Gas-liquid separation device and fuel cell system

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of separation devices, and discloses a gas-liquid separation device and a fuel cell system, the gas-liquid separation device comprises: a housing provided with a medium inlet and a medium outlet; and the gas-liquid separation mechanism is arranged in the shell, the gas-liquid separation mechanism comprises a first gas-liquid separation structure and a second gas-liquid separation structure which are communicated with each other, and the gas-liquid separation mechanism is configured to enable a gas medium flowing in from the medium inlet to sequentially pass through the first gas-liquid separation structure and the second gas-liquid separation structure to flow to the medium outlet. Therefore, by arranging the gas-liquid separation mechanism, two-stage separation can be realized, liquid components in a gas medium flowing into the gas-liquid separation device from the medium inlet can be fully separated, and the residual quantity of liquid in the gas medium flowing to the medium outlet can be reduced, so that the separation efficiency can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of separation devices, and more particularly to a gas-liquid separation device and a fuel cell system having the gas-liquid separation device. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, the gas-liquid separation devices in existing fuel cell systems are single-stage separation devices with low separation efficiency. The gas-liquid separation mechanism in existing devices is vertical, requiring the gas medium flowing into the device to rotate horizontally for separation. The height difference between the medium inlet and outlet of the gas-liquid separation device affects the separation efficiency. Therefore, existing gas-liquid separation devices require a large installation space, but the installation space for existing fuel cell systems is limited, making it difficult to arrange the gas-liquid separation device within a confined space. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a gas-liquid separation device that facilitates two-stage separation and improves separation efficiency.

[0004] The present invention further proposes a fuel cell system.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a gas-liquid separation device includes: a housing having a medium inlet and a medium outlet; and a gas-liquid separation mechanism disposed within the housing, the gas-liquid separation mechanism including a first gas-liquid separation structure and a second gas-liquid separation structure connected in communication, the gas-liquid separation mechanism being configured such that a gas medium flowing in from the medium inlet flows sequentially through the first gas-liquid separation structure and the second gas-liquid separation structure to the medium outlet.

[0006] According to the gas-liquid separation device of the first aspect of the invention, the present invention, by setting up a gas-liquid separation mechanism, facilitates two-stage separation, facilitates the full separation of liquid components in the gas medium flowing into the gas-liquid separation device from the medium inlet, facilitates the reduction of liquid residue in the gas medium flowing to the medium outlet, and thus facilitates the improvement of separation efficiency.

[0007] In some examples of the present invention, a medium inlet is formed on the first shell sidewall of the outer shell, the first gas-liquid separation structure and the first shell sidewall are arranged along a first direction, the first direction is perpendicular to the height direction of the gas-liquid separation device, and an air inlet is formed on the side of the first gas-liquid separation structure facing the first shell sidewall, the air inlet and the medium inlet are opposite to and connected to each other.

[0008] In some examples of the present invention, the first gas-liquid separation structure includes: a separation tube and a first-stage separation structure. The separation tube extends along a first direction. The end of the separation tube facing the sidewall of the first shell is an air inlet, and the end of the separation tube away from the sidewall of the first shell is an air outlet communicating with the second gas-liquid separation structure. The sidewall of the separation tube has a plurality of first through holes. The first-stage separation structure is disposed inside the separation tube and close to the air inlet. The first-stage separation structure is configured to change the flow direction of the gas when the gas flows through the first-stage separation structure.

[0009] In some examples of the present invention, the separation tube includes: a first tube segment and a second tube segment connected together, the first tube segment being located between the second tube segment and the first shell sidewall, the first tube segment contacting the first shell sidewall and being arranged around the medium inlet, the first tube segment having a straight tube structure, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the inner diameter of the second tube segment gradually decreasing from the first shell sidewall to the separation tube direction.

[0010] In some examples of the present invention, the primary separation structure includes: a first body and a plurality of first guide vanes, the first guide vanes being arc-shaped, the first body extending along a first direction, the plurality of first guide vanes being arranged around the first body along the circumference of the first body and all being fixed to the first body, and any two adjacent first guide vanes being spaced apart along the circumference of the first body.

[0011] In some examples of the present invention, the second gas-liquid separation structure includes: a flow guide portion, the flow guide portion and a first shell sidewall arranged along a first direction, the flow guide portion defining a first assembly groove open toward the first shell sidewall, a separation tube extending into the first assembly groove through the open end of the first assembly groove, a plurality of first through holes located in the first assembly groove, the end of the flow guide portion facing the first shell sidewall being spaced apart from the first shell sidewall to form a liquid flow gap between the flow guide portion and the first shell sidewall, and a liquid flow channel communicating with the liquid flow gap being formed between the flow guide portion and the separation tube.

[0012] In some examples of the present invention, the flow guide includes: a first assembly tank bottom wall and a first assembly tank side wall connected together. Along a first direction, the first assembly tank bottom wall is located on the side of the separation tube away from the first shell side wall. The first assembly tank side wall is annular and sleeved on the separation tube. The first assembly tank side wall is arranged around the first assembly tank bottom wall along the edge of the first assembly tank bottom wall. The first assembly tank side wall is spaced apart from the separation tube to form a liquid flow channel. The first assembly tank bottom wall has a second through hole. The end of the separation tube away from the first shell side wall contacts the first assembly tank bottom wall and is arranged around the second through hole to make the second through hole and the gas outlet opposite to each other and connected, so that the gas in the separation tube flows into the second gas-liquid separation structure through the second through hole.

