Gas detection device, method and equipment for recycling anode of electrochemical cell

Abstract

The invention discloses a gas detection device, method and equipment for recycling an anode of an electrochemical battery. The electrochemical cell is provided with a pipeline used for conveying anode recycling gas flowing out of an anode outlet of a cell stack to an anode inlet, and the anode recycling gas detection device comprises a differential pressure type flowmeter arranged in the pipeline and arranged to detect the flow rate Qv of the anode recycling gas, pressure drop is formed when the anode recycling gas flows through the differential pressure flow meter; the detection assembly comprises a pressure detection part, a dew point detection part, a temperature detection part and a concentration detection part and is used for detecting the pressure p1, the relative humidity rH1, the temperature t1 and the anode gas concentration c1 of the anode recycled gas respectively, so that parameters for calculating and obtaining the anode recycled gas together with the flow Qv are provided; the parameters comprise the content of gas components contained in the anode recycling gas and / or the corresponding flow of each gas component.

Description

Devices, methods and equipment for detecting and recovering gas from the anode of electrochemical cells Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electrochemical battery technology, and in particular to a device, method and equipment for detecting and recovering gas from the anode of an electrochemical battery. Background Technology

[0002] In electrochemical cells such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), fuel gas (such as hydrogen) and oxidant gas (such as oxygen or air) are typically fed separately into the anode and cathode of the battery stack (also commonly referred to as the fuel electrode and oxidant electrode), and then an electric current is generated through a chemical reaction. During battery operation, excess gas is often supplied to the anode and cathode sides. To improve fuel gas utilization, fuel gas that has not participated in the chemical reaction at the anode outlet can be returned to the anode inlet for recycling and continued chemical reaction. These recycled anode gases change continuously as the battery system operates, making it meaningful to understand and obtain the actual parameters of the recycled anode gases. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, this application provides a gas detection device, method and equipment for anode recovery of electrochemical cells, which can solve or at least alleviate one or more of the above-mentioned problems and other problems existing in the prior art, or provide an alternative technical solution to the prior art.

[0004] First, according to one aspect of this application, an anode recovery gas detection device for an electrochemical cell is provided, the electrochemical cell being configured with a conduit for conveying anode recovery gas flowing from the anode outlet of the battery stack to the anode inlet, the anode recovery gas detection device comprising:

[0005] A differential pressure flow meter is arranged in the pipeline and configured to detect the flow rate Q of the anode recovery gas flowing through the pipeline. v The anode recovery gas forms a pressure drop when flowing through the differential pressure flow meter; and

[0006] The detection assembly includes a pressure sensor, a dew point sensor, a temperature sensor, and a concentration sensor, used to detect the pressure p1, relative humidity rH1, temperature r1, and anode gas concentration c1 of the anode recovery gas flowing through the pipeline, respectively, in order to provide information for correlation with the flow rate Q. v The parameters of the anode recycled gas are calculated together, including the content of gas components in the anode recycled gas and / or the corresponding flow rate of each gas component.

[0007] In the anode recovery gas detection device according to this application, optionally, the differential pressure flow meter is a V-cone flow meter equipped with a differential pressure sensor, the differential pressure sensor being configured to detect the pressure drop between the inlet and outlet of the anode recovery gas flowing through the V-cone flow meter.

[0008] In the anode recovery gas detection device according to this application, optionally, the flow rate Q v It is calculated based on the following formula:

[0009]

[0010] Among them, C d ε, ρ, and κ are the flow coefficient, expansion coefficient, density, and adiabatic constant of the gas recovered from the anode, respectively, and β... v d v D and D are the equivalent diameter ratio, maximum cone diameter, and pipe inner diameter of the V-shaped cone flowmeter, respectively, and Δp is the pressure drop detected by the differential pressure sensor.

