Fuel cell system for product management

Abstract

The invention relates to a fuel cell system for product management. According to one embodiment, there may be provided a fuel cell system for product management, including: a first fuel tank storing a cathode fuel; a second fuel tank storing anode fuel; a fuel cell stack that receives cathode fuel and anode fuel as reaction gases from the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank and generates electric energy; a purge valve that discharges a product generated by a reaction between a cathode fuel and an anode fuel from the fuel cell stack to the outside; and a control unit that controls the opening and closing operation of the purge valve on the basis of the concentration or internal humidity of the reaction gas in the fuel cell stack.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a fuel cell system for product management. Background Technology

[0002] A fuel cell is a power generation device that directly converts the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy. It is considered a highly efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to existing internal combustion engines or chemical batteries, and unlike existing batteries, it can generate electricity continuously as long as hydrogen and oxygen are supplied, and its energy generation efficiency is higher.

[0003] This type of fuel cell typically generates electricity by directly reacting hydrogen and oxygen. When using a reformer, it is a power generation system that can directly convert the chemical reaction of hydrogen contained in hydrocarbons such as LNG (liquefied natural gas), LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), methanol (CH3OH), ethanol (C2H5OH), and gasoline into electrical energy. The reduction reaction of oxygen as an oxidant takes place at the cathode, and the oxidation reaction of hydrogen as fuel takes place at the anode, thereby producing an electrochemical reaction that generates electricity, heat, water, etc.

[0004] On the other hand, in existing fuel cell systems, it is known that hydrogen ions meet oxygen in the cathode of the fuel cell stack to produce water. However, due to back diffusion caused by the water concentration difference or pressure difference between the cathode and anode, a considerable amount of water generated in the cathode moves to the anode via the electrolyte membrane.

[0005] That is, not only on the cathode side, but also on the anode side, a considerable portion of the water coming from the cathode is not removed and continues to accumulate. Therefore, it is necessary to install an additional drain valve on the fuel cell stack and periodically drain the water.

[0006] However, the drainage method in this existing fuel cell system has the following problems.

[0007] In the fuel cell stack of a fuel cell system, when the reactant gases are discharged by the action of separately provided hydrogen and oxygen purge valves, water can be discharged along with the reactant gases. However, as the unidirectional gas flow of the reactant gases is formed, vaporized or liquefied water can flow along the unidirectional gas flow and accumulate in a specific area within the fuel cell stack.

[0008] Additionally, when the reactant gases are discharged, to replenish the amount of reactant gases within the fuel cell stack, new reactant gases flow into the stack via the activation of separately configured hydrogen and oxygen supply valves. Therefore, the newly flowing reactant gases also flow in a unidirectional gas flow path. Here, the newly flowing reactant gases are almost completely free of moisture, so the area within the fuel cell stack where the reactant gases flow may be in a dry state.

[0009] Furthermore, when the fuel cell stack rotates due to the action of an additional rotating body, vaporized or liquefied water in the internal space of the fuel cell stack can move to a specific area within the fuel cell stack due to centrifugal force.

[0010] In other words, in the above-mentioned fuel cell system, water is unevenly distributed in the internal space of the fuel cell stack. More specifically, the area where the reactant gas flows into the fuel cell stack will experience a decline in battery performance due to insufficient water (Drying), while the area where the reactant gas is discharged from the fuel cell stack or the area far from the rotating shaft may experience excessive condensation that blocks the micro-channels of the anode and cathode, thereby blocking the flow path of the reactant gas (Flooding).

[0011] Therefore, various problems may occur due to the deterioration of fuel cell performance and limited output. Furthermore, under continuous drying and flooding conditions, the fuel cell catalyst will deteriorate, leading to a decrease in durability. The deterioration of fuel cell durability will also result in increased replacement costs. Summary of the Invention

[0012] Technical problems to be solved A fuel cell system for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention is proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems. By making the products generated in the fuel cell system uniformly distributed within the fuel cell stack, it is possible to prevent the interior of the fuel cell stack from drying out and flooding, thereby improving the stability and durability of the fuel cell system.

[0013] Technical solution According to one embodiment, a fuel cell system for managing byproducts can be provided, comprising: a first fuel tank for storing cathode fuel; a second fuel tank for storing anode fuel; a fuel cell stack for receiving cathode fuel and anode fuel as reactant gases from the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank and generating electrical energy; a purge valve for discharging byproducts generated by the reaction of the cathode fuel and anode fuel from the fuel cell stack to the outside; and a control unit for controlling the opening and closing of the purge valve based on the concentration of reactant gases or the internal humidity of the fuel cell stack. The control unit can form a first flow or a second flow by controlling the opening and closing of the purge valve, wherein the first flow is a gas flow of cathode fuel and anode fuel from one side to the other inside the fuel cell stack, and the second flow is a gas flow of cathode fuel and anode fuel from the other side to the first side inside the fuel cell stack.

[0014] Alternatively, a fuel cell system for product management can be provided, wherein the purge valve includes: a first purge valve that guides cathode fuel and anode fuel to flow in a first flow within the fuel cell stack, the first flow being a gas flow of cathode fuel and anode fuel from one side to the other within the fuel cell stack; and a second purge valve that guides cathode fuel and anode fuel to flow in a second flow within the fuel cell stack, the second flow being a gas flow of cathode fuel and anode fuel from the other side to the other side within the fuel cell stack.