[0013] In some examples of the present invention, the second gas-liquid separation structure further includes: a separation shell and a secondary separation structure, the separation shell and a first shell sidewall being arranged along a first direction, the separation shell defining a second assembly groove open toward the first shell sidewall, the first gas-liquid separation structure and a flow guide being located in the second assembly groove, the separation shell and the flow guide being spaced apart, the separation shell having a second assembly groove sidewall opposite to and spaced apart from the first assembly groove sidewall, the second assembly groove sidewall forming multiple rows of third through holes, the multiple rows of third through holes being arranged sequentially along the circumference of the second assembly groove sidewall, the secondary separation structure being located in the second assembly groove and sleeved on the first assembly groove sidewall, the secondary separation structure being located on the side of the third through holes away from the first shell sidewall, and the secondary separation structure being configured to change the flow direction of the gas when the gas flows through the secondary separation structure.

[0014] In some examples of the present invention, the separation housing further has a second assembly groove bottom wall that is opposite to and spaced apart from the bottom wall of the first assembly groove. A guide boss protruding toward the bottom wall of the first assembly groove is formed on the surface of the second assembly groove bottom wall facing the bottom wall of the first assembly groove. The guide boss and the second through hole are opposite to and spaced apart, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the guide boss gradually decreases from the bottom wall of the second assembly groove to the bottom wall of the first assembly groove.

[0015] In some examples of this invention, the guide boss is a conical structure.

[0016] In some examples of the present invention, the secondary separation structure includes: a collar and a plurality of second guide vanes, the second guide vanes being arc-shaped, the collar being sleeved on the side wall of the first assembly groove, the plurality of second guide vanes being arranged around the collar along the circumference and all being fixed to the collar, and any two adjacent second guide vanes being spaced apart along the circumference of the collar.

[0017] In some examples of the present invention, the housing has a top wall and a bottom wall, the gas-liquid separation mechanism is located between the top wall and the bottom wall and is spaced apart from both the top wall and the bottom wall, and the medium outlet is formed on the top wall.

[0018] In some examples of the present invention, a drain port is formed at the lower part of the housing; and / or the housing is also formed with an exhaust valve port for mounting an exhaust valve so that the exhaust valve port can be selectively opened or closed.

[0019] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a fuel cell system includes the gas-liquid separation device described above.

[0020] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a gas-liquid separation device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the separation tube according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the primary separation structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the detachable shell according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a two-stage separation structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure label: Gas-liquid separation device 10; 20. Outer shell; 21. Medium inlet; 22. Medium outlet; 23. First shell sidewall; 24. Outer shell top wall; 25. Outer shell bottom wall; 26. Drain port; 27. Vent valve port; Gas-liquid separation mechanism 30; First gas-liquid separation structure 40; separation pipe 41; primary separation structure 42; air inlet 411; air outlet 412; first through hole 413; first pipe section 414; second pipe section 415; first body 421; first guide vane 422; Second gas-liquid separation structure 50; flow guide section 51; separation shell 52; secondary separation structure 53; first assembly groove 511; bottom wall of first assembly groove 512; side wall of first assembly groove 513; second through hole 514; second assembly groove 521; side wall of second assembly groove 522; third through hole row 523; bottom wall of second assembly groove 524; flow guide boss 525; collar 531; second flow guide blade 532; Liquid flow gap 60; Liquid flow channel 70; Water collection chamber 80; Spacing space 90. Detailed Implementation

[0023] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0024] The following is for reference. Figures 1-5 A gas-liquid separation device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, according to a first aspect embodiment of the present invention, a gas-liquid separation device 10 includes: a housing 20 having a medium inlet 21 and a medium outlet 22; and a gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 disposed within the housing 20, the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 including a first gas-liquid separation structure 40 and a second gas-liquid separation structure 50 connected in communication, the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 being configured such that gaseous medium flowing in from the medium inlet 21 flows sequentially through the first gas-liquid separation structure 40 and the second gas-liquid separation structure 50 to the medium outlet 22.

[0026] The outer shell 20 can be made of materials such as aluminum alloy or steel, and can be formed by methods such as stamping or die casting. Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment of the invention, the first direction is the X direction, i.e., the horizontal direction, and the height direction of the gas-liquid separation device 10 is the Z direction, i.e., the vertical direction. Exemplarily, the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 is disposed within the housing 20 and is fixedly connected to the housing 20. As one embodiment, the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 can be welded to the housing 20. As another embodiment, the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 can be fixedly connected to the housing 20 using fasteners such as bolts or clips. As yet another embodiment, the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 can be integrally formed with the housing 20.

[0027] The first gas-liquid separation structure 40 and the second gas-liquid separation structure 50 are connected, allowing the gas-liquid mixture to flow smoothly from the first gas-liquid separation structure 40 into the second gas-liquid separation structure 50. This reduces the risk of airflow interruption or turbulence during the transition from the first gas-liquid separation structure 40 to the second gas-liquid separation structure 50, ensuring the continuity of the separation process and improving its stability. The connection between the first gas-liquid separation structure 40 and the second gas-liquid separation structure 50 allows the gas-liquid mixture to pass through the first gas-liquid separation structure 40 after flowing into the gas-liquid separation device 10 from the medium inlet 21. Any remaining gas-liquid mixture not separated by the first gas-liquid separation structure 40 then enters the second gas-liquid separation structure 50 for secondary separation. Therefore, this invention achieves two-stage separation, which facilitates the thorough separation of the liquid component in the gas-liquid mixture and reduces the amount of liquid residue in the gas medium flowing to the medium outlet 22, thereby improving separation efficiency.

[0028] In this invention, the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 is configured such that the gas medium flowing in from the medium inlet 21 flows sequentially through the first gas-liquid separation structure 40 and the second gas-liquid separation structure 50 to the medium outlet 22. This is beneficial to make the separation process of the gas-liquid mixture have a clear progression, which helps to reduce the risk of irregular separation caused by chaotic separation paths, thereby improving the regularity of the gas-liquid separation process.