[0011] Optionally, in the anode recovery gas detection device according to this application, the detection assembly further includes a density detector, an expansion coefficient detector, and an adiabatic constant detector, used to detect the density, expansion coefficient, and adiabatic constant of the anode recovery gas flowing through the pipeline, respectively, wherein the flow coefficient ranges from 0.6 to 0.7; or

[0012] The anode recovery gas contains water vapor, hydrogen, and nitrogen. The flow coefficient ranges from 0.6 to 0.7. The density and expansion coefficient of the anode recovery gas, as well as the composition and corresponding flow rates of the water vapor, hydrogen, and nitrogen in the anode recovery gas, are calculated using the following formula:

[0013] saturated vapor pressure of water

[0014] The proportion of water vapor

[0015] The proportion of hydrogen c H =(1-c s )·c1

[0016] Nitrogen content c N =1-c s -c H

[0017] The corresponding flow rates for each gas component are:

[0018] Q s=Q v ·c s

[0019] Q N =Q v ·c N

[0020] Q H =Q v ·c H

[0021] The density of the gas recovered from the anode is ρ = ρ s ·c s +ρ H ·c H +ρ N ·c N

[0022] The expansion coefficient κ of the gas recovered from the anode is κ=κ s ·c s +κ H ·c H +k N ·c N

[0023] Where g, h, i, and j are constants related to the saturated vapor pressure of water, and their corresponding value ranges are 5-7, 17-19, 230-240, and 250-260, respectively. ρ s ρ H and ρ N These are the densities of water vapor, hydrogen, and nitrogen, respectively. s k H and κ N These are the expansion coefficients of water vapor, hydrogen, and nitrogen, respectively.

[0024] In the anode recovery gas detection device according to this application, optionally, the differential pressure flow meter is arranged downstream of the detection component along the flow direction of the anode recovery gas in the pipeline, and / or the pressure detection element is arranged adjacent to the differential pressure flow meter.

[0025] In the anode recovery gas detection device according to this application, optionally, the concentration detection element includes a concentration sensor, the temperature detection element includes a temperature sensor, the dew point detection element includes a dew point sensor, and the pressure detection element includes a pressure sensor; and / or

[0026] The pipeline is provided with a first opening, a second opening, a third opening, and a fourth opening. The pressure sensor, the dew point sensor, the temperature sensor, and the concentration sensor are respectively connected to the pipeline via the first opening, the second opening, the third opening, and the fourth opening, and their joints are perpendicular to the flow direction of the anode recovery gas in the pipeline; and / or

[0027] The pressure sensor, the dew point sensor, the temperature sensor, and / or the concentration sensor are detachably connected to the pipeline.

[0028] Optionally, in the anode recovery gas detection device according to this application, the anode recovery gas detection device further includes a processor and a display, the processor being configured to at least detect the flow rate Q. v The parameters of the anode recycled gas are calculated from the anode gas concentration c1, the temperature t1, the relative humidity rH1, and the pressure p1, and the display is configured to display at least a portion of the parameters; and / or

[0029] The electrochemical cell is also equipped with a gas-liquid separator. The anode recovery gas flowing out of the anode outlet is treated by gas-liquid separation in the gas-liquid separator and then detected by the anode circulating gas detection device; and / or

[0030] The electrochemical cell includes a fuel cell, and the fuel cell includes a proton exchange membrane fuel cell.

[0031] Furthermore, according to another aspect of this application, a method for detecting anode recycled gas in an electrochemical battery is also provided. The electrochemical battery is equipped with a pipeline for conveying anode recycled gas flowing from the anode outlet of the battery stack to the anode inlet. The anode recycled gas detection method includes the following steps:

[0032] A. Provide an anode recovery gas detection device for electrochemical cells as described in any of the above;

[0033] B. When the electrochemical cell is operating, the anode recovery gas flowing from the anode outlet is pumped to the anode inlet via the pipeline, and the anode recovery gas detection device is used to detect at least the flow rate, temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and anode gas concentration of the anode recovery gas flowing through the pipeline; and

[0034] C. Based on the detected flow rate, temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and anode gas concentration, calculate the parameters of the anode recycled gas, including the content of gas components in the anode recycled gas and / or the corresponding flow rate of each gas component.

[0035] In the anode recovery gas detection method according to this application, steps B and C may optionally be performed at preset time intervals; and / or

[0036] The anode recovery gas flowing out of the anode outlet is subjected to gas-liquid separation treatment before being detected by the anode circulating gas detection device; and / or

[0037] The flow measurement data of the differential pressure flow meter is calibrated using a flow measurement device, which includes a gas mass flow meter arranged in series with the differential pressure flow meter in the pipeline; and / or

[0038] The detection component is calibrated using a standard gas with a preset gas composition.

