Integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell polar plate multi-stage drainage device

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell polar plate multistage drainage device, belong to new energy power battery technical field, the drainage device, including polar plate, serpentine flow passage, pulse blowing assembly, capillary bypass drainage structure, sensing monitoring component and control unit.Polar plate surface is equipped with serpentine flow passage, pulse blowing assembly is located in serpentine flow passage front section, capillary bypass drainage structure is set to the wall surface in serpentine flow passage middle and rear section, sensing monitoring component is arranged along serpentine flow passage, control unit is electrically connected with sensing monitoring component, pulse blowing assembly and capillary bypass drainage structure.The device is swept by pulse airflow, and the drainage of capillary bypass drainage structure is combined, the multistage rapid discharge of liquid water is realized, the waterlogging risk in the switching process of system in electrolytic mode to power generation mode is reduced, and gas-water management efficiency and system operation stability are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of new energy power battery technology, and in particular relates to an integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell electrode plate multi-stage drainage device. Background Technology

[0002] The integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell integrates hydrogen electrolysis and fuel cell power generation into the same system. When there is a surplus of electricity, it can efficiently convert electrical energy into chemical energy for storage, and use hydrogen energy to generate electricity when power output is needed. It has advantages such as compact system structure, simplified pipeline, convenient hydrogen refueling, strong load regulation capability and good range support. Compared with traditional systems, the integrated design can effectively reduce costs and improve system integration, making it suitable for the application needs of mobile power scenarios.

[0003] Integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cells often employ a serpentine flow channel for gas-liquid two-phase management, typically using hydrophilic / hydrophobic coatings, continuous gas purging, or passive drainage structures for water management. However, during fuel cell operation in different modes and during mode switching, liquid water can easily accumulate in the flow channel, especially at bends where water films or droplets can form, increasing the risk of localized flooding and affecting system performance.

[0004] In existing technologies, continuous airflow purging consumes a lot of energy and easily causes the membrane electrode to dry out. Passive drainage, such as using microchannels to drain water by capillary force, has a limited drainage rate under high flow conditions, making it difficult to quickly suppress flooding. It is also prone to gas lock due to gas intrusion, which hinders liquid discharge. Although channel structure optimization and surface modification can improve drainage efficiency, they are insufficient for transient response during mode switching, which can easily cause local flooding. Existing technologies generally lack adaptive control mechanisms, making it difficult to coordinate and match the drainage needs of different sections of the channel, and difficult to adapt to changes in flow resistance caused by the instability of gas-liquid two-phase flow during dynamic operating conditions and mode switching, thus affecting battery operating efficiency and stability. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention aims to solve the problems of weak drainage coordination, insufficient adaptability to operating conditions, and poor stability of gas-liquid two-phase flow in the prior art, and provides an integrated multi-stage drainage device for regenerative hydrogen fuel cell plates to improve the stability and efficiency of battery operation.

[0006] The technical solution proposed in this invention is as follows: An integrated multi-stage drainage device for regenerative hydrogen fuel cell plates includes plates, a serpentine flow channel, a pulse blowing assembly, a capillary bypass drainage structure, a sensing and monitoring assembly, and a control unit. The plates have a serpentine flow channel; the pulse blowing assembly is located at the front section of the serpentine flow channel; the capillary bypass drainage structure is embedded in the inner wall of the middle and rear sections of the serpentine flow channel; the sensing and monitoring assembly is mounted on the serpentine flow channel; and the control unit is electrically connected to the sensing and monitoring assembly, the pulse blowing assembly, and the capillary bypass drainage structure.

[0007] Furthermore, the pulse blowing assembly includes an air source, a pulse valve, and a control unit electrically connected to the pulse valve, which controls the flow rate, on / off state, and pulse frequency of the air path.

[0008] Furthermore, the inner wall surface of the serpentine flow channel is treated as an intermittent hydrophobic-hydrophilic composite surface. The corners in the middle and rear sections of the composite surface are designated as hydrophilic areas, while the remaining areas are arranged with alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic areas. The area of ​​the hydrophobic area accounts for 30% to 80% of the total area of ​​the inner wall of the serpentine flow channel. The hydrophobic area of ​​the serpentine flow channel is prepared by spraying or impregnation using a fluoropolymer or silicon-containing organic coating.