[0029] According to the gas-liquid separation device 10 of the first aspect of the invention, the present invention, by setting up a gas-liquid separation mechanism 30, facilitates two-stage separation, facilitates the full separation of liquid components in the gas medium flowing into the gas-liquid separation device 10 from the medium inlet 21, facilitates the reduction of liquid residue in the gas medium flowing to the medium outlet 22, thereby improving separation efficiency, and also facilitates a clear progression in the separation process of the gas-liquid mixed medium, which helps reduce the risk of irregular separation caused by chaotic separation paths, thereby improving the regularity of the gas-liquid separation process.

[0030] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, the first shell sidewall 23 of the outer shell 20 has a medium inlet 21. The first gas-liquid separation structure 40 and the first shell sidewall 23 are arranged along a first direction, which is perpendicular to the height direction of the gas-liquid separation device 10. The first gas-liquid separation structure 40 has an air inlet 411 on the side facing the first shell sidewall 23. The air inlet 411 and the medium inlet 21 are opposite to and connected to each other.

[0031] For example, the dimensions of the air inlet 411 and the medium inlet 21 can be perfectly matched. The first gas-liquid separation structure 40 and the first shell sidewall 23 are arranged along a first direction, and the first direction is perpendicular to the height direction of the gas-liquid separation device 10. That is, the first gas-liquid separation structure 40 is arranged in a horizontal direction (i.e., the first direction). This allows the gas medium flowing into the gas-liquid separation device 10 to be separated without rotating in the horizontal direction. This helps to reduce the impact of the height difference between the medium inlet 21 and the drain port 26 on the separation efficiency, and helps to adapt the gas-liquid separation device 10 to the limited installation space of the fuel cell system, thereby improving the layout flexibility of the gas-liquid separation device 10 in a limited space. At the same time, the air inlet 411 is opposite to and connected to the medium inlet 21, which helps the gas medium flowing in from the medium inlet 21 to enter the first gas-liquid separation structure 40 in the horizontal direction without additional turning or changing the flow direction. This helps to reduce the risk of gas medium turbulence, and the gas medium flowing in the horizontal direction does not need to overcome the influence of gravity in the vertical direction, which is beneficial to the energy loss of the gas medium flow.

[0032] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2As shown, the first gas-liquid separation structure 40 includes a separation pipe 41 and a primary separation structure 42. The separation pipe 41 extends along a first direction. The end of the separation pipe 41 facing the first shell sidewall 23 is an air inlet 411, and the end of the separation pipe 41 away from the first shell sidewall 23 is an air outlet 412 that communicates with the second gas-liquid separation structure 50. The sidewall of the separation pipe 41 has a plurality of first through holes 413. The primary separation structure 42 is disposed inside the separation pipe 41 and is located near the air inlet 411. The primary separation structure 42 is configured to change the flow direction of the gas when the gas flows through the primary separation structure 42.

[0033] When the gas medium enters the separation pipe 41 from the inlet 411, it first flows through the primary separation structure 42, where the airflow direction is changed. At this time, the liquid component in the gas medium separates from the gas due to inertia, centrifugal force, etc. The separated liquid exits the separation pipe 41 through multiple first through holes 413 on the side wall of the separation pipe 41. This reduces the amount of liquid flowing with the gas medium to the outlet 412, which helps to reduce the content of liquid component in the gas medium entering the second gas-liquid separation structure 50. The multiple first through holes 413 provide a discharge path for the liquid. The initially separated liquid can flow out of the separation pipe 41 through the first through holes 413 without flowing with the gas medium to the outlet 412, which helps to reduce the risk of liquid retention and accumulation in the separation pipe 41. The separation tube 41 extends along the first direction, which can form a regular airflow channel. This helps to reduce the risk of random diffusion of the gas medium in the separation tube 41 and makes the gas medium flow in an orderly manner along the first direction in the separation tube 41. When the gas medium flows in an orderly manner, the inertial force and centrifugal force on the liquid are more uniform, which helps to make the separation effect more stable.

[0034] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the separation tube 41 includes: a first tube section 414 and a second tube section 415 connected together. The first tube section 414 is located between the second tube section 415 and the first shell sidewall 23. The first tube section 414 contacts the first shell sidewall 23 and is arranged around the medium inlet 21. The first tube section 414 has a straight tube structure. From the first shell sidewall 23 to the separation tube 41, the cross-sectional area of ​​the inner diameter of the second tube section 415 gradually decreases.

[0035] The separation tube 41 can be made of materials such as steel or aluminum alloy, and can be formed by methods such as stamping or mold casting. Figure 1As shown, exemplarily, from the first shell sidewall 23 to the separation tube 41, the cross-sectional area of ​​the inner diameter of the second tube section 415 gradually decreases. The second tube section 415 can be constructed as a cone with a cone contraction angle of α, where 5°≤α≤60°. α can be a value such as 5°, 50°, or 60°, which is beneficial for enhancing centrifugal separation capability and reducing the risk of turbulence in the gas medium. The first tube section 414 is a straight pipe that contacts the first shell sidewall 23 and is arranged around the medium inlet 21. This reduces the risk of leakage or diversion of the medium after it flows out of the medium inlet 21 before entering the separation tube 41, ensuring that all the medium flowing out of the medium inlet 21 can enter the separation tube 41 to participate in separation.

[0036] According to the fluid mechanics continuity equation Q=A×v (where Q is the flow rate, A is the cross-sectional area, and v is the velocity), when the medium flows from the first straight pipe section 414 into the second pipe section 415, the velocity will increase as the cross-sectional area of ​​the second pipe section 415 decreases, provided the flow rate remains constant. With the increased velocity, according to the centrifugal force formula F=mv² / r (where m is the mass of the medium and r is the radius of rotation), the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the medium will be enhanced. This is beneficial for more efficiently throwing the denser liquid towards the side wall of the separation pipe 41 and discharging it through the first through-hole 413.

