A heat exchanger suitable for use with multiple SOFC stacks or modules

Abstract

The application discloses a heat exchanger suitable for multiple SOFC stacks or modules, which comprises a cylinder, multiple heat exchange cores, multiple first partition plates, multiple second partition plates, and a burner connected at the center of the cylinder; multiple heat exchange cores are arranged in the heat exchanger, the single heat exchanger is coupled with the multiple heat exchange cores, the number of the heat exchange cores is the same as the number of the corresponding SOFC stacks / modules, and the heat exchange cores are one-to-one corresponding, then the high-temperature gas output by the burner and the cold air input from the outside are exchanged by using the opened hot side inlet, hot side outlet, cold side inlet and cold side outlet, so that the cathode inlet gas after heat exchange can be simultaneously provided to the multiple stacks / modules, and the overall structure is simple, compact and low in processing cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fuel cell technology, and in particular to a heat exchanger suitable for multiple SOFC stacks or modules. Background Technology

[0002] Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are power generation devices that use electrochemical reactions to convert the chemical energy in fuel and oxidant into electrical energy at high temperatures above 600°C. SOFCs are a very promising low-emission green power generation method.

[0003] Currently, the power output of a single SOFC stack is only about 1-5 kW. High-power SOFC power generation systems require multiple stacks to operate simultaneously. SOFC stacks have high requirements for the consistency of the cathode gas (usually air) inlet temperature and flow rate to ensure the consistency of the operating state of each stack. Therefore, high-power SOFC power generation systems need to solve the problem of uniform distribution of cathode gas flow in each stack, which is beneficial to the stability of stack power output and the extension of service life. Similarly, if the SOFC system uses stack modules as power generation units, it is also necessary to solve the problem of uniform distribution of cathode gas flow in each stack module. The announcement number discloses a plate-fin heat exchanger for use in SOFC systems, including multiple partitions arranged sequentially from top to bottom. The left and right sides of adjacent partitions are connected by sealing strips. A receiving cavity is provided between adjacent partitions, and fins are installed in the receiving cavity. End face key strips are provided on the front and rear sides of the receiving cavity. The front and rear end face key strips on the same partition are staggered, and the upper and lower end face key strips on adjacent partitions are staggered. The heat exchanger does not have multiple air inlets and cannot be adapted to multiple SOFC stacks. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of this invention is to provide a heat exchanger with a compact structure and low cost that is suitable for multiple SOFC stacks or modules.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a solution as follows: a heat exchanger applicable to multiple SOFC stacks or modules, comprising a cylinder, multiple heat exchange cores, multiple first partition plates, and multiple second partition plates. A burner is connected to the center of the cylinder. The multiple heat exchange cores are disposed inside the cylinder and are arranged sequentially at equal intervals around the burner as the center point. The first partition plates are disposed between each pair of adjacent heat exchange cores. The first partition plates are connected to the inner side wall of the cylinder. The second partition plates are connected between the heat exchange cores and the inner side wall of the cylinder. The heat exchange core has a hot-side inlet and a hot-side outlet on its front and rear sides, respectively, and a cold-side inlet and a cold-side outlet on its left and right sides, respectively. The hot-side inlet of the heat exchange core is connected to the burner.

[0006] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: a single heat exchanger couples multiple heat exchange cores, resulting in a compact structure. Multiple heat exchange cores are arranged within the heat exchanger, achieving coupling between a single heat exchanger and multiple heat exchange cores. The number of heat exchange cores corresponds to the number of corresponding SOFC stacks / modules, with each core corresponding to the other. Then, using the provided hot-side inlet, hot-side outlet, cold-side inlet, and cold-side outlet, heat exchange is achieved between the high-temperature combustion gas output from the burner and the cold air input from the outside. This allows the heat-exchanged cathode inlet gas to be simultaneously supplied to multiple stacks / modules. The overall structure is simple, compact, and has low processing costs. Furthermore, the symmetrical structure of the multiple heat exchange cores effectively ensures that the cathode gas temperature received by each stack / module is the same, thereby ensuring consistent operating conditions of the SOFC stack or module, and guaranteeing a long service life and stable power output for the SOFC stack.

[0007] Furthermore, the heat exchange core includes multiple heat exchange plates, which are stacked sequentially from top to bottom. By employing the above structure, the present invention achieves the heat exchange function.

