxygen exhaust module, whose input end is connected to two lower right interfaces; Among them, solenoid valve modules are provided between the humidifier and the two upper left interfaces, the two lower left interfaces, the electrolyzed water supply module and the two upper right interfaces.
[0007] Preferably, the solenoid valve module between the humidifier and the two upper left interfaces includes: Top left three-way; Solenoid valve one and solenoid valve three are both connected to the upper air outlet of the humidifier via the upper left tee. Solenoid valve one and solenoid valve three are each connected to an upper left port.
[0008] Preferably, the solenoid valve module between the humidifier and the two lower left interfaces includes: Lower left three-way; Solenoid valve 2 and solenoid valve 4 are both connected to the lower air outlet of the humidifier via a left-lower tee. Solenoid valve two and solenoid valve four are each connected to a lower left port.
[0009] Preferably, the solenoid valve module between the electrolyzed water supply module and the two upper right interfaces includes: Solenoid valves five and six are both connected to the electrolyzed water supply module via No. 2 three-way valve; The solenoid valve 5 is connected to an upper right port via a four-way valve. The solenoid valve six is connected to another upper right port through a No. 1 three-way valve, and the No. 1 three-way valve is connected to a four-way valve.
[0010] Preferably, the electrolyzed water supply module includes: Water jug; Water pump one, connected to the water tank and the No. 2 tee.
[0011] Preferably, the hydrogen supply module includes: Hydrogen cylinder; Pressure reducing valve, solenoid valve No. 7, and No. 6 three-way valve are sequentially installed on the pipeline between the hydrogen tank and the upper air inlet of the humidifier. The No. 6 three-way connector is connected to one output terminal of the hydrogen collection module.
[0012] Preferably, the hydrogen collection module includes: Gas-liquid separator one, which forms the input end of the hydrogen collection module, is connected to two upper right interfaces through the four-way connector; The first gas-liquid separator has its exhaust port connected to the second back pressure valve, and its liquid outlet connected to the water tank. The No. 5 tee connects back pressure valve 2, back pressure valve 1, and the air pump; the air pump is connected to the No. 6 tee. And solenoid valve eight, which is located between the input end of the hydrogen tank and back pressure valve one.
[0013] Preferably, the oxygen supply module includes: Air compressor; And a heat exchanger, which connects the output end of the air compressor and the lower air inlet of the humidifier.
[0014] Preferably, the oxygen exhaust module includes: The No. 3 tee connects the two lower right ports to the input end of the gas-liquid separator II; Back pressure valve three is connected to the exhaust port of gas-liquid separator two; The No. 4 tee connects to the drain ports of gas-liquid separator one and gas-liquid separator two, and the water tank.
[0015] Preferably, it further includes a second water pump connected to the water tank and the humidifier.
[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1. This invention uses a multi-stack integrated renewable fuel cell as an energy source, forming a complete "electricity-hydrogen-electricity" energy storage unit. It can directly convert surplus electrical energy (such as solar and wind energy) into hydrogen for storage, and then generate electricity when needed, achieving true energy self-sufficiency and recycling.
[0017] 2. The multi-stack integrated renewable fuel cell configuration adopted in this invention allows for the design of more flexible start-up, shutdown, and mode switching strategies, such as taking turns to undertake electrolysis tasks, thereby balancing the chemical / mechanical stress of each stack and significantly extending the overall lifespan at the system level.
[0018] 3. The multi-stack integrated renewable fuel cell adopted in this invention has two stacks that serve as backups for each other. The reliability and fault tolerance of the system can be improved through dynamic task allocation capabilities. In the future, the maximum power generation and maximum hydrogen production capacity of the system can be expanded simultaneously by increasing the number of units. Attached Figure Description
[0019] Figure 1 This is a diagram of the water and steam supply system architecture for a multi-stack integrated renewable fuel cell. Among them, 1-hydrogen tank, 2-air compressor, 3-pressure reducing valve, 4-solenoid valve seven, 5-heat exchanger, 6-water pump two, 7-humidifier, 8-solenoid valve eight, 9-back pressure valve one, 10-air pump. 11-Solenoid valve one, 12-Solenoid valve two, 13-Solenoid valve three, 14-Solenoid valve four, 15-Fuel cell stack one, 16-Fuel cell stack two, 17-Back pressure valve II, 18-Gas-liquid separator I, 19-Water pump I, 20-Gas-liquid separator II, 21-Water tank, 22-Back pressure valve three, 23-Water tank, 24-Solenoid valve five, 25-Solenoid valve six; 100 - Four-way connector, 200 - No. 2 three-way connector, 300 - No. 3 three-way connector, 400 - No. 4 three-way connector, 500 - No. 5 three-way connector, 600 - No. 6 three-way connector, 700 - Top left three-way connector, 800 - Bottom left three-way connector, 900 - No. 1 three-way connector. Detailed Implementation
[0020] The water vapor supply system for the multi-stacking integrated regenerative fuel cell of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the schematic diagrams, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be understood that those skilled in the art can modify the invention described herein while still achieving its advantageous effects. Therefore, the following description should be understood as being of general knowledge to those skilled in the art and is not intended to limit the invention.