[0037] For example, the length of the first pipe section 414 is greater than that of the second pipe section 415. The straight shape of the first pipe section 414 allows the medium to flow into the second pipe section 415 in a straight line without changing its flow direction after entering from the medium inlet 21. This helps reduce flow resistance caused by the bends in the first pipe section 414. The gradually decreasing cross-sectional area of ​​the inner diameter of the second pipe section 415 helps increase the medium flow velocity. Using a straight first pipe section 414 and a second pipe section 415 with a gradually decreasing cross-sectional area allows for increased flow velocity and enhanced separation of the medium within the shorter second pipe section 415, without needing to increase the length of the second pipe section 415. This facilitates the adaptation of the gas-liquid separation device 10 to the compact installation space of the fuel cell system. The first pipe section 414 adopts a straight pipe structure, which allows the medium to flow in a straight buffer line after flowing into the separator pipe 41 from the air inlet 411, and then smoothly enter the second pipe section 415. This helps to reduce the impact caused by the change in the flow direction of the medium due to the medium flowing directly into the second pipe section 415 from the air inlet 411, which helps to protect the internal structure of the separator pipe 41 and improves the structural stability of the gas-liquid separator 10.

[0038] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 3As shown, the first-stage separation structure 42 includes: a first body 421 and a plurality of first guide vanes 422. The first guide vanes 422 are arc-shaped structures. The first body 421 extends along a first direction. The plurality of first guide vanes 422 are arranged around the first body 421 along the circumference of the first body 421 and are all fixed to the first body 421. Any two adjacent first guide vanes 422 are spaced apart along the circumference of the first body 421.

[0039] The first body 421 can be made of materials such as steel or aluminum alloy, and can be formed by stamping, mold casting, or other methods. Figure 3 As shown, the first body 421 can be constructed as a column with hemispherical ends and a straight middle section along the first direction. The hemispherical ends have smooth curved surfaces, which can reduce the airflow impact generated when the medium flows through the primary separation structure 42, thereby allowing the airflow to flow stably towards the first guide vane 422. The first guide vane 422 can be made of materials such as steel or aluminum alloy. The first guide vane 422 can be formed by stamping, mold casting, etc. The first guide vane 422 can be welded to the first body 421. The first guide vane 422 can be fixed to the first body 421 by fasteners such as bolts and clips. The first guide vane 422 can be integrally formed with the first body 421.

[0040] The primary separation structure 42 is located inside the separation pipe 41 and near the air inlet 411. The first guide vane 422 has an arc-shaped structure, and multiple first guide vanes 422 are distributed circumferentially along the first body 421. When the medium flows into the separation pipe 41 from the air inlet 411, the arc-shaped structure of the first guide vane 422 will generate a tangential force on the medium, causing the originally linearly flowing medium to move in a circular motion around the first body 421, forming a rotating airflow. According to the centrifugal separation principle, in the rotating state, the liquid, which has a density much greater than that of the gas medium, will be thrown towards the side wall of the separation pipe 41 by centrifugal force and flow out of the separation pipe 41 from the first through hole 413, thereby achieving preliminary separation.

[0041] The arc-shaped first guide vane 422 can better conform to the flow trajectory of the medium, which helps reduce the risk of severe impact or eddies between the medium and the first guide vane 422. At the same time, the circumferential spacing between any two adjacent first guide vanes 422 along the first body 421 can reserve sufficient flow channels for the medium, which helps reduce the obstruction of the medium flow by the first guide vane 422, thereby further reducing the medium flow resistance. The uniform distribution of multiple arc-shaped first guide vanes 422 along the circumference of the first body 421 can make the tangential force on the medium uniform at all positions of the first body 421, which helps to form a stable columnar rotating airflow of the gas medium. The stable rotation state can ensure that the liquid at different positions of the primary separation structure 42 can obtain uniform centrifugal force, which helps to reduce the risk that some liquid cannot be thrown to the side wall of the separation tube 41 due to the turbulence of the medium rotation.

[0042] The arc-shaped structure itself has strong fatigue resistance, which makes the first guide vane 422 less prone to deformation or breakage under long-term high-frequency medium impact, thus improving the structural stability of the first guide vane 422. Multiple first guide vanes 422 are arranged around the first body 421 circumferentially, which allows the first-stage separation structure 42 to fit tightly into the internal space of the separation tube 41, thus improving the structural compactness of the first-stage separation structure 42 and further facilitating the installation of the gas-liquid separation device 10 fuel cell system in a confined space.

[0043] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, the second gas-liquid separation structure 50 includes: a flow guide 51, the flow guide 51 and the first shell sidewall 23 are arranged along a first direction, the flow guide 51 defines a first assembly groove 511 that opens toward the first shell sidewall 23, the separation tube 41 extends into the first assembly groove 511 through the open end of the first assembly groove 511, a plurality of first through holes 413 are located in the first assembly groove 511, the end of the flow guide 51 facing the first shell sidewall 23 is spaced apart from the first shell sidewall 23 to form a liquid flow gap 60 between the flow guide 51 and the first shell sidewall 23, and a liquid flow channel 70 communicating with the liquid flow gap 60 is formed between the flow guide 51 and the separation tube 41.

[0044] The guide section 51 can be made of materials such as steel or aluminum alloy, and can be formed by stamping, mold casting, or other methods. For example, the liquid flowing out of the first through hole 413 flows along the liquid flow channel 70 to the liquid flow gap 60, and then flows out of the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 from the liquid flow gap 60. After flowing out of the first gas-liquid separation structure 40, it can flow directionally out of the gas-liquid separation device 10, which helps reduce the risk of liquid accumulation within the gas-liquid separation device 10. The gas medium flowing out of the second pipe section 415 flows into the second gas-liquid separation structure 50 through the gas outlet 412. The liquid flowing out of the separation pipe 41 flows along the liquid flow channel 70 to the liquid flow gap 60, and then flows out of the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 from the liquid flow gap 60. Therefore, the flow paths of the gas medium flowing into the second gas-liquid separation structure 50 and the liquid in the liquid flow channel 70 do not intersect, which helps reduce the risk of mutual interference between the gas medium flowing into the second gas-liquid separation structure 50 and the liquid in the liquid flow channel 70.