[0039] Furthermore, according to yet another aspect of this application, an apparatus is provided, comprising:

[0040] Electrochemical cells;

[0041] Piping, configured to transport anode recovery gas flowing from the anode outlet of the battery stack to the anode inlet; and

[0042] A gas detection device for anode recovery of electrochemical cells as described in any of the above.

[0043] The proposed solution can accurately and reliably detect the actual parameters of the anode recovery gas in electrochemical cells (such as fuel cells), including overall flow rate, pressure, temperature, relative humidity, anode gas concentration, the content and flow rate of each gas component, etc. It is particularly insensitive to water vapor and liquid water droplets present in the gas, and can accurately detect the anode recovery gas flow rate even in high humidity environments. The device described in this application has a simple structure, is easy to install and operate, has low pressure loss, good long-term stability, and is not easily damaged. Applying this solution will help ensure and improve the performance of electrochemical cells, and enhance product quality and safety reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0044] The technical solutions of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. However, it should be understood that these drawings are designed for illustrative purposes only and are intended to conceptually illustrate the configuration described herein, and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0045] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of an embodiment of an anode gas recovery detection device for an electrochemical cell according to the present application.

[0046] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the working principle of the V-cone flow meter in the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

[0047] Figure 3 is a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of the anode gas detection method for electrochemical cells according to this application. Detailed Implementation

[0048] First, it should be noted that the following will illustrate the composition, steps, features, and advantages of the anode gas recovery detection device and method for electrochemical cells according to this application by way of example; however, all descriptions should not be used to limit this application in any way. In this document, the technical terms "first," "second," "third," and "fourth" are used only for distinguishing purposes and are not intended to indicate their order or relative importance, etc., and the technical term "connection (or connection, etc.)" includes connection (or connection, etc.) achieved in a direct or indirect manner.

[0049] Furthermore, for any single technical feature described or implied in the embodiments mentioned herein, or any single technical feature shown or implied in the accompanying drawings, this application still allows for any combination or deletion of these technical features (or their equivalents) without any technical obstacle. Therefore, these further embodiments according to this application should be considered to be within the scope of this description. Additionally, for the sake of brevity, general matters well known to those skilled in the art, such as conventional aspects of electrochemical battery stacks, anodes and cathodes, usable gases, etc., are not elaborated upon herein.

[0050] Figure 1 illustrates a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the anode recycled gas detection device according to this application. This detection device embodiment can be used in electrochemical cells, such as PEMFCs and other fuel cells, to obtain parameters related to the anode recycled gas (also commonly referred to in the industry as "anode circulating gas"), such as the content of gas components in the anode recycled gas and the corresponding flow rate of each gas component. It should be understood that the "electrochemical cell" in this document may have only one cell or may have several cells, and in some other scenarios it is often referred to as a fuel cell stack.

[0051] Figure 1 schematically shows only the anode 200 of the electrochemical cell stack, as well as the anode inlet 201 and anode outlet 202. It also shows the pipe 210 connecting the anode outlet 202 and the anode inlet 201, and the pump 10 arranged in this pipe. Other components of the electrochemical cell are omitted to simplify the drawing. Pipe 210, which can be configured as needed using suitable fittings such as metal tubes, is connected between the anode outlet 202 and the anode inlet 201. Its purpose is to return the gases flowing out of the anode outlet 202 that have not participated in the chemical reaction to the anode inlet 201 for recycling. That is, these gases are fed into the anode inlet 201 along with the fresh gas A (such as hydrogen, commonly used in fuel cells) supplied to the anode 200 of the cell stack to participate in the chemical reaction. In Figure 1, this recycled gas is indicated by reference numeral B, while the exhaust gas that has participated in the chemical reaction and will be discharged from the system is indicated by reference numeral C. Depending on the application requirements, pump 10 can be flexibly configured with appropriate power, size, and arrangement position in pipeline 210 to pump the anode recovery gas B from anode outlet 202 to anode inlet 201 for recovery. It should be understood that the above pump device can be replaced by one or more other devices such as an ejector. For example, the pump and ejector can be combined in series and parallel to achieve the above pumping function, and this application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0052] Obtaining accurate and reliable data on the actual recycle gases in electrochemical battery products (such as the gas composition and flow rate) is important but challenging. For example, taking a proton exchange membrane fuel cell as an example, during battery operation, on the one hand, the relative humidity of hydrogen at the anode outlet of the fuel cell stack is relatively high. In addition to hydrogen, there will also be water vapor and some condensed liquid water droplets. After the liquid water is separated by devices such as gas-liquid separators, the gas composition is hydrogen, nitrogen, and water vapor, and there may be a small amount of liquid water droplets. General gas mass flow meters are mostly designed to measure the flow rate of a specific dry gas and are sensitive to water vapor and liquid water droplets in the gas. This can not only lead to significant measurement errors but may even damage the flow meter. On the other hand, during hydrogen circulation, nitrogen and water in the air on the cathode side may permeate through the proton exchange membrane to the anode side. As they gradually accumulate, they will reduce the hydrogen concentration on the anode side. When the hydrogen concentration is too low, it will cause local hydrogen starvation in the proton exchange membrane fuel cell, resulting in a drop in the voltage of the fuel cell stack and even irreversible degradation of the fuel cell stack performance. Therefore, accurate measurement of hydrogen concentration is important, and the flow rate of this part of hydrogen circulation will affect the calculation of the overall hydrogen flow rate. Furthermore, as the operating conditions of fuel cells continue to change, the temperature, pressure, dew point, composition, and flow rate of the gas will also change accordingly. This also brings difficulties to gas measurement, making the accurate measurement of data such as the composition and flow rate of the gas recovered from the anode one of the key challenges in electrochemical battery systems. Existing technologies have not yet been able to effectively solve these problems.

