Fuel cell humidifier with novel structure

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of fuel cells, and discloses a fuel cell humidifier with a novel structure, the fuel cell humidifier comprises a main body shell and a bundling shell, the bundling shell is assembled on an internal end plate of the main body shell, and the bundling shell is provided with an internal slide block structure; the internal sliding block structure is in sliding fit with an end plate in the main body shell so as to adjust the size of the bundling shell, a hollow fiber membrane tube is arranged in the bundling shell, the hollow fiber membrane tube is fixed with the main body shell through a pouring sealant surface, two ends of the main body shell are detachably connected with end covers, and the end covers are used for being connected with a dry gas path. A pressure regulating valve is installed on the main body shell and used for balancing the pressure difference of a dry path and a wet path, and a connector sliding block is arranged at a connector of the main body shell and is in sliding connection with the connector of the main body shell so as to adjust the direction of the connector of the wet path. The humidifier is used for solving the problems that an existing humidifier is insufficient in anti-compression and anti-impact strength, poor in plasticity and limited in adaptability, and the use stability is affected by differential pressure fluctuation of a dry path and a wet path.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fuel cell technology, and more specifically to a novel fuel cell humidifier. Background Technology

[0002] Hydrogen fuel cell technology is an important development direction in the field of clean energy, and the humidifier is a key component in its system to achieve gas heat and moisture exchange and ensure the efficient and stable operation of the battery. Currently, fuel cell humidifiers on the market generally consist of a main shell and a bundled shell. The main shell primarily supports the overall structure, resists external pressure and impact, and forms a sealed environment by bonding internal components to ensure the airtightness of the humidification process. The bundled shell is mainly used to fix the hollow fiber membrane tube and guide the direction of the humidified gas path, enabling sufficient heat and moisture exchange between the humidified and dry gas paths, thereby achieving the humidification function of the dry gas. The overall structure of this type of humidifier is usually a fixed and unchangeable design. However, existing humidifiers have several significant drawbacks in practical applications: Regarding the main body shell, due to the limitations of its own structural design, its compressive and impact resistance is difficult to meet the usage requirements under some complex working conditions, and leakage is prone to occur during use, thereby damaging the overall airtightness of the humidifier and affecting the humidification effect and system stability. For the cluster housing, its overall size, internal hole size, number and distribution are all fixed. This fixed structure directly restricts the direction of the moisture path, making it difficult to make flexible adjustments according to the actual use scenario. It also has an adverse effect on the gas flow resistance, resulting in problems such as excessive flow resistance or uneven distribution. Furthermore, the pressure of the dry and wet gas paths in the humidifier fluctuates with the pressure changes of the entire fuel cell system. Existing humidifiers lack an effective pressure regulation mechanism, which can easily lead to excessive pressure difference between the dry and wet paths. This excessive pressure difference can directly affect the original shape of the internal hollow fiber membrane tube, causing the membrane tube to deform or be damaged. Ultimately, this will cause significant fluctuations in the water vapor transmission efficiency of the humidifier, and in severe cases, it can also shorten the service life of the humidifier, affecting the operational reliability and efficiency of the entire fuel cell system. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention provides a novel fuel cell humidifier, which aims to solve the problems of insufficient pressure and impact resistance, poor plasticity, limited adaptability, and the impact of pressure difference fluctuations between dry and wet circuits on the stability of use of existing humidifiers.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a novel fuel cell humidifier, comprising a main body shell and a bundled shell. The bundled shell is assembled on an internal end plate of the main body shell. The main body shell has a moisture path interface. The bundled shell is equipped with an internal slider structure, which slides with the end plate inside the main body shell to adjust the size of the bundled shell. A hollow fiber membrane tube is provided inside the bundled shell and is fixed to the main body shell by a potting adhesive surface. A sealing ring is also fixed on the potting adhesive surface. End caps are detachably connected to both ends of the main body shell for connecting to a dry gas path. A pressure regulating valve is installed on the main body shell for balancing the pressure difference between the dry and wet paths. An interface slider is provided at the interface of the main body shell, which slides with the interface of the main body shell to adjust the orientation of the moisture path interface.

[0005] Preferably, the internal slider structure includes a cluster housing end plate slider disposed on the humidifier mold, and the position and distribution of the cluster housing end plate slider are changed to manufacture housings with different end plates.

[0006] Preferably, the interface slider is disposed on the humidifier mold, and by changing the installation position and direction of the interface slider, humidifier housings with different interface orientations can be manufactured.

[0007] Preferably, the pressure regulating valve includes a valve body and a valve core, the valve core being adapted to the internal channel of the moisture outlet of the main housing, and the valve core being connected to the valve body through an elastic element to achieve pressure regulation.