[0015] The fuel cell stack may have a concentration calculation unit for calculating the concentration of reactant gases.

[0016] The control unit can open the first purge valve when the concentration of the reactant gas calculated by the concentration calculation unit is less than the reference concentration value.

[0017] The concentration calculation unit may further include one or more of the following components: a concentration sensor unit that measures the partial pressure of the reactant gas in the fuel cell stack and calculates the reactant gas concentration value based thereon and provides it to the control unit; a current integration calculation unit that calculates the stack current integral value of the output current of the fuel cell stack and calculates the reactant gas concentration value based thereon; a voltage deviation calculation unit that calculates the difference between the average output voltage of the fuel cell stack and the minimum output voltage of the fuel cell stack, i.e., the voltage deviation, and calculates the reactant gas concentration value based thereon; and a humidity calculation unit that calculates the internal humidity in the fuel cell stack and calculates the reactant gas concentration value based thereon.

[0018] Alternatively, a fuel cell system for managing byproducts can be provided, wherein the control unit receives the concentration of the reactant gas calculated by the concentration sensor unit, and outputs an opening signal and provides it to the purge valve when the calculated reactant gas concentration is less than a preset reference concentration value.

[0019] Alternatively, a fuel cell system for product management can be provided, wherein the control unit outputs a first activation signal for inducing the first flow within the fuel cell stack or a second activation signal for inducing the second flow within the fuel cell stack.

[0020] Alternatively, a fuel cell system for managing byproducts can be provided, wherein a first purge valve receives a first opening signal from the control unit and performs an opening action to guide and discharge the byproducts to the outside in the same direction as the first flow for a predetermined reference time; and a second purge valve receives a second opening signal from the control unit and performs an opening action to allow the byproducts to flow and discharge to the outside in the same direction as the second flow for a predetermined reference time.

[0021] Alternatively, a fuel cell system for generating management can be provided, wherein the fuel cell stack further includes a humidity calculation unit that calculates the internal humidity of the fuel cell stack and provides it to the control unit.

[0022] The humidity calculation unit can calculate the internal humidity on one side of the fuel cell stack.

[0023] Alternatively, a fuel cell system for product management can be provided, wherein the control unit provides an activation signal to the second purge valve when the internal humidity of one side region of the stack, calculated by the humidity calculation unit, is less than a reference humidity value.

[0024] According to another embodiment, a method for operating a fuel cell system for product management is provided, comprising: receiving the concentration of reactant gases within the fuel cell stack; opening a first purge valve to form a first flow when the concentration of reactant gases is less than a preset reference concentration value, the first flow being a gas flow of cathode fuel and anode fuel from one side to the other within the fuel cell stack; and opening a second purge valve to form a second flow when the humidity on one side of the fuel cell stack is less than a reference humidity value, the second flow being a gas flow of cathode fuel and anode fuel from the other side to the first side within the fuel cell stack.

[0025] According to one embodiment, a computer program stored in a recording medium can be provided for executing an operation method of a fuel cell system for product management using a computing device.

[0026] Beneficial effects According to an embodiment of the present invention, a fuel cell system for product management, by uniformly distributing the products generated in the fuel cell system within the fuel cell stack, has the effect of preventing dryness and flooding inside the fuel cell stack and improving the stability and durability of the fuel cell system.

[0027] Brief description of the attached figures Figure 1 This is a diagram used to schematically illustrate a fuel cell system for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating the flow of products due to the movement of a rotating body in a fuel cell system for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating the non-uniform distribution of products within the cathode in a fuel cell system for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating the uniform distribution of products within the cathode caused by the opening action of a second purge valve in a fuel cell system for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of a fuel cell system for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To fully understand the structure and effects of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] This invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various forms and can be modified and altered in various ways. The disclosure of this invention is provided solely to complete the description of these embodiments and to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the scope of the invention. For ease of explanation, the dimensions of the constituent elements in the accompanying drawings have been enlarged relative to actual dimensions, and the proportions of each constituent element may also be exaggerated or reduced.

[0034] The terminology used in this specification is for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, unless otherwise defined, the terminology used herein is to be interpreted in the same way as is commonly known to those skilled in the art. In this specification, the singular form includes the plural form unless specifically mentioned in the text. The terms "comprises" and / or "comprising" as used in this specification do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other constituent elements, steps, actions, and / or components to the mentioned elements, steps, actions, and / or components.

[0035] On the other hand, as a type of fuel cell, the open cathode fuel cell is one of the fuel cells that enables stack lightweighting. It has an open cathode and no dedicated coolant flow path. The suitable method is to supply air to the cathode electrode exposed to air, and cool the stack through the flow of air.

[0036] As another type of fuel cell, closed cathode fuel cells are cooled by using a dedicated coolant flow path set within the bipolar plates.

[0037] The fuel cell of the present invention can be configured as either an open cathode type fuel cell or a closed cathode type fuel cell.

[0038] In this invention, by including a predetermined purge valve for inducing changes in fluid flow within the fuel cell stack, a fuel cell system for product management is obtained, which can guide the products generated in the fuel cell system to be uniformly distributed within the fuel cell stack, thereby preventing drying and flooding.