[0053] The device of this application can successfully overcome one or more of the above-mentioned technical problems in the field. It has a simple structure, is easy to install and operate, has low pressure loss, good long-term stability and is not easily damaged. In particular, it is not sensitive to the presence of liquid water droplets, and can accurately and reliably measure data such as gas flow rate even in high humidity environments.

[0054] Specifically, as shown in Figure 1, a differential pressure flow meter 11 and a detection component 14 can be configured for the anode recovery gas detection device 100. The differential pressure flow meter 11 is arranged in the pipeline 210 and is configured to detect the flow rate Q of the anode recovery gas B as it flows through the pipeline 210. v When the anode recovery gas B flows through the differential pressure flow meter 11, a pressure drop will occur, meaning that the pressure of the anode recovery gas B at the outlet of the differential pressure flow meter 11 is lower than its pressure at the inlet, resulting in a pressure difference. As an example, referring to Figures 1 and 2, an alternative embodiment of the differential pressure flow meter 11 is schematically illustrated.

[0055] Specifically, the differential pressure flow meter 11 can use a V-cone flow meter 12 to measure gas flow rate. It has good adaptability to humid environments, and the V-cone flow meter 12 is equipped with a differential pressure sensor 13 to detect the pressure drop of the anode recovery gas B as it flows through the inlet and outlet of the V-cone flow meter 12. As shown in Figure 2, when the anode recovery gas B flows along the direction indicated by arrow F to the conical structure of the V-cone flow meter 12, its pressure is P1. As it continues to pass through the throttling zone of the conical structure, its velocity increases, and its pressure decreases to P2. This pressure P2 is consistent with the pressure of the anode recovery gas B at the outlet of the V-cone flow meter 12. When the flow rate of the anode recovery gas B changes, the pressure difference between P1 and P2 will also change accordingly. For steady fluid flow, the flow rate is proportional to the square root of the pressure difference. As an example, the flow rate Q of the anode recovery gas B can be calculated using the following formula. v :

[0056]

[0057] In the above formula, C d ε, ρ, and κ are the flow coefficient, expansion coefficient, density, and adiabatic constant of the anode recovery gas B, respectively. The flow coefficient can be selected according to the actual application (for example, the value range can be set to 0.6-0.7 or other suitable value ranges). The expansion coefficient, density, and adiabatic constant will be further explained later.

[0058] β v d v D and D are the equivalent diameter ratio, maximum cone diameter, and pipe inner diameter of the V-cone flowmeter 12, respectively. These are all design parameters of the V-cone flowmeter 12, which can be obtained by directly consulting the V-cone flowmeter product manual, design drawings, engineering manuals, etc.

[0059] Δp is the pressure drop of the anode recovery gas B as it flows through the inlet and outlet of the V-cone flowmeter 12, which can be detected by the differential pressure sensor 13.