[0045] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, the flow guide 51 includes: a first assembly tank bottom wall 512 and a first assembly tank side wall 513 connected together. Along the first direction, the first assembly tank bottom wall 512 is located on the side of the separation tube 41 away from the first shell side wall 23. The first assembly tank side wall 513 is annular and sleeved on the separation tube 41. The first assembly tank side wall 513 is arranged around the first assembly tank bottom wall 512 along the edge of the first assembly tank bottom wall 512. The first assembly tank side wall 513 is spaced apart from the separation tube 41 to form a liquid flow channel 70. The first assembly tank bottom wall 512 has a second through hole 514. The end of the separation tube 41 away from the first shell side wall 23 contacts the first assembly tank bottom wall 512 and is arranged around the second through hole 514 to make the second through hole 514 and the gas outlet 412 face each other and communicate, so that the gas in the separation tube 41 flows into the second gas-liquid separation structure 50 through the second through hole 514.

[0046] In this embodiment, the second through hole 514 and the air outlet 412 are opposite to and connected. The gas medium flowing out of the second pipe section 415 flows into the second gas-liquid separation structure 50 through the air outlet 412 and the second through hole 514. Thus, the medium flows from the first gas-liquid separation structure 40 into the second gas-liquid separation structure 50 without bends or obstructions, which is more conducive to reducing the flow resistance of the medium. The side wall 513 of the first assembly groove is annular and sleeved on the separation pipe 41, and the side wall 513 of the first assembly groove is spaced apart from the separation pipe 41 to form a liquid flow channel 70. Thus, the liquid flow channel 70 of the present invention is constructed as annular. The liquid flow channel 70 is continuously distributed around the circumference of the separation pipe 41 without breaks or dead angles. The liquid flowing out of the first through hole 413 of the separation pipe 41 can flow uniformly along the annular liquid flow channel 70, which is conducive to reducing the risk of local liquid accumulation in the liquid flow channel 70 due to discontinuity of the liquid flow channel 70. At the same time, the annular liquid flow channel 70 is arranged around the separation pipe 41, which can maximize the utilization of the outer circumferential space of the separation pipe 41.

[0047] For example, the dimensions of the second through hole 514 and the air outlet 412 are perfectly matched. The medium flowing out of the separation pipe 41 can flow into the second gas-liquid separation structure 50 from the air outlet 412 and the second through hole 514. The side wall 513 of the first assembly tank is arranged around the edge of the bottom wall 512 of the first assembly tank, which helps to reduce the space occupied by the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30, improves the structural compactness of the gas-liquid separation device 10, and makes it more suitable for the gas-liquid separation device 10 to fit into narrow installation spaces.

[0048] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, the second gas-liquid separation structure 50 further includes: a separation shell 52 and a secondary separation structure 53. The separation shell 52 and the first shell sidewall 23 are arranged along a first direction. The separation shell 52 defines a second assembly groove 521 that opens toward the first shell sidewall 23. The first gas-liquid separation structure 40 and the flow guide 51 are located in the second assembly groove 521. The separation shell 52 and the flow guide 51 are spaced apart. The separation shell 52 has a second assembly groove sidewall 522 that is opposite to and spaced apart from the first assembly groove sidewall 513. The second assembly groove sidewall 522 forms multiple rows of third through holes 523. The multiple rows of third through holes 523 are arranged sequentially along the circumference of the second assembly groove sidewall 522. The secondary separation structure 53 is located in the second assembly groove 521 and sleeved on the first assembly groove sidewall 513. The secondary separation structure 53 is located on the side of the third through hole row 523 that is away from the first shell sidewall 23. The secondary separation structure 53 is configured to change the flow direction of the gas when the gas flows through the secondary separation structure 53.

[0049] Both the separation shell 52 and the secondary separation structure 53 can be made of materials such as steel or aluminum alloy, and can be formed by stamping, mold casting, or other methods. The medium that was not captured after the primary separation contains trace amounts of liquid. This liquid flows into the second assembly tank 521 through the second through-hole 514. The medium flowing into the second assembly tank 521 must pass through the secondary separation structure 53, which is fitted onto the side wall 513 of the first assembly tank. The secondary separation structure 53 can change the gas flow direction, causing the gas to rotate around the outer wall of the first assembly tank 511, generating a secondary centrifugal force. According to the centrifugal force formula F=mv² / r, when the gas flow rate remains constant, the centrifugal force generated by the rotation can throw the remaining trace amounts of liquid in the medium towards the side wall 522 of the second assembly tank of the separation shell 52, thereby achieving secondary separation.

[0050] The second assembly tank sidewall 522 of the separation housing 52 forms multiple rows of third through holes 523, which are arranged sequentially along the circumference of the separation housing 52. Liquid thrown towards the second assembly tank sidewall 522 by secondary centrifugal force will flow along the second assembly tank sidewall 522 and exit the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 through the third through holes 523, which helps reduce the risk of liquid stagnation in the second assembly tank 521. The first gas-liquid separation structure 40, the guide section 51, and the secondary separation structure 53 are all located within the second assembly tank 521, improving the structural compactness of the gas-liquid separation device 10, reducing the space occupied by the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30, and making the gas-liquid separation device 10 more adaptable to narrow installation spaces. Furthermore, it helps the separation housing 52 isolate external vibrations and temperature fluctuations, reducing the impact of the external environment on the first gas-liquid separation structure 40, the guide section 51, and the secondary separation structure 53. The multiple rows of third through holes 523 can reduce the risk of blockage of a single through hole, which helps improve the reliability of the gas-liquid separation device 10.