[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, the water and steam supply system of the multi-stack integrated renewable fuel cell includes: stack 15, stack 2 16, hydrogen supply module, oxygen supply module, water electrolysis supply module, hydrogen collection module, and oxygen exhaust module.
[0022] Stack 15 and Stack 26, each is an integrated renewable fuel cell stack with two modes: electrolysis for hydrogen production and power generation. Each stack includes an upper electrode plate and a lower electrode plate.
[0023] When in power generation mode, the upper electrode plate is the anode; when in electrolysis hydrogen production mode, the upper electrode plate is the cathode. The upper electrode plate is provided with an upper left interface and an upper right interface that communicate with the internal flow channels of the fuel cell stack; the lower electrode plate is provided with a lower left interface and a lower right interface that communicate with the internal flow channels of the fuel cell stack.
[0024] The hydrogen supply module has its output connected to two upper left interfaces via a humidifier 7.
[0025] The hydrogen supply module includes: hydrogen tank 1, pressure reducing valve 3, solenoid valve 7 4, and No. 6 three-way valve 600.
[0026] Pressure reducing valve 3, solenoid valve 7 4, and 600 three-way valve 6 are sequentially installed on the pipeline between hydrogen tank 1 and the upper air inlet of humidifier 7; 600 three-way valve 6 is connected to one output terminal of the hydrogen collection module. Solenoid valve 7 4 is a one-way valve.
[0027] The oxygen supply module has its output connected to two lower left interfaces via a humidifier 7.
[0028] The oxygen supply module includes: air compressor 2 and heat exchanger 5.
[0029] Heat exchanger 5 connects the output end of air compressor 2 and the lower air inlet of humidifier 7. Heat exchanger 5 is used to reduce the temperature of the compressed air output by air compressor 2.
[0030] The electrolyzed water supply module has two upper right interfaces connected to its output end.
[0031] The electrolyzed water supply module includes: water pump 19 and water tank 21. Water pump 19 is connected to water tank 21 and No. 2 tee 200.
[0032] The hydrogen collection module has its input end connected to two upper right interfaces and its output end connected to the hydrogen supply module.
[0033] The hydrogen collection module includes: Gas-liquid separator 18 forms the input end of the hydrogen collection module, which is connected to two upper right interfaces through four-way 100; Gas-liquid separator 18, whose exhaust port is connected to back pressure valve 17, and whose liquid outlet is connected to water tank 23; 500 is connected to back pressure valve 2 (17), back pressure valve 1 (9) and air pump 10; air pump 10 is connected to 600 is connected to 600. Solenoid valve 8 is located between the input end of hydrogen tank 1 and back pressure valve 9.
[0034] The gas pump 10 delivers the gas produced by the fuel cell stack to the fuel cell electrode or hydrogen tank 1 via the back pressure valve 9.
[0035] The oxygen exhaust module has its input connected to two lower right interfaces.
[0036] The oxygen exhaust module includes: The No. 3 3-way 300 connects the two lower right interfaces and the input end of the gas-liquid separator 20; Back pressure valve 22 is connected to the exhaust port of gas-liquid separator 20; The No. 4 tee is connected to the drain port of gas-liquid separator 18 and gas-liquid separator 20 and the water tank 23.