[0060] In the anode recovery gas detection device 100, the detection component 14 can be configured with various types of detection devices as needed, such as, but not limited to, pressure detection element 15, dew point detection element 16, temperature detection element 17, and concentration detection element 18 shown in Figure 1. The corresponding detection devices can be used to collect relevant characteristic data of the anode recovery gas B as it flows through the pipeline 210, such as pressure, relative humidity, temperature, and anode gas (e.g., hydrogen) concentration. Alternatively, these detection elements can be implemented using corresponding types of sensors (e.g., pressure sensors, temperature sensors, dew point sensors, concentration sensors, etc.). Existing technologies already provide numerous selectable sensor products that can be easily purchased from the market. Of course, in some cases, for one or more detection parts in the detection component 14, it is permissible to design and use one or more more suitable or relatively more complex units, modules, or devices.

[0061] Referring to the embodiment in Figure 1, the temperature t1, relative humidity rH1, pressure p1, and anode gas concentration c1 of the anode recovery gas B can be collected by the pressure detection device 15, dew point detection device 16, temperature detection device 17, and concentration detection device 18, respectively. These data can then be compared with the flow rate Q obtained by the differential pressure flow meter 11. v Together, they are calculated to obtain the parameters of the anode recovery gas B required for the specific application, such as the content of gas components and / or the corresponding flow rate of each gas component.

[0062] Taking a fuel cell such as a PEMFC as an example, the anode recovery gas B may contain water vapor, hydrogen, and nitrogen. The density, expansion coefficient, and specific composition and flow rates of the water vapor, hydrogen, and nitrogen contained in the anode recovery gas B can be calculated using the following formula:

[0063] saturated vapor pressure of water

[0064] The proportion of water vapor

[0065] The proportion of hydrogen c H =(1-c s )·c1

[0066] Nitrogen content c N =1-c s -c H

[0067] The corresponding flow rates for each gas component are:

[0068] Q s =Q v·c s

[0069] Q N =Q v ·c N

[0070] Q H =Q v ·c H

[0071] The density of the gas B recovered from the anode is ρ = ρ s ·c s +ρ H ·c H +ρ N ·c N

[0072] The expansion coefficient κ of the gas B recovered from the anode is κ=κ s ·c s +κ H ·c H +κ N ·c N

[0073] In the above formula, g, h, i, and j are set constants related to the saturated vapor pressure of water. They can be selected with appropriate values ​​according to the actual application. For example, the corresponding value ranges of g, h, i, and j can be optionally set to 5-7, 17-19, 230-240, and 250-260. Furthermore, by referring to the Arden Buck equations, g, h, i, and j can be optionally set to 6.1121, 18.678, 234.5, 257.14, or other values ​​close to them.

[0074] ρ s ρ H and ρ N These are the densities of water vapor, hydrogen, and nitrogen, respectively.

[0075] κ s κ H and κ N These are the expansion coefficients of water vapor, hydrogen, and nitrogen, respectively.

[0076] In addition to the above calculation methods, under one or more embodiments of this application, the density, expansion coefficient, and adiabatic constant of the anode recovery gas B flowing through the pipeline 210 can also be obtained by additionally configuring a corresponding detection device for the detection component 14. This could be achieved by using a corresponding sensor, or by designing and using one or more more suitable or relatively more complex units, modules, or devices, as described above. It should be understood that the technical solutions of this application allow the use of one, two, or more sensors, units, modules, or devices to detect a certain type of characteristic data (such as temperature) of the anode recovery gas B, thereby effectively improving data accuracy and fully meeting the needs of various application scenarios.

[0077] The pump 10, differential pressure flow meter 11, detection component 14, and their components in the anode recovery gas detection device 100 can be arranged at any suitable location along the length of the pipeline 210 as needed. For example, the differential pressure flow meter 11 can be arranged downstream of the detection component 14 along the flow direction of the anode recovery gas B in the pipeline 210, or the pressure detection element 15 can be arranged adjacent to the differential pressure flow meter 11. In addition, to reduce the adverse effects of water vapor, liquid water droplets, etc., a gas-liquid separator 220 can be configured in the electrochemical cell, for example, arranged between the anode outlet 202 and the pipeline 210 or at any suitable location such as the beginning section of the pipeline 210, to perform gas-liquid separation treatment on the anode recovery gas B, and then the treated anode recovery gas B is provided to the anode circulating gas detection device 100 for detection.