[0039] Figure 1 These are diagrams used to schematically illustrate a fuel cell system for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating the flow of products due to the movement of a rotating body in a fuel cell system for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 According to an embodiment of the present invention, a fuel cell system (1) for managing products may include: a first fuel tank (10) for storing cathode fuel; a second fuel tank (20) for storing anode fuel; a fuel cell stack (30) for receiving cathode fuel and anode fuel as reactant gases from the first fuel tank (10) and the second fuel tank (20) and generating electrical energy; a purge valve (40) for discharging products generated by the reaction of cathode fuel and anode fuel from the fuel cell stack (30) to the outside; a drive unit (50) for providing rotational force; and a rotating body (60) capable of rotating by the rotational force of the drive unit.

[0041] First, the first fuel tank (10) can store cathode fuel, which can be oxygen (O2).

[0042] Here, the oxygen can be pure or impure (i.e., concentration less than 100%) and can be supplied to the fuel cell stack (30) described later. Alternatively, the oxygen can be stored in the first fuel tank (10) in a gaseous state or in a liquid state.

[0043] More specifically, the internal pressure of the first fuel tank (10) can be 700 bar, but is not limited to this, and a vaporizer can be installed and used when using liquid oxygen.

[0044] In addition, the fuel cell system (1) for product management may include: a cathode fuel supply line (11) that connects the first fuel tank (10) to the fuel cell stack (30) to supply oxygen; and a cathode fuel supply valve (12) that opens the cathode fuel supply line (11).

[0045] The cathode fuel supply line (11) may include at least one cathode fuel pressure reducing valve (13). Specifically, at least one cathode fuel pressure reducing valve (13) may reduce the pressure of oxygen in order to stably supply oxygen stored under high pressure to the fuel cell stack (30).

[0046] The cathode fuel supply valve (12) and the cathode fuel pressure reducing valve (13) can be opened using a 12V or 24V battery, but are not limited to this. In addition, when using liquid oxygen, a separate vaporizer can be installed to ensure a smooth oxygen supply.

[0047] Here, when pure oxygen is supplied to the fuel cell stack (30), the oxygen concentration is higher than that supplied with air containing about 21% oxygen. Therefore, the increased oxygen concentration can increase the oxygen reduction reaction rate, thereby increasing the power generation efficiency. Thus, using pure oxygen through the first fuel tank (10) can increase the output of the fuel cell system, making it suitable for aviation applications requiring lightweight design.

[0048] Furthermore, in the fuel cell system (1) for product management, by utilizing a vaporizer (which can be omitted when using gaseous oxygen) and a cathode fuel supply valve (12) to supply compressed oxygen or vaporized oxygen, a separate air supply device and the high-voltage battery, DC-DC converter, etc., used to drive the air supply compressor of the air supply device can be eliminated, thereby facilitating weight reduction and miniaturization. Accordingly, the fuel cell system (1) for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention can not only be used in aviation applications, but can also be applied and designed in a wide range of fields.

[0049] However, it is not limited to this; the fuel cell system (1) can supply air to the stack (30) via an air compressor or air blower, as is the case with existing technologies. That is, the oxidant supply unit may include one or more of an oxidant tank, an air blower, and an air compressor.

[0050] Furthermore, as described later, the fuel cell system (1) can supply air to the interior of the stack via the rotation of the rotating body and the stack.

[0051] In one embodiment, the fuel cell system (1) may also include one or more of an oxidant tank, an air blower, and an air compressor, while supplying air to the interior of the stack through the rotation of the rotating body and the stack.

[0052] The second fuel tank (20) can store anode fuel, which can be hydrogen (H2) in gaseous or liquid form.

[0053] The hydrogen stored in the second fuel tank (20) can be stored in a compressed gaseous state or in a liquid state. Specifically, the internal pressure of the second fuel tank (20) can be 700 bar, but is not limited to this.

[0054] The fuel cell system (1) for product management may include: an anode fuel supply line (21) connecting a second fuel tank (20) to a fuel cell stack (30) to supply hydrogen; and an anode fuel supply valve (22) for opening the anode fuel supply line (21). The anode fuel supply line (21) may include at least one anode fuel pressure reducing valve (23). Specifically, at least one anode fuel pressure reducing valve (23) may reduce the pressure of hydrogen in order to stably supply hydrogen stored under high pressure to the fuel cell stack (30). The anode fuel supply valve (22) and the anode fuel pressure reducing valve (23) may be opened using a 12V or 24V battery, but are not limited thereto.

[0055] In the same manner as the oxygen supply, when the second fuel tank (20) is opened to begin supplying hydrogen from the second fuel tank (20), at least one anode fuel pressure reducing valve (23) reduces the hydrogen to an appropriate pressure. The hydrogen reduced to the appropriate pressure is then supplied to the fuel cell stack (30) at an appropriate pressure through the anode fuel supply valve (22).

[0056] Thus, the voltage of the fuel cell stack (30), which receives cathode fuel and anode fuel, i.e., reactive gases containing oxygen and hydrogen, rises to the OCV (Open Circuit Voltage) and is ready for operation. Accordingly, the electricity generated by the fuel cell stack (30) can power the components contained in the fuel cell system (1) for product management, and the fuel cell system (1) for product management can operate autonomously.

[0057] Furthermore, the fuel cell system (1) for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention has the following advantages: hydrogen and oxygen as reactant gases can be supplied to the fuel cell stack (30) at a certain supply pressure without the need for devices consisting of compressors, intercoolers, humidifiers, etc., thus the start-up time is very fast.