[0037] Solenoid valve modules are installed between the humidifier 7 and the two upper left ports, the two lower left ports, and between the electrolyzed water supply module and the two upper right ports. Specifically: The solenoid valve module between the humidifier 7 and the two upper left ports includes: Top left 3-way 700; Solenoid valve 11 and solenoid valve 313 are both connected to the upper air outlet of humidifier 7 via the upper left tee 700. Solenoid valve 11 and solenoid valve 313 are each connected to an upper left port.
[0038] The solenoid valve module between the humidifier 7 and the two lower left ports includes: Left lower tee 800; Solenoid valve 2 12 and solenoid valve 4 14 are both connected to the lower air outlet of humidifier 7 via the lower left tee 800; Solenoid valve 2 (12) and solenoid valve 4 (14) are each connected to a lower left port.
[0039] A water pump 6 is installed between the water tank 23 and the humidifier 7. The water vapor generated by the humidifier 7 is discharged through the exhaust pipe of the humidifier 7.
[0040] The solenoid valve module between the electrolyzed water supply module and the two upper right interfaces includes: Solenoid valve 524 and solenoid valve 625 are both connected to the electrolyzed water supply module via No. 2 3-way 200; Solenoid valve 524 is connected to an upper right port via four-way 100; solenoid valve 625 is connected to another upper right port via three-way 900, and three-way 900 is connected to four-way 100.
[0041] The power module is connected to the upper and lower plates of the same fuel cell stack via wires; The load module is connected to the upper and lower plates of the same fuel cell stack via wires and is used to output electrical energy when the fuel cell stack generates electricity.
[0042] (1) Power generation mode: Hydrogen gas is introduced into the anode, and oxygen gas is introduced into the cathode.
[0043] Specifically: Hydrogen gas enters the upper plate of the fuel cell stack from hydrogen tank 1 via pressure reducing valve 3, solenoid valve 7 4, and humidifier 7, and then enters the upper plate of the fuel cell stack via solenoid valve 11 and solenoid valve 3 13 respectively. Oxygen is compressed by air compressor 2, passes through heat exchanger 5 and humidifier 7, and enters the lower plate of the fuel cell stack through solenoid valve 2 12 and solenoid valve 4 14 respectively. After the reaction is complete, the remaining hydrogen flows into gas-liquid separator 18, and the remaining oxygen is discharged through gas-liquid separator 20. The water produced in the reaction either enters gas-liquid separator 18 with the remaining hydrogen or enters gas-liquid separator 20 with the remaining oxygen for discharge.
[0044] Among them, solenoid valves with an opening degree > 0 include: Solenoid valve 11, solenoid valve 212, solenoid valve 313, solenoid valve 414; Pressure reducing valve 3; Solenoid valve 7 4; Back pressure valve 2 (17), solenoid valve 8 (8); Back pressure valve 32; Solenoid valves with an opening degree of 0 include: Solenoid valve 5.24, Solenoid valve 6.25.
[0045] (2) Hydrogen production mode by electrolysis: Under the influence of electric current, oxygen is produced at the anode and hydrogen is produced at the cathode.
[0046] Specifically: Water is pumped from water tank 21 through water pump 19 and solenoid valves 5 and 6 into the fuel cell stack. At the same time, it is electrolyzed through an external power module. At this time, solenoid valves 11 and 313 are closed. The hydrogen gas generated by the upper electrode plate and the water that did not participate in the reaction both enter the hydrogen tank 1 through the gas-liquid separator-18, the back pressure valve-9 and the solenoid valve-8. The oxygen produced by the lower electrode plate is discharged through the gas-liquid separator 20.
[0047] Among them, the solenoid valves with an opening degree of 0 include: Pressure reducing valve 3; Solenoid valve 7 4; Solenoid valve 11, solenoid valve 313, solenoid valve 212, solenoid valve 414; Solenoid valves with an opening degree > 0 include: Solenoid valve 5.24, Solenoid valve 6.25; Back pressure valve 2 (17), solenoid valve 8 (8); Back pressure valve 32; Air compressor 2 has stopped working.