[0078] Alternatively, corresponding openings can be made in the pipeline 210, and the pressure sensor 15, dew point sensor 16, temperature sensor 17, and concentration sensor 18 can be connected to the pipeline 210 through their respective openings. Simultaneously, the junctions of these openings should be perpendicular to the flow direction of the anode recovery gas B, which facilitates more accurate data acquisition of the anode recovery gas B. Regarding the connection between the pressure sensor 15, dew point sensor 16, temperature sensor 17, and concentration sensor 18 and the pipeline 210, one or more of these sensors can be assembled and connected to the pipeline 210 using a detachable method (such as a threaded connection), or one or more can be assembled and connected using a direct fixing method (such as welding). Both of these methods are permitted and feasible under this application.

[0079] As an optional configuration, a processor and display can be further configured for the anode recovery gas detection device 100. The processor is set to detect at least the flow rate Q. vThe parameters of the anode recycled gas are calculated using the anode gas concentration c1, the temperature t1 of the anode recycled gas, the relative humidity rH1, and the pressure p1. This can be achieved using any suitable electronic component, such as a microcontroller or chip, depending on actual needs. It should be noted that the above data calculation and processing can also optionally be performed using computing chips, units, modules, or devices configured or associated with the electrochemical cell.

[0080] The display can employ one or more LCD screens to show some or all of the detected parameters of the anode recovery gas, allowing users to directly and visually view and understand them. Furthermore, a human-machine interface can be optionally configured on the display for user touch interaction, such as allowing users to select whether to display the target parameters they are interested in; of course, in one or more embodiments, manipulable components such as buttons can also be provided to facilitate such interactive operations.

[0081] In practical use, the anode recovery gas detection device 100 can be optionally equipped with a housing so that one or more of its components are arranged in the housing, thereby making it easier to integrate the detection device with the electrochemical cell or other associated parts. For example, the housing can be installed and fixed in a suitable position on the pipeline 210.

[0082] Based on the design concept of this application, a method for detecting anode-recovery gases in electrochemical cells is further provided. Referring to Figure 3, the basic steps of an embodiment of the anode-recovery gas detection method are illustrated in an exemplary manner:

[0083] In step S10, an anode gas recovery detection device for an electrochemical cell designed according to this application can be provided. The detection device is configured and connected to a connecting pipeline for realizing the recovery of anode gas in the electrochemical cell. This has been discussed in detail above and can be referred to the relevant description.

[0084] In step S20, after the electrochemical cell starts working, the anode recovery gas flowing out of the anode outlet of the battery stack can be pumped back to the anode inlet of the battery stack via the above-mentioned connecting pipe. Then, the above-mentioned detection device can be used to detect and obtain the target characteristic data of the anode recovery gas flowing through the connecting pipe as needed. Such target characteristic data may include, but are not limited to, flow rate, temperature, relative humidity, pressure, anode gas concentration, etc.

[0085] In step S30, based on the target characteristic data of the anode recovery gas obtained in step S20, the parameters of the anode recovery gas expected to be obtained according to application needs can be calculated, such as the content of gas components in the anode recovery gas and / or the corresponding flow rate of each gas component. Thus, by obtaining the anode recovery gas parameters, the current operating status of the electrochemical battery can be accurately grasped, which is beneficial for ensuring and improving the performance of the electrochemical battery, enhancing product durability and competitiveness, and further reducing costs.

[0086] It should be noted that the method according to this application can have numerous possible implementations. For example, in one or more embodiments, steps S20 and S30 can be executed as needed using preset time intervals (e.g., 10ms, 20ms, 1s, 10s, 1min, 5min, or any other possible value). For another example, a flow measurement device (e.g., a gas mass flow meter, which may have relatively higher measurement accuracy) can be used to calibrate the flow measurement data of the differential pressure flow meter in the anode recovery gas detection device. For instance, the flow measurement device and the differential pressure flow meter can be connected in series in a connecting pipeline, and the differential pressure flow meter can be calibrated by comparing their respective measured flow data. This calibration operation can be performed periodically or irregularly. Furthermore, a standard gas with a preset gas composition (i.e., a known content of gas components) can be used as a reference system to calibrate the detection components in the anode recovery gas detection device, thereby further ensuring and improving the system's measurement accuracy. These operations can also be performed periodically or irregularly.