[0058] The fuel cell stack (30) can be a battery stack consisting of a separator plate, a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), and other auxiliary components. In this case, hydrogen is supplied to the anode as anode fuel, and oxygen is supplied to the cathode as cathode fuel.

[0059] The supplied reactant gases react on the catalyst in the catalytic layer of the MEA within the fuel cell stack (30). The product of this reaction is water. Part of the water produced liquefies inside the fuel cell stack (30), and this liquefied water is a major cause of reduced performance and deterioration of durability of the fuel cell stack (30). Therefore, the liquefied water must be discharged outside the fuel cell stack (30). Here, the product includes water, and more specifically, may include vaporized water and liquefied water; hereinafter, vaporized water will be referred to as water vapor, and liquefied water as condensate.

[0060] For example, in order to drain the condensate inside the battery to the outside of the fuel cell stack (30), the prior art designs the cathode separation plate structure of the fuel cell stack (30) to facilitate drainage. The separation plate in the prior art facilitates the drainage of condensate by adding a 3D porous body. However, this requires additional components, thus increasing the weight and volume of the stack. In addition, it also requires the fabrication of additional molds for processing complex structures, thus increasing the cost of the stack.

[0061] Another existing technology removes the 3D porous structure and bends the channel shape of the separator plate, facilitating condensate drainage by altering the flow of the reactant gas and changing the flow direction and pressure. However, this also complicates the separator plate structure, leading to increased processing costs. Another existing technology removes condensate from the fuel cell stack by adjusting operating conditions. However, this method also complicates operation, causing control difficulties, increased costs, and reduced durability.

[0062] A fuel cell system (1) for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a purge valve (40) for discharging products, a cathode discharge line (43), an anode discharge line (44), and a reactant gas discharge line (45). The function of the purge valve (40) is to correct the concentration of reactant gas in the anode and cathode and to remove products.

[0063] In other words, the purge valve (40) can be used to correct the concentration of oxygen and hydrogen in the fuel cell stack (30) and remove condensate.

[0064] Here, the purge valve (40) includes a first purge valve (41) and a second purge valve (42), and the first purge valve (41) may include a cathode purge valve (41a) and an anode purge valve (41b).

[0065] For example, when the fuel cell stack (30) is running, in the case of the anode, the amount of oxygen diffused from the cathode through the membrane increases, and hydrogen is used as fuel, thus the hydrogen concentration decreases. As a result, the voltage of the fuel cell stack (30) decreases, eventually causing the fuel cell stack (30) to stop operating. At this time, when the anode purge valve (41b) is opened, pure hydrogen from the second fuel tank (20) is supplied to the fuel cell stack (30), and the hydrogen concentration in the anode increases again, thus enabling the fuel cell stack (30) to operate stably.

[0066] Similarly, in the case of the cathode, when the cathode purge valve (41a) is opened, pure oxygen from the first fuel tank (10) is supplied to the fuel cell stack (30), and the oxygen concentration in the cathode increases again, so that the fuel cell stack (30) can operate stably.

[0067] Furthermore, the first purge valve (41) and the second purge valve (42) can discharge the products generated by the reaction of oxygen and hydrogen (e.g., moisture and condensate) from the fuel cell stack (30) to the outside. At this time, since the internal pressure of the fuel cell stack (30) is higher than the external pressure, the products are discharged from the fuel cell stack (30) to the outside by opening the first purge valve (41) or the second purge valve (42).

[0068] On the other hand, a fuel cell system (1) for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a drive unit (50), a rotating body (60), and at least one fuel cell stack (30). Specifically, the fuel cell system (1) for product management may include: a drive unit (50) that provides power for the rotation of the rotating body (60); a rotating body (60) that rotates with the power provided by the drive unit (50); and at least one fuel cell stack (30) connected to the rotating body (60). In this case, at least one fuel cell stack (30) is connected to the rotating body (60), and its position may change due to the rotation of the rotating body (60). The number of fuel cell stacks (30) is not particularly limited and may be configured as one or more as needed.

[0069] As the rotating body (60) rotates, the fuel cell stack (30) also moves, and the moving fuel cell stack (30) causes the surrounding air to move in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation. At this time, when the stack (30) is an open cathode type, since the air supply channel is the same as the air supply channel used for cooling, the moving air is not only supplied to the interior of the separation plate of the rotating stack (30), but also passes through the cooling fins or cooling structures located inside the separation plate of the fuel cell stack (30), so the fuel cell stack (30) can be cooled.

[0070] At this time, when the rotational speed increases, the intensity of the moving air increases, and the cooling capacity of the fuel cell stack (30) increases, so the temperature of the fuel cell stack (30) can be reduced easily and quickly; conversely, when the rotational speed decreases, the intensity of the moving air decreases, so the temperature of the stack can be rapidly increased to the operating temperature in the early stage of operation.

[0071] That is, in order to control the optimal operating conditions of the fuel cell system (1) used for product management, the rotational speed can be adjusted, thereby eliminating the cooling system present in existing fuel cell systems.

[0072] Specifically, conventional open-cathode fuel cells use an air blower (or cooling fan (FAN)) to supply external air and cool the stack in an open cathode flow path. In contrast, in this invention, as the rotating body (60) and the stack (30) rotate, external air can be supplied into the stack, and the stack can be further cooled. Therefore, existing pumps, air blowers (cooling fans), 3-way valves, ion removers, cooling water piping, etc., can be eliminated, as can the high-voltage battery used to drive the pump and the converter used to operate it, thereby enabling miniaturization and weight reduction of the fuel cell system.