[0048] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not constitute any limitation on the present invention. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art to the technical solutions and content disclosed in the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall be deemed to have remained within the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A water vapor supply system for a multi-stack integrated regenerative fuel cell, characterized by comprising: Comprise: A pair of stacks, the stack is an integrated renewable fuel cell stack, which has two modes of hydrogen production by electrolysis and power generation, which includes the upper plate and the lower plate, the upper plate is the anode in the power generation mode, and the upper plate is the cathode in the hydrogen production by electrolysis mode; The upper plate is provided with upper left and right interfaces which are communicated with the internal flow channel of the stack; the lower plate is provided with lower left and right interfaces which are communicated with the internal flow channel of the stack; Hydrogen supply module, its output end is connected with two upper left interfaces through humidifier (7); Oxygen supply module, its output end is connected with two lower left interfaces through humidifier (7); Electrolytic water supply module, its output end is connected with two upper right interfaces; Hydrogen collection module, its input end is communicated with two upper right interfaces, and its output end is communicated with hydrogen supply module; And oxygen exhaust module, its input end is communicated with two lower right interfaces; Wherein, the humidifier (7) is provided with electromagnetic valve module between two upper left interfaces, two lower left interfaces, electrolytic water supply module and two upper right interfaces.
2. The water vapor supply system of a multiple- stack integrated regenerative fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein The electromagnetic valve module between the humidifier (7) and the two upper left interfaces comprises: Left upper tee joint (700); Electromagnetic valve one (11) and electromagnetic valve three (13) are both connected with the upper gas outlet of the humidifier (7) through the left upper tee joint (700); The electromagnetic valve one (11) and the electromagnetic valve three (13) are respectively connected with one upper left interface.
3. The water vapor supply system of a multiple- stack integrated regenerative fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein The electromagnetic valve module between the humidifier (7) and the two lower left interfaces comprises: Left lower tee joint (800); Electromagnetic valve two (12) and electromagnetic valve four (14) are both connected with the lower gas outlet of the humidifier (7) through the left lower tee joint (800); The electromagnetic valve two (12) and the electromagnetic valve four (14) are respectively connected with one lower left interface.
4. The water vapor supply system of a multiple- stack integrated regenerative fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein The electromagnetic valve module between the electrolytic water supply module and the two upper right interfaces comprises: Electromagnetic valve five (24) and electromagnetic valve six (25) are both connected with the electrolytic water supply module through the second tee joint (200); The electromagnetic valve five (24) is connected with one upper right interface through the four-way joint (100); The electromagnetic valve six (25) is connected with the other upper right interface through the first tee joint (900), and the first tee joint (900) is communicated with the four-way joint (100).
5. The water vapor supply system of a multiple- stack integrated regenerative fuel cell according to claim 4, wherein The electrolytic water supply module comprises: Water tank (21); Water pump one (19) is connected with the water tank (21) and the second tee joint (200).
6. The water vapor supply system of a multiple- stack integrated regenerative fuel cell according to claim 4, wherein The hydrogen supply module comprises: Hydrogen tank (1); Pressure reducing valve (3), electromagnetic valve seven (4) and six tee joint (600) are sequentially arranged on the pipeline between the hydrogen tank (1) and the upper gas inlet of the humidifier (7); The six tee joint (600) is communicated with one output end of the hydrogen collection module.
7. The water vapor supply system of a multiple- stack integrated regenerative fuel cell according to claim 6, wherein The hydrogen collection module comprises: Gas-liquid separator one (18) forms the input end of the hydrogen collection module, and is communicated with two upper right interfaces through the four-way joint (100); The gas-liquid separator one (18) is connected with back pressure valve two (17) at the exhaust port, and is communicated with water tank (23) at the liquid outlet; Five tee joint (500) is communicated with back pressure valve two (17), back pressure valve one (9) and gas pump (10); the gas pump (10) is communicated with six tee joint (600); And solenoid valve eight (8), set between the input end of hydrogen tank (1) and back pressure valve one (9).
8. The water vapor supply system of a multiple- stack integrated regenerative fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein The oxygen supply module comprises: Air compressor (2); And heat exchanger (5), connecting the output end of air compressor (2) and the lower inlet of humidifier (7).
9. The water vapor supply system of a multiple- stack integrated regenerative fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein The oxygen exhaust module comprises: Three three-way (300), communicating 2 lower right interface and the input end of gas-liquid separator two (20); Back pressure valve three (22) is connected with the exhaust port of gas-liquid separator two (20); Four three-way (400), connecting gas-liquid separator one (18), gas-liquid separator two (20) and water tank (23).
10. The water vapor supply system of a multiple- stack integrated regenerative fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein Further comprising water pump two (6), which is connected with water tank (23) and humidifier (7).
Citation Information
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