[0087] Furthermore, the flow rate Q of the anode recovery gas has already been discussed in the preceding text. v The technical aspects of data acquisition, selection, calculation and processing, and gas-liquid separation processing, such as temperature t1, relative humidity rH1, pressure p1, and anolyte gas concentration c1, are discussed in detail. Therefore, you can directly refer to the specific descriptions in the corresponding sections. This allows the method to be applied individually or in any combination in more embodiments of this application, thereby achieving more possible method steps, which will not be repeated here.

[0088] This application also provides a device configured to include an electrochemical cell, connecting pipes, and an anode recovery gas detection device designed according to this application. The connecting pipes connect the anode outlet and anode inlet of the electrochemical cell stack, thereby enabling the recovery and reuse of anode gas that has not participated in the chemical reaction and flows out from the anode outlet. The detection device allows for accurate detection of parameters of the anode recovery gas, including but not limited to the content of gas components and the corresponding flow rate of each gas component. The detection device not only has high measurement accuracy but is also durable and resistant to damage. It should be noted that the device according to this application has a wide range of applications, such as new energy vehicles, rail vehicles, transport refrigeration equipment, container equipment, and power units.

[0089] The above examples are merely illustrative of the anode gas detection device, method, and apparatus for electrochemical batteries according to this application. These examples are for illustrating the principles and implementation methods of this application only, and are not intended to limit the application. Various modifications and improvements can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this application. Therefore, all equivalent technical solutions should fall within the scope of this application and be defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A device (100) for detecting anode recycled gas in an electrochemical battery, the electrochemical battery being provided with a conduit (210) for conveying anode recycled gas (B) flowing from the anode outlet (202) of the battery stack to the anode inlet (201), characterized in that, The anode recovery gas detection device (100) includes a differential pressure flow meter (11), which is arranged in the pipeline (210) and configured to detect the flow rate Q of the anode recovery gas (B) flowing through the pipeline (210). v The anode recovery gas (B) forms a pressure drop when flowing through the differential pressure flow meter (11); and a detection assembly (14) including a pressure sensor (15), a dew point sensor (16), a temperature sensor (17), and a concentration sensor (18) for detecting the pressure p1, relative humidity rH1, temperature t1, and anode gas concentration c1 of the anode recovery gas (B) flowing through the pipeline (210), respectively, in order to provide information for comparison with the flow rate Q. v The parameters of the anode recycled gas (B) are calculated together, including the content of gas components contained in the anode recycled gas (B) and / or the corresponding flow rate of each gas component.

2. The anode recovery gas detection device (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The differential pressure flow meter (11) is a V-cone flow meter (12) equipped with a differential pressure sensor (13), which is configured to detect the pressure drop between the inlet and outlet of the anode recovery gas (B) flowing through the V-cone flow meter (12).

3. The anode recovery gas detection device (100) according to claim 2, wherein, The flow rate Q v It is calculated based on the following formula: Among them, C d ε, ρ, and κ are the flow coefficient, expansion coefficient, density, and adiabatic constant of the anode recovery gas (B), respectively, and β v d v D and D are the equivalent diameter ratio, maximum cone diameter and pipe inner diameter of the V-shaped flow meter (12), respectively, and Δp is the pressure drop detected by the differential pressure sensor (13).

4. The anode recovery gas detection device (100) according to claim 3, wherein, The detection component (14) further includes a density detector, an expansion coefficient detector, and an adiabatic constant detector, used to detect the density, expansion coefficient, and adiabatic constant of the anode recovery gas (B) flowing through the pipeline (210), respectively. The flow coefficient ranges from 0.6 to 0.7; or the anode recovery gas (B) contains water vapor, hydrogen, and nitrogen, and the flow coefficient ranges from 0.6 to 0.