[0073] However, it is not limited to this. The stack (30) can be formed as a closed cathode type, in which case the cooling fluid can flow through a dedicated coolant flow path to cool the stack (30).

[0074] like Figure 2 As shown, after the products (such as water and condensate) are generated inside the fuel cell stack (30), they can flow to the other side of the fuel cell stack (30) due to the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotating body (60) (arrow direction).

[0075] At this time, the generated material can be discharged from the fuel cell stack (30) to the outside by opening the first purge valve (41) or the second purge valve (42).

[0076] In addition, the fuel cell system (1) for product management may further include a control unit (not shown), a temperature sensor unit (not shown), a concentration calculation unit (not shown), and a humidity calculation unit (not shown) of the control drive unit (50).

[0077] The control unit can detect the temperature inside the fuel cell stack (30) through the temperature sensor unit, and can drive the drive unit (50) when the detected temperature exceeds the preset reference temperature value.

[0078] In addition, the control unit can open the first purge valve (41) or the second purge valve (42) based on the concentration of the reactant gas obtained by the concentration calculation unit and the internal humidity obtained by the humidity calculation unit, so as to discharge the products to the outside while supplying new reactant gas to the fuel cell stack (30).

[0079] That is, the fuel cell system (1) for product management can not only cool the fuel cell stack (30) by the rotation of the rotating body (60), but also remove the products by opening the first purge valve (41) or the second purge valve (42), thus eliminating the need for a complex separation plate, thereby reducing the price and weight of the stack, and allowing for simple design of control programs and controllers.

[0080] In addition, since the cooling of the fuel cell stack (30) by rotation is controlled by the airflow using centrifugal force, the existing air supply system and cooling system in the fuel cell system can be eliminated. This can reduce the price and weight of the fuel cell system and simplify the design of the system and control program, making it suitable as a fuel cell for aviation applications.

[0081] Refer again Figure 1 and Figure 2 In a fuel cell system (1) for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention, the purge valve (40) may include: a first purge valve (41) for guiding cathode fuel and anode fuel to flow in a first flow inside the fuel cell stack (30), the first flow being a gas flow of cathode fuel and anode fuel from one side to one side inside the fuel cell stack (30); and a second purge valve (42) for guiding cathode fuel and anode fuel to flow in a second flow inside the fuel cell stack (30), the second flow being a gas flow of cathode fuel and anode fuel from one side to one side inside the fuel cell stack (30), wherein the control unit may control the opening and closing of the purge valve (40) based on the concentration of the reactant gas or the internal humidity inside the fuel cell stack (30).

[0082] As previously described, the first purge valve (41) may include a cathode purge valve (41a) and an anode purge valve (41b). By opening the cathode purge valve (41a), the cathode fuel in the cathode region of the fuel cell stack (30) flows as a first flow, i.e., gas flows from one side to the other, while the products in the cathode region are discharged to the outside. By opening the anode purge valve (41b), the anode fuel in the anode region of the fuel cell stack (30) flows as a first flow, i.e., gas flows from one side to the other, while the products in the anode region are discharged to the outside.

[0083] That is, by opening the cathode purge valve (41a) or the anode purge valve (41b), while the reaction gas inside the fuel cell stack (30) is discharged in the first flow, new cathode fuel and anode fuel are supplied into the fuel cell stack (30), and the products inside the fuel cell stack (30) can flow along the first flow and be discharged to the outside.

[0084] Next, by opening the second purge valve (42), the cathode fuel and anode fuel in the cathode region and anode region of the fuel cell stack (30) flow in a second flow, i.e., from one side to the other, and the products in the cathode region and anode region can be discharged to the outside.

[0085] Furthermore, by opening the second purge valve (42), the discharge direction of the generated products in the fuel cell stack (30) can be changed.

[0086] As mentioned above, in order to cool the fuel cell stack (30), the rotating body (60) rotates, and due to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the rotating body (60), the fuel cell stack (30) will have a non-uniform product distribution: less product in one side and more product in the other side.

[0087] That is, by opening the second purge valve (42), while the reaction gas inside the fuel cell stack (30) is discharged in the second flow, new cathode fuel and anode fuel are supplied into the fuel cell stack (30), and the unevenly distributed products inside the fuel cell stack (30) can flow along the second flow and be discharged to the outside, thereby realizing the redistribution of products inside the fuel cell stack (30).

[0088] On the other hand, in a fuel cell system (1) for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention, the concentration calculation unit and the humidity calculation unit may be provided in the fuel cell stack (30). More specifically, the control unit may control the opening and closing of the purge valve (40) by means of the concentration calculation unit capable of calculating the concentration of the reactant gas in the fuel cell stack (30) and the humidity calculation unit capable of calculating the internal humidity in the fuel cell stack (30).

[0089] More specifically, the concentration calculation unit may include: a concentration sensor unit that measures the partial pressure of the reactant gas within the fuel cell stack (30) and calculates the reactant gas concentration value based thereon; a current integration calculation unit that calculates the stack current integral value of the output current of the fuel cell stack and calculates the reactant gas concentration value based thereon; a voltage deviation calculation unit that calculates the difference between the average output voltage of the fuel cell stack and the minimum output voltage of the fuel cell stack, i.e., the voltage deviation, and calculates the reactant gas concentration value based thereon; and a humidity calculation unit that calculates the internal humidity within the fuel cell stack and calculates the reactant gas concentration value based thereon.