[0008] Furthermore, a first heat exchange chamber is formed together by the plurality of first partition plates and the plurality of heat exchange cores, and the hot-side inlet of each heat exchange core is connected to the first heat exchange chamber. With the above structure, the first partition plates, in addition to separating the fluid, also provide structural support for the entire structure.

[0009] Furthermore, two second partition plates are connected between the heat exchange core and the inner wall of the cylinder. The cylinder, the heat exchange core, and the two second partition plates together form a second heat exchange chamber, and the hot-side outlet is connected to the second heat exchange chamber. With the above structure, the second partition plates not only function to separate the fluid but also exhibit elastic deformation.

[0010] Furthermore, the first partition plate, the left side of the heat exchange core, and a second partition plate together form a third heat exchange chamber, and the cold side inlet is connected to the third heat exchange chamber.

[0011] Furthermore, the first partition plate, the right side of the heat exchange core, and a second partition plate together form a fourth heat exchange chamber, and the cold side outlet is connected to the fourth heat exchange chamber.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes a top plate and a bottom plate, with the top plate provided at the top of the cylinder and the bottom plate provided at the bottom of the cylinder.

[0013] Furthermore, the top plate has a first air inlet and multiple first air outlets. The first air inlet is connected to a first heat exchange chamber, and the multiple first air outlets are respectively connected to multiple fourth heat exchange chambers.

[0014] Furthermore, the base plate has multiple second air inlets and multiple second air outlets, with each of the multiple second air outlets corresponding to a multiple second heat exchange chamber, and each of the multiple second air inlets corresponding to a multiple third heat exchange chamber. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 The three-dimensional representation of the present invention Figure 1 (Three fuel cells).

[0016] Figure 2 The three-dimensional representation of the present invention Figure 2 (Three fuel cells).

[0017] Figure 3 The three-dimensional representation of the present invention Figure 3 (Three fuel cells).

[0018] Figure 4 The three-dimensional representation of the present invention Figure 4 (Three fuel cells).

[0019] Figure 5 The three-dimensional representation of the present invention Figure 5 (Four fuel cells).

[0020] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional view of the heat exchange core of the present invention.

[0021] Wherein, 1 is the cylinder, 2 is the heat exchange core, 21 is the heat exchange plate, 22 is the hot side inlet, 23 is the hot side outlet, 24 is the cold side inlet, 25 is the cold side outlet, 3 is the first partition plate, 4 is the second partition plate, 5 is the top plate, 51 is the first air inlet, 52 is the first air outlet, 6 is the bottom plate, 61 is the second air inlet, 62 is the second air outlet, 71 is the first heat exchange chamber, 72 is the second heat exchange chamber, 73 is the third heat exchange chamber, 74 is the fourth heat exchange chamber, and 8 is the burner. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are some embodiments of the present invention, but not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0024] See appendix Figure 1 To be continued Figure 4 Appendix Figure 6 As shown, a heat exchanger suitable for multiple SOFC stacks or modules includes a cylinder 1, multiple heat exchange cores 2, multiple first partition plates 3, multiple second partition plates 4, a top plate 5, and a bottom plate 6. A burner 8 is connected to the center of the cylinder 1. The multiple heat exchange cores 2 are arranged inside the cylinder 1 at equal intervals around the burner 8. A first partition plate 3 is provided between each pair of adjacent heat exchange cores 2. The first partition plate 3 is connected to the inner wall of the cylinder 1. A second partition plate 4 is connected between the heat exchange core 2 and the inner wall of the cylinder 1.

[0025] The heat exchange core 2 has a hot side inlet 22 and a hot side outlet 23 on the front and rear sides respectively, and a cold side inlet 24 and a cold side outlet 25 on the left and right sides respectively. The hot side inlet 22 of the heat exchange core 2 is connected to the burner 8.

[0026] In this embodiment, the heat exchange core 2 includes multiple heat exchange plates 21, which are stacked sequentially from top to bottom. The heat exchange plates 21 can be a conventional plate heat exchanger core structure or a plate-fin heat exchanger core structure. The inlet and outlet of the cold / hot fluid are in a cross-flow form. A first heat exchange chamber 71 is formed together by multiple first partition plates 3 and multiple heat exchange cores 2. The hot side inlet 22 of each heat exchange core 2 is connected to the first heat exchange chamber 71.