[0051] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 1 , Figure 4 As shown, the separation housing 52 also has a second assembly groove bottom wall 524 that is opposite to and spaced apart from the first assembly groove bottom wall 512. A guide boss 525 protruding toward the first assembly groove bottom wall 512 is formed on the surface of the second assembly groove bottom wall 524 facing the first assembly groove bottom wall 512. The guide boss 525 and the second through hole 514 are opposite to and spaced apart, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the guide boss 525 gradually decreases from the second assembly groove bottom wall 524 to the first assembly groove bottom wall 512.

[0052] For example, the guide boss 525 and the bottom wall 524 of the second assembly groove are integrally formed. As one embodiment, the guide boss 525 has a conical structure. As another embodiment, the guide boss 525 has a trapezoidal structure. This invention is described using a conical guide boss 525 as an example. The guide boss 525 protrudes from the bottom wall 524 of the second assembly groove towards the bottom wall 512 of the first assembly groove, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the guide boss 525 gradually decreases. This allows the gas to diffuse smoothly along the inclined surface of the guide boss 525, which helps reduce the risk of eddies caused by sudden changes in gas velocity. The gradually decreasing cross-sectional area of ​​the guide boss 525 allows the inclined surface of the guide boss 525 to generate a tangential force on the diffused gas, causing the gas to initially rotate under the action of the tangential force. The guide boss 525 protrudes from the bottom wall 524 of the second assembly tank and its cross-sectional area gradually decreases, which allows the liquid to slide down the inclined surface of the guide boss 525 to the side wall 522 of the second assembly tank and then be discharged in a directional manner.

[0053] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, the guide boss 525 has a conical structure.

[0054] For example, such as Figure 4 As shown, the guide cone angle of the guide boss 525 is β, and 60≤β≤150°. The cone surface inclination angle is moderate, preventing the gas from rebounding due to an excessively small inclination angle, and also preventing the gas from directly impacting the bottom wall 524 of the second assembly groove due to an excessively large inclination angle. This facilitates the guidance of gas diffusion along the cone surface. The side of the conical structure is a continuous and smooth annular curved surface without sharp edges or breaks. When the gas flows into the second assembly groove 521 from the second through hole 514, it will diffuse evenly along the side of the conical structure, forming a 360° symmetrical flow field, which helps ensure that the gas flows evenly to the secondary separation structure 53.

[0055] The inclination angle of the conical side surface of the guide boss 525 can generate a continuous and uniform tangential force on the diffused gas. When the gas flows along the conical side surface, it will rotate under the action of the tangential force, and the direction of gas rotation is consistent with the direction guided by the secondary separation structure 53. The side surface of the conical structure has a smooth transition with the bottom wall 524 of the second assembly tank, which allows the liquid to flow smoothly along the junction of the side surface of the conical structure and the bottom wall 524 of the second assembly tank to the third through hole row 523. At the same time, there are no dead corners on the surface of the conical structure, so the liquid cannot adhere and accumulate. The smooth curved surface of the conical structure conforms to the gas diffusion trajectory. When the gas flows along the conical structure, there is no impact or flow around it, and the frictional resistance is extremely small. At the same time, the cone apex of the conical structure faces the second through hole 514, which corresponds to the gas inflow direction. The gas can diffuse along the conical structure without changing the flow direction, which is more conducive to reducing gas flow resistance.

[0056] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 5As shown, the secondary separation structure 53 includes: a collar 531 and a plurality of second guide vanes 532. The second guide vanes 532 are arc-shaped. The collar 531 is sleeved on the side wall 513 of the first assembly groove. The plurality of second guide vanes 532 are arranged around the collar 531 along the circumference of the collar 531 and are all fixed to the collar 531. Any two adjacent second guide vanes 532 are spaced apart along the circumference of the collar 531.

[0057] The second guide vane 532 can be welded to the collar 531, or the second guide vane 532 can be integrally formed with the collar 531. The second guide vane 532 can be fixed to the collar 531 by bolts, clips, or other fasteners. Gas that still contains trace amounts of liquid after the first-stage separation needs to flow through the second-stage separation structure 53. Multiple arc-shaped second guide vanes 532, fixed to the collar 531, are spaced apart circumferentially along the collar 531. When gas passes through the gaps between the multiple second guide vanes 532, the multiple second guide vanes 532 generate a continuous and uniform tangential force on the airflow, causing the originally gently diffusing gas to rotate around the collar 531, forming a secondary centrifugal field. The centrifugal force generated by the rotation can throw trace amounts of liquid, whose density is much greater than that of gas, towards the second assembly groove sidewall 522 of the separation shell 52.

[0058] Multiple second guide vanes 532 are evenly spaced along the circumference of the collar 531, ensuring uniform tangential force on the gas at all positions around the collar 531, forming a stable columnar rotating airflow. The collar 531 can be directly fitted onto the side wall 513 of the first assembly groove without the need for additional fixing supports, which helps reduce the space occupied by the secondary separation structure 53 and makes it easier to adapt the gas-liquid separator 10 to the limited installation space of the fuel cell system. The arc-shaped structure of the second guide vanes 532 conforms to the natural flow trajectory of the gas, which helps reduce gas flow resistance. The second guide vanes 532 are all fixed to the collar 531, ensuring high connection strength. The arc-shaped second guide vanes 532 have no stress concentration points, excellent fatigue resistance, and are not prone to deformation or detachment, thus improving the structural stability of the gas-liquid separator 10.

[0059] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, the housing 20 has a top wall 24 and a bottom wall 25. The gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 is located between the top wall 24 and the bottom wall 25, and the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 is spaced apart from both the top wall 24 and the bottom wall 25. The medium outlet 22 is formed on the top wall 24.