[0009] Furthermore, the sensing and monitoring component consists of a pressure sensor that monitors changes in flow channel pressure in real time and transmits the pressure signal to the control unit. The control unit receives the pressure signal transmitted by the sensing and monitoring component. When the pressure exceeds the threshold, it outputs a pulse command to the pulse valve to regulate the airflow state. When the pressure returns to the normal range, it stops pulse blowing.

[0010] Furthermore, the capillary bypass drainage structure includes a capillary microchannel bypass and a liquid storage chamber. The inlet of the capillary microchannel bypass is located on the inner wall of the hydrophilic zone at the bend in the rear section of the serpentine flow channel. The other end of the capillary microchannel bypass is connected to the liquid storage chamber. The channel size of the capillary microchannel bypass is at the micrometer level. An on / off valve is provided in the capillary microchannel bypass. The on / off valve is a solenoid valve. The control unit is connected to the on / off valve and controls its opening and closing. A water-guiding and gas-blocking membrane is provided at the junction of the inlet of the capillary microchannel bypass and the serpentine flow channel. The water-guiding and gas-blocking membrane is made of a hydrophilic modified porous membrane and is used to allow liquid water to pass through and prevent gas from entering the capillary microchannel bypass.

[0011] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: 1. This invention achieves dynamic and efficient management of the gas-liquid two-phase system within a serpentine flow channel through multi-level synergy of pulsed air blowing, capillary bypass drainage, sensor monitoring, and intelligent control. Pulsed air blowing can achieve active purging and unblocking through adjustable frequency, resulting in high drainage efficiency, low energy consumption, significantly reduced flooding risk, and improved battery gas-liquid management capabilities and operational stability.

[0012] 2. This invention combines an intermittent hydrophobic-hydrophilic composite surface with a capillary microchannel bypass, using capillary force to quickly drain water accumulated in the middle and rear sections of the flow channel, providing a low-resistance parallel drainage channel, improving the transient drainage capacity of the fuel cell during operation and mode switching, and with the water-conducting gas-blocking membrane, it can prevent gas blockage and ensure smooth drainage.

[0013] 3. This invention monitors the flow channel blockage and flooding status in real time through pressure sensing, and the control unit realizes adaptive adjustment of pulse purging intensity and drainage strategy, which can quickly respond to air and water fluctuations caused by changes in operating conditions and mode switching, and significantly improve the dynamic adaptability of the device. Attached Figure Description

[0014] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative effort.

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell electrode plate multi-stage drainage device of the present invention (abstract drawing).

[0016] In the diagram: 1-Electrode plate, 2-Serpentine flow channel, 3-Pulse blowing assembly, 4-Capillary bypass drainage structure, 5-Sensing and monitoring assembly, 6-Control unit, 7-Air source, 8-Pulse valve, 9-Capillary microchannel bypass, 10-Liquid storage chamber, 11-Start / stop valve, 12-Water-conducting and air-blocking membrane. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, so that those skilled in the art can better understand and implement the present application, but the embodiments described do not constitute a limitation on the present application.

[0018] Specific Implementation Method 1 (Fuel Cell Mode) The integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell plate multi-stage drainage device described in this embodiment, in fuel cell mode, is as follows: Figure 1 As shown, it includes an electrode plate 1, a serpentine flow channel 2, a pulse blowing assembly 3, a capillary bypass drainage structure 4, a sensing and monitoring assembly 5, a control unit 6, an air source 7, a pulse valve 8, a capillary microchannel bypass 9, a liquid storage chamber 10, a start / stop valve 11, and a water-conducting and air-blocking membrane 12.

[0019] A serpentine flow channel 2 is provided on the electrode plate 1 as a flow channel for gas-liquid two-phase flow; a pulse blowing assembly 3 is located at the front section of the serpentine flow channel 2 to generate pulse airflow to regulate the gas-liquid distribution in the flow channel; a capillary bypass drainage structure 4 is located on the middle and rear wall of the serpentine flow channel 2 to guide liquid water out through capillary action; a sensing and monitoring assembly 5 is installed on the serpentine flow channel 2 to detect pressure changes in the flow channel in real time and identify flooding phenomena; a control unit 6 is electrically connected to the sensing and monitoring assembly 5, the pulse blowing assembly 3, and the capillary bypass drainage structure 4 respectively, and is used to dynamically control the start-up, shutdown, and working status of the pulse blowing assembly 3 and the capillary bypass drainage structure 4 according to the signal of the sensing and monitoring assembly 5.