[0090] That is, in order to measure the oxygen concentration in the cathode and the hydrogen concentration in the anode, the concentration calculation unit can utilize existing known concentration sensors, current integration, voltage deviation, and internal humidity.

[0091] In addition, the humidity calculation unit can use existing known methods such as AC impedance, current interruption, current sweep, and humidity sensors to calculate the humidity inside the fuel cell stack (30).

[0092] The concentration calculation unit can calculate the concentration of the reactant gas based on the partial pressure of the reactant gas in the fuel cell stack (30) and provide it to the control unit.

[0093] For example, the concentration sensor unit can calculate the concentration of the anode fuel based on the partial pressure of the anode fuel in the anode region and provide it to the control unit, or it can calculate the concentration of the cathode fuel based on the partial pressure of the cathode fuel in the cathode region and provide it to the control unit.

[0094] In addition, the humidity calculation unit can calculate the internal humidity inside the fuel cell stack (30) and provide it to the control unit.

[0095] The control unit can be implemented by a processor such as a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, a microprocessor, or an application-specific integrated circuit, and controls the operation of various electronic devices constituting the fuel cell system (1) for product management of the present invention.

[0096] The control unit receives the concentration of the reactant gas calculated by the concentration calculation unit, and outputs an opening signal and provides it to the purge valve (40) when the calculated concentration of the reactant gas is less than the preset reference concentration value. The opening signal can be output to make the first purge valve (41) and the second purge valve (42) repeat their operation in sequence.

[0097] Specifically, the control unit receives the calculated concentration of the reactant gas, and when the calculated concentration of the reactant gas is less than a preset reference concentration value, while maintaining the operation of the fuel cell stack (30), it outputs a first start signal for inducing the first flow in the fuel cell stack (30) or a second start signal for inducing the second flow in the fuel cell stack (30), wherein the first start signal and the second start signal can be output repeatedly in sequence.

[0098] Here, the control unit provides the first opening signal to the first purge valve (41) and the second opening signal to the second purge valve (42).

[0099] Therefore, the first purge valve (41) can receive a first opening signal from the control unit and perform an opening action to allow the generated material to flow in the same direction as the first flow for a preset reference time and be discharged to the outside. The second purge valve (42) can receive a second opening signal from the control unit and perform an opening action to allow the generated material to flow in the same direction as the second flow for a preset reference time and be discharged to the outside. Here, the preset reference time can be 5 to 10 minutes.

[0100] For example, the control unit receives the calculated reaction gas concentration, and when the calculated reaction gas concentration is less than a preset reference concentration value (first time), it outputs a first opening signal and provides it to the first purge valve (41), thereby causing the product to be discharged to the outside through the first purge valve (41). Subsequently, when the control unit receives the calculated reaction gas concentration again, and when the calculated reaction gas concentration is less than the preset reference concentration value (second time), it outputs a second opening signal and provides it to the second purge valve (42), thereby causing the product to be discharged to the outside through the second purge valve (42). That is, the control unit can control the first purge valve (41) and the second purge valve (42) to operate sequentially and repeatedly.

[0101] In addition, the control unit receives the concentration of the reactant gas calculated by the concentration sensor unit, and when the calculated concentration of the reactant gas is less than a preset reference concentration value, it outputs an opening signal and provides it to the purge valve (40). The control unit can output an opening signal that causes the first purge valve (41) to operate multiple times in succession, and then the second purge valve (42) to operate.

[0102] Specifically, the control unit receives the calculated concentration of the reactant gas, and when the calculated concentration of the reactant gas is less than a preset reference concentration value, while maintaining the operation of the fuel cell stack (30), it outputs multiple first activation signals for inducing the first flow in the fuel cell stack (30) or a second activation signal for inducing the second flow in the fuel cell stack (30), wherein the multiple first activation signals and the second activation signal can be output repeatedly in sequence.

[0103] For example, during the operation of the fuel cell stack (30), if the control unit receives the calculated reactant gas concentration and the calculated reactant gas concentration is less than the preset reference concentration value 5 times, the control unit will provide the first purge valve (41) after outputting the first opening signal for the first and second times, so that the product is discharged to the outside through the first purge valve (41). Subsequently, the control unit will provide the second purge valve (42) after outputting the second opening signal for the third time, so that the product is discharged to the outside through the second purge valve (42). Again, the control unit will provide the first purge valve (41) after outputting the first opening signal for the fourth and fifth times. That is, the control unit can control the first purge valve (41) and the second purge valve (42) to repeatedly perform the opening action of the first purge valve (41) operating multiple times (2 times) and the second purge valve (42) operating once (1 time).

[0104] Furthermore, after the opening action is completed, if the internal humidity calculated by the humidity calculation unit is less than the reference humidity value, the control unit can re-output the opening signal and provide it to the second purge valve (42). Preferably, the humidity calculation unit can calculate the internal humidity on one side of the fuel cell stack (30) and provide it to the control unit. That is, when the area where the reactant gas flows into the fuel cell stack is dry, the control unit can open the second purge valve (42), causing the unevenly distributed products within the fuel cell stack (30) to flow to one side along the second flow path. This achieves redistribution of the products within the fuel cell stack (30) and increases the humidity in the area where the reactant gas flows into the fuel cell stack.