[0060] For example, a water collection cavity 80 is formed between the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 and the bottom wall 25 of the outer casing, and a space 90 is formed between the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 and the top wall 24 of the outer casing. The gas separated by the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 has the characteristic of upward flow. The medium outlet 22 is located on the top wall 24 of the outer casing, which facilitates the discharge of gas medium in the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 through the medium outlet 22. This helps to reduce the risk of gas stagnation inside the gas-liquid separation device 10 due to the medium outlet 22 being too low. At the same time, the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 is spaced apart from the top wall 24 of the outer casing, which can reserve sufficient upward channels for the gas.

[0061] The liquid separated by the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 flows downwards due to gravity, while the medium outlet 22 is located on the top wall 24 of the outer casing, opposite to the direction of liquid flow. Furthermore, the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 is separated from the top wall 24 of the outer casing. Even if a small amount of liquid is carried upwards by the airflow, it will fall back to the separation mechanism or the water collection chamber 80 under gravity, and will not reach the medium outlet 22 on the top wall 24 of the outer casing. The gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 is separated from both the top wall 24 and the bottom wall 25 of the outer casing, which helps reduce the risk of liquid in the water collection chamber 80 soaking the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30.

[0062] After the gas discharged from the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 enters the interval space 90, the gas flow rate will decrease briefly before flowing steadily to the medium outlet 22. This helps to reduce the risk of a sudden increase in local flow velocity and pressure drop caused by the gas directly impacting the medium outlet 22. The gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 is spaced from the bottom wall 25 of the outer shell, and a water collection cavity 80 is reserved for the bottom wall 25 of the outer shell. The separated liquid can flow into the water collection cavity 80 along the surface of the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 or the wall of the outer shell 20 without the need for additional guide pipes, which helps to simplify the structural design of the gas-liquid separation device 10.

[0063] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, a drain port 26 is formed at the lower part of the housing 20; and / or the housing 20 is also formed with an exhaust valve port 27, which is used to install an exhaust valve so that the exhaust valve port 27 can be selectively opened or closed.

[0064] In one embodiment, a drain port 26 is formed at the lower part of the housing 20. In another embodiment, the housing 20 has an exhaust valve port 27 for mounting an exhaust valve, allowing the exhaust valve port 27 to selectively open or close. In yet another embodiment, the housing 20 has both a drain port 26 at the lower part and an exhaust valve port 27 for mounting an exhaust valve, allowing the exhaust valve port 27 to selectively open or close. This invention will be described using the example of a housing 20 having a drain port 26 at the lower part and an exhaust valve port 27.

[0065] As one embodiment, the drain port 26 may be formed on the first shell sidewall 23. As another embodiment, the drain port 26 may be formed on the outer shell bottom wall 25. As yet another embodiment, the drain port 26 is partially formed on the first shell sidewall 23 and partially formed on the outer shell bottom wall 25. This invention will be described using the example of the drain port 26 being partially formed on the first shell sidewall 23 and partially formed on the outer shell bottom wall 25.

[0066] The liquid separated by the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 flows downward due to gravity and eventually collects in the water collection chamber 80. The drain port 26 is located at the lower part of the outer shell 20, which is completely consistent with the direction of liquid gravity flow. The liquid can be discharged naturally without additional power, which helps to reduce the risk of liquid stagnation in the water collection chamber 80 due to the drain port 26 being too high.

[0067] During fuel cell system operation, slight pressure fluctuations occur within the gas-liquid separator 10 due to gas medium circulation. After installing an exhaust valve at the exhaust port 27, the internal gas pressure of the gas-liquid separator 10 can be stabilized within a set range by selectively opening / closing the exhaust valve. This helps reduce the risk of abnormal gas pressure affecting gas circulation efficiency or stack reaction stability. During long-term operation, trace amounts of impurity gas may enter the gas-liquid separator 10. Accumulation of impurity gas will reduce the purity of the gas flowing out of the gas-liquid separator 10, affecting the stack reaction efficiency. The exhaust valve can discharge impurity gas, maintaining the purity of the gas inside the device.

[0068] For example, the gas-liquid mixture from the anode outlet of the fuel cell stack flows into the gas-liquid separator 10 through the medium inlet 21. As it flows through the primary separation structure 42 of the first gas-liquid separation structure 40, the gas-liquid mixture is guided to generate a rotating flow and enters the separation tube 41 of the first gas-liquid separation structure 40. Under the action of centrifugal force, the liquid flows along the inner wall of the separation tube 41 and flows through the first through hole 413 on the side wall of the separation tube 41 into the liquid flow channel 70 between the guide section 51 and the separation tube 41.

[0069] The gas-liquid mixture that is not separated by the first gas-liquid separation structure 40 continues to flow into the second assembly tank 521 defined by the separation shell 52 of the second gas-liquid separation structure 50, and flows through the secondary separation structure 53 of the second gas-liquid separation structure 50. Guided by the secondary separation structure 53, the gas-liquid mixture generates a rotating flow again. The liquid flows along the inner wall of the separation shell 52, flows out of the gas-liquid separation mechanism 30 through the third through hole 523 on the side wall of the separation shell 52, and finally flows into the water collection cavity 80 at the bottom of the outer shell 20.

[0070] According to a second aspect embodiment of the present invention, a fuel cell system includes the gas-liquid separation device 10 described above. By incorporating the gas-liquid separation device 10 into the fuel cell system, it is advantageous to improve separation efficiency and to adapt the gas-liquid separation device 10 to the limited installation space of the fuel cell system.

[0071] Other configurations and operations of the gas-liquid separation device 10 and fuel cell system according to embodiments of the present invention are known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0072] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0073] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A gas-liquid separation device, characterized by, The utility model relates to a gas-liquid separation device, comprising: a housing formed with a medium inlet and a medium outlet; a gas-liquid separation mechanism arranged in the housing, the gas-liquid separation mechanism comprising a first gas-liquid separation structure and a second gas-liquid separation structure in communication, and being configured to allow the gaseous medium flowing from the medium inlet to flow to the medium outlet through the first gas-liquid separation structure and the second gas-liquid separation structure in sequence.