[0027] In this embodiment, a heat exchange core 2 is connected to the inner wall of the cylinder 1 by two second partition plates 4. The cylinder 1, the heat exchange core 2, and the two second partition plates 4 together form a second heat exchange chamber 72. The hot side outlet 23 is connected to the second heat exchange chamber 72.

[0028] In this embodiment, the first partition plate 3, the left side of the heat exchange core 2, and the second partition plate 4 together form a third heat exchange chamber 73, and the cold side inlet 24 is connected to the third heat exchange chamber 73; the first partition plate 3, the right side of the heat exchange core 2, and the second partition plate 4 together form a fourth heat exchange chamber 74, and the cold side outlet 25 is connected to the fourth heat exchange chamber 74.

[0029] In this embodiment, a top plate 5 is provided at the top of the cylinder 1 and a bottom plate 6 is provided at the bottom of the cylinder 1; the top plate 5 has a first air inlet 51 and multiple first air outlets 52, the first air inlet 51 is connected to the first heat exchange chamber 71, and the multiple first air outlets 52 are respectively connected to multiple fourth heat exchange chambers 74.

[0030] In this embodiment, the base plate 6 has multiple second air inlets 61 and multiple second air outlets 62. The multiple second air outlets 62 are connected to multiple second heat exchange chambers 72 respectively, and the multiple second air inlets 61 are connected to multiple third heat exchange chambers 73 respectively.

[0031] The first heat exchange chamber 71, the second heat exchange chamber 72, the third heat exchange chamber 73, and the fourth heat exchange chamber 74 are not directly connected.

[0032] In this embodiment, the second partition plate 4 has an arc-shaped structure.

[0033] In this embodiment, the burner 8 is disposed on the top plate 5 of the cylinder 1 and connected to the first air inlet 51. The top plate 5 is provided with multiple SOFC stacks or modules, wherein the number of SOFC stacks or modules is the same as the number of first air outlets 52. The multiple SOFC stacks or modules are respectively disposed on the multiple first air outlets 52, so that one SOFC stack or module is connected to one first air outlet 52, and the burner 8 is connected to multiple SOFC stacks or modules.

[0034] In this embodiment, see Appendix Figure 1 To be continued Figure 4 The number of SOFC stacks or modules is three, see appendix. Figure 5 The number of SOFC stacks or modules is four.

[0035] The fluid at the cold side inlet 24 is the cathode inlet gas, which is generally room temperature air; the fluid at the hot side inlet 22 is the high-temperature flue gas after the cathode and anode tail gases are burned by the burner 8; the function of the heat exchanger in this embodiment is to perform heat exchange between the two fluids, so that the room temperature air is heated to the operating temperature required by the SOFC stack, which is generally 600~700℃.

[0036] The first partition plate 3 is used to separate the above-mentioned fluids and prevent them from mixing. It is welded to the heat exchange core 2 and the cylinder 1 of the heat exchanger. The first partition plate 3 has two functions: first, to separate the gas from the cold side inlet 24 on one side and the gas from the cold side outlet 25 on the other side; second, the first partition plate 3 is thick and strong, and plays a supporting role in the overall structure.

[0037] The second partition plate 4 also has two functions: first, it separates the air from the cold side inlet 24 and cold side outlet 25 on one side from the flue gas output from the hot side outlet 23 on the other side; second, it is designed in an arc shape and the second partition plate 4 is relatively thin. Under high-temperature working conditions, it can compensate for the deformation caused by the thermal expansion of the heat exchange core 2, and play a role in absorbing stress and strain. This prevents the heat exchanger structure from experiencing excessive thermal stress due to thermal expansion when the heat exchanger is working at high temperatures, which would exceed the allowable mechanical strength of the material.