[0105] However, it is not limited to this. When the humidity calculation unit detects that the internal humidity of the area on the other side of the fuel cell stack where the reaction gas is discharged exceeds the preset humidity value, it can also re-output the opening signal and provide it to the second purge valve (42).

[0106] In addition, the humidity calculation unit can calculate the average humidity based on the humidity of the cathode region and the anode region within the fuel cell stack (30), thereby calculating the internal humidity and providing the calculated internal humidity to the control unit. When the internal humidity exceeds, for example, a reference humidity value of 40%, the control unit can output a second opening signal and provide it to the second purge valve (42).

[0107] The following describes the redistribution of the products within the cathode due to the opening action of the second purge valve (42) of the fuel cell system (1) used for product management.

[0108] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating the non-uniform distribution of products within the cathode in a fuel cell system for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating the uniform distribution of products within the cathode caused by the opening action of a second purge valve in a fuel cell system for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0109] Reference Figure 3 The fuel cell system (1) for product management may include: a cathode fuel supply line (11), a cathode fuel supply valve (12), a cathode in the fuel cell stack (30), a cathode discharge line (43), and a cathode purge valve (41a).

[0110] In order to cool the fuel cell stack (30) according to the movement of the fuel cell stack (30), the rotating body (60) is driven, and due to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the rotating body (60), the cathode in the fuel cell stack (30) has a non-uniform product distribution.

[0111] Specifically, the cathode can be roughly divided into a side region, a middle region, and a other side region, and due to centrifugal force, the amount of product increases in the order of the side region, the middle region, and the other side region. Here, the amount of product refers to the total amount of water and condensate.

[0112] At this time, when the cathode purge valve (41a) is opened, due to the pressure difference between the cathode and the external atmospheric pressure, oxygen flows from one side to the other as the first flow. Finally, oxygen and the products are discharged along the cathode discharge line (43).

[0113] That is, the fuel cell system (1) for product management according to the present invention can easily discharge the products generated by the reaction of cathode fuel and anode fuel to the outside while discharging oxygen at high temperature and high humidity and with reduced concentration.

[0114] However, as the high-temperature, high-humidity oxygen and products are discharged and new low-temperature, dry oxygen is supplied again, the products within the cathode may still be unevenly distributed.

[0115] Reference Figure 4 The fuel cell system (1) for product management includes: a cathode fuel supply line (11), a cathode fuel supply valve (12), a cathode in the fuel cell stack (30), a reaction gas exhaust line (45), and a second purge valve (42).

[0116] As previously mentioned, in order to cool the fuel cell stack (30) according to its movement, the rotating body (60) is driven, and due to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the rotating body (60), the cathode in the fuel cell stack (30) has a non-uniform product distribution.

[0117] Specifically, the cathode can be roughly divided into a side region, a middle region, and a other side region, and due to centrifugal force, the amount of product increases in the order of the side region, the middle region, and the other side region. Here, the amount of product refers to the total amount of water and condensate.

[0118] At this time, when the second purge valve (42) is opened, due to the pressure difference between the cathode and the external atmospheric pressure, oxygen flows from one side to the other as a second flow. Finally, oxygen and the products are discharged along the cathode fuel supply line (11) and the reaction gas discharge line (45).

[0119] Here, the reaction gas discharge line (45) can be connected to the cathode fuel supply line (11), but is not limited thereto. It can also be connected to any structure as long as oxygen can flow in a second flow.

[0120] That is, due to the opening of the second purge valve (42), the generated material in the cathode can be evenly distributed over the entire cathode area. More specifically, the gradient of the total amount of generated material corresponding to one side area, the middle area and the other side area is minimized. This can prevent the drying phenomenon that is more likely to occur in the one side area and prevent the flooding phenomenon that is more likely to occur in the other side area, thereby improving the stability and durability of the fuel cell system.

[0121] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of a fuel cell system for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0122] An operating method (S10) for a fuel cell system for product management according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first fuel tank for storing cathode fuel; a second fuel tank for storing anode fuel; a fuel cell stack for receiving cathode fuel and anode fuel as reactant gases and generating electrical energy; and a purge valve for discharging products generated by the reaction of cathode fuel and anode fuel from the fuel cell stack to the outside. The purge valve includes a first purge valve guiding cathode fuel and anode fuel to flow in a first flow within the fuel cell stack, and a second purge valve guiding cathode fuel and anode fuel to flow in a second flow within the fuel cell stack. The first flow is a gas flow of cathode fuel and anode fuel from one side to the other within the fuel cell stack. The flow is the gas flow of cathode fuel and anode fuel from one side to the other side inside the fuel cell stack; a drive unit that provides rotational force; a rotating body that can be rotated by the rotational force of the drive unit; and a control unit that controls the opening and closing of the purge valve based on the concentration of the reactant gas or the internal humidity inside the fuel cell stack. The operating method may include: a step of receiving the reactant gas concentration calculated by a concentration calculation unit provided in the fuel cell stack (S100); a step of outputting an opening signal to open the first purge valve when the calculated reactant gas concentration is less than a preset reference concentration value (S200); and a step of outputting the opening signal to open the second purge valve when the internal humidity on one side of the fuel cell stack calculated by a humidity calculation unit provided in the fuel cell stack is less than a reference humidity value (S300).