[0020] In fuel cell mode, when the sensing and monitoring component 5 detects an abnormal pressure and determines that flooding has occurred, it transmits a signal to the control unit 6. The control unit 6 activates the pulse blowing component 3, generates pulsed airflow by controlling the pulse valve 8, and adjusts the pulse frequency according to the degree of flooding to achieve dynamic response, improve drainage efficiency, and reduce energy consumption. Simultaneously, the control unit 6 opens the start / stop valve 11 of the capillary bypass drainage structure 4, allowing liquid water to enter the capillary microchannel bypass 9 via the water-conducting and gas-blocking membrane 12, and then drain into the storage chamber 10. The water-conducting and gas-blocking membrane 12 is a hydrophilic modified porous membrane that allows liquid water to pass through while blocking gas permeation, ensuring efficient gas-liquid separation. When the flow channel pressure returns to normal, the sensing and monitoring component 5 feeds back a signal to the control unit 6, which then closes the pulse valve 8 and the start / stop valve 11. Specific Implementation Method Two (Electrolysis of Water Mode) Combination Figure 1 This embodiment is for an integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell plate multi-stage drainage device in water electrolysis mode.

[0021] The inner wall surface of the serpentine flow channel 2 is an intermittent hydrophobic-hydrophilic composite surface. The corners in the middle and rear sections are hydrophilic areas, while the remaining areas are alternately arranged with hydrophobic and hydrophilic areas. The area of ​​the hydrophobic area accounts for 30% to 80% of the total area of ​​the inner wall of the serpentine flow channel. The surface of the serpentine flow channel 2 is treated with a fluoropolymer or a silicon-containing organic coating for hydrophobic treatment. The treatment process is spraying or dipping.

[0022] When the integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell is in water electrolysis mode, the control unit 6 closes the start / stop valve 11 of the capillary bypass drainage structure 4 to prevent gas from entering the capillary microchannel bypass 9. When the gas-liquid two-phase flow passes through the serpentine flow channel 2, the intermittent hydrophobic-hydrophilic composite surface can suppress the aggregation of large bubbles on the wall surface. The hydrophilic region guides the bubbles to detach, and the hydrophobic region reduces liquid film retention, preventing obstruction of gas-water transmission. At this time, the control unit 6 simultaneously shuts down the pulse blowing assembly 3. Specific Implementation Method 3 (Mode Switching: Water Electrolysis → Fuel Cell) Combination Figure 1 This embodiment is for the working condition of switching from water electrolysis mode to fuel cell mode.

[0023] When the system switches from water electrolysis mode to fuel cell mode, the control unit 6 opens the start / stop valve 11 of the capillary bypass drainage structure 4. The liquid water in the serpentine flow channel 2 enters the capillary microchannel bypass 9 through the water-conducting and gas-blocking membrane 12 and is discharged into the liquid storage chamber 10, increasing the drainage rate. At the same time, the control unit 6 activates the pulse valve 8 of the pulse blowing assembly 3 to perform pulse purging at a set frequency, enhancing the air-water transmission and unblocking effect in the serpentine flow channel 2. When the sensing and monitoring assembly 5 detects that the flow channel pressure has returned to normal and the accumulated water has been drained, the control unit 6 closes the pulse valve 8 and the start / stop valve 11. Example

[0024] Combination Figure 1 This embodiment applies an integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell electrode plate multi-stage drainage device to a mobile power scenario, such as as an auxiliary power source for electric vehicles. The device structure includes electrode plates with serpentine flow channels. The surface of the flow channels is coated to form an intermittent hydrophobic-hydrophilic composite surface, with alternating stripe-like arrangements of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions. The hydrophobic region accounts for 50% of the total area of ​​the inner wall of the serpentine flow channel. A pulse blowing assembly includes an air source and an electromagnetic pulse valve, located at the front of the flow channel. The pulse frequency is dynamically adjusted by the microprocessor of the control unit according to the degree of flooding. The capillary bypass drainage structure includes a capillary microchannel bypass and a liquid storage chamber. The capillary microchannel bypass is located on the inner wall of the hydrophilic region at the bend in the middle and rear section of the serpentine flow channel, with a channel size at the micrometer level. An electromagnetic start / stop valve is installed in the bypass, and a water-guiding and gas-blocking membrane is installed at the junction of the capillary microchannel bypass and the serpentine flow channel. The sensing and monitoring assembly uses multiple pressure sensors arranged at the bends in the flow channel to monitor pressure fluctuations in real time. The control unit is electrically connected to the sensors, pulse valve, and start / stop valve.