7. The density and expansion coefficient of the anode recovery gas (B), as well as the content of water vapor, hydrogen, and nitrogen in the anode recovery gas (B) and their corresponding flow rates, are calculated according to the following formula: saturated vapor pressure of water The proportion of water vapor The proportion of hydrogen c H =(1-c s The proportion of nitrogen in c1 N =1-c s -c H The corresponding flow rates for each gas component are: Q s =Q v ·c s Q N =Q v ·c N Q H =Q v ·c H The density of the gas (B) recovered from the anode is ρ = ρ s ·c s +ρ H ·c H +ρ N ·c N The expansion coefficient k = κ of the gas (B) recovered from the anode s ·c s +κ H ·c H +κ N ·c N Where g, h, i, and j are constants related to the saturated vapor pressure of water, and their corresponding value ranges are 5-7, 17-19, 230-240, and 250-260, respectively. ρ s ρ H and ρ N These are the densities of water vapor, hydrogen, and nitrogen, respectively. s κ H and κ N These are the expansion coefficients of water vapor, hydrogen, and nitrogen, respectively.

5. The anode recovery gas detection device (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The differential pressure flow meter (11) is arranged downstream of the detection assembly (14) along the flow direction of the anode recovery gas (B) in the pipeline (210), and / or the pressure detection element (15) is arranged adjacent to the differential pressure flow meter (11).

6. The anode recovery gas detection device (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The concentration detection element (18) includes a concentration sensor, the temperature detection element (17) includes a temperature sensor, the dew point detection element (16) includes a dew point sensor, and the pressure detection element (15) includes a pressure sensor; and / or the pipeline (210) is provided with a first opening, a second opening, a third opening, and a fourth opening, the pressure detection element (15), the dew point detection element (16), the temperature detection element (17), and the concentration detection element (18) are respectively connected to the pipeline (210) via the first opening, the second opening, the third opening, and the fourth opening, and the connection is perpendicular to the flow direction of the anode recovery gas (B) in the pipeline (210); and / or the pressure detection element (15), the dew point detection element (16), the temperature detection element (17), and / or the concentration detection element (18) are detachably installed and connected to the pipeline (210).

7. The anode recovery gas detection device (100) according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein, The anode recovery gas detection device (100) further includes a processor and a display, the processor being configured to detect at least the flow rate Q. v The parameters of the anode recycled gas (B) are calculated from the anode gas concentration c1, the temperature t1, the relative humidity rH1, and the pressure p1, and the display is configured to display at least a portion of the parameters; and / or the electrochemical cell is further equipped with a gas-liquid separator (220), through which the anode recycled gas (B) flowing out from the anode outlet (202) is separated into gas and water before being detected by the anode recycled gas detection device (100); and / or the electrochemical cell includes a fuel cell, the fuel cell includes a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, and the anode gas includes hydrogen.

8. A method for detecting anode recycled gas in an electrochemical battery, wherein the electrochemical battery is equipped with a pipeline (210) for conveying anode recycled gas (B) flowing from the anode outlet (202) of the battery stack to the anode inlet (201), characterized in that, The method for detecting anode recycled gas includes the following steps: A. Setting up an anode recycled gas detection device (100) for an electrochemical cell as described in any one of claims 1-7; B. When the electrochemical cell is in operation, pumping the anode recycled gas (B) flowing out from the anode outlet (202) to the anode inlet (201) via the pipeline (210), and using the anode recycled gas detection device (100) to detect at least the flow rate, temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and anode gas concentration of the anode recycled gas (B) flowing through the pipeline (210); and C. Calculating the parameters of the anode recycled gas based on the detected flow rate, temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and anode gas concentration, the parameters including the content of gas components contained in the anode recycled gas (B) and / or the corresponding flow rate of each gas component.

9. The method for detecting anode recovery gas according to claim 8, wherein, Steps B and C are performed at preset time intervals; and / or the anode recovery gas (B) flowing out from the anode outlet (202) is subjected to gas-liquid separation treatment before being detected by the anode recovery gas detection device (100); and / or the flow measurement data of the differential pressure flow meter (11) is calibrated using a flow measurement device, the flow measurement device including a gas mass flow meter, which is arranged in series with the differential pressure flow meter (11) in the pipeline (210); and / or the detection component (14) is calibrated using a standard gas with preset gas composition.

10. A device, characterized in that, The device includes: an electrochemical cell; a conduit (210) configured to deliver anode recovery gas (B) flowing from the anode outlet (202) of the battery stack to the anode inlet (201); and an anode recovery gas detection device (100) for the electrochemical cell as claimed in any one of claims 1-7.

Images