[0008] Preferably, the valve body is provided with a pressure sensing hole, which is connected to the interior of the moisture outlet of the main body housing and is used to sense the moisture pressure.

[0009] Preferably, the bundled housing is made of PC material and has a number of holes inside for accommodating hollow fiber membrane tubes. The distribution of the holes corresponds to the position of the internal slider structure.

[0010] Preferably, the end cap is made of PPS material and has a dry air passage interface that is connected to the dry air passage inside the main body housing.

[0011] Preferably, the hollow fiber membrane tube is made of a high molecular polymer, and both ends of the hollow fiber membrane tube are fixed to the main body shell by potting adhesive to form a closed dry air channel.

[0012] Preferably, the sealing ring is annular, with one side of the sealing ring adhering to the potting compound surface and the other side adhering to the inner wall of the end cap, forming a sealing structure.

[0013] Preferably, the outer surface of the main shell is provided with hexagonal honeycomb structure reinforcing ribs, which are integrally formed with the main shell and are evenly distributed on the outer circumferential surface of the main shell.

[0014] As can be seen from the above technical solution, compared with the prior art, the novel fuel cell humidifier provided by the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1. By configuring an internal slider structure in the bundled shell, the size and dimensions of the bundled shell can be flexibly adjusted, which not only significantly improves the plasticity of the humidifier and can adapt to hollow fiber membrane tubes of different specifications and usage requirements, but also optimizes the flow direction of the moisture path, providing a practical basis for gas dynamics and gas flow channel research. 2. The interface slider at the interface of the main body shell can adjust the position of the moisture circuit interface by changing the installation position and direction, which can flexibly adapt to different systems and complex layouts, greatly expanding the application scenarios and scope of use of the humidifier. 3. The pressure regulating valve, through the cooperation of the valve body, valve core and elastic element, can sense and adjust the pressure of the humid air path in real time, effectively balance the pressure difference between the dry and wet paths, avoid the hollow fiber membrane tube from being damaged due to excessive pressure difference, ensure the stability of water vapor transmission efficiency, and extend the service life of the humidifier. 4. The snap-fit ​​connection structure between the bundled shell and the inner end plate of the main shell, combined with the integrated fixing design of the potting compound to the hollow fiber membrane tube and the sealing ring, not only realizes the convenient assembly and disassembly maintenance of the components, but also enhances the sealing performance of the main shell and ensures the overall airtightness of the humidifier. 5. The hexagonal honeycomb structure reinforcing ribs integrally formed on the outer surface of the main shell significantly improve the shell's compressive and impact resistance while controlling the amount of raw materials used, enabling the humidifier to adapt to various complex working environments and further improving the product's durability and reliability. 6. The end caps made of PPS material, the bundled shell made of PC material, and the hollow fiber membrane tube made of polymer work together to ensure the stability of the dry gas path and the smoothness of the wet gas path, while also improving the heat and moisture exchange efficiency of the dry and wet gases and optimizing the overall performance of the humidifier. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an air passage structure for the fuel cell humidifier of the present invention. Figure 2 For the present invention Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating the principle of heat and moisture exchange; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another gas path structure for the fuel cell humidifier of the present invention; Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the fuel cell humidifier of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the hollow fiber membrane tube and the potting adhesive surface of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the snap-fit ​​structure of the bundle housing of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the pressure regulating valve of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the interface slider and the bundled housing end plate slider of the present invention; Figure 9 The diagram shows the pressure resistance of the outer shell structure of the fuel cell humidifier of the present invention under 3.5 bar pressure.

[0017] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1-Main body shell, 2-End cap, 3-Sealing ring, 4-Built shell, 5-Potting adhesive surface, 6-Hollow fiber membrane tube, 7-Pressure regulating valve, 8-Interface slider, 9-Built shell end plate slider, 10-Moisture inlet, 11-Moisture outlet, 12-Dry gas inlet, 13-Dry gas outlet. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The following description of an exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the present invention or its application or use. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] Please see the appendix Figure 1-9The novel fuel cell humidifier disclosed in this invention includes a main housing 1 and a bundled housing 4. The main housing 1 is integrally molded from PPS material, which possesses both good mechanical strength and environmental resistance, providing a reliable supporting foundation for the entire humidifier. The bundled housing 4 is made of PC material and can be assembled to the inner end plate of the main housing 1 via a circumferentially evenly distributed snap-fit ​​structure. The snap-fit ​​structure includes snap protrusions on the outer periphery of the bundled housing 4 and snap grooves on the inner end plate of the main housing 1. The snap protrusions and snap grooves engage in a one-to-one snap-fit ​​manner. This detachable connection method not only facilitates assembly and maintenance but also ensures the stability of the connection between the bundled housing 4 and the main housing 1. The bundled housing 4 is equipped with an internal slider structure, which is specifically the bundled housing end plate slider 9 on the humidifier mold. The bundled housing end plate slider 9 is distributed along the circumference or axial direction of the internal end plate of the main housing 1, and at least two are provided. By adjusting the spacing between each bundled housing end plate slider 9, the size and dimensions of the bundled housing 4 can be flexibly changed, thereby adapting to the installation requirements of hollow fiber membrane tubes 6 of different specifications. This effectively solves the problem of fixed shape and poor plasticity of traditional bundled housings. At the same time, this structural adjustment can also change the flow direction of the moisture path, providing a practical basis for the study of gas dynamics and gas flow channels.