[0123] While the fuel cell system for product management according to embodiments of the present invention has been described above as a specific implementation, this is merely an example, and the invention is not limited thereto. It should be interpreted as having the broadest scope following the basic ideas disclosed in this specification. Those skilled in the art can implement embodiments not explicitly described by combining or substituting the disclosed embodiments, which also does not depart from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, those skilled in the art can readily make changes or modifications to the disclosed embodiments based on this specification, and such changes or modifications obviously also fall within the scope of the invention.

[0124] This research was funded by the Entrepreneurship Growth Technology Development Project of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Department [RS-2024-00437505] [Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures] 1: Fuel cell systems for product management 10: First fuel tank 11: Cathode fuel supply line 12: Cathode fuel supply valve 13: Cathode fuel pressure reducing valve 20: Second fuel tank 21: Anode fuel supply line 22: Anode fuel supply valve 23: Anode fuel pressure reducing valve 30: Fuel Cell Stack 40: Purge valve 41: First purge valve 41a: Cathode purge valve 41b: Anode purge valve 42: Second purge valve 43: Cathode discharge pipeline 44: Anode discharge pipeline 45: Reaction gas exhaust pipeline 50: Drive Unit 60: Solid of Revolution

Claims

1. A fuel cell system for generation management, comprising: a first fuel tank that stores cathode fuel; a second fuel tank that stores anode fuel; a fuel cell stack that receives the cathode fuel and the anode fuel as reaction gases from the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank and generates electric power; a purge valve that discharges a product generated by a reaction of the cathode fuel and the anode fuel from the fuel cell stack to the outside; and a control unit that controls opening and closing operations of the purge valve based on a concentration of the reaction gases or an internal humidity inside the fuel cell stack.

2. The fuel cell system for generation management according to claim 1, characterized by, The control unit controls the opening and closing operations of the purge valve to form a first flow that is a gas flow of the cathode fuel and the anode fuel inside the fuel cell stack from one side toward the other side; or a second flow that is a gas flow of the cathode fuel and the anode fuel inside the fuel cell stack from the other side toward the one side.

3. The fuel cell system for generation management according to claim 1, characterized by, The purge valve includes, a first purge valve that guides the cathode fuel and the anode fuel to flow in the first flow inside the fuel cell stack, the first flow being the gas flow of the cathode fuel and the anode fuel inside the fuel cell stack from the one side toward the other side; and a second purge valve that guides the cathode fuel and the anode fuel to flow in the second flow inside the fuel cell stack, the second flow being the gas flow of the cathode fuel and the anode fuel inside the fuel cell stack from the other side toward the one side.

4. The fuel cell system for generation management according to claim 3, characterized by, The fuel cell stack includes a concentration calculation unit that calculates a concentration of the reaction gases inside the fuel cell stack.

5. The fuel cell system for generation management according to claim 4, characterized by, The control unit opens the first purge valve when the concentration of the reaction gases calculated by the concentration calculation unit is less than a reference concentration value.

6. The fuel cell system for generation management according to claim 4, wherein The concentration calculation unit includes one or more of: a concentration sensor unit that measures a partial pressure of the reaction gases inside the fuel cell stack and calculates a reaction gas concentration value based on the measurement; a current integral operation unit that calculates a stack current integral value of an output current of the fuel cell stack and calculates a reaction gas concentration value based on the calculation; a voltage deviation operation unit that calculates a voltage deviation that is a difference between an average value of an output voltage of the fuel cell stack and a minimum output voltage among the output voltage of the fuel cell stack and calculates a reaction gas concentration value based on the calculation; and a humidity calculation unit that calculates an internal humidity inside the fuel cell stack and calculates a reaction gas concentration value based on the calculation.

7. The fuel cell system for generation management according to claim 3, wherein The control unit outputs a first opening signal for inducing the first flow inside the fuel cell stack or a second opening signal for inducing the second flow inside the fuel cell stack.

8. The fuel cell system for generation management according to claim 7, wherein The first purge valve receives the first opening signal from the control unit and performs an opening operation to guide and discharge the product to the outside in the same direction as the first flow within a preset reference time, and The second purge valve receives the second opening signal from the control unit and performs an opening operation to flow and discharge the product to the outside in the same direction as the second flow within a preset reference time.

9. The fuel cell system for generation management according to claim 3, characterized by, The fuel cell stack further includes a humidity calculation unit that calculates an internal humidity inside the fuel cell stack and provides the internal humidity to the control unit.

10. The fuel cell system for generation management according to claim 9, wherein The humidity calculation unit calculates the internal humidity of a region of one side inside the fuel cell stack.

11. The fuel cell system for generation management according to claim 10, wherein When the humidity calculated by the humidity calculation unit is less than the reference humidity value in one side of the pile, the control unit will provide an activation signal to the second purge valve.

12. A method for operating a fuel cell system for product management, comprising: The step of receiving the concentration of the reactant gas within the fuel cell stack; When the concentration of the reactant gas is less than a preset reference concentration value, the first purge valve is opened to form a first flow, wherein the first flow is a gas flow of cathode fuel and anode fuel from one side to the other within the fuel cell stack; and When the humidity on one side inside the fuel cell stack is less than a reference humidity value, the second purge valve is opened to form a second flow, which is a gas flow of cathode fuel and anode fuel from the other side toward the first side inside the fuel cell stack.

13. A computer program stored in a recording medium for performing the method of claim 12 using a computing device.

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