2. The gas-liquid separation device of claim 1, wherein, The first shell side wall of the housing is formed with the medium inlet, the first gas-liquid separation structure and the first shell side wall are arranged along a first direction, the first direction is perpendicular to the height direction of the gas-liquid separation device, the first gas-liquid separation structure is formed with an air inlet on the side facing the first shell side wall, and the air inlet is opposite to and in communication with the medium inlet.

3. The gas-liquid separation device of claim 2, wherein, The first gas-liquid separation structure comprises a separation tube and a primary separation structure, the separation tube extends along the first direction, the end of the separation tube facing the first shell side wall is the air inlet, the end of the separation tube away from the first shell side wall is an air outlet in communication with the second gas-liquid separation structure, the side wall of the separation tube is formed with a plurality of first through holes, and the primary separation structure is arranged in the separation tube and is located close to the air inlet.

4. The gas-liquid separation device of claim 3, wherein, The separation tube comprises a first tube segment and a second tube segment connected in sequence, the first tube segment is located between the second tube segment and the first shell side wall, the first tube segment is in contact with the first shell side wall and is arranged around the medium inlet, the first tube segment is a straight tube structure, and the cross-sectional area of the inner diameter of the second tube segment gradually decreases from the first shell side wall to the separation tube.

5. The gas-liquid separation device of claim 3, wherein, The primary separation structure comprises a first body and a plurality of first guide vanes, the first guide vanes are in arc-shaped structure, the first body extends along the first direction, the plurality of first guide vanes are arranged around the first body along the circumferential direction of the first body and are fixed to the first body, and any two adjacent first guide vanes are spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the first body.

6. The gas-liquid separation device of claim 3, wherein, The second gas-liquid separation structure comprises a guide portion, the guide portion and the first shell side wall are arranged along the first direction, the guide portion defines a first assembly groove open toward the first shell side wall, the separation tube extends into the first assembly groove through the open end of the first assembly groove, the plurality of first through holes are located in the first assembly groove, the end of the guide portion facing the first shell side wall is spaced apart from the first shell side wall to form a liquid flow gap between the guide portion and the first shell side wall, and a liquid flow channel in communication with the liquid flow gap is formed between the guide portion and the separation tube.

7. The gas-liquid separation device of claim 6, wherein, The flow guide part comprises a first assembly groove bottom wall and a first assembly groove side wall connected to each other, the first assembly groove bottom wall is located on a side of the separation tube away from the first shell side wall in the first direction, the first assembly groove side wall is annular and is sleeved on the separation tube, the first assembly groove side wall is arranged around the first assembly groove bottom wall along an edge of the first assembly groove bottom wall, the first assembly groove side wall is spaced apart from the separation tube to form the liquid flow channel, and the first assembly groove bottom wall is formed with a second through hole, an end of the separation tube away from the first shell side wall is in contact with the first assembly groove bottom wall and is arranged around the second through hole to make the second through hole and the gas outlet opposite and in communication, so that the gas in the separation tube flows into the second gas-liquid separation structure through the second through hole.

8. The gas-liquid separation device of claim 7, wherein, The second gas-liquid separation structure further comprises a separation shell and a secondary separation structure, the separation shell and the first shell side wall are arranged in the first direction, the separation shell defines a second assembly groove open toward the first shell side wall, the first gas-liquid separation structure and the flow guide part are located in the second assembly groove, the separation shell and the flow guide part are spaced apart, the separation shell has a second assembly groove side wall opposite and spaced apart from the first assembly groove side wall, the second assembly groove side wall is formed with a plurality of rows of third through holes, the plurality of rows of third through holes are arranged in sequence along the circumference of the second assembly groove side wall, and the secondary separation structure is sleeved on the first assembly groove side wall and located in the second assembly groove on a side of the third through holes away from the first shell side wall, and the secondary separation structure is configured to change the flow direction of the gas when the gas flows through the secondary separation structure.

9. The gas-liquid separation device of claim 8, wherein, The separation shell further has a second assembly groove bottom wall opposite and spaced apart from the first assembly groove bottom wall, a surface of the second assembly groove bottom wall facing the first assembly groove bottom wall is formed with a flow guide boss protruding toward the first assembly groove bottom wall, the flow guide boss and the second through hole are opposite and spaced apart, and the cross-sectional area of the flow guide boss gradually decreases from the second assembly groove bottom wall to the first assembly groove bottom wall.

10. The gas-liquid separation device of claim 9, wherein, The flow guide boss is a conical structure.

11. The gas-liquid separation device of claim 8, wherein, The secondary separation structure comprises a sleeve ring and a plurality of second flow guide vanes, the second flow guide vanes are arc-shaped structures, the sleeve ring is sleeved on the first assembly groove side wall, the plurality of second flow guide vanes are arranged around the sleeve ring along the circumference of the sleeve ring and are all fixed to the sleeve ring, and any two adjacent second flow guide vanes are spaced apart along the circumference of the sleeve ring.

12. The gas-liquid separation device of any one of claims 1-11, wherein, The shell has a shell top wall and a shell bottom wall, the gas-liquid separation mechanism is located between the shell top wall and the shell bottom wall, and the gas-liquid separation mechanism is spaced apart from the shell top wall and the shell bottom wall, and the medium outlet is formed in the shell top wall.

13. The gas-liquid separation device of claim 12, wherein, The lower part of the shell is formed with a liquid discharge port; and / or The shell is further formed with an air exhaust valve port for mounting an air exhaust valve to selectively open or close the air exhaust valve port.

14. A fuel cell system characterized by comprising: The gas-liquid separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 13. The gas-liquid separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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