[0020] The bundled housing 4 has several holes inside to accommodate the hollow fiber membrane tubes 6. The distribution of these holes corresponds to the position of the internal slider structure (the end plate slider 9 of the bundled housing). The hollow fiber membrane tubes 6 are made of high-molecular polymer, and their two ends are fixedly connected to the main housing 1 via potting adhesive surfaces 5. The potting adhesive surface 5 is annular in structure and surrounds the inner side of the inner end plate of the main housing 1. In addition to fixing the hollow fiber membrane tubes 6, it is also used to fix the sealing ring 3, realizing an integrated design for component fixing. This simplifies the assembly process and improves the sealing performance inside the main housing 1. The sealing ring 3 is annular in structure, with one side tightly fitted to the potting adhesive surface 5 and the other side fitted to the inner wall of the end cap 2. Through multiple sealing combinations, the overall airtightness of the main housing 1 is effectively enhanced, avoiding leakage problems caused by poor sealing in traditional humidifiers.

[0021] Both ends of the main body housing 1 are detachably connected to end caps 2 via screws. End caps 2 are also made of PPS material and have dry gas inlets (dry gas inlet 12, dry gas outlet 13). These inlets connect to the dry gas flow channels inside the main body housing 1, providing a dry gas source for heat and moisture exchange. A pressure regulating valve 7 is installed on the main body housing 1. The valve 7 includes a valve body and a valve core. The valve core is adapted to the internal channel of the moisture outlet 11 of the main body housing 1 and connected to the valve body via an elastic element. The valve body has a pressure sensing hole that communicates with the interior of the moisture outlet 11 of the main body housing 1, enabling real-time sensing of the moisture pressure. When the moisture pressure exceeds a preset threshold, the valve core automatically actuates under the action of the elastic element, adjusting the flow cross-section of the moisture path to balance the pressure difference between the dry and wet paths. This prevents damage to the hollow fiber membrane tube 6 due to excessive pressure difference, ensuring the stability of the humidifier's water vapor transmission efficiency and extending the humidifier's service life.

[0022] An interface slider 8 is provided at the interface of the main body shell 1. This interface slider 8 is a humidifier mold interface slider, which is slidably connected to the interface of the main body shell 1. It can be rotated circumferentially or slid axially to adjust the installation position. The slider has fixing holes, and the adjusted position can be locked by fasteners. This design allows the orientation of the moisture path interface to be flexibly changed, adapting to different systems and complex layouts, greatly expanding the application scenarios and adaptability of the humidifier, and solving the defects of fixed interface position and insufficient adaptability of traditional humidifiers. In addition, the outer surface of the main body shell 1 is provided with hexagonal honeycomb structure reinforcing ribs. The reinforcing ribs are integrally formed with the main body shell 1 and are evenly distributed. This structure reduces the amount of raw materials used while significantly enhancing the compressive and impact resistance of the main body shell 1, enabling the humidifier to adapt to a variety of complex working environments and improving the durability and reliability of the product.