[0038] During operation, the high-temperature flue gas generated by the combustion of the anode of the SOFC stack or module in the burner 8 enters the first heat exchange chamber 71 through the first air inlet 51, and then enters the multiple heat exchange cores 2 through multiple hot-side inlets 22. At this time, cold air enters the third heat exchange chamber 73 through multiple second air inlets 61, and then enters the multiple heat exchange cores 2, where it exchanges heat with the high-temperature flue gas through the heat exchange plates 21. After heat exchange, low-temperature flue gas and high-temperature air are formed. Finally, the low-temperature flue gas is output from the hot-side outlet 23 to the second heat exchange chamber 72 and discharged to the atmosphere through the second air outlet 62, while the high-temperature air is output from the cold-side outlet 25 to the fourth heat exchange chamber 74 and delivered to the cathode of each SOFC stack or module through the first air outlet 52. Each SOFC stack or module then delivers high-temperature air to the burner 8, ensuring that the entry temperature and flow rate of the cathode gas (generally air) of the SOFC stack are basically the same, thereby ensuring the consistency of the working state of each stack.

[0039] The embodiments described above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Any person skilled in the art can make more possible variations and modifications to the technical solutions of the present invention, or modify them into equivalent embodiments, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent changes made based on the concept of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention should be covered within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger suitable for multiple SOFC stacks or modules, comprising a cylindrical body (1), multiple heat exchange cores (2), multiple first partition plates (3), and multiple second partition plates (4), characterized in that: A burner (8) is connected to the center of the cylinder (1). Multiple heat exchange cores (2) are arranged inside the cylinder (1). The multiple heat exchange cores (2) are arranged in sequence with equal intervals around the burner (8) as the center point. A first partition plate (3) is provided between two adjacent heat exchange cores (2). The first partition plate (3) is connected to the inner wall of the cylinder (1). A second partition plate (4) is connected between the heat exchange core (2) and the inner wall of the cylinder (1). The heat exchange core (2) has a hot side inlet (22) and a hot side outlet (23) on its front and rear sides respectively, and a cold side inlet (24) and a cold side outlet (25) on its left and right sides respectively. The hot side inlet (22) of the heat exchange core (2) is connected to the burner (8).

2. A heat exchanger applicable to multiple SOFC stacks or modules according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heat exchange core (2) includes multiple heat exchange plates (21), which are stacked sequentially from top to bottom.

3. A heat exchanger applicable to multiple SOFC stacks or modules according to claim 2, characterized in that: A first heat exchange chamber (71) is formed together between multiple first partition plates (3) and multiple heat exchange cores (2), and the hot side inlet (22) of each heat exchange core (2) is connected to the first heat exchange chamber (71).

4. A heat exchanger applicable to multiple SOFC stacks or modules according to claim 3, characterized in that: Two second partition plates (4) are connected between the heat exchange core (2) and the inner wall of the cylinder (1). The cylinder (1), the heat exchange core (2), and the two second partition plates (4) together form a second heat exchange chamber (72). The hot side outlet (23) is connected to the second heat exchange chamber (72).

5. A heat exchanger applicable to multiple SOFC stacks or modules according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first partition plate (3), the left side of the heat exchange core (2), and a second partition plate (4) together form a third heat exchange chamber (73), and the cold side inlet (24) is connected to the third heat exchange chamber (73).

6. A heat exchanger applicable to multiple SOFC stacks or modules according to claim 5, characterized in that: The first partition plate (3), the right side of the heat exchange core (2), and a second partition plate (4) together form a fourth heat exchange chamber (74), and the cold side outlet (25) is connected to the fourth heat exchange chamber (74).

7. A heat exchanger applicable to multiple SOFC stacks or modules according to claim 6, characterized in that: It also includes a top plate (5) and a bottom plate (6), with the top plate (5) provided at the top of the cylinder (1) and the bottom plate (6) provided at the bottom of the cylinder (1).

8. A heat exchanger applicable to multiple SOFC stacks or modules according to claim 7, characterized in that: The top plate (5) has a first air inlet (51) and multiple first air outlets (52). The first air inlet (51) is connected to the first heat exchange chamber (71), and the multiple first air outlets (52) are respectively connected to multiple fourth heat exchange chambers (74).

9. A heat exchanger applicable to multiple SOFC stacks or modules according to claim 7, characterized in that: The base plate (6) has multiple second air inlets (61) and multiple second air outlets (62). The multiple second air outlets (62) are connected to multiple second heat exchange chambers (72) respectively, and the multiple second air inlets (61) are connected to multiple third heat exchange chambers (73) respectively.

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