[0025] In fuel cell mode, after the pressure sensor detects abnormal flow channel pressure caused by flooding, it transmits a signal to the control unit. The control unit then activates the pulse blowing assembly and dynamically adjusts the pulse frequency based on pressure changes. Simultaneously, the start / stop valve of the capillary bypass drainage structure is opened. Liquid water enters the bypass through the water-conducting and gas-resistant membrane under capillary action and flows into the storage chamber for discharge. When the pressure returns to normal, the pressure sensor transmits a signal to the control unit, and the pulse valve and the start / stop valve in the capillary bypass drainage structure close. In water electrolysis mode, the control unit closes the start / stop valve and the pulse blowing assembly. The intermittent hydrophobic-hydrophilic composite surface inhibits bubble wall adhesion, ensuring smooth gas-liquid transmission.

[0026] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative examples of this application, and the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art based on this application all fall within the scope of protection of this application. The scope of protection of this application is determined by the claims.

Claims

1. A multi-stage drainage device for the electrode plates of an integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell, characterized in that, It includes an electrode plate (1), a serpentine flow channel (2), a pulse blowing assembly (3), a capillary bypass drainage structure (4), a sensing and monitoring assembly (5), and a control unit (6). The electrode plate (1) is provided with the serpentine flow channel (2); the outlet of the pulse blowing assembly (3) is connected to the front section of the serpentine flow channel (2); the capillary bypass drainage structure (4) is provided on the inner wall of the middle and rear section of the serpentine flow channel (2); the sensing and monitoring assembly (5) is installed on the serpentine flow channel (2); the control unit (6) is electrically connected to the sensing and monitoring assembly (5), the pulse blowing assembly (3) and the capillary bypass drainage structure (4) respectively.

2. The integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell electrode plate multi-stage drainage device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pulse blowing assembly (3) includes an air source (7) and a pulse valve (8). The control unit (6) is electrically connected to the pulse valve (8) and is used to control the air flow, on / off state and pulse frequency through the pulse valve (8).

3. The integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell electrode plate multi-stage drainage device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall surface of the serpentine flow channel (2) is treated as an intermittent hydrophobic-hydrophilic composite surface. The corner of the middle and rear section of the composite surface is set as a hydrophilic area, and the remaining area of ​​the flow channel is arranged with alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic areas. The area of ​​the hydrophobic area accounts for 30% to 80% of the total area of ​​the inner wall of the serpentine flow channel.

4. The integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell electrode plate multi-stage drainage device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The hydrophobic area on the surface of the serpentine channel (2) is prepared by spraying or impregnation using a fluoropolymer or silicon-containing organic coating.

5. The integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell electrode plate multi-stage drainage device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensing and monitoring component (5) is a pressure sensor that determines the flooding status by monitoring pressure changes in real time. The pressure data is converted into an electrical signal and transmitted to the control unit (6).

6. The integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell electrode plate multi-stage drainage device according to claim 2 or 5, characterized in that, The control unit (6) receives the pressure signal transmitted by the sensing and monitoring component (5). When the pressure exceeds the threshold, it outputs a pulse command to the pulse valve (8) to adjust the airflow state. When the pressure returns to the normal range, it stops the pulse blowing.

7. The integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell electrode plate multi-stage drainage device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The capillary bypass drainage structure (4) includes a capillary microchannel bypass (9) and a liquid storage chamber (10). The entrance of the capillary microchannel bypass (9) is opened on the inner wall of the hydrophilic area at the bend of the rear section of the serpentine flow channel (2), and the other end is connected to the liquid storage chamber (10). The channel size of the capillary microchannel bypass (9) is at the micrometer level.

8. The integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell electrode plate multi-stage drainage device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The capillary microchannel bypass (9) is provided with a start-stop valve (11), which is a solenoid valve. The control unit (6) is connected to the start-stop valve (11) and controls its on / off state, which is used for bypass on / off control when the system starts and stops.

9. The integrated regenerative hydrogen fuel cell electrode plate multi-stage drainage device according to claim 8, characterized in that, A water-conducting and gas-blocking membrane (12) is provided at the junction of the inlet of the capillary microchannel bypass (9) and the serpentine flow channel (2). The water-conducting and gas-blocking membrane (12) is made of a hydrophilic modified porous membrane and is used to allow liquid water to pass through and prevent gas from entering the capillary microchannel bypass (9).

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