[0023] The working process of this humidifier is as follows: Dry gas enters the dry gas passage inside the main housing 1, i.e., the interior of the hollow fiber membrane tube 6, through the dry gas passage interface (dry gas passage inlet 12) on the end cap 2; simultaneously, the humid gas flows through the outside of the hollow fiber membrane tube 6 under the guidance of the bundled housing 4. The bundled housing 4, through the internal slider structure (bundled housing end plate slider 9), optimizes the flow direction and flow resistance of the humid gas passage, promoting full contact between the dry and wet gases. As the core component of heat and moisture exchange, the hollow fiber membrane tube 6, made of high-molecular polymer material, has excellent water vapor permeability, enabling efficient heat and moisture exchange between the humid and dry gas passages, thus completing the humidification treatment of the dry gas. Throughout the operation, the pressure regulating valve 7 monitors the internal pressure of the humidifier in real time through the pressure sensing hole. When the system pressure changes and the pressure difference between the dry and wet circuits approaches the upper limit of the preset safety range, the pressure regulating valve 7 automatically starts to regulate and maintain a stable pressure difference, preventing the hollow fiber membrane tube 6 from deforming due to uneven stress. The interface slider 8 can adjust the orientation of the wet circuit interface according to the actual system layout requirements to ensure quick docking of the humidifier with the system. The internal slider structure (bundled shell end plate slider 9) can adjust the size of the bundled shell 4 and the distribution of internal holes according to different humidification requirements, further optimizing the heat and moisture exchange efficiency.

[0024] Through the above structural design, this humidifier achieves a synergistic effect of multiple technological advantages: the internal slider structure (slider 9 on the end plate of the bundled shell) gives the bundled shell 4 good plasticity, enabling it to adapt to components of different specifications and usage requirements; the interface slider 8 improves the adaptability of the humidifier to different systems and expands application scenarios; the pressure regulating valve 7 effectively balances the pressure difference between dry and wet circuits, ensuring operational stability; the hexagonal honeycomb structure reinforcing ribs enhance the structural strength of the main shell 1 and improve product durability; the snap-fit ​​connection, the potting compound 5, and the sealing ring 3 ensure the humidifier's ease of assembly and sealing reliability. The coordinated work of all components comprehensively solves many defects existing in current humidifiers and significantly improves the overall performance of the humidifier.

[0025] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A novel fuel cell humidifier, characterized in that, The system includes a main housing (1) and a bundled housing (4). The bundled housing (4) is mounted on the internal end plate of the main housing (1). The main housing (1) is provided with a moisture path interface. The bundled housing (4) is equipped with an internal slider structure. The internal slider structure slides and engages with the end plate inside the main housing (1) to adjust the size of the bundled housing (4). The bundled housing (4) is provided with a hollow fiber membrane tube (6). The hollow fiber membrane tube (6) is fixed to the main housing (1) through a potting adhesive surface (5). A sealing ring (3) is also fixed on the potting adhesive surface (5). End caps (2) are detachably connected to both ends of the main housing (1). The end caps (2) are used to connect to the dry gas path. A pressure regulating valve (7) is installed on the main housing (1). The pressure regulating valve (7) is used to balance the pressure difference between the dry and wet paths. An interface slider (8) is provided at the interface of the main housing (1). The interface slider (8) slides and engages with the interface of the main housing (1) to adjust the orientation of the moisture path interface.

2. The novel fuel cell humidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The internal slider structure includes a cluster housing end plate slider (9) set on the humidifier mold. By changing the position and distribution of the cluster housing end plate slider (9), different end plates of housing can be made.

3. The novel fuel cell humidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The interface slider (8) is set on the humidifier mold. By changing the installation position and direction of the interface slider (8), humidifier housings with different interface orientations can be made.

4. The novel fuel cell humidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure regulating valve (7) includes a valve body and a valve core. The valve core is adapted to the internal channel of the moisture outlet (11) of the main body housing (1). The valve core is connected to the valve body through an elastic element to achieve pressure regulation.

5. The novel fuel cell humidifier according to claim 4, characterized in that, The valve body is provided with a pressure sensing hole, which is connected to the interior of the moisture outlet (11) of the main body housing (1) and is used to sense the moisture pressure.

6. The novel fuel cell humidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bundled housing (4) is made of PC material and has several holes inside for accommodating hollow fiber membrane tubes (6). The distribution of the holes corresponds to the position of the internal slider structure.

7. The novel fuel cell humidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end cap (2) is made of PPS material and has a dry air passage interface, which is connected to the dry air passage inside the main body shell (1).

8. The novel fuel cell humidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hollow fiber membrane tube (6) is made of a high molecular polymer. Both ends of the hollow fiber membrane tube (6) are fixed to the main body shell (1) by the potting adhesive surface (5) to form a closed dry air passage.

9. The novel fuel cell humidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealing ring (3) is annular. One side of the sealing ring (3) is attached to the potting adhesive surface (5), and the other side is attached to the inner wall of the end cap (2) to form a sealing structure.

10. The fuel cell humidifier with the novel structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer surface of the main shell (1) is provided with hexagonal honeycomb structure reinforcing ribs, which are integrally formed with the main shell (1) and are evenly distributed on the outer circumferential surface of the main shell (1).

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